What Pathfinder Multi Academy Trust does

Pathfinder Multi Academy Trust is a UK-based exempt charity (Company Number: 07559610) operating a network of 19 state-funded schools across York and North Yorkshire, serving more than 6,600 children and young people aged 2–19. Founded in August 2016 with four schools on the east side of York, the trust has grown to 17 primary and 2 secondary schools, comprising both church schools (under Diocese of York oversight) and community schools, with a specialist SEND provision at Applefields School. The trust is led by CEO Andrew Daly, supported by COO Mrs M Bowling and Finance Director Mr S Bradley, and is governed by a board of trustees with no parent company or shareholders.

The trust's core 'product' is the school network itself — free state education delivered through the national funding formula administered by the UK Department for Education. Pathfinder operates a partnership model in which member schools retain their individual identities and local governance committees while sharing central services, school improvement expertise, and capital resources. The technology stack is conventional for the sector: a WordPress-based website (pathfinder.academy), Google Analytics, embedded YouTube and Google Maps, and operational tools including Decision Time and a remote desktop portal (remote.pmat.academy). Two ancillary sub-products extend the trust's reach beyond its own schools: the Pathfinder Teaching School Hub (delivering Initial Teacher Training, Appropriate Body services, the Early Career Framework, and National Professional Qualifications to over 200 schools across Ryedale, Scarborough and York) and the Pathfinder Education Partnership (professional development for 200+ providers across Yorkshire and the Humber).

Pathfinder generates revenue primarily through DfE per-pupil funding under the national funding formula, supplemented by early years funding, SEND top-ups, Teaching School Hub fees, and CPD income from the Education Partnership. The trust has secured £10.4 million in major building projects over four years (including a £4.4m Maths Block at Archbishop Holgate's and £2.7m at Badger Hill) and £1.1m in Public Sector Decarbonisation Scheme grants. All Ofsted inspections since July 2021 have been judged Good or Outstanding, with two schools (Archbishop Holgate's and Clifton with Rawcliffe) formally recognised by the Education Secretary for excellent outcomes for disadvantaged pupils. Strategic expansion continues via school adoption, with Malton School (May 2024), the White Rose Federation (November 2024), and Hensall Community Primary (April 2026) being the most recent additions.

Name

Pathfinder Multi Academy Trust

Legal name

Pathfinder Multi Academy Trust

Website

https://pathfinder.academy

Company type

Private

Founded year

2016

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

Pathfinder Multi Academy Trust is a UK exempt charity operating 19 state-funded primary and secondary schools across York and North Yorkshire, serving 6,600+ children aged 2–19 through DfE-funded education with central shared services and a Teaching School Hub serving 200+ schools.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Primary and Secondary Education

NAICS

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

SIC

Services-Educational Services (8200)

akta.pro primary industry

Charter School Networks (Multi-Site) (EDAJACAC)

Keywords

• Multi academy trust
• Primary school education
• Secondary school education
• Teacher training
• School improvement

Headquarters

HQ city

YORK

HQ country

United Kingdom

HQ region

Europe

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

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

Revenue model

1. Government Education Funding: Publicly funded education services through the UK Department for Education, providing education to children ages 2-19 across schools in York and North Yorkshire

Distribution channels1 record

Marketing channels5 records

Core offering

Pathfinder Multi Academy Trust operates a network of 19 schools (17 primary and 2 secondary) across York and North Yorkshire in England, providing free state-funded education to over 6,600 children and young people aged 2-19. The Trust also runs subsidiary services including the Pathfinder Teaching School Hub (supporting 200+ schools) and the Pathfinder Education Partnership, which delivers conferences and networking for school leaders.

