About Us

Welcome from the CEO

At Ascendancy Partnership Trust (APT), we believe that education is the foundation of a brighter future—for every child, every family, and the community we serve. Our purpose is simple: to empower schools to provide the best possible education for all children, especially those with special educational needs (SEN), while ensuring that every school retains its unique identity and autonomy.

Being part of APT brings countless benefits: access to a central team of experts in SEN pedagogy, leadership, and school improvement; opportunities for collaboration and knowledge sharing; and the ability to innovate and grow within a supportive, forward-thinking community. Together, we achieve more than any one school could alone.

Our name, Ascendancy Partnership Trust, reflects our belief in the building blocks of achievement and the power of collaboration. Just as blocks are carefully stacked to reach a summit, we work together in true partnership to build strong foundations for our schools, enabling them—and every child within them—to rise to their fullest potential. The word “Partnership” is central to who we are: it signifies the shared ownership, mutual accountability, and collective strength that define our trust. Our logo, inspired by this idea, symbolizes growth, unity, and the journey toward excellence—a journey we undertake together, as partners. 

We are deeply committed to the careful stewardship of public money, ensuring that every resource is used wisely and transparently to benefit our schools and students. This responsibility is at the core of our operations, and we take it seriously, always striving to maximise impact while maintaining efficiency.

In APT our schools own the trust. They are not just part of it—they are it. This means that every school is both accountable to the trust and an integral part of its success. We are one and the same, a true partnership where the whole is greater than the sum of its parts.

Our ethos is built on the principle that we are “Stronger and Better Together.” Collaboration and innovation are at the heart of everything we do. Just as humanity’s greatest achievements have been born from working together and thinking creatively, we believe that by uniting our schools, sharing expertise, and embracing new ideas, we can achieve extraordinary outcomes for our students.

We are driven by a deep sense of obligation—to our children, to our staff, and to the wider community. Every decision we make, every action we take, is guided by our core values: Courage to Innovate, Ownership and Accountability, Selfless Service, and Uncompromising Integrity. These values are not just words; they are the compass that directs our work every day.

APT is more than a trust; it is a movement for SEN excellence. We are committed to creating inclusive, nurturing environments where every child feels safe, valued, and inspired to learn. Through our outreach programs and partnerships, we extend our impact beyond our schools, sharing our expertise to raise the standard of SEN provision across the region.

As CEO, I am incredibly proud to lead a team of dedicated professionals who share this vision. Together, we are building a future where every child, regardless of their needs, has the opportunity to thrive and succeed.

Thank you for joining us on this journey. Together, we are stronger, and together, we will make a lasting difference in the lives of our children and communities.

Joolz Scarlett
CEO, Ascendancy Partnership Trust

Ascendancy Partnership Trust (APT) is a newly-formed multi-academy trust (MAT) with deep community roots across the Berkshire area, composed of three all-through SEND schools specialising in learning difficulties. Our mission is to provide the best possible education for children and young people (CYP) with additional and complex needs in both special and mainstream schools. We believe there is an urgent need for an inclusion-focused MAT that will be a centre of excellence for SEND pedagogy and provision in the local area.

Stronger and Better Together 

Our 3 Schools

Addington - Wokingham Local Authority

Addington is an Outstanding (Ofsted March 23) Special school in Woodley, Berkshire. It currently has 290 pupils with moderate, severe and profound learning difficulties as well as a 40 place Early Years’ Centre opened in Nov 23 for similar cohort of pupils on a separate site in Farley Hill.

Manor Green - Royal Borough of Windsor and Maidenhead Local Authority

Manor Green is a Good (Ofsted April 23) Special school, in Maidenhead, Berkshire. It has currently has 286 pupils with moderate, severe, and profound learning difficulties.  The School also has an additional 36 place Alternative Provision called The Link and is also an Apprenticeship Provider. Manor Green also opened a second site for 50 post 16 places in Nov 23. 

Brookfields – West Berkshire Local Authority 

Outstanding (Ofsted Sept 19) Special school in Tilehurst, Berkshire. It has currently 230 places for pupils with moderate, severe and profound learning difficulties.  A new build is proposed to allow for another 20 pupils.

Our unwavering commitment to the following values will guide our trust: 

Stronger and Better Together.

A strong multi-school partnership to improve outcomes, opportunities, and life chances for CYP with additional needs by offering family support, CPD, bespoke curricula and assessment, and essential therapeutic support. 

Inclusion

A deep commitment to SEND education and inclusion in accordance with the right time, right place, right provision ethos, including mainstream outreach.  

Centralised Independence

Strong, centralised MAT leadership that equips each individual school with central services in HR, finance, therapies and high quality SEND CPD. Schools will be encouraged to develop a unique cultural character and identity alongside a commitment to MAT values and goals. 

As a partnership we will be Stronger and Better Together and therefore we will: 

• Improve outcomes, opportunities and life chances for children and young people 
• Offer more / wider support for their families 
• Share and develop staff expertise 
• Share and develop bespoke curricula 
• Share and develop a therapies’ hub 

These values are accompanied by nationally-recognised excellence in complex SEN provision and drive our efforts to improve life chances and outcomes for all children and young people with SEND across special and mainstream schools in Berkshire. 

Our Aims

• To provide the best possible education for children and young people, including those with additional and complex needs, in both mainstream and special schools. 
• To achieve excellence through innovation, creativity and continuous improvement. 
• To direct the maximum resources available to The Trusts’ academies, facilitating and servicing high standards. 
• To build formal and informal partnerships across Berkshire and beyond. 
• To develop a Trust which is outward looking and enterprising. 
• To support, challenge and improve under-performing schools. 
• To utilise internal and external providers in the pursuit of excellence based upon pupil need. 
• To utilise the skills and experience of staff and leaders across The Trust to the best advantage of the children and young people. 
• To provide an environment where staff can continually develop and progress their careers. 
• To develop multi-agency working practice and develop a Therapies’ Hub. 
• To develop children and young people’s independence skills and support families to take part in a parallel journey with their child as they prepare for adulthood. 
• To maximise value-for-money by continued attention to costs and streamlining and centralising working practices where appropriate. 
• To play a strategic role across the region by linking with other organisations such as Reading University, Ways into Work, Routes to Recruit, Berkshire Association of Special Schools (BASS), Team Teach and ProACT SCIPr uk, NurtureUK, local charities, Forest School Alliance and independent special schools in the south east region 
• To support our own and neighbouring LAs in building capacity by sharing our expertise and opening specialist satellite provision collaboratively where needed.