London South East Academies Trust

What London South East Academies Trust does

London South East Academies Trust (LSEAT) is a UK multi-academy trust operating 20 schools across Bromley, Bexley, Lambeth, East Sussex and Surrey. Its portfolio spans five mainstream primary academies, ten special academies serving pupils aged 4-19 with autism, SEMH, SLD and PMLD needs, four alternative provision academies for pupils at risk of or excluded from mainstream schooling, and Bexley Music, the official music service for the Borough of Bexley. The trust was founded in 2016 (originally as Bromley Educational Trust) and is part of Elevare Civic Education Group, alongside London South East Colleges, which provides centralised back-office services (IT, HR, finance, estates, marketing) across the network.

LSEAT generates revenue primarily through per-pupil funding agreements with the UK Department for Education, supplemented by local authority commissioning for alternative provision and SEND places. Pricing is not publicly disclosed as it is negotiated with the DfE based on pupil numbers and needs-based formulas; there are no direct fees charged to member schools. A secondary revenue stream comes from an Associate Membership programme, which offers time-limited access to school improvement, leadership and corporate services before schools commit to permanent academy transfer, effectively functioning as a trial funnel. The trust also delivers bespoke School Improvement Programmes for schools requiring Ofsted improvement, drawing on resources from London South East Colleges.

The trust's go-to-market is sales-led and community-led: it actively recruits schools through direct engagement, DfE and local authority referrals, and word-of-mouth within education networks, leveraging its TES Schools Awards 2024 Trust Team of the Year recognition and track record of transforming challenging schools. It differentiates through a unique college-sponsored model that connects primary education through to higher technical qualifications and degrees, a partnership with Words First for universal SEND therapy training, and a structured CPD and leadership development pathway (including the 2026-launched 'Awesome Leadership' programme). Underlying technology consists of standard centrally managed IT and network infrastructure with no proprietary AI or platform component.

Name

London South East Academies Trust

Legal name

London South East Academies Trust

Website

https://lseat.co.uk

Company type

Private

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

51–100 employees

Short description

London South East Academies Trust is a UK multi-academy trust operating 20 mainstream primary, special, and alternative provision schools across Bromley, Bexley, Lambeth, East Sussex and Surrey, funded primarily by the Department for Education and supported by London South East Colleges.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Multi-Academy Trust / K-12 Education Services

NAICS

Elementary and Secondary Schools (6111), Educational Support Services (611710)

SIC

Services-Educational Services (8200)

akta.pro primary industry

Special Needs & Learning Differences Private Schools (EDAJABAH)

Keywords

• Multi-academy trust
• Primary education services
• Special educational needs
• Alternative provision
• School improvement services

Headquarters

HQ city

Orpington

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

Revenue model

1. Academy Funding (Government Recurring): Core revenue from government academy funding agreements with the Department for Education. Each school operates under individual funding agreements with recurring payments based on pupil numbers and school type (mainstream, special, alternative provision).
2. School Improvement Services: Bespoke School Improvement Programme delivered in partnership with schools requiring Ofsted improvement. Services include pupil-level data analysis, action identification, and implementation support. Draws on resources from London South East College.
3. Central Support Services: Schools access additional support in IT, HR, auditing, CPD, capital funding bids, media training, and communications. These services are provided as part of the trust membership, funded through the academy funding model.
4. Associate Membership Fees: Time-limited partnership enabling trusts and schools to access support in school improvement, leadership and corporate services before committing to permanent transfer.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion2 records

Distribution channels3 records

Marketing channels5 records

Core offering

London South East Academies Trust (LSEAT) is a UK multi-academy trust that operates 20 schools across South East England spanning mainstream primary, special academies (for autism, SEMH, SLD, PMLD), alternative provision for excluded/at-risk pupils, and the Bexley Music borough service. The Trust also delivers a School Improvement Programme, central professional services (IT, HR, finance, estates, marketing), the Words First universal SEND training programme, and an Associate Membership scheme that allows schools to access support before committing to permanent transfer.

Product overview

London South East Academies Trust operates as a multi-academy trust with a portfolio of 20 schools across Bromley, Bexley, Lambeth, East Sussex, and Surrey. The organization encompasses four school categories: five mainstream primary academies, ten special academies (including schools for autism, SEMH needs, and profound learning difficulties), four alternative provision academies for excluded or at-risk students, and Bexley Music as the borough's official music service. Supporting the school network, the Trust provides central services (estates, HR, finance, IT, marketing), a bespoke School Improvement Programme, the Words First universal SEND training programme, career pathways and CPD opportunities, and an Associate Membership scheme for schools considering full integration.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• Elevare Civic Education Group: Parent educational group containing London South East Academies Trust and London South East Colleges
• Words First
• Bexley Music

Products and services

• Mainstream Primary Academies
• Special Academies
• Alternative Provision Academies
• Bexley Music
• School Improvement Programme
• Central Services
• Words First Universal SEND Training Programme
• Associate Membership

