Aldridge Education

What Aldridge Education does

Aldridge Education is a multi-academy trust (MAT) founded in 2016 by Sir Rod Aldridge OBE and the Aldridge Foundation, headquartered at Duke's Aldridge Academy in Tottenham, London, and operating 10+ educational settings across North West England (Darwen, Salford/Warrington), London (Tottenham), and Brighton. The trust encompasses primary schools, secondary academies, two University Technical Colleges (Aldridge UTC@MediaCityUK and UTC Warrington), one Studio School (Darwen Aldridge Enterprise Studio School), and an Aldridge Adult Learning provision, serving pupils from early years through post-16 and adult learners. As of September 2025, 98% of Ofsted ratings across Aldridge settings were "Good" or above, and the Teach First Initial Teacher Training programme delivered in partnership with the trust holds an Outstanding Ofsted rating.

The trust's product set is organised around two pillars: "Bringing Learning to Life" for students (notably the Connect & Connect+ careers and enrichment framework guaranteeing 20+ career and enrichment encounters per learner, and the Aldridge Attributes character programme) and "Growing Together" for staff (a professional development umbrella covering School-Centred Initial Teacher Training (SCITT), the Early Career Training Programme (ECTP), the National Professional Qualifications suite (NPQLT, NPQLBC, NPQLTD, NPQLL, NPQSL, NPQH, NPQSEN), an 18-month Leadership Development Programme, instructional coaching using the See it, Name it, Do it model, and the new Management Mastery line-management course). Underlying technology is third-party: IRIS Connect for video-based instructional coaching and Brightspace (the Teach First LMS) for online course delivery; no proprietary software product is commercialised beyond the trust's own operating use.

The business model is government-funded in essence. As a MAT, Aldridge Education receives DfE per-pupil funding routed to its academies, supplemented by DfE-paid ECTP (two-year entitlement) and NPQ programmes (with 20,000 nationwide scholarship places and priority funding for high-pupil-premium schools). Teacher training is delivered in collaboration with Teach First; a smaller, fee-bearing revenue layer comes from external Growing Together contracts with non-trust schools (e.g., Reach Academy Feltham, UCS Bolton) and facilities hire of school premises. Distribution is regional and direct via the trust's school network across London, South-East, and North-West England, with go-to-market split between community-led academy recruitment and event-driven PD delivery at Duke's Aldridge Academy and Aldridge @ MediaCityUK.

Name

Aldridge Education

Legal name

Aldridge Education

Website

https://aldridgeeducation.org

Company type

Private

Founded year

2016

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

501–1,000 employees

Short description

Aldridge Education is a multi-academy trust operating 10+ primary, secondary, UTC, studio, and adult-learning settings across North West England, London, and Brighton, delivering government-funded education and a "Growing Together" professional development suite including SCITT, ECTP, and NPQ programmes in partnership with Teach First.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Multi-Academy Trust Education Services

NAICS

Educational Services (61), Professional and Management Development Training (611430)

SIC

Services-Educational Services (8200)

akta.pro primary industry

Executive Education & Corporate Programs (Non-degree) (EDAHAHAN)

akta.pro secondary industries

Mentorship & Coaching (Career, Academic, Industry-Specific) (EDAMAKAA), Leadership, Service Learning & Volunteer-to-Career Pathways (EDAMAKAJ)

Keywords

• Multi-academy trust
• Teacher training programmes
• Professional development services
• School improvement support
• Secondary education services

Headquarters

HQ city

London

HQ country

United Kingdom

HQ region

Europe

Offices4 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Technology or R&D, Infrastructure

Revenue model

1. Academy Trust Funding: As a multi-academy trust (MAT), Aldridge Education operates government-funded academies receiving funding through the UK Department for Education. Schools within the trust are funded based on pupil numbers.
2. DfE-Funded Teacher Training Programmes: Early Career Training Programme (ECTP) is fully funded by the DfE for two years for ECTs and one year for mentors. National Professional Qualifications (NPQs) are fully funded by the DfE for eligible state-funded schools.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion2 records

Distribution channels1 record

Marketing channels4 records

Core offering

Aldridge Education operates a family of 10+ schools and colleges across North West England, London, and Brighton, delivering primary, secondary, UTC, Studio School, and adult learning provision. Beyond school operations, it delivers a comprehensive professional development portfolio (Growing Together) including initial teacher training (SCITT), early career training (ECTP), National Professional Qualifications (NPQs), leadership development, instructional coaching, and the Connect & Connect+ career and enrichment programme, in partnership with Teach First.

