Pendle Education Trust

What Pendle Education Trust does

Pendle Education Trust is a UK Multi-Academy Trust (MAT) headquartered in Nelson, Lancashire, operating five academies across East Lancashire: Colne Primet Academy (secondary), Pendle Primary Academy, Castercliff Primary Academy, West Craven High School (secondary), and Casterton Primary Academy. The Trust is a charitable company limited by guarantee (company number 08263591), sponsored by Nelson and Colne College, and serves more than 2,630 pupils and employs over 350 staff. Its core operating model is to run schools under a unified governance structure with a centralised professional services backbone covering Finance, HR, Estates and Facilities, Governance and Compliance, IT and Digital, Marketing and Communications, Quality Assurance, and Professional Development. Educational programmes layered on top of standard curriculum delivery include the Pendle Education Trust Pledge (cultural, careers, and eco opportunities), the WAARA reading initiative, Family Learning, and Careers and Enterprise Days. Catering is outsourced to Taylor Shaw.

Name

Pendle Education Trust

Legal name

Pendle Education Trust

Website

https://pendleeducationtrust.co.uk

Company type

Private

Founded year

2012

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

101–250 employees

Short description

Pendle Education Trust is a UK Multi-Academy Trust operating five primary and secondary academies across East Lancashire, serving over 2,630 pupils with centralised Finance, HR, Estates, IT, and Governance services under sponsorship by Nelson and Colne College.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Primary and Secondary Education

NAICS

Elementary and Secondary Schools (6111), Educational Support Services (6117)

SIC

Services-Educational Services (8200)

akta.pro primary industry

Public Magnet & Specialty Schools (STEM/Arts/IB/CTE) (EDAJAAAF)

Keywords

• Multi-academy trust
• Primary education
• Secondary education
• School improvement services
• Education trust governance

Headquarters

HQ city

Nelson

HQ country

United Kingdom

HQ region

Europe

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

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

Revenue model

1. Government Education Funding: As a Multi-Academy Trust, Pendle Education Trust receives government funding from the Education and Skills Funding Agency (ESFA) to operate its five academies. Funding is based on per-pupil allocation and additional grants for specific purposes.

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels1 record

Marketing channels4 records

Core offering

Pendle Education Trust is a Multi-Academy Trust operating a family of five schools (two secondary and three primary) in Pendle and surrounding East Lancashire districts, serving over 2,630 children. A central professional services team provides shared Finance, HR, Estates, Governance, IT, Marketing, Quality Assurance, and Professional Development support across all academies, enabling schools to retain their individual identity while benefiting from centralized back-office expertise.

Product overview

Pendle Education Trust is a Multi-Academy Trust (MAT) operating as a unified family of schools supported by a central services team. The Trust comprises five academies: Colne Primet Academy (secondary), Pendle Primary Academy, Castercliff Primary Academy, Casterton Primary Academy, and West Craven High School—totaling over 2,630 children and 350 staff. The central team provides shared professional services including Finance, HR, Estates Management, Governance and Compliance, IT and Digital, Marketing and Communications, Quality Assurance, and Professional Development (CPD). Additional educational programmes include the Pendle Education Trust Pledge (10 opportunities for primary, 5 for secondary students), the WAARA reading initiative, Family Learning programmes, and Careers and Enterprise Days. Catering is outsourced to Taylor Shaw. The Trust is sponsored by Nelson and Colne College and focuses on exceptional leadership meeting the needs of local families in East Lancashire.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Colne Primet Academy Secondary education academy serving students aged 11-16 in the Colne area, currently with 875 students and expansion to 1,050 capacity planned. Achieved Good Ofsted judgement in May 2018 following transformational change.
• Pendle Primary Academy Two-form entry primary academy located in Brierfield with just over 400 children, demonstrating rapid and sustained improvements in quality of education.
• Castercliff Primary Academy One and a half form entry primary academy located in Nelson offering a broad, enriched curriculum for primary education.
• West Craven High School Small secondary school located in the West Craven area specialising in giving students individual attention that larger establishments can find difficult.
• Casterton Primary Academy 40-child entry primary academy located in Burnley with 300 pupils, offering a broad, enriched curriculum.
• Central School Support Services

Quantifiable outcome

• Colne Primet Academy achieved Good Ofsted judgement in May 2018 following leadership transformation
• +3 more outcomes

