The People's Learning Trust
The People's Learning Trust
We are excited to be a founder school of The People's Learning Trust, joining on 1st January 2025.
At The People’s Learning Trust, we believe that people are stronger together; at their best when they can welcome diversity and use differences to bring about positive change. A key part of our role is to bring people together, promote positive communication, increase understanding and tolerance, promote trust, build relationships, and help make life better for those with whom we have contact.
In addition to our links with Everton Football Club, we are proud of our partnership with Everton in the Community which is one of the UK’s top sporting charities. Their work dovetails perfectly with our own as we strive to provide our learners with the best possible educational outcomes whilst simultaneously tackling social issues. We believe passionately that The People’s Learning Trust’s wider network, with the links to Everton Football Club and Everton in the Community, through our common values, brand and reputation, can contribute significantly to helping young people in achieving positive educational outcomes. The highest expectations, an inclusive approach, a commitment to safeguarding and a determination to cultivate success for young people are at the heart of everything we do.
Our Mission Statement
We are committed to creating a compassionate, collaborative, and innovative environment where inclusivity, trust, positive relationships, and a love of learning empower individuals to excel and contribute positively to our global community.
Our Schools
Everton Free School and Football College
Everton Free School opened its doors in September 2012 as the first Alternative Provision Free School of its kind in the UK. Since its inception, it has achieved numerous milestones and has firmly established itself as a highly regarded and sought-after Alternative Provision option for schools and local authorities across the Liverpool City Region and beyond. The school has consistently performed well under scrutiny from the Department for Education, Ofsted, and external improvement partners, and now operates as a strategically and operationally effective school and college.
Everton Football College caters to 200 sixth-form students and has built an excellent reputation for academic success and student experience opportunities. The college’s tutors are fully qualified teachers who support and encourage students to fulfil their potential both inside and outside the classroom. A variety of educational pathways and enrichment opportunities are offered to ensure students are prepared for work, university, or scholarships, many of which are unique to the Football College due to its strong ties with the Everton Family. In addition to core academic subjects, students have the opportunity to pursue additional qualifications and experiences. Beyond playing football, students can study coaching awards and gain volunteer experience with Everton in the Community. All students undertake meaningful work experience, both locally and internationally, to prepare for their future aspirations.
Everton Football College has completed its fifth year of delivering a Sport Development and Coaching Foundation Degree in partnership with Liverpool John Moores University (LJMU). Due to the success of the delivery model, LJMU granted validation for the college to deliver a Level 6 top-up, resulting in the offering of a full BSc (Hons) Sport Development and Coaching degree, which began in September 2023.
In April 2024, Everton Free School was rated Outstanding by Ofsted in all five categories: Quality of Education, Behaviour and Attitudes, Personal Development, Leadership and Management, and Sixth Form provision. This followed two previous 'Good' inspections in 2014 and 2018.
Following over 12 months of strategic work, on 1st April 2024, Everton Free School and Football College transitioned from single academy trust status to multi-academy trust status with the formation of The People’s Learning Trust. It is a source of great pride that Everton Football Club is the only Premier League club to lead a developing multi-academy trust, dedicated to delivering exceptional outcomes for children and their families.
Meadow Primary School
Meadow Primary School
Meadow Primary School is a large primary school in the Great Sutton area of Ellesmere Port, which opened in January 1993, following the amalgamation of the Infant and Junior Schools. It caters for children aged 4-11 and benefits from a popular onsite before and after school club which also operates during the school holidays.
‘Getting the culture right is pivotal. With the right culture, the strategies that are used become less important. The culture is set by the way that the adults behave.’ Paul Dix
Ready, Respectful, Safe
Meadow Primary School is committed to creating an environment where exemplary behaviour is at the heart of productive learning. Everyone is expected to maintain the highest standards of personal conduct, to accept responsibility for their behaviour and encourage others to do the same. In order to ensure that all members of our school community feel secure at Meadow, we commit to employing a trauma informed approach to all interactions.
We want to create an environment that is safe, where everyone feels respected and where everyone is ready to engage in learning.
Waterside Academy
Waterside Academy is a provision for pupils who have or are experiencing difficulties in a mainstream setting. Pupils who come to Waterside Academy may have been permanently excluded or are close to exclusion, from the authority’s mainstream schools at Key Stage 3 & 4.
All staff are dedicated to provide a personalised curriculum and enrichment programme to support our students. Whilst also developing alternative strategies and interventions to improve resilience and self-esteem for these pupils.