Fylde Coast Academy Trust
Fylde Coast Academy Trust is a UK multi-academy trust operating ten state-funded primary, secondary, and all-through academies across Blackpool and the Fylde Coast, funded by the Department for Education and additionally delivering teacher training and professional development programmes.
- Company typePrivate
- Founded2012
- HeadquartersBlackpool, United Kingdom
- Headcount11–50
- GTM typeB2B and B2C
- OfferingServices
What Fylde Coast Academy Trust does
Fylde Coast Academy Trust (FCAT) is a multi-academy trust established in 2012 by Fylde Coast Teaching School and a group of local schools, operating ten state-funded academies across the Blackpool and Fylde Coast region of Lancashire, England. Its core offering is primary and secondary education delivered through a mix of standalone primary schools, secondary schools, and all-through academies serving children from nursery age through 16, including special educational needs provision. FCAT's secondary product line consists of teacher training and professional development programmes: the Ofsted Outstanding Fylde Coast SCITT has trained over 200 teachers via on-the-job school-centred initial teacher training, while additional programmes include National Professional Qualifications delivered in partnership with LLSE, an Early Career Training Programme with Teach First, and a Continuous Professional Learning Pathway for staff at all career stages.
The trust's business model is fundamentally not commercial in the traditional sense. As a state-funded multi-academy trust, FCAT receives government funding from the Department for Education to operate its academies and does not charge tuition fees to students or families. Revenue supports educational delivery, school improvement activity, and operational costs across the trust family. The trust grows by onboarding partner schools into the trust family, and operates a School Improvement Team that supports underperforming schools (e.g., Montgomery High School was moved out of special measures to a GOOD Ofsted rating). The central trust is reported to have 11-50 employees, with teaching and operational staff distributed across the academies.
FCAT is led by CEO Felicity Greeves, with John Boyle as Chair and Tony Nicholson as Deputy CEO. The trust operates from its headquarters at Mereside Primary Academy on Langdale Road, Blackpool, and has been recognized externally through awards including the OPAL Platinum Quality Mark (Westcliff Primary, top 1% nationally for outdoor play), Primary Science Teacher Award, Music Ambassador Award, and Ofsted GOOD/Outstanding ratings across multiple academies and the SCITT programme. Distribution is primarily regional, with engagement via the fcat.org.uk website, social media (Facebook, X/Twitter), email newsletter, community events, and earned media coverage in outlets such as the Blackpool Gazette.
Fylde Coast Academy Trust firmographics
Firmographics- Name
- Fylde Coast Academy Trust
- Legal name
- Fylde Coast Academy Trust
- Website
- https://fcat.org.uk
- Company type
- Private
- Founded year
- 2012
- Operating status
- Operating
- Headcount range
- 11–50 employees
- Short description
- Fylde Coast Academy Trust is a UK multi-academy trust operating ten state-funded primary, secondary, and all-through academies across Blackpool and the Fylde Coast, funded by the Department for Education and additionally delivering teacher training and professional development programmes.
- Ownership category
- akta.pro rank
Fylde Coast Academy Trust industry classification
Industry- Product category
- K-12 Education Services
- NAICS
- Colleges, Universities, and Professional Schools (6113), Professional and Management Development Training (611430)
- SIC
- Services-Educational Services (8200)
- akta.pro primary industry
- Project, Quality & Operations (PMP PDUs, Six Sigma, Quality CE) (EDAAALAM)
Keywords
Where Fylde Coast Academy Trust is headquartered
LocationHeadquarters
- HQ city
- Blackpool
- HQ country
- United Kingdom
- HQ region
- Europe
Offices2 records
Markets served
Fylde Coast Academy Trust business model
Business model- GTM type
- B2B and B2C
- Offering type
- Services
- Cost components
- Personnel, Operations, Infrastructure, Technology or R&D, Others
Revenue model
- Government Education Funding: As a multi-academy trust operating state-funded schools, FCAT receives government funding from the Department for Education to operate its academies. Revenue supports educational delivery, school improvement, and operational costs.
Go-to-market motion1 record
Distribution channels2 records
Marketing channels5 records
Fylde Coast Academy Trust product offering
Product offeringCore offering
Fylde Coast Academy Trust (FCAT) operates a network of 10 state-funded academies across Blackpool and the Fylde Coast, providing primary, secondary, and all-through education (Reception through age 16). Alongside school operations, FCAT runs a portfolio of teacher training and professional development offerings, including the Ofsted Outstanding Fylde Coast SCITT for initial teacher training, National Professional Qualifications (NPQs) in partnership with LLSE, the Early Career Training Programme (ECTP) with Teach First, and a Continuous Professional Learning Pathway for staff at all career stages.
Product overview
Fylde Coast Academy Trust operates as a multi-academy trust providing educational services through a network of academies (including primary and secondary schools). The trust's offerings include teacher training and professional development programmes such as SCITT (School-Centred Initial Teacher Training), National Professional Qualifications (NPQ's) in partnership with LLSE, an Early Career Training Programme delivered with Teach First, and a Continuous Professional Learning Pathway. These educational programmes serve to develop teachers and leaders across the trust's academies and partner schools in the Blackpool and Fylde Coast region.
