Community Schools Trust Crowned ‘Community Trust of the Year’ at National MAT Excellence Awards
The Community Schools Trust (CST) has officially been named the Community Trust of the Year at the prestigious 2025 MAT Excellence Awards.
Hosted by Optimus Education, the national awards celebrate the impact, innovation and strategic excellence of multi-academy trusts across the UK. In addition to taking home the top community prize, Community Schools Trust, CST’s comprehensive dedication to its neighbourhoods earned the trust national nominations in three competitive categories, including the Staff Development Award and the Transformation and Impact Award.
Transforming Lives and Raising Aspirations
The award recognizes CST's transformative work across some of London’s most economically disadvantaged communities, including Forest Gate, Plaistow, Newham, and Hackney. By embedding high expectations, targeted mentorship, and robust support systems, the trust has consistently helped pupils shatter traditional barriers to academic success and social mobility.
Judges remarked that the Community Schools Trust’s award submission was "a joy to read," commending how deeply the trust has woven community cohesion, parental education, and social mobility into its baseline educational model.
A Word From Our Leadership
Reflecting on the monumental win, Simon Elliott, Chief Executive of the Community Schools Trust, and Thahmina Begum, Executive Headteacher, expressed immense gratitude to the staff, students, and local families who make this work possible.
"We are incredibly proud to bring this award home to our communities in Newham and Hackney. This recognition is a testament to our brilliant staff, hard-working students, and the families who partner with us every day. At CST, we believe that postcode should never dictate a young person's potential, and we remain entirely focused on delivering world-class, non-selective outcomes that empower our community."
Sustaining Our Impact
Following this landmark 2025 national accolade, the trust has carried this momentum forward, ensuring that its core schools—including Forest Gate Community School, Cumberland Community School, The Excelsior Academy, Waterside Academy, and Haggerston School—continue to push boundaries in innovation, inclusivity, and academic excellence.