A trust which runs schools across Cambridgeshire has been shortlisted for three prestigious national awards.
Astrea Academy Trust, which runs the Ernulf and Longsands Academies in St Neots, the St Ivo Academy in St Ives, as well as Cottenham Village College, and The Centre School, also in Cottenham, is up for three gongs in the Network for Education Excellence (nEdEx) School and Trust Leadership Awards 2026.
The trust, which celebrates its 10-year anniversary this month, has been shortlisted in the categories for ‘Most Improved Trust of the Year 2026’, ‘Trust of the Year (Large) 2026’ and Hexthorpe Primary as ‘Primary School of the Year 2026’.
Astrea Academy Trust works with 26 primary, secondary and one specialist school in Cambridgeshire and South Yorkshire.
The trust entered the awards to reflect the investment and improvements made to all schools within the trust, with the purpose of improving the life chances of all pupils who attend Astrea schools.
The trust's CEO, Rowena Hackwood, said the shortlisting recognises the great progress made by Astrea and the whole staff team across its schools. All the trust’s schools are rated as Good by Ofsted inspectors.
Ms Hackwood said: “I am thrilled that Astrea has been shortlisted for the nEdEx School and Trust Leadership Awards.
"This is due to the hard work and dedication put in by our staff, students and the wider community in improving all of our schools.
"We have a strong culture and ethos at Astrea, promising broad opportunities for our students, supported and sustained by a thriving community.”
The Network for Education Excellence (nEdEx) is a national network supporting senior leaders in schools, trusts and local authorities.
Alongside the education awards, nEdEx runs conferences, networking events and leadership forums across the education sector.
The awards ceremony will be held in Milton Keynes in June.
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