Differentiator
Problem solved
Functional benefit
Products and services
- Armfield Academy All-through academy (Reception through secondary) opened in August 2018, serving South Shore, Blackpool, as part of the FCAT network.
- The Avenue Academy 2-16 through-school opened in September 2018 on the former Arnold site, providing continuous education from early years through age 16.
- Aspire Academy Secondary academy within FCAT, judged GOOD by Ofsted, delivering secondary education to pupils in the Blackpool and Fylde Coast area.
- Unity Academy All-through academy from nursery through age 16 within FCAT, judged GOOD by Ofsted.
- Montgomery Academy Secondary academy within FCAT that improved from special measures to a GOOD Ofsted outcome under FCAT leadership.
- Gateway Academy Academy within FCAT delivering primary and secondary education, having undergone a rapid school improvement journey.
- Westminster Primary Academy Primary school within FCAT, recognised with the Music Ambassador Award (Blackpool Music Service) and the Primary Science Teacher Award for exceptional and innovative primary science teaching.
- Westcliff Primary Academy Primary school within FCAT ranked in the top 1% of schools nationally for outdoor play and learning (OPAL Platinum Quality Mark).
- Mereside Primary Academy Primary academy within FCAT, site of the trust headquarters at Langdale Road, with an archaeological dig site used as an outdoor learning facility.
- Hambleton Primary Academy Primary academy within FCAT, participating in STEM enrichment events and community engagement activities.
- National Professional Qualifications (NPQs) Accredited leadership qualifications for teachers and school leaders (NPQLT, NPQLBC, NPQSL, NPQH, NPQSENDCO) delivered by FCAT in partnership with LLSE based on DfE frameworks.
- Early Career Training Programme (ECTP) Statutory two-year induction programme for Early Career Teachers delivered by FCAT in partnership with Teach First, providing structured mentorship, dedicated professional development, and a 10% timetable reduction in Year 1 and 5% in Year 2.
- Continuous Professional Learning Pathway Research-informed professional development pathway for FCAT staff at all career stages, delivered by senior leaders and recognised experts from within and outside the trust.
- Fylde Coast SCITT (School-Centred Initial Teacher Training) School-Centred Initial Teacher Training programme across Blackpool and northwest England enabling trainees to qualify with Qualified Teacher Status and an optional PGCE after one year; Ofsted Outstanding provider that has trained over 200 teachers.
Quantifiable outcome
- Westcliff Primary ranked in top 1% of schools nationally for outdoor play quality
- +2 more outcomes
Companies that use Fylde Coast Academy Trust
Customer profileNamed customers10 records
Segments2 records
Ideal customer profiles2 records
Fylde Coast Academy Trust technology and API
TechnologyTechnology focussed No
API detail
- Has API
- No
- API docs
- API detail
Core technology
AI maturity
App detail
Fylde Coast Academy Trust partnerships and signals
Strategic signalPartnerships
Eleven partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.
- STEM Learning / Spectris FoundationcoreSTEM Learning partnered with Spectris Foundation to provide professional development for teachers through ENTHUSE Partnerships. FCAT schools participated in STEM challenges where 114 pupils from 9 schools showcased STEM projects to solve Fylde Coast future problems.
- Blackpool and Fylde Lancashire Energy HQminorHosted the STEM event for 9 Blackpool and Fylde Coast schools, running multiple sessions on nuclear simulator and manufacturing activities.
- University of Central Lancashire (UCLAN)minorUnity Academy Year 7 students visited UCLAN for careers event with photography and DNA extraction sessions, providing insights into university pathways and career opportunities.
- Blackpool Pleasure Beach (World Wide Stage Productions)minorStaff from World Wide Stage Productions at Blackpool Pleasure Beach provided careers presentations to Unity Academy students, exploring theatre careers including costume design, graphic design, media and lights, photography and performing arts.
- Sports For ChampionsminorBlackpool Gateway Academy partnered with Sports For Champions for a UK fundraiser supporting mental and physical health of pupils. Great Britain wheelchair basketball player Sophie Carrigill visited to inspire children.
- Vision for EducationminorPreston-based education recruitment firm Vision for Education provided £400 sponsorship for Gateway Academy ice cream event to recognize student achievements during pandemic.
- Blackpool Better StartminorBlackpool Better Start invested £1.6m in play facilities across Blackpool, including £40,000 for Mereside Children's Centre play area. FCAT expressed gratitude for this investment supporting early years development.
- PorticusminorInternational philanthropic organization visited FCAT and Aspire Academy as part of Blackpool Challenge and Right to Succeed programme. Discussed collaborative improvement work and hopes and dreams of young people.