Product overview

Aldridge Education is a multi-academy trust operating as a unified family of schools rather than a software product company. Its core offering comprises educational programmes and professional development services: Connect & Connect+ provides structured career and enrichment experiences for students; Growing Together serves as the umbrella professional development framework encompassing teacher training (SCITT, ECTP), leadership qualifications (NPQs), the Leadership Development Programme, and Instructional Coaching training. The trust operates 10+ settings including secondary academies, primary schools, UTCs, a Studio School, and adult learning provision across the North West, London, and Brighton.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Connect & Connect+ A structured career and enrichment programme ensuring every learner experiences at least 20 careers and enrichment activities across Key Stages 3 and 4, supporting career exploration and development of the Aldridge Attributes character framework. Designed for primary and secondary students across the trust's schools.
• Growing Together The trust's comprehensive professional development offer for teaching, support, and operational staff, encompassing teacher training (SCITT, ECTP), leadership development (NPQs, LDP), instructional coaching, and the Management Mastery course. Available to staff in Aldridge schools and to external schools and MATs.
• School-Centred Initial Teacher Training (SCITT) A one-year school-based teacher training programme delivered in partnership with Teach First, leading to Qualified Teacher Status (QTS) and Postgraduate Certificate in Education (PGCE). Available across London, Brighton, Darwen, and Salford locations for prospective teachers.
• Early Career Training Programme (ECTP) A two-year fully-funded training and support entitlement for Early Career Teachers and their in-school mentors, delivered in collaboration with Teach First. Includes instructional coaching, weekly sessions, and subject/phase-specific seminars. Fully DfE-funded for two years for ECTs and one year for mentors.
• National Professional Qualifications (NPQs) A suite of NPQ courses delivered in partnership with Teach First, including Leading Teaching (NPQLT), Leading Behaviour and Culture (NPQLBC), Leading Teacher Development (NPQLTD), Leading Literacy (NPQLL), Senior Leadership (NPQSL), Headship (NPQH), and SENCOs (NPQSEN). Fully DfE-funded for teachers in eligible state-funded schools.
• Leadership Development Programme An 18-month leadership development course featuring four full-day workshops, career coaching, optional mentoring, and guest speaker interactions. Cohort 3 launching September 2026. Delivered to aspiring middle and senior leaders across the trust.
• Instructional Coaching Expert training and support in instructional coaching using the See it, Name it, Do it model (Paul Bambrick Santoyo). Includes coach training, video feedback via IRIS Connect, implementation support, and leader coaching for school leaders and instructional coaches.
• Management Mastery A new course designed for line managers providing practical tools for effective people management. Covers Aldridge Education policy and process, psychological safety and wellbeing, appraisals, and recruitment. Delivered to managers across the organisation.
• Aldridge Adult Learning Adult education provision within the Aldridge Education family of schools, part of the Atypical and Adult Learning category. Delivers adult learning courses to learners outside the traditional school-age cohort.
• Facilities Hire Community facilities hire across Aldridge schools including swimming pools, sports pitches (3G, grass, rugby), netball courts, sports halls, assembly halls, media rooms, classrooms, and conference facilities. Available to community groups and external organisations.

Named customers5 records

Segments3 records

Ideal customer profiles3 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Partnerships

Four partnerships are on record, tiered minor and core.

• Diane HayesminorOthers · 13 February 2025Diane Hayes, Principal at Darwen Vale High School, leads the ECT Programme with strong support, clear structures, and commitment between school, Trust, and Teach First.
• Teach FirstcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerAldridge Education works in collaboration with Teach First to deliver National Professional Qualifications (NPQs). Teach First is the largest ITT provider in the UK with over 20 years experience and rated outstanding by Ofsted. The partnership provides NPQ courses, SCITT teacher training, and ECTP programmes.
• The Aldridge FoundationcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerThe Aldridge Foundation supports the Trust in delivering a Gatsby+ programme and extra-curricular opportunities which widen horizons and build social and cultural capital for pupils and students.
• External Schools and MATsminorChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorAldridge Education's Growing Together professional development programmes are available to external schools and MATs beyond the Aldridge trust, including Reach Academy Feltham and UCS Bolton.

Scale indicators6 records

Recent moves7 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Broad incumbents

• Outwood Grange Academies Trust: Large northern MAT with a well-known school improvement methodology and teacher training programmes. Comparable on PD-led school improvement and geographic overlap in the North of England.
• United Learning: Large national MAT group running state-funded and independent schools, with an extensive SCITT and teacher CPD programme. Operates at materially larger scale but in the same school operator + teacher training category.
• Academies Enterprise Trust (AET): National MAT operating a large portfolio of primary and secondary academies. Overlaps with Aldridge on school improvement levers, Ofsted-driven turnaround work, and teacher development offers.
• Harris Federation: One of the UK's largest MATs operating primary and secondary academies plus a dedicated teacher training arm (Harris School Direct). A broader incumbent with overlapping school-improvement and ITT products.

Direct peers

• Greenwood Academies Trust: Mid-sized UK MAT running primary and secondary academies across multiple regions. Closely comparable in scale, regional footprint strategy, and reliance on DfE funding.
• Oasis Community Learning: Large UK multi-academy trust running schools and community hubs. Ted Bunn (Trust Lead for PD at Aldridge) previously worked at Oasis, and both trusts share comparable scope across primary, secondary, and alternative provision.
• Ark (Ark Academies): UK multi-academy trust operating primary and secondary schools plus teacher training, with strong Teach First ties (multiple Aldridge PD leads previously worked at Ark). Directly comparable in MAT model, school improvement levers, and PD portfolio.

Emerging players

• Reach Academy Feltham: Small, high-performing London MAT that is itself an external Growing Together partner school. Comparable in size and ethos, and useful as a reference customer for Aldridge's external PD distribution.

Others

• Teach First: Not a competitor but Aldridge's core strategic partner and the largest UK ITT provider. Relevant comparable as the umbrella under which SCITT, ECTP, and NPQ programmes operate.
• The Aldridge Foundation: Charitable founder and strategic partner providing the Gatsby+ programme and extra-curricular funding. Relevant as the founding entity and continuing capital/strategic supporter of the trust.

Market position

Strengths4 records

Weaknesses4 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• LinkedInuk.linkedin.com/company/aldridge-education
• Xx.com/aldridgeonline
• Facebookfacebook.com/profile.php

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles9 records

Subsidiaries10 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Aldridge Education