Our Story So Far
St Benet's MAT was created by the Diocese of Norwich in 2018, to serve the Church schools of South and East Norfolk.
Our Trust started with 5 founding schools and over the last 8 years has grown to 19 schools; mostly primary, with 1 all-through school. Our guiding Vision has remained the same throughout this growth: Immeasurably more than we can imagine (Ephesians 3:20).
As a Church of England education Trust, our Vision is rooted in the conviction that all children and young people in our academies can achieve their God-given potential.
St Benet's is a strong community; open and welcoming to those of all faiths - and no faith. Rooted in the life and teachings of Jesus, our schools are places of aspiration and hope. In line with our Vision, we are ambitious to see the pupils and adults in our schools flourish and achieve their full potential as individuals made in the image of God. We believe that high-quality learning leads to strong academic achievement and personal growth, ensuring pupils and adults achieve more than they can imagine.
Our central office is based in the village of East Tuddenham, around 25 miles from the remains of St Benet's Abbey.
The Abbey of St Benet at Holme lies deep in the Norfolk Broads, close to the meeting place of the rivers Bure and Ant. This was the only Norfolk monastery founded in the Anglo-Saxon period which continued in use throughout the Middle Ages, and is the only monastery in England which was not closed down by Henry VIII – the Bishop of Norwich is still the Abbot.
As well as being of great historical interest, St Benet’s Abbey is also very atmospheric. For over 200 years it has been a favourite spot for artists, photographers, and tourists.
On the last Sunday of July each year, the Bishop of Norwich holds an annual service at the Abbey.
(Photo courtesy of Norfolk Archaeological Trust)
We take our name from St Benedict, whose name is sometimes shortened to St Benet.
Benedict was born in Nursia in Italy and lived from about 480 to 550 AD. After studying in Rome, he tried to live before God in solitude as a hermit in a cave at Subiaco but was soon joined by others eager to learn from him. Eventually he organised these followers into small communities, bound together by a common rule of life.
The Rule of St Benedict is essentially a simple and practical guide for daily living: a balance between physical work, intellectual study and corporate prayer.
Benedict is regarded as the founder of Western monasticism, and he is the patron saint of Europe. With his simple rule of work, study and prayer, we are proud to bear his name.
A Prayer of St Benedict
O gracious and Holy Father,
give us wisdom to perceive you,
intelligence to seek you,
patience to wait for you,
vision to behold you,
a heart to meditate upon you,
and a life to proclaim you,
through the power of the Spirit
of Jesus Christ our Lord.
Amen.