Diocese Of Hereford Multi-Academy Trust

What Diocese Of Hereford Multi-Academy Trust does

Diocese of Hereford Multi-Academy Trust (DHMAT) is a charitable company limited by guarantee (company number 8762217) operating as a Church of England-led Multi-Academy Trust in rural western England. Headquartered in Ludlow, Shropshire, the trust serves over 3,200 children and young people through 18 academies — 15 primary schools, 2 secondary schools and The Hereford Academy — spanning Herefordshire, South Shropshire, Worcestershire, and Telford and Wrekin. Of these, 16 are Church of England schools and 2 are community schools. DHMAT is owned corporately through the Diocese of Hereford Educational Trust (DHET), which acts as corporate member with the power to appoint directors and amend the Articles of Association, while operational governance sits with the DHMAT Board of Directors appointed by the Diocesan Board of Education.

The trust's business model is funded by UK government per-pupil allocations routed through the trust, with DHMAT retaining approximately 5% of school budgets to fund centralised services including safeguarding, finance, HR, estates, governance and school improvement. Annual School Condition Allocation (SCA) capital funding is distributed to academies via a transparent bidding process, with DHMAT eligible for a single annual capital allocation given its pupil count above 3,000. Central services are delivered by a small core team (approximately 13 staff) supporting the broader workforce of nearly 500 employees across the trust. The product surface comprises primary and secondary education delivery, a Regional Training Hub Plus (RTH+) PGCE Teacher Training Programme accredited by the University of Worcester, school improvement services for member academies, and central academy network services spanning HR, legal, procurement, GDPR and capital project support.

DHMAT's strategic posture is one of measured expansion under a stated growth target of approximately 6,000 pupils through onboarding 3-4 schools per year. The trust has been transformed under CEO Canon Andrew Teale since January 2019, with Claire McKeown appointed substantive Deputy CEO in February 2025. Strategic academic partnerships include the University of Worcester (for PGCE and QTS accreditation), NMITE (New Model Institute for Technology and Engineering), and the Church of England Foundation for Educational Leadership. No proprietary technology platform, AI capability, or external funding is in evidence; the trust operates as a non-profit educational organisation with revenue entirely derived from state per-pupil funding and capital grants.

Name

Diocese Of Hereford Multi-Academy Trust

Legal name

Diocese of Hereford Multi-Academy Trust

Website

https://dhmat.org.uk

Company type

Private

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

The Diocese of Hereford Multi-Academy Trust (DHMAT) is a Church of England-led Multi-Academy Trust operating 18 primary and secondary academies across Herefordshire, South Shropshire, Worcestershire, and Telford and Wrekin, serving over 3,200 pupils with central services funded by a 5% retention on government per-pupil allocations.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Primary and Secondary Education (Multi-Academy Trust)

NAICS

Elementary and Secondary Schools (611110)

SIC

Services-Educational Services (8200)

akta.pro primary industry

Faith-Based (Religious) K–12 Schools (EDAJABAC)

Keywords

• Multi-academy trust services
• Primary school education
• Secondary school education
• Teacher training programmes
• Church of England schools

Headquarters

HQ city

Ludlow

HQ country

United Kingdom

HQ region

Europe

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Infrastructure, Others

Revenue model

1. Per-pupil funding: Schools receive per-pupil funding from the government, which is routed through the MAT. The MAT retains approximately 5% for central services.
2. Central services funding: The MAT retains a portion of school budgets (5%) to provide central services including safeguarding, finance, HR, estates, governance, and school improvement support.
3. Capital funding (SCA): Annual School Condition Allocation capital funding distributed to academies through a transparent bidding process. MATs with over 3000 pupils receive a single annual capital allocation.

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels1 record

Marketing channels4 records

Core offering

DHMAT is a Church of England-led Multi-Academy Trust operating 18 primary and secondary schools across Herefordshire, South Shropshire, Worcestershire, and Telford and Wrekin, serving over 3,200 children and young people with almost 500 employees. The trust provides central services (safeguarding, finance, HR, estates, governance, school improvement) to its member academies, retaining approximately 5% of per-pupil funding for this purpose. It also runs a PGCE Teacher Training Programme (Regional Training Hub Plus) accredited by the University of Worcester.

