The Active Learning Trust
The Active Learning Trust is a values-led UK multi-academy trust operating 21 primary, secondary, special and all-through schools across Cambridgeshire, Suffolk and Norfolk, funded primarily by the Department for Education, with a professional development arm (Active Teacher Training and NPQs) serving its staff and the wider education sector.
- Company typePrivate
- Founded2012
- HeadquartersMarch, United Kingdom
- Headcount101–250
- GTM typeB2B
- OfferingServices
What The Active Learning Trust does
The Active Learning Trust (ALT) is a values-led multi-academy trust (MAT) founded in 2012, headquartered in March, Cambridgeshire, and operating 21 schools — including primary, secondary, all-through and special schools — across Cambridgeshire, Suffolk and Norfolk in the East of England. The trust serves pupils aged 2–18 through its academy network, and also provides professional development services to its own staff and the wider education sector via Active Teacher Training (ATT), National Professional Qualifications (NPQs) in partnership with the Ambition Institute, PGCE accreditation with Liverpool Hope University, and a flagship leadership development suite (Inspiring Heads, Inspiring Leaders). Operationally, ALT runs a centralised IT and data infrastructure spanning Arbor MIS, SchoolsBi (Power BI-based analytics) and shared digital systems, with central teams delivering HR, finance, estates, safeguarding and procurement services. The trust is led by CEO Lynsey Holzer, COO Chris Everard and Director of Finance Phil Beecher (CFO of the Year 2025 at the Optimus Education MAT Excellence Awards), and has a centralised central team of 11–50 staff supporting the broader school workforce.
The trust's revenue model is almost entirely dependent on Department for Education funding streams, including per-pupil General Annual Grant (GAG), School Condition Allocation for capital projects, and DfE-funded NPQ delivery contracts. GAG pooling across schools enables the trust to flex resources toward schools with differing needs, and disciplined procurement has delivered £500k+ in savings over three years alongside £250k in extra investment income. The trust grew its school count from 19 to 21 within 2025, with active expansion across the East of England and a broadening professional development portfolio including a new SEND and inclusion CPD programme for 2026/27. ALT is a charitable trust structure (not a corporation) with no parent company, external shareholders, or private equity backing; it is governed by a board of trustees and owned by its member schools.
The Active Learning Trust firmographics
Firmographics- Name
- The Active Learning Trust
- Legal name
- Active Learning Trust
- Website
- https://activelearningtrust.org
- Company type
- Private
- Founded year
- 2012
- Operating status
- Operating
- Headcount range
- 101–250 employees
- Short description
- The Active Learning Trust is a values-led UK multi-academy trust operating 21 primary, secondary, special and all-through schools across Cambridgeshire, Suffolk and Norfolk, funded primarily by the Department for Education, with a professional development arm (Active Teacher Training and NPQs) serving its staff and the wider education sector.
- Ownership category
- akta.pro rank
The Active Learning Trust industry classification
Industry- Product category
- Multi-Academy Trust Education Services
- NAICS
- Elementary and Secondary Schools (6111), Professional and Management Development Training (61143), Professional and Management Development Training (611430)
- SIC
- Services-Educational Services (8200)
- akta.pro industry
- Charter STEM/STEAM-Focused SchoolsEducation Professionals (Teacher/Administrator CE, CPD)Education/Adult & Continuing Education/Professional Licensure & Continuing Professional Education (CE/CPE)
Keywords
Where The Active Learning Trust is headquartered
LocationHeadquarters
- HQ city
- March
- HQ country
- United Kingdom
- HQ region
- Europe
Offices1 record
Markets served
The Active Learning Trust business model
Business model- GTM type
- B2B
- Offering type
- Services
- Cost components
- Personnel, Operations, Infrastructure, Technology or R&D, Marketing or Sales
Revenue model
- Education Funding: Government funding from the Department for Education for running academies and schools within the multi-academy trust structure.
- School Condition Allocation (SCA): Annual government funding for estate improvements, capital projects, and building upgrades.
- Investment Income: Returns on cash management and investments, with the trust recognized as a high performer in the East of England for maximizing investment income since January 2024.
