Fairfax Multi‑Academy Trust (FMAT) has been shortlisted for Wellbeing Trust of the Year at the MAT Excellence Awards 2026, a national celebration recognising the impact and achievements of multi‑academy trusts across the country.
Our nomination reflects the culture we have built together, where wellbeing and mental health are part of everyday practice. Across all four academies, students and staff are supported, valued, and able to thrive.
Fairfax Multi‑Academy Trust CEO Simon Jones said: “Wellbeing is not an add‑on for us; it is central to who we are and how we work. School should be a place where young people feel safe, not just physically but emotionally too. Without fostering an environment where young people feel able to talk and learn the skills to cope with new pressures and challenges, and without creating a culture where staff can thrive, all other ambitions would simply fall apart.
“I am so proud of all our staff for this recognition, precisely because it is so foundational. It reflects our shared belief that a strong culture of care is what enables young people, and those who work with them, to achieve their very best now and in the future.”
This nomination follows Fairfax Academy’s recent Wellbeing Award for Schools and Smith’s Wood Academy’s best ever Ofsted where inspectors praised staff for supporting students’ mental health and wellbeing, as well as longstanding trust-wide initiatives such as trauma-informed practice, staff wellbeing programmes, and targeted support in all schools including on-site mentors, attendance interventions and student-led wellbeing ambassador schemes.
The full shortlist for 2026 spans dozens of categories, from the digital innovation award to environmental trust of the Year – reflecting the breadth of innovation and impact across the MAT landscape.
We look forward to celebrating alongside other shortlisted trusts at the awards on Thursday 18 June 2026 at the Royal National Hotel, London.
For more on Fairfax Academy, click here.
For more on Erdington Academy, click here.
To visit the Fairfax Academy website, click here.
To visit the Erdington Academy website, click here.
To visit the Smith’s Wood Academy website, click here.
To visit the Bournville All-through School website, click here.