What Star Teaching School Hub Network does

Star Teaching School Hub Network is a UK-based, non-profit education services provider operated by Star Academies and designated by the Department for Education to deliver teacher and leadership development across four regional Teaching School Hubs: North West Lancashire (NW4), Pennine Lancashire (NW5), Bolton, Bury & Rochdale (NW3), and Birmingham South (WM10). Founded in 2021 and headquartered in Blackburn with a secondary operational base in Birmingham, the network supports over 1,000 schools spanning primary, secondary, post-16, and academy settings, with designation running until August 2028.

The network's core product is a 'golden thread' of career-long teacher professional development delivered in partnership with the National Institute of Teaching (NIoT), one of the four founding trusts of the School-Led Development Trust alongside Star Academies, Harris Federation, Oasis Community Learning, and Outwood Grange Academies Trust. Its programme portfolio comprises five core offerings: Train to Teach (Initial Teacher Training with three routes — fee-paying at £9,790, salaried, and apprenticeship), the Early Career Teachers (ECT) programme delivering the Early Career Framework, the Appropriate Body Service for statutory ECT induction (priced at £350–£1,000 per ECT), National Professional Qualifications (NPQs) covering specialist and leadership pathways, and Continuing Professional Development spanning Maths, English, Computing, SEND, RISE, and Early Years. Delivery is blended — in-person local seminars, virtual masterclasses, school visits, and self-study modules — and is anchored in NIoT's research function and a network of over 40 ITT providers, Research Schools, Maths/English Hubs, and local authority partners across the four regions.

The business model is a hybrid of DfE-funded programme delivery and fee-based services. The bulk of programme economics flow through DfE grants for NPQs and ECF (with up to 10,000 NPQ funded places nationally per cohort, weighted toward the highest 50% pupil-premium schools), while the Appropriate Body Service and ITT fee-paying route generate direct fee income from schools and trainees. The network is governed regionally with each hub led by a designated lead school (e.g., Tauheedul Islam Boys' High School, Tauheedul Islam Girls' High School, Eden Boys' Bolton, Eden Boys' Birmingham) and reaches schools via DfE referral frameworks, NIoT co-branded promotion, the hub's own website and X/Twitter channels, and direct local-authority and Research School partnerships.

Name

Star Teaching School Hub Network

Legal name

Star Academies

Website

https://starteachingschoolhubs.org

Company type

Private

Founded year

2021

Operating status

Operating

Short description

Star Teaching School Hub Network is a UK DfE-designated, non-profit provider of teacher and leadership development, operating four regional hubs across the North West and Birmingham South and supporting 1,000+ schools with ITT, ECF, NPQ, and Appropriate Body services in partnership with the National Institute of Teaching.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Teacher Training and Professional Development Services

NAICS

Educational Support Services (61171)

SIC

Services-Educational Services (8200)

akta.pro primary industry

Teacher Professional Development & In-Service Training Institutes (EDAHAFAM)

Keywords

• Teacher training programmes
• Initial teacher training
• Early career framework
• National professional qualifications
• Continuing professional development

Headquarters

HQ city

Blackburn

HQ country

United Kingdom

HQ region

Europe

Offices2 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

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

Revenue model

1. DfE-funded NPQ places: The DfE provides funding for National Professional Qualifications. For the October 2024 cohort, up to 10,000 funded places were available. All state schools are eligible for fully-funded places on NPQ in Headship, NPQ for SENCOs, NPQ in Leading Primary Maths, and the Early Headship Coaching Offer. Schools with the highest 50% of pupil premium pupils are eligible for funded places on other NPQs.
2. DfE-funded ECF / ECT programme: Early Career Framework (ECF) programme is fully funded by the Department for Education for eligible schools. Eligibility requires schools to have obtained QTS status, have ECTs who started induction on or after 1 September 2021, and be accredited for Section 41 funding. Schools that are not accredited (independent schools, Welsh establishments, British schools overseas) are not eligible.
3. Appropriate Body Service (fee-based): Schools pay fees for Appropriate Body Service: £350 per ECT when using a DfE-funded training provider (no additional school cost), £500 per ECT when using DfE-accredited materials to deliver their own programme, and £1,000 per ECT when designing and delivering their own programme. Costs are charged annually at 50% per year over the two-year induction.
4. Initial Teacher Training (ITT) fees: Fee-Paying route: trainees pay tuition fees of £9,790 for full-time study, or £7,335 for year one of part-time plus £7,335 pro rata for the second year. Salaried route: tuition fees of £9,790 covered by the employing school. Apprenticeship route: covered by apprenticeship levy if the school pays it; trainee cost is £1,200 if they choose to add the PGCE academic award.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion2 records

Distribution channels4 records

Marketing channels5 records

Core offering

Star Teaching School Hub Network is a group of four school-led centres of excellence delivering teacher and leadership training and development across the North West and Midlands of England. Its core offerings are five interconnected programmes — Train to Teach (Initial Teacher Training), Early Career Teachers programme, Appropriate Body Service, National Professional Qualifications, and Continuing Professional Development — provided in partnership with the National Institute of Teaching and supporting over 1,000 schools.

