A Macclesfield-based multi-academy trust has adopted a new name and brand as it sets out plans to 'carefully grow' and broaden its reach as 'an education system leader'. 

From this week, Upton Priory-headquartered The Fallibroome Trust will be known as the Halliard Trust. The Trust's school improvement, training and education business support offer will be collectively known as Halliard Education. 

No other names of their schools will change, including The Fallibroome Academy, what the old name of the trust was named after. It is just the collective organisation that has changed names, to The Halliard Trust.

The re-brand followed a process where the full Trust community including staff, students, parents and governors voted in their thousands on a choice of new names.  

The name change came into force on October 1. 2000 votes were cast in a poll, which saw the new name crowned as the winner. (Image - The Halliard Trust)

Halliard – the name for a type of strong rope used to raise a sail or flag - was selected, with a logo design depicting rope strands and a new Trust motto 'All Together Stronger Schools' developed. 

The term dates back to the Middle Ages.

Halliard Trust CEO Jeremy Spencer said: "Earlier this year, on the eve of our tenth anniversary, we took the collective decision to change our name and brand. 

"We agreed that we needed something to help us stand out as we continue our growth further outside of the area where we are very well-known. We also wanted to make sure that all our member schools are continued to be represented equally. 

New name, but same personnel: Jeremy Spencer will remain CEO of the Trust. (Image - The Halliard Trust)

"We asked our Trust community to help us choose a new name and logo and I am pleased to say they got behind the process. Halliard is a name that represents collective strength and this above all other options resonated best." 

With ten – soon to be 11 – member schools, the Halliard Trust has a core purpose to support school improvement, working collaboratively with leaders to develop ambitious curriculums and excellence in teaching and assessment. 

Through its Halliard Education Learning Hub comprehensive continuous personal development (CPD) is offered to colleagues, and training, events and networking opportunities are available to education teams from across the UK. Halliard has a STEM CPD offer that is unrivalled locally and it also runs the Cheshire and Wirral Computing Hub.  

Halliard Education Services provides a broad range of external school improvement and education business services to schools and trusts across Cheshire .

Macclesfield schools that are part of the trust range from The Fallibroome Academy, Adlington Primary School, Broken Cross Primary, Gawsworth Primary School, Marlborough Primary School, Nether Alderley Primary School, Upton Priory School and Whirley Primary School. (Image - The Halliard Trust)

Jeremy Spencer added: "Myself and the Halliard team offer a wealth of expertise and a proven record of school improvement.

"We are actively seeking to broaden our reach and contribute to UK-wide education policy and system leadership. 

"Changing our name gives us a platform to show our strength as an organisation that puts pupils first and provides an all-round education that recognises the challenges of a changing world. 

"As we begin this new era we want to carefully grow as an organisation, working with more ambitious schools that share our intent to meet the level of the best." 

Adlington Primary School is a member of the trust. (Image - Macclesfield Nub News)