What Exceed Academies Trust does

Exceed Academies Trust is a Multi-Academy Trust headquartered in Bradford, West Yorkshire, operating a network of 14 schools comprising primary, all-through, special, and alternative provision academies. It is structured as a charitable company limited by guarantee with no parent entity, funded principally through ESFA per-pupil grants and increasingly through DfE-commissioned school improvement contracts such as the £1,533,000 Priority Education Investment Area programme covering 24 Bradford schools between March 2023 and April 2025.

Beyond school operations, Exceed runs a diversified professional services portfolio. The DfE-designated Exceed Teaching School Hub partners with 340+ schools to deliver National Professional Qualifications (96-97% pass rates), the Early Career Framework programme (95% retention), Appropriate Body services for 650+ ECTs, and the System Leaders programme. Exceed SCITT, graded Outstanding by Ofsted, delivers Initial Teacher Training across Bradford, Leeds, Craven, and partner schools in four additional regions. The Trust also operates a Bell Foundation-accredited EAL Hub for the Yorkshire and Humber region and an Apple Regional Training Centre.

Exceed has developed a documented AI workload reduction strategy featuring prompt libraries, custom ChatGPT tools, and an AI infographics toolkit built on Microsoft 365 Copilot, Google NotebookLM, and Oak National Academy Aila. This work has been formalised with a Bronze AI Quality Mark from the Good Future Foundation and the Transformation and Impact Award 2026. Pricing across the professional development offering is publicly disclosed at unit (EAL training £48/delegate, adaptive teaching training £45/delegate) and subscription (Train the Trainer £775+VAT/participant over 18 weeks) levels, while school improvement is delivered through direct DfE commissioning.

Name

Exceed Academies Trust

Legal name

Exceed Academies Trust

Website

https://exceedacademiestrust.co.uk

Company type

Private

Founded year

2016

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

501–1,000 employees

Short description

Exceed Academies Trust is a Bradford-based Multi-Academy Trust operating 14 schools and a DfE-designated Teaching School Hub serving 340+ partner schools. It delivers teacher training, NPQ and ECF programmes, school improvement commissions, and an AI workload reduction toolkit.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Headquarters

HQ city

Bradford

HQ country

United Kingdom

HQ region

Europe

Offices19 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Infrastructure, Technology or R&D, Marketing or Sales, Others

Revenue model

1. Academy Funding (Government): As a Multi-Academy Trust, Exceed Academies Trust receives government funding through the Education and Skills Funding Agency (ESFA) for its network of 14 academies including primary, secondary, special, and alternative provision schools.
2. Professional Development Training: The Trust generates revenue through charging for professional development training programmes such as EAL training (£48 per delegate), Adaptive Teaching Programme (£775 + VAT per participant), and various other CPD offerings delivered through the Teaching School Hub.
3. Teaching School Hub Services: Revenue from providing Appropriate Body services, NPQ programmes, ECT training, and school improvement support to external schools and trusts across the region.
4. School Improvement Commissions: The Trust receives commissioned funding for school improvement programmes, such as the £1,533,000 Priority Education Investment Area (PEIA) commission and other Trust and School Improvement Offer (TSIO) contracts.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels5 records

Marketing channels4 records

Core offering

Exceed Academies Trust operates a 14-school Multi-Academy Trust network in Bradford (primary, all-through, special, and alternative provision) delivering K-12 education. It also runs a national Teaching School Hub and an Ofsted Outstanding Initial Teacher Training provider (Exceed SCITT), and sells professional development, school improvement commissions, and AI-enabled educational resources to external schools, trusts, and the DfE.

Product overview

Exceed Academies Trust operates as a Multi-Academy Trust of 14 inclusive schools (primary, secondary, all-through, special, and alternative provision) in Bradford. The core offering includes Exceed SCITT (Outstanding-graded Initial Teacher Training), Exceed Teaching School Hub (DfE-designated national network), and EAL Hub (Bell Foundation accredited). Professional development products include the Adaptive Teaching Programme (partnered with Ambition Institute), ECT two-year induction programme, and NPQ suite. AI-powered educational tools include custom GPTs (Beta), an AI Infographics Toolkit for generating visual data summaries via Microsoft 365 Copilot, prompt-based generators for lesson plans/comprehension/newsletter/assemblies, and integrations with Google NotebookLM, Microsoft 365 Copilot Agents, and Oak National Academy Aila. Additional offerings include Appropriate Body Services, System Leaders Programme, and Exceed InnovAItors Networks.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• Exceed Apple Regional Training Centre (RTC): Part of a global network of centres supporting educators to develop their use of Apple technology in teaching and learning. Led by Holybrook Primary School.
• EAL Hub
• Exceed SCITT
• Exceed Teaching School Hub