Product overview

Star Teaching School Hub Network is an education provider offering a unified portfolio of teacher and leadership development programmes. The core offering comprises five interconnected programmes forming a 'golden thread' of professional development: Train to Teach (Initial Teacher Training), Early Career Teachers Programme, Appropriate Body Service, National Professional Qualifications (NPQs), and Professional Development. These programmes support teachers at every stage of their career from initial training through to executive leadership, delivered in partnership with the National Institute of Teaching and spanning four regional hubs serving over 1,000 schools across the northwest and midlands of England.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Train to Teach (Initial Teacher Training) An immersive, school-centred Initial Teacher Training (ITT) programme delivered in partnership with the National Institute of Teaching, providing pathways into teaching with 39 weeks of professional learning and teaching practice in placement schools. Targeted at aspiring teachers in the network's four hub areas.
• Early Career Teachers (ECT) Programme A fully-funded induction programme supporting early career teachers in their first two years of employment to develop knowledge, practices and working habits for a successful teaching career. Delivered under the DfE Early Career Framework.
• Appropriate Body Service Quality assurance service for the statutory induction of Early Career Teachers, ensuring ECTs receive their statutory entitlements and fair assessment procedures. Schools pay fees per ECT based on delivery model (£350, £500, or £1,000 per ECT).
• National Professional Qualifications (NPQs) Training and support for teachers and school leaders at all levels, covering specialist NPQs (Teaching, Behaviour, Literacy, Maths) and leadership NPQs (Senior Leadership, Headship, Executive Leadership). Fully DfE-funded for eligible schools, including those with the highest 50% of pupil premium pupils.
• Continuing Professional Development High-quality continuing professional development for school leaders and teachers, offering access to local DfE-accredited hubs and national associations covering subjects including Maths, English, Computing, Music, Languages, Research School, RISE, Early Years, and SEND.

Named customers4 records

Segments2 records

Ideal customer profiles2 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Partnerships

52 partnerships are on record, tiered minor and core.