Named customers5 records

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

16 partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• Nelson and Colne CollegecoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2012Sponsor of Pendle Education Trust since establishment in 2012. Provides expertise, leadership, resources and information sharing. Brings incredible support from senior leaders and school liaison team who work directly with Trust staff and students. Located at Scotland Road, Nelson campus.
• Burnley FC in the CommunitycoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerEducation team works in all Trust schools offering educational and personal development programmes including Premier League Inspires and Premier League Primary Stars. Both secondary schools employ Wellbeing Practitioners. Children benefit from Whitehough Outdoor Centre, Leisure Box and Turf Moor facilities.
• Taylor ShawcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerLeading specialist caterer in the education sector providing freshly prepared food. Operates throughout Trust schools, tailoring services to each school's ethos and pupil profile. Also donated funding for sustainability projects.
• SilentnightminorGTM or Marketing PartnerBarnoldswick bed manufacturers who donated funding for sustainability projects. Participated in Dragons' Den green initiative panel.
• Lea Hough Chartered SurveyorsminorImplementation/ SI/ Consulting PartnerPartnership for conditions surveys and putting together successful funding bids for Condition Improvement Funding applications.
• Lancashire County CouncilminorGTM or Marketing PartnerDonated 1,500 trees as part of micro-wood project next to Nelson and Colne College's 3G pitches.
• Greggs FoundationminorGTM or Marketing PartnerSupported Casterton Primary Academy's Pottery Club as part of enrichment programme.
• Robert Windle FoundationminorGTM or Marketing PartnerAwarded £200 grant to West Craven High School for purchasing scientific calculators for students.
• Ernest Cook TrustminorGTM or Marketing PartnerAwarded £1,000 Outdoor Essentials Grant to West Craven High School for Nature and Nurture programme creating outdoor spaces for learning and wellbeing.
• Lancashire Adult LearningminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartnership for family learning programmes covering topics including reading, phonics and maths for parents and children.
• Star Institute (Teaching School Hub)minorChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorLocal teaching school hub providing nationally accredited programmes including NPQs and ECT Induction.
• The National CollegeminorChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorTrust is a member providing every staff member access to personalise and tailor their own professional development activities.
• One EducationminorChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorProvides live virtual governor training sessions professionally delivered.
• National Governance AssociationminorChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorProvides online governor training modules for governance professional development.
• Parent KindminorChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorSupports establishment of Parent, Teacher and Friends' Associations at Trust schools.
• Burnley Leisure and CultureminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartnership for family cooking sessions at Casterton Primary Academy as part of family cook and play programme.

Scale indicators8 records

Recent moves8 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Broad incumbents

• Oasis Community Learning: Large UK MAT running primary and secondary academies across multiple regions. Comparable as a multi-academy trust serving mixed communities with a strong community-hub ethos similar to Pendle's family approach.
• United Learning: One of the largest UK multi-academy trusts operating both primary and secondary schools nationally. Directly comparable as a MAT model with central shared services, but materially larger scale than Pendle Education Trust.
• Academies Enterprise Trust (AET): One of the largest UK MATs running primary, secondary and special schools nationally. Comparable as a multi-academy trust with strong central services, though materially larger scale and broader geographic footprint than Pendle.
• Reach2 Academy Trust: One of the largest primary-focused multi-academy trusts in England, sharing Pendle's emphasis on primary school improvement and central professional services for member schools.
• Outwood Grange Academies Trust: Large Northern England MAT with a track record of turning around underperforming secondary schools. Comparable to Pendle in its school improvement methodology and regional concentration in the North.

Direct peers

• Star Academies: Regional multi-academy trust operating several primary and secondary schools in the North of England with similar turnaround-focused approach and strong central team support. Particularly comparable given its Northern England footprint.
• Greenwood Academies Trust: Multi-academy trust operating multiple primary and secondary schools across the Midlands and East of England with a comparable size and mixed urban community profile.
• Priory Federation of Academies: Smaller regional MAT with primary and secondary schools in Lincolnshire, comparable in scale to Pendle Education Trust and operating a similar central support services model.

Others

• Lancashire County Council Education Services: Local authority responsible for maintained schools in the same East Lancashire geography Pendle serves. Relevant counterparty context: LA decisions on school structures and competition affect Pendle's enrollment and conversion pipeline.
• Nelson and Colne College: Sponsor of Pendle Education Trust and parent organisation. Operates post-16 further education provision in East Lancashire and provides the integrated K-12-to-FE pathway that differentiates Pendle's curriculum.

Market position

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• Facebookfacebook.com/PendleEducationTrust
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/pendleeducationtrust
• Xx.com/pendleeducation

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles11 records

Subsidiaries5 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 Pendle Education Trust