- LLSE (Lancashire and South Cumbria Learning)coreFCAT is proud to be delivery partners with LLSE to deliver a range of National Professional Qualifications (NPQs). They work together to develop and deliver high quality programmes based on DfE frameworks.
- Teach FirstcoreFCAT is a Delivery Partner for Teach First to provide the Early Career Training Programme (ECTP) for new teachers. The partnership offers structured two-year induction with dedicated mentorship and professional development.
- Lancashire and Cumbria Science Learning PartnershipminorEducation charity funded by Department for Education engaged FCAT schools in STEM activities and professional development through ENTHUSE partnerships.
Scale indicators4 records
Recent moves9 records
Expansion highlights5 records
Fylde Coast Academy Trust competitors and assessment
Company assessmentDirect peers
- Harris Federation: One of the UK's largest multi-academy trusts operating primary and secondary academies. Directly comparable to FCAT in operating model, Ofsted-rated school improvement focus, and teacher training programs.
- Oasis Community Learning: National MAT running primary, secondary and all-through academies with strong community engagement. Comparable to FCAT through its trust-led operating model and integrated pupil services.
- Star Academies: Multi-academy trust running primary and secondary schools with strong faith ethos and leadership development focus. Comparable to FCAT in governance-led school improvement and educator CPD offerings.
- Greenwood Academies Trust: Multi-academy trust operating primary and secondary schools across the East Midlands. Comparable in trust-based operating model and explicit school improvement focus for underperforming academies.
- Northern Education Trust: Multi-academy trust running schools across the north of England. Comparable to FCAT in geographic scope within northern regions, primary/secondary mix, and educator development programs.
- Outwood Grange Academies Trust: Regional MAT operating primary and secondary schools across northern England. Comparable to FCAT through its school improvement methodology and structured CPD offerings for staff.
- The Kemnal Academies Trust (TKAT): National MAT running primary and secondary academies with a strong focus on turning around underperforming schools. Comparable to FCAT in turnaround capability and teacher training pathways.
- Consilium Academies: Multi-academy trust operating primary and secondary schools primarily in the north of England. Comparable in trust structure, regional northern focus, and school improvement orientation.
- Academies Enterprise Trust (AET): National MAT operating a large portfolio of primary and secondary academies. Comparable to FCAT in operating model, Ofsted-driven improvement work, and educator training programs.
- United Learning: Large independent MAT operating state and independent schools across England. Comparable through its school improvement methodology, teacher development pathways, and multi-phase academy portfolio.
Market position
Strengths5 records
Weaknesses5 records
Competitive moat4 records
Key risks6 records
Key highlights6 records
Customer concentration
Fylde Coast Academy Trust social profiles
Digital presenceFylde Coast Academy Trust financial estimates
Financial estimateRevenue estimate
Valuation estimate
Fylde Coast Academy Trust leadership team
Management profileNumber of profiles
Profiles14 records
Fylde Coast Academy Trust subsidiaries and ownership
Company hierarchySubsidiaries10 records
Fylde Coast Academy Trust funding detail
Funding detailFunding overview
Funding rounds
Investors
Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Fylde Coast Academy 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 Fylde Coast Academy Trust
What does Fylde Coast Academy Trust do?
Fylde Coast Academy Trust (FCAT) operates a network of 10 state-funded academies across Blackpool and the Fylde Coast, providing primary, secondary, and all-through education (Reception through age 16). Alongside school operations, FCAT runs a portfolio of teacher training and professional development offerings, including the Ofsted Outstanding Fylde Coast SCITT for initial teacher training, National Professional Qualifications (NPQs) in partnership with LLSE, the Early Career Training Programme (ECTP) with Teach First, and a Continuous Professional Learning Pathway for staff at all career stages.
Is Fylde Coast Academy Trust a public or private company?
Fylde Coast Academy Trust is a private company. It is classified as nonprofit foundation owned and is currently operating.
When was Fylde Coast Academy Trust founded?
Fylde Coast Academy Trust was founded in 2012. It employs 11 to 50 people.
Where is Fylde Coast Academy Trust based?
Fylde Coast Academy Trust is headquartered in Blackpool, United Kingdom, in the Europe region.
How does Fylde Coast Academy Trust make money?
One revenue line is on record: government Education Funding.
Who are Fylde Coast Academy Trust's main competitors?
Direct peers on record are Harris Federation, Oasis Community Learning, Star Academies, Greenwood Academies Trust, Northern Education Trust, Outwood Grange Academies Trust, The Kemnal Academies Trust (TKAT), Consilium Academies, Academies Enterprise Trust (AET) and United Learning.
Does Fylde Coast Academy Trust have an API?
No public API is recorded for Fylde Coast Academy Trust.
What industry is Fylde Coast Academy Trust in?
Fylde Coast Academy Trust's product category is K-12 Education Services. Its primary akta.pro industry code is EDAAALAM, Project, Quality & Operations (PMP PDUs, Six Sigma, Quality CE). Its NAICS code is 6113 and its SIC code is 8200.