Oasis highly commended at MAT Excellence Awards for environmental leadership

We are very proud to share that last night; Oasis received a Highly Commended award in the Environmental Trust of the Year category at the 2026 MAT Excellence Awards. A fantastic recognition of the collective effort across our Trust.

The MAT Excellence Awards, presented by Optimus Education in partnership with the Confederation of School Trusts, celebrate the very best practice across multi-academy trusts nationally. To be recognised in this way is a testament to the progress we are making together to embed sustainability across all areas of Oasis life.

John Barneby (CEO), Jessica Marshall (National Environmental & Sustainability Manager), and Alex Cockburn (Environmental Team Coordinator) enjoyed proudly representing the Oasis family at the black-tie award ceremony.

Reflecting on the achievement, John Barneby, CEO of Oasis Community Learning said: “It was great to be recognised at the MAT Excellence Awards. Receiving a Highly Commended award for our environmental work is a fantastic achievement.

“This recognition reflects the dedication and collaboration across our Trust, and I’d like to pay particular thanks to Jessica Marshall for her outstanding leadership. Many may not realise that she has secured just under £1 million in grant funding this year alone to support environmental projects across Oasis.”

This recognition builds on a year of significant impact, including:

• A 10% reduction in carbon emissions across the Trust 
• Increased recycling rates, with 100% of waste diverted from landfill
• 13 academies achieving Eco-Schools Green Flag status
• Oasis Academy Enfield topping the national Energy Sparks leaderboard
• Welcomed the Climate Minister to Oasis Academy Oldham, showcasing the impact of the GB Energy Solar Partnership

Behind these achievements is a huge amount of work across teams, from Sustainability to Property & Estates, Procurement and Projects, alongside the passion and leadership of staff and students in our academies.

Jessica Marshall, National Environmental & Sustainability Manager at Oasis, added: “I’m incredibly proud that our environmental work has been recognised at a national level. This achievement reflects the power of collaboration across Oasis—from our Eco Champions and academy teams to our national colleagues working behind the scenes.

“Securing additional grant funding this year has enabled us to accelerate key projects, from solar installations to energy efficiency improvements, and we’re excited to keep building on this momentum.”

While we celebrate this milestone, our journey continues. Together, Oasis remains committed to creating sustainable, thriving communities and a net zero future for all.

This latest recognition marks another important step in Oasis’ journey to building a more sustainable future for young people and communities across the UK.