Pricing tiers
| Model | Billing | Price |
|---|---|---|
| Subscription | Multi-year contract | National Professional Qualifications (NPQs) |
Go-to-market motion1 record
Distribution channels1 record
Marketing channels5 records
The Active Learning Trust product offering
Product offeringCore offering
The Active Learning Trust is a values-led multi-academy trust that operates 21 primary, secondary, and special schools across Cambridgeshire, Suffolk, and Norfolk in the East of England. It delivers education directly to pupils through its academy network and provides Initial Teacher Training (ITT) and continuing professional development (CPD) to educators through its Active Teacher Training arm, National Professional Qualifications (NPQs), and flagship leadership programmes.
Product overview
The Active Learning Trust operates a multi-product education services portfolio centred on teacher training and professional development. The core offering is Active Teacher Training (ATT), which delivers Initial Teacher Training (ITT) programmes for both Primary and Secondary phases, providing QTS and PGCE qualifications through partnerships with Ambition Institute and Liverpool Hope University. Supporting this are National Professional Qualifications (NPQs) - eight specialist and leadership courses in partnership with Ambition Institute. The Professional Development Training suite includes Systems & Tools Training (Arbor MIS, SchoolsBi), Insights Discovery workshops, SEND CPD, and Leaders Conferences. Flagship leadership programmes (Inspiring Heads and Inspiring Leaders) complete the professional development portfolio. Centralised IT infrastructure connects all 21 schools enabling collaboration and resource sharing.
Differentiator
Problem solved
Functional benefit
Brands
- Active Teacher Training: The teacher training arm of Active Learning Trust, delivering teacher training programmes across East Anglia in partnership with Ambition Institute.
- Inspiring Heads Programme
- Inspiring Leaders Programme
Products and services
- Active Teacher Training (ATT) The teacher training arm of Active Learning Trust, delivering Initial Teacher Training (ITT) programmes across East Anglia for both Primary and Secondary phases. Provides Qualified Teacher Status (QTS) and PGCE qualifications through partnerships with Ambition Institute and Liverpool Hope University.
- National Professional Qualifications (NPQs) Eight specialist and leadership NPQ courses delivered in partnership with Ambition Institute, including Leading Teaching, Leading Literacy, Leading Teacher Development, Leading Behaviour & Culture, Leading Primary Maths, Senior Leadership, Headship, Executive Leadership, Early Years Leadership, and NPQ for SENDCOs. Funded by the Department for Education.
- Inspiring Heads Programme Leadership development programme for headteachers, part of the Trust's flagship programmes for professional development.
- Inspiring Leaders Programme Leadership development programme for senior and middle leaders, part of the Trust's flagship programmes for professional development.
- Systems & Tools Training Practical training sessions offered by the Central Team to help staff maximise key platforms including Arbor MIS and SchoolsBi analytics tools.
- Safer Recruitment Training Safer Recruitment Consortium accredited training hosted by Emma Plane, Head of Learning and Development, providing delegates with information to recruit safely and comply with statutory guidance.
Quantifiable outcome
- 100% employment rate for ITT trainees in recent years
- +2 more outcomes
Companies that use The Active Learning Trust
Customer profileSegments4 records
Ideal customer profiles3 records
The Active Learning Trust technology and API
TechnologyTechnology focussed No
API detail
- Has API
- No
- API docs
- API detail
Core technology
AI maturity
App detail
Integration2 records
Feature2 records
The Active Learning Trust partnerships and signals
Strategic signalPartnerships
Five partnerships are on record, tiered core, supporting and minor.
- Ambition InstitutecoreActive Learning Trust serves as a delivery partner for Ambition Institute, offering eight NPQ courses (specialist and leadership). The partnership enables delivery of National Professional Qualifications that are evidence-based, informed by science of learning, and funded by the Department for Education.
- Denford AssociatessupportingDenford Associates is a specialist communications agency that provides expertise to the trust's Communications and Marketing team for enhancing school visibility and reputation management.
- NowTeachminorNowTeach supports career changers entering teaching. They partner with Active Teacher Training to signpost career changers to available bursaries and support options.
- Safer Recruitment ConsortiumsupportingAccredited training provider for safer recruitment practices, with Emma Plane (Head of Learning and Development) providing training to ALT staff.
- Liverpool Hope UniversitycoreUniversity partner for PGCE qualification awards. Primary teacher training programme offers QTS with PGCE and 60 Master's credits awarded in partnership with Liverpool Hope University.
