River Learning Trust
River Learning Trust is a UK Multi-Academy Trust operating 30 state-funded primary and secondary schools across Oxfordshire and Swindon, plus an alternative provision unit, a teacher training provider, and a teaching school hub.
- Company typePrivate
- Founded2015
- HeadquartersOxford, United Kingdom
- Headcount1,001–5,000
- GTM typeB2C
- OfferingServices
What River Learning Trust does
River Learning Trust (RLT) is a UK-based Multi-Academy Trust (MAT) and exempt charity structured as a company limited by guarantee, headquartered in Oxford. Founded in 2015, RLT operates a network of 30 state-funded primary and secondary schools across Oxfordshire and Swindon, serving students aged 4–18. Beyond schools, the trust runs Meadowbrook College (an Alternative Provision provider with three campuses in Oxford, Banbury, and Abingdon), a School-Centred Initial Teacher Training (SCITT) provider, and a Teaching School Hub delivering continuing professional development.
RLT's core products are its educational services portfolio: 30 academies (20 primary, 10 secondary), the three-site alternative provision unit, the SCITT programme, and the Teaching School Hub. There is no proprietary technology disclosed in the available data; the trust operates standard school websites and management systems for its academy network. The Cherwell School, an Outstanding-rated secondary, was an original founding member, and the network has expanded through sponsored conversions and academy transfers, with the most recent additions being Gillotts School (March 2025) and a pending consultation with Nettlebed Community School (announced January 2026).
RLT's business model is not a commercial revenue model in the traditional sense. As a state-funded MAT, it receives income from the UK Education and Skills Funding Agency (ESFA) via per-pupil allocations and education grants; no fees are charged to families. The trust is governed by a board of trustees and local governing bodies, with no external parent or private ownership. The organisation's value proposition rests on centralised back-office support (HR, finance, premises, governance), peer collaboration across the trust, and school improvement intervention for underperforming academies. Leadership comprises Chief Executive Paul James and Chief Operating Officer Lisa Hughes, with Louise Askew as Head of Governance and Compliance.
River Learning Trust firmographics
Firmographics- Name
- River Learning Trust
- Legal name
- River Learning Trust
- Website
- https://riverlearningtrust.org
- Company type
- Private
- Founded year
- 2015
- Operating status
- Operating
- Headcount range
- 1,001–5,000 employees
- Short description
- River Learning Trust is a UK Multi-Academy Trust operating 30 state-funded primary and secondary schools across Oxfordshire and Swindon, plus an alternative provision unit, a teacher training provider, and a teaching school hub.
- Ownership category
- akta.pro rank
River Learning Trust industry classification
Industry- Product category
- Primary and Secondary Education
- NAICS
- Elementary and Secondary Schools (6111), Educational Support Services (611710), All Other Schools and Instruction (61169)
- SIC
- Services-Educational Services (8200)
- akta.pro primary industry
- Charter STEM/STEAM-Focused Schools (EDAJACAG)
- akta.pro secondary industries
- Faith-Based (Religious) K–12 Schools (EDAJABAC), Transition-to-College/Independence Skills Tutoring for Learning Differences (EDANAFAJ)
Keywords
Where River Learning Trust is headquartered
LocationHeadquarters
- HQ city
- Oxford
- HQ country
- United Kingdom
- HQ region
- Europe
Offices1 record
Markets served
River Learning Trust business model
Business model- GTM type
- B2C
- Offering type
- Services
- Cost components
- Personnel, Operations, Infrastructure, Technology or R&D, Marketing or Sales
Revenue model
- Government Education Funding: As a multi-academy trust operating state-funded schools, River Learning Trust receives government funding through the Education and Skills Funding Agency (ESFA) for educating students. Schools are free at point of use for families.
Go-to-market motion1 record
Distribution channels1 record
Marketing channels5 records
River Learning Trust product offering
Product offeringCore offering
River Learning Trust is a Multi-Academy Trust running 30 primary and secondary schools across Oxfordshire and Swindon, delivering state-funded education to pupils. Alongside mainstream schooling, the trust runs Meadowbrook College for alternative provision, a School-Centred Initial Teacher Training (SCITT) programme for new teachers, and a Teaching School Hub supporting school improvement across the region.
Product overview
River Learning Trust is a Multi-Academy Trust operating as a unified educational services platform. The Trust offers a portfolio of four interconnected core services: (1) 30 primary and secondary schools across Oxfordshire and Swindon, (2) Meadowbrook College, an Alternative Provision provider with three campuses serving students aged 5-16, (3) a School-Centred Initial Teacher Training (SCITT) provider, and (4) a Teaching School Hub. Together, these services provide comprehensive educational coverage from early years through secondary education, teacher professional development, and alternative educational pathways.