• Turing NW Maths HubminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerListed in Bolton, Bury & Rochdale Hub governance. Maths Hub partner.
• Arch English HubminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerListed in Bolton, Bury & Rochdale Hub governance. English Hub partner for literacy support.
• North West One Maths HubminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerListed in Bolton, Bury & Rochdale Hub governance. Maths Hub partner for maths CPD.
• National Institute of Teaching (NIoT)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerNIoT is one of four founding trusts of the School-Led Development Trust (alongside Star Academies, Harris Federation, Oasis Community Learning, and Outwood Grange Academies Trust). Star Teaching School Hub Network is a founding partner of NIoT. The partnership delivers ITT, ECT, NPQ, and other professional development programmes. NIoT provides the programme suite, research function, and programme design; Star TSH Network provides local hub delivery, school relationships, and operational infrastructure across four regions.
• North North West Maths HubminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerCollaborative partner listed in the North West Lancashire Hub governance structure. Works with Star TSH Network on maths professional development within the hub area.
• Blackpool Research SchoolminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerListed in North West Lancashire Hub governance. Part of the Evidence-Based Education network supporting research-informed CPD delivery.
• St John Vianney English HubminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerListed in North West Lancashire Hub governance. English Hub partner supporting literacy development across the network.
• Lancashire Professional Development Service (LPDS)minorStrategic or Co-development PartnerListed in North West Lancashire Hub governance. Local authority-affiliated CPD provider in Lancashire.
• DBE ServicesminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerListed in North West Lancashire Hub governance as a partner organisation.
• Lancashire Research SchoolminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerListed in Pennine Lancashire Hub governance. Evidence-Based Education partner supporting research translation.
• Abacus NW Maths HubminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerListed in Pennine Lancashire Hub governance. Maths Hub partner supporting maths teaching development.
• Blackburn with Darwen Local AuthorityminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerListed in Pennine Lancashire Hub governance. Local authority partner providing school improvement support.
• Manchester Communication Research SchoolminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerListed in Bolton, Bury & Rochdale Hub governance. Research School partner for evidence-based CPD.
• Bolton Learning PartnershipminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerListed in Bolton, Bury & Rochdale Hub governance. Local school partnership organisation.
• Bolton Local AuthorityminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerListed in Bolton, Bury & Rochdale Hub governance. Local authority partner.
• Bury Local AuthorityminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerListed in Bolton, Bury & Rochdale Hub governance. Local authority partner.
• Rochdale Local AuthorityminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerListed in Bolton, Bury & Rochdale Hub governance. Local authority partner.
• Billesley Research SchoolminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerListed in Birmingham South Hub governance. Research School partner for evidence-based CPD.
• St Matthew's Research SchoolminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerListed in Birmingham South Hub governance. Research School partner.
• Central Maths HubminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerListed in Birmingham South Hub governance. Maths Hub partner for Birmingham.
• Birmingham City Local AuthorityminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerListed in Birmingham South Hub governance. Local authority partner.
• Abacus NW Maths HubminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerMaths Hub partner serving North West Lancashire and Pennine Lancashire. Listed in Professional Development section.
• Advanced Mathematics Support ProgrammeminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerListed in Professional Development section. National maths support programme.
• National Centre for Excellence in the Teaching of MathematicsminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerListed in Professional Development section. National body supporting maths teaching excellence.
• National Centre for Computing EducationminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerListed in Professional Development section. National computing education support body.
• Education Endowment FoundationminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerListed in Professional Development section. Evidence-based education research organisation.
• RISE (Regional Improvement for Standards and Excellence) programmeminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerDfE-supported regional improvement programme. Star TSH Network promotes RISE as part of its professional development offer. RISE attendance and behaviour hubs programme available across all hub areas.
• Early years stronger practice hubsminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerListed in Professional Development section. Early years support available across all four hub areas.
• Universal SEND ServicesminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerListed in Professional Development section. Special educational needs and disability support service.
• The Careers and Enterprise CompanyminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerListed in Professional Development section. National careers education support organisation.
• The National Institute of TeachingcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerLead provider for ITT, ECT, and NPQ programmes delivered through Star TSH Network. NIoT provides programme design, research function, and national delivery infrastructure.
• Embrace SCITTminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerITT provider partner listed under Working with ITT Providers. Operates in Birmingham South area.
• Arthur Terry SCITTminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerITT provider partner listed under Working with ITT Providers. Operates in Birmingham South area.
• Learn with Forward as OneminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerITT provider partner listed under Working with ITT Providers.
• Barr Beacon SCITTminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerITT provider partner listed under Working with ITT Providers. Operates in Birmingham South area.
• Birmingham City UniversityminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerITT provider partner listed under Working with ITT Providers. Operates in Birmingham South area.
• North West SCITTminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerITT provider partner listed under Working with ITT Providers. Operates in North West Lancashire area.
• Birmingham Newman UniversityminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerITT provider partner listed under Working with ITT Providers. Operates in Birmingham South area.
• Pioneers Partnership SCITTminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerITT provider partner listed under Working with ITT Providers.
• Prestolee SCITTminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerITT provider partner listed under Working with ITT Providers. Operates in Bolton, Bury, Rochdale area.
• Bishop Challoner Training SchoolminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerITT provider partner listed under Working with ITT Providers. Operates in Birmingham South area.
• Ripley ITTminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerITT provider partner listed under Working with ITT Providers.
• Centre for Research in Early ChildhoodminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerITT provider partner listed under Working with ITT Providers.
• University of BoltonminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerITT provider partner listed under Working with ITT Providers. Operates in Bolton, Bury, Rochdale area.
• Haybridge Alliance SCITTminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerITT provider partner listed under Working with ITT Providers.
• University of CumbriaminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerITT provider partner listed under Working with ITT Providers. Operates in North West Lancashire area.
• South Birmingham SCITTminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerITT provider partner listed under Working with ITT Providers. Operates in Birmingham South area.
• The University of BirminghamminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerITT provider partner listed under Working with ITT Providers. Operates in Birmingham South area.
• The University of WolverhamptonminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerITT provider partner listed under Working with ITT Providers. Operates in Birmingham South area.
• The University of WorcesterminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerITT provider partner listed under Working with ITT Providers.
• Titan Partnership Teacher TrainingminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerITT provider partner listed under Working with ITT Providers. Operates in Birmingham South area.
• United TeachingminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerITT provider partner listed under Working with ITT Providers.

Scale indicators4 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks5 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/StarTSHubs

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles12 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 Star Teaching School Hub Network