Quantifiable outcome

• All five National Teaching Award 2026 nominations received national recognition (four Certificates of Achievement and one Bronze Award)
• +3 more outcomes

Named customers7 records

Segments5 records

Ideal customer profiles4 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature1 record

Partnerships

Ten partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• Words FirstcoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2026Specialist therapy provider that developed a bespoke universal SEND therapy training programme in partnership with LSEAT. The programme includes eight online training modules, SENCO Masterclasses, and parent support sessions covering speech and language therapy, occupational therapy, and educational psychology.
• Department for EducationcoreOthers · 1 January 2025DfE selected LSEAT to lead development of Frimley Oak Academy as new SEMH free school. The Minister for School Standards attended a SEND roundtable at Woodside Academy hosted by the Trust.
• Elevare Civic Education GroupcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerLondon South East Academies Trust is part of Elevare Civic Education Group, a larger educational organization that includes London South East Colleges. This parent structure enables the unique college-sponsored trust model that connects primary through higher technical qualifications.
• London South East CollegescoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerThe college provides extensive resources to the trust including estates management, student support services, learning resources, financial services, HR, marketing/PR, and IT and network services. This partnership enables comprehensive central services for all trust schools.
• London and South East Region Education FoundationcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerProud partner organization contributing to the Elevare Civic Education Group structure.
• Bromley Schools' CollegiatecoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerTraining provider based at Hayes Secondary School delivering Initial Teacher Training programmes in partnership with Canterbury Christ Church University. The Trust works with BSC for teaching qualifications, offering PGCE with QTS through School Direct, Assessment Only, and PGTA routes.
• Canterbury Christ Church UniversitycoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerUniversity partner for PGCE element of Initial Teacher Training programmes delivered through Bromley Schools' Collegiate.
• National Institute of Teaching and Education (NITE) - Coventry UniversityminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerAlternative PGCE programme provider offering one-year online programme with QTS, with in-built assessments against Teachers Standards and contrasting placement. Available for trainees from outside Bromley area.
• Surrey County CouncilcoreOthersConfirmed Frimley Oak Academy should proceed as new SEMH free school, reflecting ongoing demand for specialist provision in Surrey. The council works with the Trust on educational provision development.
• Local Authorities (Bexley, Bromley, Surrey, East Sussex, Lambeth)coreOthersThe Trust works with multiple local authorities across its geographic footprint to provide educational provision including mainstream schools, special schools, and alternative provision. Horizons Academy Bexley is commissioned as part of LBexley's Pupil Referral Service.

Scale indicators4 records

Recent moves10 records

Expansion highlights7 records

Direct peers

• Ark Schools: UK multi-academy trust operating a portfolio of primary and secondary schools including special and alternative provision, with an explicit school improvement focus for underperforming schools — directly mirroring LSEAT's transformation-of-challenging-schools proposition.
• Academies Enterprise Trust (AET): Large UK multi-academy trust with a diverse portfolio spanning primary, secondary, special and alternative provision. Directly comparable to LSEAT on portfolio mix and on the model of converting struggling schools through central trust services.
• Oasis Community Learning: National multi-academy trust operating primary, secondary and special schools across England, with an explicit focus on inclusion and vulnerable learners. Comparable to LSEAT on special/AP emphasis and inclusion-led mission.
• South East Education Trust: Smaller UK multi-academy trust operating schools across the South East of England with a mixed mainstream/special portfolio. Comparable to LSEAT on geographic focus and trust-size profile, offering a peer benchmark for a 20-school portfolio.
• Outwood Grange Academies Trust: Large multi-academy trust with a strong school improvement track record across the North of England, operating a mixed mainstream and special/AP portfolio under central services. Comparable to LSEAT on the school improvement and central services model, though regionally distinct.
• Harris Federation: One of the largest UK multi-academy trusts, operating a mixed portfolio of primary, secondary and special schools across London and South East England. Directly comparable to LSEAT in operating model (multi-phase trust, school improvement focus, urban/South East footprint).
• REAch2 Academy Trust: UK primary-focused multi-academy trust with significant scale and a central school-improvement function. Comparable to LSEAT on trust-level central services model and the conversion of standalone primaries into a managed network.
• The Kemnal Academies Trust (TKAT): Multi-academy trust operating a broad portfolio of primary, secondary and special schools across the South of England. Directly comparable to LSEAT on regional South East footprint and mixed-phase operation.
• Dunraven Education Trust: South London multi-academy trust with a special/AP emphasis and a central school-improvement function. Closely comparable to LSEAT on geographic overlap (Lambeth/South East London) and special/AP provision.

Broad incumbents

• United Learning: Large UK-wide multi-academy trust (and independent schools group) with a substantial special and AP portfolio alongside mainstream schools. Comparable to LSEAT on mixed-phase trust operation but operates at materially larger scale and broader geographic spread.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat6 records

Key risks7 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/LSEAcademiesT
• Instagraminstagram.com/londonsouth_eastacademiestrust
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/london-south-east-academies-trust

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles5 records

Subsidiaries21 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 London South East Academies Trust