Products and services

• Exceed Teaching School Hub DfE-designated hub supporting teacher and leadership development across all career stages, facilitating Early Career Framework programmes, National Professional Qualifications, Appropriate Body services, and Continuing Professional Development in partnership with accredited providers for schools, trusts, and partners across Bradford and beyond.
• Exceed SCITT (Initial Teacher Training) Ofsted Outstanding-graded Initial Teacher Training provider delivering school-based primary and secondary teacher training via salaried, fee-paying and apprenticeship pathways across Bradford, Leeds and Craven plus regional partner schools.
• EAL Hub (Bell Foundation Centre of Expertise) English as an Additional Language (EAL) Hub accredited by The Bell Foundation as Centre of Expertise for Yorkshire and Humber, supporting schools to develop provision for EAL learners through whole-school evaluations, training, and development opportunities including the Language for Results programme.
• Exceed Apple Regional Training Centre (RTC) Apple Regional Training Centre providing online and face-to-face training for educators in Apple technology across the UK and Ireland, supporting Apple Teacher accreditation (50%+ of Holybrook Primary staff are Apple Teachers) and curriculum integration.
• Adaptive Teaching Programme: Train the Trainer Train-the-trainer programme delivered in partnership with Ambition Institute, equipping participants to lead professional development that strengthens adaptive teaching and meets the needs of all pupils, including those with SEND. £775 + VAT per participant for the full programme over three half terms (18 weeks).
• Early Career Teacher (ECT) Programme Two-year induction programme for Early Career Teachers providing mentor support, induction tutor oversight, self-study materials via Steplab, coaching, conferences and clinics aligned to the Early Career Framework. Delivered by the Exceed Teaching School Hub in partnership with Ambition Institute.
• National Professional Qualifications (NPQ) Full suite of National Professional Qualifications (including NPQH and NPQ SEN) delivered in partnership with Ambition Institute. Bradford's largest NPQ provider, with 97% pass rates for specialist NPQs and 96% for leadership NPQs across 1,140+ participants.
• Appropriate Body Services Teaching School Hub Appropriate Body service supporting schools to ensure Early Career Teachers receive statutory induction and entitlement; currently quality-assuring the entitlements of more than 650 ECTs.
• System Leaders Programme Deployment of outstanding middle and senior leaders to provide school-to-school support, working with the DfE to deliver effective support to other schools and trusts.
• School Improvement Commissioned Services Commissioned school-to-school improvement delivery including the £1,533,000 PEIA commission (March 2023 - April 2025) supporting 24 Bradford schools, Trust and School Improvement Offer (TSIO) contracts, and Opportunity Area programmes.
• Appleton Academy (All-through school) All-through school (primary and secondary) within Exceed Academies Trust, located in Wyke, Bradford.
• Baildon Glen Primary School Primary school within Exceed Academies Trust, located in Baildon, Shipley.
• Bowling Park Primary School Primary school within Exceed Academies Trust operating across two campuses (New Cross Street and Usher Street) in Bradford, praised by Ofsted for high standards.
• Bradford AP Academy (Alternative Provision) Ofsted Outstanding alternative provision supporting secondary-aged students permanently excluded from mainstream, across Aireview, Jesse Street, and the newly opened Cityview sites in Bradford and Shipley.
• Cavendish Primary School Primary school within Exceed Academies Trust, located in Bradford.
• Copthorne Primary School Primary school within Exceed Academies Trust, located in Bradford; praised in its latest Ofsted inspection (April 2026) for high expectations and strong outcomes.
• Cottingley Village Primary School Primary school within Exceed Academies Trust, located in Cottingley, Bingley.
• Harden Primary School Ofsted Outstanding primary school within Exceed Academies Trust, located in Harden, Bingley. Leads the Exceed Teaching School Hub.
• Holybrook Primary School Ofsted Outstanding primary school within Exceed Academies Trust, located in Bradford. Leads the Exceed Apple Regional Training Centre and hosts the Exceed SCITT Training Campus; over 50% of staff are accredited as Apple Teachers.
• Horton Grange Primary School Primary school within Exceed Academies Trust, located in Bradford.
• Horton Park Primary School Primary school within Exceed Academies Trust, located in Bradford.
• Knowleswood Primary School Primary school within Exceed Academies Trust, located in Bradford.
• Oastlers School Ofsted Outstanding special school within Exceed Academies Trust, located in Bradford. Designated a Trauma Informed School, lead school for the West Yorkshire Music Hub, and recognised as 'Exceptional' by Ofsted, setting the standard nationally.
• Park Aspire AP Academy Ofsted Good alternative provision within Exceed Academies Trust at Avenue Road, Bradford, supporting primary and Key Stage 3 students.

Quantifiable outcome

• 76% of pupils meet expected standard in reading, writing and maths vs 61% England average (KS2 2024)
• +7 more outcomes

Named customers14 records

Segments5 records

Ideal customer profiles3 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Integration15 records

AI capability21 records

Feature6 records

Partnerships

Twelve partnerships are on record, tiered strategic, major, core and minor.

