Harbour Learning Trust
Harbour Learning Trust is a charitable Multi-Academy Trust operating eight schools (one secondary, six primary, one junior) across Grimsby, Cleethorpes and Lincoln, serving 3,000+ pupils via ESFA per-pupil funding and shared central services.
- Company typePrivate
- Founded-
- HeadquartersHealing, Grimsby, United Kingdom
- Headcount51–100
- GTM typeB2C
- OfferingServices
What Harbour Learning Trust does
Harbour Learning Trust is a Multi-Academy Trust (MAT) and charitable company limited by guarantee (Company Number 07345756) operating a family of eight academies across Greater Lincolnshire, England. Its portfolio comprises one secondary school (Healing Academy, with a planned admission number of 200 and a "No Limits Curriculum"), six primary academies, and one junior school (William Barcroft), collectively serving more than 3,000 children and young people in Grimsby, Cleethorpes and Lincoln. The Trust is led by CEO Richard Briggs and governed by a Board of Trustees chaired (since December 2024) by Chris Cherry, with layered oversight through Members, Trustees and Local Governors.
The Trust's core technology stack is built on mainstream education SaaS rather than proprietary systems: Google Workspace for Education, ParentPay for cashless catering, the Arbor school management system, and biometric cashless catering. Operational differentiation is framed around the "Harbour Model of School Improvement," DANCE values (Delight, Ambition, Nurture, Community, Empower), and shared central services that pool back-office functions across the academy network. The Trust also runs an Initial Teacher Training (ITT) programme in partnership with The Riverview Institute and offers careers guidance through Progress Careers, embedding progression pathways into further education (Franklin College, Grimsby Institute) and apprenticeships (CATCH, HETA).
Harbour Learning Trust's revenue model is almost entirely subscription-recurring in nature, sourced from per-pupil ESFA funding, Pupil Premium for disadvantaged pupils, and supplementary government grants (including Year 7 literacy/numeracy catch-up and COVID-19 catch-up premium). Ancillary income is generated through paid school meals (e.g., Healing Academy meal deal at £2.30 per meal, operated by contractor Mellors Catering) and minor partnerships. The Trust reports financials under UK charity and academy accounting requirements; revenue is not publicly disclosed. Approximately 80 employees support the central team and academies.
Harbour Learning Trust firmographics
Firmographics- Name
- Harbour Learning Trust
- Legal name
- Harbour Learning Trust
- Website
- https://harbourlearningtrust.com
- Company type
- Private
- Operating status
- Operating
- Headcount range
- 51–100 employees
- Short description
- Harbour Learning Trust is a charitable Multi-Academy Trust operating eight schools (one secondary, six primary, one junior) across Grimsby, Cleethorpes and Lincoln, serving 3,000+ pupils via ESFA per-pupil funding and shared central services.
- Ownership category
- akta.pro rank
Harbour Learning Trust industry classification
Industry- Product category
- Primary and Secondary Education
- NAICS
- Elementary and Secondary Schools (6111)
- SIC
- Services-Educational Services (8200)
- akta.pro primary industry
- Charter Career & Technical Education (CTE) Schools (EDAJACAK)
Keywords
Where Harbour Learning Trust is headquartered
LocationHeadquarters
- HQ city
- Healing, Grimsby
- HQ country
- United Kingdom
- HQ region
- Europe
Offices1 record
Markets served
Harbour Learning Trust business model
Business model- GTM type
- B2C
- Offering type
- Services
- Cost components
- Personnel, Operations, Infrastructure, Others
Revenue model
- Government Education Funding: Core revenue comes from ESFA (Education and Skills Funding Agency) funding agreements, calculated per pupil across all academies. This includes base funding, pupil premium for disadvantaged students, and supplementary grants for specific programs.
- Pupil Premium and Catch-Up Grants: Additional government funding streams including Pupil Premium for disadvantaged pupils, Year 7 Literacy and Numeracy Catch-up Premium, and Coronavirus (COVID-19) catch-up premium to support specific student needs.
Pricing tiers
| Model | Billing | Price |
|---|---|---|
| Unit Pricing | Pay-as-you-go | School Meals - Healing Academy |
Go-to-market motion1 record
Distribution channels1 record
Marketing channels5 records
Harbour Learning Trust product offering
Product offeringCore offering
Harbour Learning Trust is a Multi-Academy Trust that delivers primary, junior, and secondary education across 8 academies (1 secondary, 6 primary, 1 junior) in Greater Lincolnshire, serving more than 3,000 pupils. Its core offer consists of full curriculum delivery including SEND provision, enrichment and wrap-around care, careers education, transition programmes, and Initial Teacher Training placements through The Riverview Institute partnership.
