All of our academies:

• are the first choice for children, young people, parents and carers in the community
• are judged as highly effective by Ofsted, other relevant bodies and those that engage with them
• provide an engaging, inspiring and innovative curriculum that equips children and young people with the skills, knowledge, understanding and qualifications they need to make a success of their lives
• are places where it is enjoyable to go to school and to work and, within realistic parameters, risk-taking and making mistakes are considered important elements of learning
• are viewed as ‘bright stars’ of excellence that exemplify the positive impact of co-operation, culture (including sport), business and charity work within the community
• provide effective support and guidance for assisting in the next stage of education, employment or training
• adopt approaches that are sustainable, environmentally and Fairtrade friendly
• benefit from a mutually constructive relationship with The Co-op as Trust sponsor.

All of our children and young people:

• are successful regardless of age, gender, ability, ethnicity, religion, sexual orientation or economic circumstances
• have high aspirations and know how they can achieve them
• know how to learn successfully, and keep themselves safe and healthy
• understand the rich heritage of co-operation and how it can be a force for good in society
• have had the opportunity to engage with employees and members of the Co-op to assist in their preparation for work and later education and employment choices in life
• are successful in entering the world of training, education or employment equipped with the necessary skills, knowledge, attitudes, confidence and self-esteem to succeed as active members of society.

All of our staff:

• work hard to be highly effective employees, engage in professional development that has a demonstrable and positive influence on classroom practice and/or whole school performance and develops them as learning professionals
• develop in a professional, ethical and moral environment, able to progress up the career ladder within the Trust and beyond
• are committed to co-operative values and principles and demonstrate them to children, young people, parents and each other through all that they do
• have had the opportunity to engage with employees and members of the Co-op to assist their understanding of the skills, knowledge and understanding required to be successful in later education and employment choices for students/pupils
• are treated with respect and dignity regardless of their age, gender and sexual orientation, religion, marriage and civil partnership arrangement, disability, race or maternity and paternity situation
• are recognised for the positive impact they make and their successes celebrated.

The Trust:

• is efficient and effective, promoting the highest educational aspirations for all and focused on achieving the best personal outcomes of children and young people
• carefully selects new schools/academies on the basis of their commitment to co-operation and their ability to work effectively integrate with our existing academies
• is valued by the Co-op as a vehicle for effective co-operative work to transform lives and communities, in addition to providing development opportunities for its business and those who work for it
• effectively engages with other co-operative schools and is open to new opportunities as they arise
• is emulated by others nationally so that it becomes ‘The Co-op Way’.