Differentiator
Problem solved
Functional benefit
Products and services
- Primary and Secondary Schools (30 schools across Oxfordshire and Swindon)
- Meadowbrook College (Alternative Provision)
- SCITT (School-Centred Initial Teacher Training)
- Teaching School Hub
Quantifiable outcome
- Gosford Hill School achieved 'Expected Standard' across all six Ofsted key areas under new framework
- +3 more outcomes
Companies that use River Learning Trust
Customer profileSegments5 records
Ideal customer profiles2 records
River Learning Trust technology and API
TechnologyTechnology focussed No
API detail
- Has API
- No
- API docs
- API detail
Core technology
AI maturity
App detail
River Learning Trust partnerships and signals
Strategic signalPartnerships
Two partnerships are on record, tiered potential and core.
- Nettlebed Community SchoolpotentialNettlebed Community School in Henley on Thames is consulting on joining River Learning Trust. The school is considering joining to benefit from the trust's support and collaboration.
- Oxford Diocesan Board of Education (ODBE)coreODBE supports Windrush C of E School and other Church of England schools within the trust. The diocese provides oversight and support for the Christian ethos and religious character of Church schools within RLT.
Scale indicators3 records
Recent moves6 records
Expansion highlights5 records
River Learning Trust competitors and assessment
Company assessmentDirect peers
- Oxford Diocesan Schools Trust: Multi-academy trust operating across Oxfordshire and surrounding counties with a similar mix of primary and secondary schools, including Church of England academies. Most directly comparable peer given overlapping geography, faith-school overlap, and comparable scale.
- Activate Learning Education Trust: Education trust operating schools and further education across Oxfordshire and the Thames Valley. Comparable in regional footprint and integrated model spanning schools plus post-16/training services.
- Greenshaw Learning Trust: Multi-academy trust of similar size (~30 schools) operating across southern England with comparable primary/secondary mix and a school-improvement-led growth model.
- White Horse Federation: Multi-academy trust with comparable scale operating schools across the South West and surrounding counties. Similar mixed primary/secondary portfolio and shared-service operating model.
- Bohunt Education Trust: Multi-academy trust operating a smaller but comparable portfolio of secondary and primary schools with a school-improvement and CPD-led model similar to RLT's Teaching School Hub.
- Aspirations Academies Trust: Multi-academy trust operating a comparable-sized portfolio across southern England with a similar focus on school improvement and shared central services.
Broad incumbents
- United Learning: One of the largest UK multi-academy trusts with national reach across primary, secondary, and independent schools. Broader geographic footprint and deeper professional development infrastructure make it a scaled benchmark for RLT's longer-term trajectory.
- Ormiston Academies Trust: Large national multi-academy trust sponsoring a mix of secondary and primary schools. Provides a relevant comparison for what RLT could scale into as it continues to grow its network.
- Ark (multi-academy trust): National education charity running a network of non-denominational academies. Comparable values-driven, school-improvement-focused operating model but at significantly larger national scale.
Regional players
- Dimensions Trust: Multi-academy trust historically rooted in Swindon with a comparable primary/secondary mix. Most direct regional peer for RLT's Swindon cluster of schools.
Market position
Strengths5 records
Weaknesses5 records
Competitive moat5 records
Key risks6 records
Key highlights6 records
Customer concentration
River Learning Trust social profiles
Digital presenceRiver Learning Trust compliance and trust
Trust signalCompliance1 record
River Learning Trust financial estimates
Financial estimateRevenue estimate
Valuation estimate
River Learning Trust leadership team
Management profileNumber of profiles
Profiles3 records
River Learning Trust subsidiaries and ownership
Company hierarchySubsidiaries33 records
River Learning Trust funding detail
Funding detailFunding overview
Funding rounds
Investors
Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
River Learning Trust M&A and investment
M&A and investmentM&A
Investments
M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Frequently asked questions about River Learning Trust
What does River Learning Trust do?
River Learning Trust is a Multi-Academy Trust running 30 primary and secondary schools across Oxfordshire and Swindon, delivering state-funded education to pupils. Alongside mainstream schooling, the trust runs Meadowbrook College for alternative provision, a School-Centred Initial Teacher Training (SCITT) programme for new teachers, and a Teaching School Hub supporting school improvement across the region.
Is River Learning Trust a public or private company?
River Learning Trust is a private company. It is classified as nonprofit foundation owned and is currently operating.
When was River Learning Trust founded?
River Learning Trust was founded in 2015. It employs 1,001 to 5,000 people.
Where is River Learning Trust based?
River Learning Trust is headquartered in Oxford, United Kingdom, in the Europe region.
How does River Learning Trust make money?
One revenue line is on record: government Education Funding.
Who are River Learning Trust's main competitors?
Direct peers on record are Oxford Diocesan Schools Trust, Activate Learning Education Trust, Greenshaw Learning Trust, White Horse Federation, Bohunt Education Trust and Aspirations Academies Trust. Broad incumbents are United Learning, Ormiston Academies Trust and Ark (multi-academy trust). Dimensions Trust is listed as a regional player.
Does River Learning Trust have an API?
No public API is recorded for River Learning Trust.
What industry is River Learning Trust in?
River Learning Trust's product category is Primary and Secondary Education. Its primary akta.pro industry code is EDAJACAG, Charter STEM/STEAM-Focused Schools, with a secondary code of EDAJABAC, Faith-Based (Religious) K–12 Schools. Its NAICS code is 6111 and its SIC code is 8200.