Product overview

Pathfinder Multi Academy Trust is a unified education platform comprising 19 schools (17 primary and 2 secondary) serving over 6,600 students aged 2-19 across York and North Yorkshire. The core offering is the school network itself, supplemented by two professional development sub-products: the Pathfinder Teaching School Hub (for initial teacher training and NPQs) and the Pathfinder Education Partnership (for ongoing staff professional development). The trust operates under a partnership model where member schools retain their unique identity while benefiting from shared resources, expertise, and systems.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Pathfinder Schools Network

Quantifiable outcome

• 19 schools serving 6,600+ children and young people
• +2 more outcomes

Named customers7 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

Integration5 records

Partnerships

Eight partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• York St John UniversitycoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2021Lead Partner for Initial Teacher Education. Pathfinder Teaching School Hub works with York St John University to offer school-centred Initial Teacher Training (ITT) courses leading to Qualified Teacher Status (QTS) and Postgraduate Certificate in Education (PGCE).
• Department for EducationcoreOthersDfE funds and manages school rebuilding programmes including Hempland and Tang Hall Primary Schools. Appointed Morgan Sindall Construction for Hempland and Tilbury Douglas for Tang Hall projects.
• Diocese of YorkcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartnership supporting church schools within the trust. Archbishop Holgate's School operates under church school ethos with SIAMS inspections.
• Gate & BarminorImplementation/ SI/ Consulting PartnerYork-based design and project management company partnered with Pathfinder for carbon reduction and energy efficiency project applications.
• C3 GroupminorImplementation/ SI/ Consulting PartnerLocal sustainability consulting firm partnered with Pathfinder for carbon reduction project planning and grant applications.
• Linkage Community TrustminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartnership for post-19 provision at Applefields School for children with additional needs.
• Yorkshire EducationminorGTM or Marketing PartnerHeadline sponsor for Pathfinder Education Partnership annual school leaders conference.
• Castle EducationminorGTM or Marketing PartnerEducation recruitment specialist that sponsored the Pathfinder Education Partnership Inclusive Leadership Conference.

Scale indicators7 records

Recent moves8 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Emerging players

• Reach Academy Feltham: Smaller multi-academy trust operating a small network of schools in West London. Comparable in structure (multi-academy trust) but at smaller scale than Pathfinder.

Direct peers

• Star Academies: Multi-academy trust operating a network of primary and secondary schools with a strong focus on disadvantaged communities. Comparable in mission and academy-trust operating model, though with a different regional footprint.
• Ormiston Academies Trust: UK-wide multi-academy trust running a network of state-funded primary and secondary schools. Comparable to Pathfinder as a similarly structured MAT focused on school improvement and shared services.
• United Learning: Large multi-academy trust operating a national network of schools and academies, including both state-funded and independent schools. Comparable to Pathfinder in operating a multi-school network with shared central services, but at much larger national scale.
• Greenshaw Learning Trust: Multi-academy trust operating primary and secondary schools across South West England and London with a focus on school improvement. Comparable operating model and central services structure to Pathfinder.
• Harris Federation: Large multi-academy trust operating primary and secondary academies across London and the South East with strong teacher training and professional development arms. Comparable in operating model and emphasis on school improvement at scale.
• Outwood Grange Academies Trust: One of the largest multi-academy trusts in the North of England, operating a network of primary and secondary academies with a focus on school improvement. Highly comparable to Pathfinder in operating model, regional focus, and scale of school network.
• Ark Schools: Multi-academy trust running a network of primary and secondary schools across the UK with an explicit focus on improving outcomes for disadvantaged pupils. Directly comparable to Pathfinder's mission and school-improvement model.

Others

• Department for Education: UK government department that funds and regulates academy trusts including Pathfinder. Not a peer in the competitive sense, but the primary funder and regulator whose policy decisions shape the trust's operating environment and is closely tied to its expansion and capital programmes.

Broad incumbents

• Academies Enterprise Trust: One of the larger multi-academy trusts in England operating a broad portfolio of primary and secondary schools. Comparable academy trust operating model to Pathfinder though operating at significantly greater scale.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• Xbsky.app/profile/pathfindermat.bsky.social
• YouTubeyoutube.com/channel/UCpXvPnMMd0lqeH-ujXYJpTQ
• Facebookfacebook.com/pathfindermat
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/pathfinder-multi-academy-trust
• Instagraminstagram.com/pathfindermat

Compliance1 record

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles3 records

Subsidiaries23 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 Pathfinder Multi Academy Trust