Welcome
As Chief Executive Officer, I am privileged to lead a Church of England Multi Academy Trust rooted in the Anglican Diocese of Leeds, serving eight schools across our communities. Abbey Trust exists to make a genuine and lasting difference to the lives of children and young people through high‑quality education, strong values and meaningful collaboration.
My vision for the Trust is clear: we work in partnership to educate, nurture and empower both our pupils and our colleagues so that everyone can flourish and live ‘life in all its fullness’ (John 10:10). This vision underpins every decision we make and shapes the culture we strive to create across our schools - places that are welcoming, disciplined and purposeful, where ambition and care go hand in hand.
My vision for the Trust is rooted in a simple but powerful mantra: unique identity, common entitlement. Every one of our schools has its own distinctive character, history and community, and that individuality matters deeply. At the same time, every child and adult within Abbey Trust is entitled to the absolute best: excellent teaching, strong pastoral care, high expectations and rich opportunities regardless of which school they attend.
Collaboration sits at the heart of how we improve. I passionately believe that our collective strength is greater than the sum of our individual parts, and that genuine school‑to‑school partnership enables us to learn from one another, challenge complacency and raise standards for all. Through shared practice, professional dialogue and mutual support, we seek to deliver consistently excellent education while valuing the distinct identity of each academy.
Across our primary and secondary schools, our focus is on ensuring that every child and young person feels safe, known and valued, and is encouraged to discover the skills, talents and interests that lie within them. Alongside academic achievement, we place significant importance on character, confidence and responsibility, preparing pupils to be active citizens and caring adults in an ever‑changing world.
Abbey Trust is an outward‑facing organisation. We work closely with the Diocese, the Leeds Teaching School Hub, universities, businesses and our wider community, recognising that education is strongest when it is collaborative, connected and generous in spirit.
We are a Trust that believes improvement and identity go hand in hand. Our framework is designed to sustain strong individual school cultures while providing strategic leadership, shared accountability and operational strength enabling our academies to improve, innovate and thrive together.
If you are considering joining a Multi Academy Trust and share our commitment to values‑led education, collaboration and public benefit, I would warmly encourage you to get in touch to find out more about Abbey Multi Academy Trust.
CEO (ID 1092)
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Helen PrattenChief Executive Officer
Helen Pratten
Helen Pratten was appointed as Chief Executive Officer of Abbey Multi Academy Trust in May 2026, having previously served as Co-CEO since January 2020. With a deep understanding of the Trust, its communities and its strategic ambition, Helen provides clear, values-driven leadership and is responsible for setting and delivering the Trust's vision, direction and performance.
Alongside her role as CEO, Helen brings extensive operational and system-leadership experience, having previously served as Director of Operations. In this role, she led and oversaw the Trust's Corporate Services, including finance, governance, HR, marketing and IT, ensuring strong infrastructure, robust governance and sound financial stewardship to support high-quality education across all academies. Helen works closely with the Trust Board to ensure Abbey MAT operates with integrity, transparency and long-term sustainability.
Before becoming Director of Operations, Helen was Executive Principal, working across the Trust's primary academies, and prior to that was Headteacher of St Chad's Church of England Primary School, one of the founding schools of Abbey MAT. These roles continue to shape her leadership approach, placing pupils, staff and communities firmly at the centre of decision-making. Her commitment to creating welcoming, disciplined and purposeful environments, where both children and adults thrive, remains at the heart of her work.
Helen is passionate about providing children with rich and inspiring learning experiences and about supporting leaders to deliver the Trust's core vision:high-quality education for all. Through academic, cultural and spiritual opportunities, pupils and colleagues are empowered to flourish and to live ‘life in all its fullness' (John 10:10).
A firm believer in lifelong learning, Helen holds a degree in English and a Master's in Leadership and Management. She has completed the NPQEL and NPQH, as well as an Executive Leadership qualification with Ambition Institute, and became a Fellow of the Chartered College of Teaching in 2023. Beyond Abbey MAT, Helen also serves as a trustee of a non-profit organisation, reflecting her strong commitment to public service and community impact.
Linked to the Trust's focus on oracy, Helen's favourite word isubuntu,a concept from Zulu and Xhosa often translated as“I am because we are.”Ubuntu captures Helen's belief in community, compassion and shared responsibility, and underpins her approach to leadership, learning and partnership across the Trust.