Connect Academy Trust

Name

Connect Academy Trust

Legal name

Connect Academy Trust

Website

https://connectacademytrust.co.uk

Company type

Private

Founded year

2016

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Headquarters

HQ city

Plymouth

HQ country

United Kingdom

HQ region

Europe

Offices9 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Infrastructure, Others, Marketing or Sales

Revenue model

1. Government Funding (GAG): Schools within the MAT receive Government Annual Grant (GAG) funding. The Trust charges a 6% central contribution/top slice from GAG, which covers services including School Improvement, support for local governing bodies, centralised finance, HR advisory, payroll, premises, IT, and Trust licenses.
2. Shared Services: The Trust's Shared Services team offers advice and support (Finance, Estates, HR) to other schools and Trusts outside Connect for a fee.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels4 records

Marketing channels6 records

Core offering

Connect Academy Trust is a Multi-Academy Trust operating eight primary schools in Plymouth and South Devon, delivering values-led primary education to approximately 3,340+ pupils. It provides centralized shared services (HR, finance, IT, payroll, estates) and a School Improvement service led by a qualified Ofsted Inspector to its member schools, and sells those services externally for a fee. Its distinguishing educational offering is the Ocean Conservation Curriculum, a marine learning programme developed with the National Marine Aquarium, Plymouth Marine Laboratory, and the Marine Biological Association.

Product overview

Connect Academy Trust operates as a Multi-Academy Trust (MAT) consisting of 8 primary schools across Plymouth and South Devon. The Trust provides a unified governance structure alongside centralized shared services (HR, finance, IT, payroll, facilities) and a School Improvement service. Its flagship educational offering is the Ocean Conservation Curriculum—a unique marine learning program developed in partnership with ocean conservation organizations. Member schools maintain autonomy in curriculum delivery while benefiting from Trust-wide support, centralized operations, and collaborative professional development.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Connect Academy Trust Schools (Multi-Academy Trust)
• Ocean Conservation Curriculum
• School Improvement Services
• Shared Services
• Associate School Program

Quantifiable outcome

• 76% of Year 6 children met expected standard in reading (2024)
• +2 more outcomes

Named customers8 records

Segments1 record

Ideal customer profiles3 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature1 record

Partnerships

Nine partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• National Marine AquariumcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerKey partner in the Ocean Conservation Curriculum. The National Marine Aquarium in Plymouth, Britain's Ocean City, hosts educational programmes for Connect schools. The curriculum is delivered both physically at the aquarium and virtually to hundreds of thousands of people.
• Plymouth Marine LaboratorycoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerScientific partner in the Ocean Conservation Curriculum, providing expertise in marine science and ocean conservation. Supports the Trust's mission to develop children's understanding of ocean literacy.
• Marine Biological AssociationcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartner in ocean education and conservation. Sarah Fowler, a Member of Connect Academy Trust, is scientific advisor to the Save Our Seas Foundation and co-author of Sharks of the World, bringing academic expertise to the curriculum.
• Ocean Conservation TrustcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerNicola Bridge, Head of Ocean Advocacy and Engagement at the Ocean Conservation Trust, is a Member of Connect Academy Trust. The Trust collaborates on formal and informal conservation learning programmes.
• EMSEA (European Marine Science Educators Association)minorStrategic or Co-development PartnerNicola Bridge is President of EMSEA, an organisation that acts as a hub for the European marine education community, promoting Ocean literacy across society.
• Plymouth Marjon UniversitycoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerGiles Freathy serves as Associate Dean (Partnerships) at Plymouth Marjon University School of Education, leading strategic collaboration with school partners and overseeing initial teacher training delivery.
• Wave Multi Academy TrustminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerChristian Jenkins, Chair of Members at Connect, also serves as Chair of the Wave Multi Academy Trust, creating cross-MAT governance collaboration.
• Devon Primary SCITTcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerKate Reeves, Trustee at Connect, previously served as Director of Devon Primary SCITT with national recognition for quality mentoring and sustained contribution to the ITT Sector.
• Achievement for All 3AsminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerSonia Blandford, Member of Connect Academy Trust, founded this award-winning charity focusing on improving outcomes for vulnerable learners.

Scale indicators7 records

Recent moves8 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Direct peers

• Wave Multi Academy Trust: Devon-based Multi-Academy Trust chaired by Christian Jenkins, who also chairs Connect's Members. Wave MAT operates primary and secondary schools in a similar Southwest geography, making it the most directly comparable peer in scale and region.
• Westcountry Schools Trust: Southwest-focused MAT where Connect Member Giles Freathy previously served. Operates primary schools in the same regional geography as Connect, making it a directly comparable regional peer.
• Transforming Learning Group: Education group where Connect Vice Chair Paul Osborne currently serves as CTO. Operates schools and education services comparable to Connect's school-improvement and shared-services model.
• Big Education Multi Academy Trust: Multi-Academy Trust where Connect Vice Chair Paul Osborne previously served as CTO. Operates schools with a values-driven ethos paralleling Connect's Empowering/Nurturing/Trailblazing/Principled framework.
• Crofty Education Trust: Multi-Academy Trust where Connect trustee Tamsin Lamb serves as School Director of Education. Operates primary schools with a school-improvement focus similar to Connect's approach, making it a comparable peer in scale and operating model.

Others

• Ocean Conservation Trust: Marine conservation charity where Connect Member Nicola Bridge serves as Head of Ocean Advocacy and Engagement. Not a competing school operator but a core curriculum partner; included because of the strategic centrality of the Ocean Conservation Curriculum to Connect's differentiation.
• National Marine Aquarium: Plymouth-based aquarium and key delivery partner for Connect's Ocean Conservation Curriculum. Not a peer in education operations, but a strategic ecosystem partner worth flagging given its role in Connect's flagship program.
• Devon Primary SCITT: School-centered initial teacher training provider where Connect trustee Kate Reeves previously served as Director. Not a direct competitor but a strategic teacher-training partner that affects Connect's talent pipeline.
• Achievement for All 3As: Charity focused on improving outcomes for vulnerable learners, founded by Connect Member Sonia Blandford. Not a school operator but a strategic partner whose frameworks overlap with Connect's values-led education mission.

Broad incumbents

• Academies Enterprise Trust (E-ACT): Large national Multi-Academy Trust where Connect CEO Stuart Bellworthy previously served as Midlands Regional Director. Operates primary and secondary schools at significantly greater scale than Connect, providing a benchmark for national MAT operations.

Market position

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat6 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/connectMATDevon
• Facebookfacebook.com/ConnectAcademyTrust
• Instagraminstagram.com/connectacademytrust
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/connect-academy-trust

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles17 records

Subsidiaries8 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 Connect Academy Trust