Product overview
Harbour Learning Trust is a Multi Academy Trust operating as a unified platform of educational services. The Trust manages a family of 8 academies consisting of 1 secondary school (Healing Academy), 6 primary academies, a junior academy (William Barcroft Junior School), and a SCITT teacher training programme. The academies include: Healing Academy (secondary), Ermine Primary Academy, Hartsholme Academy, Great Coates Primary School, Healing Primary Academy, William Barcroft Junior School, Woodlands Academy, and St Giles Academy. The Trust provides educational services across Grimsby, Cleethorpes, and Lincoln with over 3000 children and young people. Key services include the 'No Limits Curriculum' at secondary level, the Harbour Model of School Improvement, DANCE values (Delight, Ambition, Nurture, Community, Empower), and Initial Teacher Training placements in partnership with The Riverview Institute.
Differentiator
Problem solved
Functional benefit
Products and services
- Healing Academy A secondary academy within Harbour Learning Trust offering KS3 and KS4 education with a focus on science, providing a 'No Limits Curriculum' and GCSE programmes including a Separate Sciences pathway. It serves Years 7-11 with a planned admission number of 200 and operates within the Trust's broader educational framework.
- Ermine Primary Academy A primary academy in Lincoln providing education for primary-aged children as part of the Harbour Learning Trust family of schools.
- Hartsholme Academy A primary academy in Lincoln providing education for primary-aged children as part of the Harbour Learning Trust family of schools.
- Great Coates Primary School A primary academy in Grimsby providing education for primary-aged children as part of the Harbour Learning Trust family of schools.
- Healing Primary Academy A primary academy in Healing, Grimsby focused on 'Success and happiness for all', offering wrap-around care and following the Harbour Model of School Improvement with DANCE values (Delight, Ambition, Nurture, Community, Empower).
- William Barcroft Junior School A junior school in Cleethorpes, North East Lincolnshire providing education for Key Stage 2 children as part of the Harbour Learning Trust family of schools.
- Woodlands Academy A primary academy in Grimsby described as a place of nurture and inclusivity, focused on empowering and inspiring children, adults and communities to be ambitious, healthy and kind.
- St Giles Academy An inclusive, supportive and caring primary school in Lincoln aiming to do the very best for all children in their care, as part of the Harbour Learning Trust family of schools.
- Initial Teacher Training (ITT) Placements Initial Teacher Training placements offered through the Trust's partnership with The Riverview Institute, providing primary and secondary placements across the Trust's family of schools in Lincoln and North East Lincolnshire. Applications are managed via the government teacher training portal.
Quantifiable outcome
- Healing Academy A8 score of 54.2 (2021-22), P8 of 0.27, 79% EM 4+, 57% EM 5+
Companies that use Harbour Learning Trust
Customer profileSegments3 records
Ideal customer profiles2 records
Harbour Learning Trust technology and API
TechnologyTechnology focussed No
API detail
- Has API
- No
- API docs
- API detail
Core technology
AI maturity
App detail
Harbour Learning Trust partnerships and signals
Strategic signalPartnerships
Seven partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.
- The Riverview InstitutecoreHarbour Learning Trust is a proud partner of The Riverview Institute for teacher education. The partnership offers primary and secondary placement opportunities across the Trust's family of schools in Lincoln and North East Lincolnshire. Applications for September 2026 open on 7th October.
- Progress CareerscoreProgress Careers works in partnership with Healing Academy to provide high quality, impartial careers advice and guidance. Independent advisers are based in the academy one or two days per week to enable students to make right decisions about their future.
- Mellors CateringminorContracted catering company providing school meals service to Healing Academy. Mellors operates a cafeteria system with varied menu selection and holds a five-star rating for hygiene.
- Franklin CollegeminorSixth form college in Grimsby, North East Lincolnshire - listed as local Post-16 provider for students considering further education pathways.
- Grimsby InstituteminorFurther education college, apprenticeship provider, and higher education university in Grimsby, North East Lincolnshire - listed as local Post-16 provider.
- CATCHminorApprenticeship provider in Process, Energy, Engineering and Renewables Sectors - listed as local training provider option for students.
- HETAminorEngineering Apprenticeship provider - listed as option for students considering engineering career pathways.