Scale indicators9 records
Recent moves6 records
Expansion highlights6 records
The Active Learning Trust competitors and assessment
Company assessmentBroad incumbents
- Academy Transformation Trust: National MAT with a multi-region school portfolio and established professional development infrastructure. Comparable in operating model but with broader geographic spread.
- REAch2 Academy Trust: National primary-focused MAT with strong central services and CPD investment. Comparable as a values-led MAT with a deep teacher development ethos similar to ALT's.
- Ormiston Academies Trust: One of the largest national MATs in England, with a broad school portfolio and established teacher-training/CPD infrastructure. Comparable as a scaled multi-academy trust operator with CPD programmes.
Direct peers
- Unity Schools Partnership: Larger East of England MAT spanning primary, secondary, and special schools. Comparable in operating model and central-services structure, with a more established regional footprint.
- Anglian Learning: Multi-academy trust operating a similar number of schools across the East of England. Closely comparable on geography, scale, and school-phase mix, making it the most direct peer for benchmarking.
- Inspiration Trust: Norfolk and Suffolk-headquartered MAT with a comparable school count and similar primary/secondary mix. Operates in the same regional DfE oversight area as ALT and competes for the same school conversions.
Regional players
- Cambridge Meridian Academies Trust: Cambridgeshire-based MAT operating secondary and primary schools in the same region as ALT. Comparable in local geography and school-phase coverage.
- Seckford Education Trust: Suffolk-based MAT operating a portfolio of primary and secondary schools. Comparable in regional scope and trust scale, though smaller in school count.
- Diocese of Ely Multi-Academy Trust: Faith-rooted Cambridgeshire MAT with a comparable school count and primary/secondary mix. Direct regional competitor for school conversions and staff recruitment.
- Eastern Multi-Academy Trust: East of England MAT focused on primary provision, operating schools in overlapping counties. Comparable on regional footprint and central services delivery model.
Market position
Strengths5 records
Weaknesses5 records
Competitive moat5 records
Key risks6 records
Key highlights7 records
Customer concentration
The Active Learning Trust social profiles
Digital presenceThe Active Learning Trust financial estimates
Financial estimateRevenue estimate
Valuation estimate
The Active Learning Trust leadership team
Management profileNumber of profiles
Profiles6 records
The Active Learning Trust subsidiaries and ownership
Company hierarchySubsidiaries20 records
The Active Learning Trust funding detail
Funding detailFunding overview
Funding rounds
Investors
Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
The Active 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 The Active Learning Trust
What does The Active Learning Trust do?
The Active Learning Trust is a values-led multi-academy trust that operates 21 primary, secondary, and special schools across Cambridgeshire, Suffolk, and Norfolk in the East of England. It delivers education directly to pupils through its academy network and provides Initial Teacher Training (ITT) and continuing professional development (CPD) to educators through its Active Teacher Training arm, National Professional Qualifications (NPQs), and flagship leadership programmes.
Is The Active Learning Trust a public or private company?
The Active Learning Trust is a private company. It is classified as nonprofit foundation owned and is currently operating.
When was The Active Learning Trust founded?
The Active Learning Trust was founded in 2012. It employs 101 to 250 people.
Where is The Active Learning Trust based?
The Active Learning Trust is headquartered in March, United Kingdom, in the Europe region.
How does The Active Learning Trust make money?
Three revenue lines are on record. Education Funding is the primary driver. The others are school Condition Allocation (SCA) and investment Income.
Who are The Active Learning Trust's main competitors?
Broad incumbents on record are Academy Transformation Trust, REAch2 Academy Trust and Ormiston Academies Trust. Direct peers are Unity Schools Partnership, Anglian Learning and Inspiration Trust. Regional players are Cambridge Meridian Academies Trust, Seckford Education Trust, Diocese of Ely Multi-Academy Trust and Eastern Multi-Academy Trust.
Does The Active Learning Trust have an API?
No public API is recorded for The Active Learning Trust.
What industry is The Active Learning Trust in?
The Active Learning Trust's product category is Multi-Academy Trust Education Services. Its primary akta.pro industry code is EDAJACAG, Charter STEM/STEAM-Focused Schools, with a secondary code of EDAAALAE, Education Professionals (Teacher/Administrator CE, CPD). Its NAICS code is 6111 and its SIC code is 8200.