Proposed merger between Cathedral Schools Trust (CST) and Trust in Learning Academies (TiLA)

We are pleased to announce details of a proposed merger between Trust in Learning Academies (TiLA) and Cathedral Schools Trust (CST). We would like to invite all stakeholders to engage in the early stages of our discussions and outline what this might mean for your child, our staff, our schools and our wider school communities. This exciting proposal aims to harness the collective strengths of all of our schools to enhance the educational experience and outcomes for all our children, young people and staff across Bristol.

Why are we considering a merger? 

There is a united belief from Trustees and Leaders that bringing our two strong and successful trusts together will create a dynamic organisation that will provide even more exciting opportunities for our children, young people and their families, our staff and the local communities we serve.

Our overriding objective and motivation for this proposed merger is to create the best possible educational  opportunities and we always seek to ensure that every decision that we make is in the best interest of our pupils and staff. By coming together within a single unified Trust structure, we will be much better able to share resources, and offer wider opportunities to recruit and retain staff which will better serve your children. With financial pressures on all schools, a larger Trust will secure better value for money so your children’s educational opportunities will be maximised.

Throughout our exploration and discussion phase, it has been clear that there is considerable synergy between our two Trusts, with both offering a wealth of areas of expertise and excellence.

Both Trusts have a passion to inspire learning and a commitment to educational excellence and have a well-aligned set of values, culture and ethos.

Our Schools

Under the proposal, the merged Trust would have responsibility for 16 primary schools, one allthrough school and four secondary schools. Geographically, our schools will be closer together than in most Trusts, and all located in and around Bristol. The newly formed Trust will deliver exceptional educational opportunities to approximately 11000 pupils, while employing around 1700 dedicated teaching and support staff.

A list of our schools is shown below. 

What does this mean for pupils at TiLA schools?

For the most part, this proposal will mean very little change for your child and their school. Individual school names, school uniforms, school staffing and day-to-day arrangements will remain the same as a result of this proposal. The main changes instead will be in the senior leadership and governance of the Trust, and we will be able to share more with you in due course if this proposal is approved by the Department for Education.

How can I ask a question or share my feedback on the potential merger?

We are currently working closely in partnership with the Department for Education to discuss the plans and are of course keen to hear any feedback or questions you may have on this proposal.

Please click here to view our Frequently Asked Questions document for parents and carers and wider stakeholders which we hope will anticipate any early questions you may have.

If you would like to submit any comments or additional questions regarding the potential merger please either email our independent project managers, Edwin People at engagement@edwinpeople.com or click here to complete the response form by Friday 16th May 2025. Any questions received will be added to the Frequently Asked Questions document which will be updated on our website regularly. 

Please note that staff at CST and TiLA can access the staff FAQ documents via their respective intranet sites.