Scale indicators3 records
Recent moves7 records
Expansion highlights4 records
Harbour Learning Trust competitors and assessment
Company assessmentBroad incumbents
- Oasis Community Learning: Large national Multi-Academy Trust operating primary and secondary academies across England, with a strong community-hub model. Comparable in values-driven and community-anchored approach, but at significantly greater scale.
- United Learning: Major national Multi-Academy Trust operating both state-funded academies and independent schools. Comparable as a sophisticated K-12 MAT operator with strong central infrastructure, but at a significantly larger scale.
- Harris Federation: Large national Multi-Academy Trust running a large portfolio of primary and secondary academies, predominantly in London and the South East. Comparable in operating a K-12 academy model at scale with strong central services.
- Ark Schools: National education charity running a network of academies across England. Comparable in operating a values-driven MAT model with pedagogical frameworks, though at a much larger and more urban-focused scale.
- Outwood Grange Academies Trust: One of the largest Multi-Academy Trusts in England, operating dozens of primary and secondary schools across the North and Midlands. Represents the scaled national MAT model Harbour Learning Trust could either grow into or be outcompeted by.
Direct peers
- Wellspring Academy Trust: Multi-Academy Trust operating primary and secondary schools across Yorkshire, Lincolnshire and the Humber. Highly comparable given overlapping geographic catchment and similar pupil demographics in the Humber region.
- Academy Transformation Trust: Mid-sized Multi-Academy Trust operating a family of primary and secondary schools across the Midlands and East of England. Directly comparable in structure, central services model, and growth-via-conversion strategy.
- Greenwood Academies Trust: Multi-Academy Trust operating multiple primary and secondary schools across the East Midlands, including Lincolnshire. Most structurally and geographically comparable peer to Harbour Learning Trust in terms of regional footprint, school mix, and mid-sized MAT scale.
- L.E.A.D. Academy Trust: Multi-Academy Trust running a network of primary and secondary academies across the East Midlands. Comparable in scale and school type mix, and competes for school conversions in overlapping regional markets.
Regional players
- Diocese of Lincoln Education: Regional faith-based school network covering Lincolnshire primaries and secondaries. A competing MAT in the same local market that draws on similar parental pools, but with a faith-based governance angle.
Market position
Strengths5 records
Weaknesses5 records
Competitive moat5 records
Key risks7 records
Key highlights7 records
Customer concentration
Harbour Learning Trust social profiles
Digital presenceHarbour Learning Trust compliance and trust
Trust signalCompliance4 records
Harbour Learning Trust financial estimates
Financial estimateRevenue estimate
Valuation estimate
Harbour Learning Trust leadership team
Management profileNumber of profiles
Profiles22 records
Harbour Learning Trust subsidiaries and ownership
Company hierarchySubsidiaries8 records
Harbour Learning Trust funding detail
Funding detailFunding overview
Funding rounds
Investors
Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Harbour Learning 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 Harbour Learning Trust
What does Harbour Learning Trust do?
Harbour Learning Trust is a Multi-Academy Trust that delivers primary, junior, and secondary education across 8 academies (1 secondary, 6 primary, 1 junior) in Greater Lincolnshire, serving more than 3,000 pupils. Its core offer consists of full curriculum delivery including SEND provision, enrichment and wrap-around care, careers education, transition programmes, and Initial Teacher Training placements through The Riverview Institute partnership.
Is Harbour Learning Trust a public or private company?
Harbour Learning Trust is a private company. It is classified as nonprofit foundation owned and is currently operating.
When was Harbour Learning Trust founded?
Harbour Learning Trust was founded in -1. It employs 51 to 100 people.
Where is Harbour Learning Trust based?
Harbour Learning Trust is headquartered in Healing, Grimsby, United Kingdom, in the Europe region.
How does Harbour Learning Trust make money?
Two revenue lines are on record. Government Education Funding is the primary driver. The others are pupil Premium and Catch-Up Grants.
Who are Harbour Learning Trust's main competitors?
Broad incumbents on record are Oasis Community Learning, United Learning, Harris Federation, Ark Schools and Outwood Grange Academies Trust. Direct peers are Wellspring Academy Trust, Academy Transformation Trust, Greenwood Academies Trust and L.E.A.D. Academy Trust. Diocese of Lincoln Education is listed as a regional player.
Does Harbour Learning Trust have an API?
No public API is recorded for Harbour Learning Trust.
What industry is Harbour Learning Trust in?
Harbour Learning Trust's product category is Primary and Secondary Education. Its primary akta.pro industry code is EDAJACAK, Charter Career & Technical Education (CTE) Schools. Its NAICS code is 6111 and its SIC code is 8200.