Product overview

The Diocese Of Hereford Multi-Academy Trust operates as a unified educational platform comprising 20 Church of England and community schools (18 primaries and 2 secondaries) serving over 3,200 pupils. The core offering is primary and secondary education across rural Herefordshire, South Shropshire, Worcestershire, and Telford and Wrekin. Supporting modules include a PGCE Teacher Training Programme (accredited by University of Worcester, offering routes 3-7 and 5-11), School Improvement Services, and Academy Network Services providing central functions such as safeguarding, finance, HR, governance, and estates management.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• PGCE Teacher Training Programme A Regional Training Hub Plus (RTH+) programme accredited by the University of Worcester (rated Outstanding) providing face-to-face, full delivery of Primary PGCE without leaving Herefordshire/South Shropshire. Routes 3-7 and 5-11 lead to Qualified Teacher Status (QTS) and PGCE qualifications. The programme has coached over 50 students, many now working within Herefordshire schools.
• Multi-Academy Trust Membership and Central Support Services Central services package for schools joining the trust, including safeguarding, finance, legal, HR, governance, school improvement, procurement, GDPR, estates management and capital project bidding assistance. Schools retain individual character and ethos while benefiting from shared services.
• Primary and Secondary Education Services Primary and secondary education delivered through 18 academies (15 primary, 2 secondary plus The Hereford Academy) to over 3,200 children and young people across Herefordshire, South Shropshire, Worcestershire and Telford and Wrekin. Includes 16 Church of England schools and 2 Community schools.

Named customers21 records

Segments4 records

Ideal customer profiles3 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Partnerships

Four partnerships are on record, tiered core and supporting.

• Diocese of HerefordcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerThe trust works in partnership with the Diocese of Hereford. The Diocesan Board of Education has an agreed academisation strategy. The Bishop of Hereford and Diocesan Board of Finance are informed of MAT progress and performance. DHET (Diocese of Hereford Educational Trust) is the corporate member on every Church of England academy.
• University of WorcestercoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerDHMAT is a Regional Training Hub Plus (RTH+) accredited by the University of Worcester. The university rates as Outstanding and awards QTS and PGCE qualifications through the DHMAT teacher training programme.
• NMITE (New Model Institute for Technology and Engineering)supportingStrategic or Co-development PartnerStrong academic and community partnership with NMITE, Hereford's new university, supporting professional development opportunities for staff across the trust.
• Church of England Foundation for Educational LeadershipsupportingStrategic or Co-development PartnerThe trust works in partnership with the Church of England Foundation for Educational Leadership to develop leadership practices focused on wisdom, knowledge, skills, hope, aspiration, community and dignity.

Scale indicators5 records

Recent moves5 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Broad incumbents

• Academies Enterprise Trust (AET): One of the largest UK MATs, operating primary and secondary academies across multiple regions. Comparable as a large-scale multi-academy operator with centralised back-office services, though broader and more urban-centric in footprint.
• United Learning: One of the largest UK MATs, operating both state-funded academies and independent schools nationally with a faith-affiliated heritage. Comparable as a faith-rooted multi-academy operator, but at significantly greater scale and geographic breadth.
• Oasis Community Learning: Large national MAT running dozens of primary and secondary academies across England. Comparable as a multi-academy operator with a values-driven ethos and central services model, though not diocesan and not specifically CofE.
• ARK (Absolute Return for Kids): Major national MAT/network operating primary and secondary academies in disadvantaged areas of England. Comparable as a scale MAT with a centralised school improvement and operations playbook, though secular and urban-focused rather than rural-diocesan.
• E-ACT: National MAT running a portfolio of primary and secondary academies across England. Comparable as a multi-academy operator at scale with a centralised operating model, though not faith-affiliated.

Regional players

• Greenshaw Learning Trust: Regional MAT in the south-west/west of England, operating a mix of primary and secondary schools. Comparable as a regional multi-academy operator with a similar school-improvement-led growth model, though secular rather than diocesan.
• Severn Academies Education Trust: Regional MAT operating schools in Shropshire and surrounding counties, overlapping DHMAT's core Herefordshire/Shropshire/Worcestershire footprint. Comparable as a competing regional MAT bidding for the same pool of stand-alone schools.

Emerging players

• Reach Academy Trust: Smaller, values-driven MAT operating a focused set of primary/secondary schools. Comparable as a multi-academy operator with a strong ethos-based brand and school improvement focus, though significantly smaller scale than DHMAT.

Direct peers

• Diocese of Worcester Multi-Academy Trust: Adjacent diocesan MAT operating Church of England schools across Worcestershire and surrounding counties. Closest structural analogue: same CofE diocesan governance model, similar scale (~3,000+ pupils), and similar mix of primary/secondary academies in rural English geographies.
• Emmaus Catholic Multi-Academy Trust: Faith-based diocesan-style MAT in another English diocese, operating Catholic schools under a centralised trust structure. Comparable as a faith-rooted MAT with central services, regional concentration, and a diocesan-style governance body.

Market position

Strengths4 records

Weaknesses4 records

Competitive moat6 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/DioHerefordMAT
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/diocese-of-hereford-multi-academy-trust

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles19 records

Subsidiaries21 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

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M&A

Investments

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