The 3-18 Education Trust

What The 3-18 Education Trust does

The 3-18 Education Trust is a charitable Multi-Academy Trust (MAT) limited by guarantee, headquartered in Shropshire, UK. It operates a network of 11 schools spanning the full 3-18 age range — from primary through secondary and sixth form — including Bowbrook Primary, Coleham Primary, Hodnet Primary, John Wilkinson Primary, Much Wenlock Primary, St Martins 3-16 School, Priory School, Thomas Adams School, William Brookes School, Bridgnorth Endowed School, and Lakelands Academy (joining June 2026). The trust was founded in 2012 and converted to MAT status in 2016, growing primarily through school conversions and additions. Governance is provided by a board of trustees, with operational leadership held by CEO David O'Toole and Deputy CEO Claire Jones, both appointed in 2022.

The trust's core product is statutory and supplementary education delivered across its school network, supported by a central services team and structured pedagogical frameworks including the Belonging Framework and the 3-18 Inspiring Futures programme. It also operates a Teaching School Alliance, Trust Improvement Consultants, and Teaching and Learning Consultants — internal functions that train staff and provide school improvement support, potentially to external partners. Partnerships with Halo Leisure (community wellbeing) and the Drapers Company (Thomas Adams School) extend the trust's reach beyond the classroom.

Revenue is generated almost entirely through UK government per-pupil funding (General Annual Grant from the Department for Education), supplemented by modest partnership and improvement-services income. As a charity, surplus is reinvested into the schools rather than distributed. The trust serves pupils and families across Shropshire and competes for pupils, staff, and conversion targets against other MATs and local authority-maintained schools in the region.

Name

The 3-18 Education Trust

Legal name

The 3-18 Education Trust

Website

https://3-18education.co.uk

Company type

Private

Founded year

2012

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

501–1,000 employees

Short description

The 3-18 Education Trust is a UK charitable Multi-Academy Trust operating 11 primary and secondary schools across Shropshire, funded primarily by government per-pupil grants and serving pupils aged 3 to 18.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Headquarters

HQ city

Shrewsbury

HQ country

United Kingdom

HQ region

Europe

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

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

Revenue model

1. Academy Funding: As a Multi-Academy Trust, the organization receives government funding through academy funding agreements for each school. Revenue is used to fund educational operations across all 11 schools with a cost-effective central support structure.

Marketing channels4 records

Core offering

The 3-18 Education Trust is a Multi-Academy Trust operating 11 schools across Shropshire, UK, providing education from nursery (age 2) to post-16 (age 18/19). It delivers primary, secondary, and all-through education through its member schools, supported by centralized services including HR, finance, IT, governance, school improvement, and the 3-18 Inspiring Futures professional development programme. Schools retain their local identities while benefiting from shared resources, best practice, and collective school improvement expertise.

Product overview

The 3-18 Education Trust is a Multi-Academy Trust operating as a unified platform of 11 schools spanning nursery to post-16 education across Shropshire, UK. The core offering consists of the Schools Network supported by a School Improvement Framework that drives accountability and quality assurance. Professional development is delivered through the 3-18 Inspiring Futures program, with subject-specific expertise provided by Trust Improvement Consultants and Teaching and Learning Consultants. The Belonging Framework underpins inclusion practices, while Central Support Services (HR, finance, IT, governance) provide operational infrastructure. Schools retain local identity while benefiting from collaborative expertise and shared resources.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• The 3-18 Education Trust Schools Network

Named customers1 record

Segments3 records

Ideal customer profiles2 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Partnerships

Three partnerships are on record, tiered minor.

• The Drapers' CompanyminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerThomas Adams School maintains strong historic links with The Drapers' Company, a historic London livery company with a long tradition of supporting education. The company provides invaluable support to the school, helping create an environment where students flourish academically and personally.
• Halo Leisure CentresminorOthersAll Trust staff can benefit from free membership of Halo Leisure Centres in Bridgnorth and Much Wenlock, including gym, swimming, group exercise classes and online workouts via the Halo@Home app. This partnership supports staff health and wellbeing.
• Shrewsbury Museum and Art GalleryminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerHannah Taylor, Executive Assistant, previously worked as an experienced schools' education facilitator for Shrewsbury Museum and Art Gallery delivering sessions for schools across Shropshire, indicating ongoing educational collaboration.

Scale indicators2 records

Recent moves8 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Direct peers

• E-ACT: Large UK Multi-Academy Trust operating academies across England with a central team providing school improvement, operational and back-office services. Structurally comparable to The 3-18 Education Trust's model of shared central services funded by government academy grants.
• The Kemnal Academies Trust (TKAT): Large UK Multi-Academy Trust operating primary and secondary academies with shared central services including school improvement, finance, HR and governance support. Comparable to The 3-18 Education Trust in operating model, charitable MAT structure and government-funded revenue base.
• Ormiston Academies Trust: One of the UK's largest Multi-Academy Trusts, operating academies across multiple regions with a central team delivering school improvement, education welfare, and operational support services. Structurally aligned with The 3-18 Education Trust's MAT model of shared central services funded by academy grants.
• Academies Enterprise Trust (AET): Large UK Multi-Academy Trust operating a diverse portfolio of primary, secondary and special academies with shared central services and a school improvement framework. Directly comparable to The 3-18 Education Trust's MAT structure and central-team operating model.
• Aspirations Academies Trust: UK Multi-Academy Trust operating academies across southern England with a focus on school-to-school improvement and shared central services. Comparable to The 3-18 Education Trust in MAT structure, academy funding model, and central-team delivery of support functions.
• Academy Transformation Trust: UK Multi-Academy Trust operating a portfolio of primary and secondary academies across the Midlands with shared central services for school improvement and operations. Directly comparable to The 3-18 Education Trust in member-academy structure and central-support operating model.
• Greenwood Academies Trust: UK Multi-Academy Trust operating primary, secondary and special schools across the East Midlands and East of England. Directly comparable to The 3-18 Education Trust in operating model: a network of member academies served by a shared central team providing school improvement, HR, finance and IT support funded through UK government academy grants.
• REAch2 Academy Trust: Large UK primary-focused Multi-Academy Trust operating academies nationwide with shared central services and a school improvement framework. Comparable to The 3-18 Education Trust in MAT governance structure, academy funding model, and shared-service central team approach.

Others

• Best Practice Network: UK education training provider delivering the Early Career Framework, National Professional Qualifications, and leadership development programmes. Adjacent / enabling rather than directly competitive — relevant because Trustee Sharon Munro works there as a Group Facilitator & Leadership Performance Coach, signalling ecosystem overlap with the trust's 3-18 Inspiring Futures offering.
• Shrewsbury High School: Independent girls' day school in Shrewsbury, led by Trustee Darren Payne. A local adjacent provider rather than a direct competitor — relevant because it illustrates the trust's local education ecosystem, and as an independent school sits outside the trust's state-funded MAT perimeter.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• Facebookfacebook.com/318EducationTrust
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/the-3-18-education-trust

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles8 records

Subsidiaries11 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

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M&A

Investments

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

Frequently asked questions about The 3-18 Education Trust