• University of LeedsstrategicStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2025Research partnership with University of Leeds exploring AI applications in education, specifically helping teachers apply pedagogical research to lessons. Part of broader AI innovation work including custom GPT development.
• Bradford Opportunity Area / DfEmajorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 March 2023DfE-commissioned school improvement work including £1.53m Priority Education Investment Area (PEIA) commission for 24 Bradford schools (March 2023 - April 2025) and £700,000+ school-to-school support in 2021-22.
• Ambition InstitutecoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartnership with Ambition Institute for delivery of Early Career Teacher Entitlement programme and full suite of National Professional Qualifications (NPQs). Exceed Teaching School Hub delivers these DfE programmes in partnership with Ambition.
• The Bell FoundationcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerExceed Academies Trust is an accredited Bell Foundation Centre of Expertise for English as an Additional Language (EAL), supporting schools across Yorkshire and Humber. The Trust delivers the Language for Results programme.
• ApplecoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerApple Regional Training Centre partnership led by Holybrook Primary School. Partnership provides access to national and international Apple expertise, staff accreditation as Apple Teachers, and visits to Apple Park and European Headquarters.
• Department for Education (DfE)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerExceed Teaching School Hub designated by the DfE as part of the national Teaching School Hub network. Hub facilitates delivery of DfE programmes including ECF, NPQs, and Appropriate Body services.
• Education 4 Change (Newham, London)strategicStrategic or Co-development PartnerCollaboration to establish Education 4 Change (Yorkshire) focusing on equity, diversity, and belonging. Includes study visits to London schools and application of educational resources in classrooms.
• MicrosoftcoreTechnology or IntegrationFollowing DPIA approval, Microsoft 365 Copilot Chat and Microsoft 365 Copilot Premium are the only approved general-use LLMs for Exceed staff. Accessed through Trust-issued M365 accounts for enterprise-grade data protection.
• TransforMATiveminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartnership for AI in Education conference delivery. Co-hosted regional AI conferences in February and June 2025 attended by 180+ delegates from 60+ schools and trusts.
• West Yorkshire Music HubstrategicStrategic or Co-development PartnerOastlers School is a lead school for the West Yorkshire Music Hub, specialising in music education in special school settings.
• Bradford CouncilmajorStrategic or Co-development PartnerExceed Academies Trust is Bradford Council's preferred partner for 6-day alternative provision. The Trust leads Bradford's Alternative Provision Taskforce with multi-professional team including education, health and care colleagues.
• Curriculum Hubs (Maths, English)minorChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorExceed Teaching School Hub serves as a conduit for schools seeking access to DfE-funded and accredited curriculum and subject hubs including Maths and English hubs.

Scale indicators10 records

Recent moves7 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Direct peers

• Star Academies: Large UK Multi-Academy Trust running a portfolio of primary and secondary schools across multiple regions with a strong track record on attainment. Closely comparable as a multi-region, outcomes-focused MAT.
• Greenwood Academies Trust: Multi-academy trust operating schools across the East Midlands and East of England with comparable primary/secondary mix. Comparable size and multi-region operating model.
• United Learning: Large UK MAT spanning independent and state schools, with strong ITT and CPD infrastructure. Comparable as a multi-phase, teacher-development-heavy MAT.
• Harris Federation: One of the largest UK MATs, operating primary, secondary and all-through schools with significant teacher-training and CPD infrastructure. Comparable in scale, breadth and professional-development footprint.
• Academies Enterprise Trust: Large UK MAT running a diverse portfolio of primary, secondary and special schools with a national footprint. Closely comparable in school portfolio diversity and scale.
• Ark Schools: National UK MAT focused on educational disadvantage, with multi-phase schools and teacher-training programmes. Comparable mission and operating footprint.
• Dixons Academies Trust: Bradford-headquartered Multi-Academy Trust with comparable scale and a similar outcomes-driven ethos operating primary and secondary schools in West Yorkshire. The closest geographic and structural peer to Exceed.
• Oasis Community Learning: National UK Multi-Academy Trust with primary, secondary and alternative-provision academies across England. Highly comparable as a multi-phase MAT with hubs in similar regions to Exceed's Teaching School Hub catchment.

Emerging players

• Teach First: Alternative Initial Teacher Training provider operating a national leadership development programme. Competes for ITT candidates in the same West Yorkshire / Yorkshire catchment as Exceed SCITT.

Others

• Ambition Institute: DfE-accredited provider of NPQs and ECF programmes that partners with Teaching School Hubs (including Exceed) to deliver training. Not a direct MAT competitor but a strategic delivery partner for Exceed's CPD revenue.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat6 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/exceedacademies

Compliance4 records

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles4 records

Subsidiaries18 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 Exceed Academies Trust