Welcome from Dan Morrow, CELT Trust Leader

 

When my grandfather - a working class migrant, who wasn't allowed to attend school because he couldn't afford shoes - told me, “Don’t pull the ladder up after you climb it; become the ladder,” he planted a seed that has shaped every step of my journey.

From a childhood marked by adversity to leading schools and trusts dedicated to equity, this principle has been my compass. It is with profound gratitude and determination that I write this as Trust Leader of CELT, an organisation whose values mirror my deepest convictions: education as a force for social justice, communities as the bedrock of progress, and collaboration as the catalyst for transformation.

 

The ladder beneath our feet

Growing up in a single-parent household where my Mum worked so hard to put food on the table and to ensure the best for us, I learned early that systemic barriers - like poverty, inequality, and silence - can suffocate potential. School became both a refuge and a battleground. It was where I first understood the power of educators who see beyond a child’s circumstances to their capabilities. My grandfather’s ladder analogy isn’t just a metaphor; it’s a call to action. We cannot settle for helping individuals 'climb' existing structures; we must dismantle the walls that force them to need ladders in the first place.

At CELT, this means rejecting the false choice between academic excellence and holistic care. Our academies are not factories for test scores but ecosystems where every child’s creativity, curiosity, and dignity are nurtured. When we say “there is no limit to what every child can achieve,” we commit to removing the obstacles - material, emotional, and systemic - that stand in their way.

 

Education as civic leadership

My career has taught me that schools thrive when they are rooted in their communities. This ethos of civic leadership is central to CELT’s mission. Education does not exist in a vacuum. It intersects with housing, healthcare, and economic justice. When a child struggles, it is rarely because they lack 'resilience' - it is because systems have failed them. Our role is to advocate fiercely for those systems to change while creating sanctuaries of belonging within our classrooms. Our focus on a 'cradle to career' approach to ensure that we support, nurture and guide our young people at each and every stage of their education journey is vital to who we are, and who we are becoming. 

 

The heart of social justice

Social justice is not a buzzword. It is the deliberate work of redistributing power, opportunity, and hope. My personal experiences, as well as professional learning,  have solidified my belief in equity over equality. Giving every child the same resources is not enough; we must give each child what they need to thrive. This requires courage - to challenge inspection frameworks that prioritise outcomes over context, to resist politicised reforms that widen disparities, and to centre the lived experiences of those our systems have marginalised.

 

Building the future together

Cornwall’s rich history and tight-knit communities inspire me. Yet like all regions, it faces unique challenges - geographic isolation, funding gaps, and the lingering effects of inequality. My commitment is to listen deeply, act collaboratively, and lead with humility. I visit every CELT academy regularly, not as a CEO with a checklist, but as a partner, eager to learn from your wisdom.

To our staff: Your wellbeing is non-negotiable. You are not 'resources' to be managed but professionals to be supported. 

To our families: Your insights are invaluable. 

To our students: Your dreams are our blueprint.

Let us be ladders for one another - not to climb over walls, but to tear them down together.