What Laidlaw Schools Trust does

Laidlaw Schools Trust is a UK-registered charitable multi-academy trust founded in 2008 by Lord Laidlaw, headquartered in Newcastle upon Tyne. It operates 11 academies serving more than 6,700 students from nursery through sixth form across Newcastle, Sunderland, Washington, and Sedgefield in North East England, with a staff base exceeding 1,040. The trust is governed under a values-based educational philosophy (Ambitious, Brave, Curious, Determined, Extraordinary, Fast, Good) and delivers both primary and secondary education, including specialist SEND provision via the 2025-launched Skylight inclusive education model. It is led by CEO Sally Newton with Susanna Kempe as Chairman and Lord Laidlaw as Founder.

The trust's core product is its academy network, supplemented by the Laidlaw X cultural enrichment programme (funded by the Laidlaw Foundation), the Laidlaw Apple Regional Training Centre for staff EdTech development, an in-house Teacher Training Programme, Fellowships of Education leadership development, and Career Pathways for staff. Technology deployment is built around Apple hardware (iPads for students) and Microsoft productivity tools; no proprietary software platform, API, or AI capability is offered commercially. Marketing and outreach occur via the trust website, Facebook and Twitter channels, and large-scale community events such as Extraordinary Us concerts at O2 City Hall and art showcases at the Baltic Centre.

The business model is government-funded: the trust receives UK state per-pupil allocations across all enrolled students with no tuition fees charged to families. Distribution is direct-to-consumer through standard UK school admissions processes within each academy's catchment area. The trust reports KS2 outcomes exceeding national averages (2025), an Outstanding Ofsted rating for Westgate Hill (2021), and 'Exceptional' recognition for Inclusion (2025), with revenue not publicly disclosed. Philanthropic support from the Laidlaw Foundation underwrites enrichment programming and partnership activity with Apple, Palladio Education, Royal Northern Sinfonia, Voice 21, Go Well, and St Oswald's Hospice.

Name

Laidlaw Schools Trust

Legal name

Laidlaw Schools Trust

Website

https://laidlawschoolstrust.co.uk

Company type

Private

Founded year

2008

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

Laidlaw Schools Trust is a UK charitable multi-academy trust operating 11 state-funded academies across North East England, serving over 6,700 nursery-to-sixth-form students under a values-based education model with philanthropic support from the Laidlaw Foundation.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Headquarters

HQ city

Newcastle Upon Tyne

HQ country

United Kingdom

HQ region

Europe

Offices5 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

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

Revenue model

1. Government Education Funding: State-funded education through UK government per-pupil funding allocations. Academies receive funding based on pupil numbers for providing free education from nursery to sixth form.

Go-to-market motion2 records

Distribution channels1 record

Marketing channels6 records

Core offering

Laidlaw Schools Trust is a multi-academy trust operating 11 academies across North East England, providing free state-funded education from nursery to sixth form. The trust delivers primary and secondary education, specialist SEND provision through its Skylight model, teacher training programmes, and cultural enrichment activities through the Laidlaw X initiative, supported by the Laidlaw Foundation and an Apple Regional Training Centre for staff development.

Product overview

Laidlaw Schools Trust is a multi-academy trust operating eleven academies in the North East of England. The organization offers a unified educational programme spanning nursery to sixth form through its academy network. Supporting services include the Laidlaw Apple Regional Training Centre for teacher professional development, Laidlaw X enrichment programmes for cultural and creative experiences, teacher training pathways, career development opportunities, and the Fellowships of Education leadership programme. The Trust is funded and supported by the Laidlaw Foundation, which provides resources for educational initiatives and social equality programmes.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• Laidlaw X: An initiative of Laidlaw Schools Trust focused on enrichment activities and events for students across the trust academies.
• Laidlaw Foundation

Products and services

• Academy Network A network of eleven academies across the North East of England serving children from nursery to sixth form in Newcastle, Wearside, and Sedgefield. Each academy operates under the Trust's unified educational philosophy and governance.
• Laidlaw Apple Regional Training Centre

Quantifiable outcome

• KS2 Reading, Writing and Maths results exceed National Averages (2025)
• +3 more outcomes

Named customers4 records

Segments3 records

Ideal customer profiles4 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature3 records

Partnerships

Seven partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• Palladio EducationcoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2024Creative educational organization founded in 2020 by Miles and Gary Wallis-Clarke, specializing in music and creative learning. Partners with LST to deliver Extraordinary Us music events, leading rehearsals and performing alongside students at venues like O2 City Hall. Provides staff development and student empowerment through music programs.
• Apple Regional Training CentrecoreTechnology or IntegrationDesignated Apple Regional Training Centre providing professional development for staff in Apple technology integration across the trust's academies. Supports EdTech innovation initiatives including iPad programs for students.
• Go WellminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartnership for Year 7 Olympics initiative, providing sporting opportunities and health & wellbeing programs for transitioning students.
• St Oswald's HospiceminorOthersCharitable partnership where optional donations from Extraordinary Us concert ticket sales are directed to St Oswald's Hospice, a charity close to many in the LST community.
• Royal Northern SinfoniaminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerProfessional orchestra providing live accompaniment for music events, including Adam Wood who accompanied the Extraordinary Us concert.
• Voice 21minorStrategic or Co-development PartnerOracy education program used to develop students' speaking and listening skills for debating events.
• Baltic Centre for Contemporary ArtminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerGallery partnership for Extraordinary Us art showcase, where students worked with professional artists to create and display artworks.

Scale indicators6 records

Recent moves7 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Direct peers

• United Learning: One of the largest UK multi-academy trusts running both state-funded and independent schools. Comparable to LST as a scaled MAT portfolio across primary and secondary phases with enrichment programming.
• Ark Schools: Charitable multi-academy trust operating primary and secondary schools across the UK with focus on educational disadvantage. Highly comparable to LST's mission of serving underprivileged communities in North East England.
• Star Academies: UK multi-academy trust operating a portfolio of primary and secondary schools with strong Ofsted outcomes and a faith-inspired ethos. Comparable as a values-driven MAT pursuing measurable academic improvement.
• Oasis Community Learning: Large UK multi-academy trust operating primary and secondary academies nationally with a mission-driven ethos. Comparable to LST as a charitable MAT combining academic outcomes with enrichment and inclusion focus.
• Academies Enterprise Trust: Large UK multi-academy trust operating primary and secondary academies with a focus on school improvement. Directly comparable as a state-funded MAT using a hub-and-spoke operating model.
• Outwood Grange Academies Trust: UK multi-academy trust operating a large network of primary and secondary academies, particularly across the North of England. Highly comparable to LST given overlapping geography and shared improvement-focused culture.
• Harris Federation: UK multi-academy trust running a large network of primary and secondary academies. Comparable to LST as a state-funded MAT scaling through academy conversion with a track record of strong academic outcomes.

Broad incumbents

• GEMS Education: Global K-12 education operator with UK presence. Comparable only at a broad industry level; serves a different segment (private/premium) but illustrates the broader K-12 operator landscape LST competes within for talent and reputation.

Emerging players

• Reach Academy Trust: Smaller UK multi-academy trust with a focused portfolio and strong inclusion credentials. Comparable to LST at a smaller scale, particularly on inclusion and community engagement.

Regional players

• Northern Education Trust: Multi-academy trust operating primarily across the North of England with a mix of primary and secondary academies. Comparable to LST on regional footprint and similar cohort demographics in the North East/North.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/laidlawST
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/laidlaw-schools-trust

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles3 records

Subsidiaries11 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 Laidlaw Schools Trust