Eastern Learning Alliance

What Eastern Learning Alliance does

Eastern Learning Alliance (ELA) is a UK multi-academy trust (MAT), registered in England and Wales as company number 07899393, that operates a network of state-funded schools across the east of England. Founded in 2020 and headquartered at New Road, Impington, CB24 9LX, the trust currently runs 11 schools and colleges spanning primary, secondary, sixth form, and specialist provision, serving approximately 3,000 learners. The portfolio includes mainstream institutions such as Chesterton Community College, Downham Market Academy, Girton Glebe Primary School, Vista Academy Littleport, and Witchford Village College; sixth-form and specialist colleges including Athena Sixth Form College, Cambridge Maths School, Chesterton Sixth Form, and Impington International College; the IB World School Impington Village College; and The Cavendish School, the world's first International Baccalaureate special autism school.

The trust's product surface is its educational provision rather than any commercial technology platform. Underlying systems are predominantly off-the-shelf: WordPress and Elementor for web content, Google Analytics for site statistics, Microsoft Teams for homework distribution and KS4 revision resources (with dedicated Year 10 and Year 11 channels containing past exam papers and knowledge organisers), EduLink and SIMS InTouch for parent communications, subject-specific quizzing platforms such as MathsWatch, Educake, Seneca, and Kay Science, and Total Clothing for uniform supply. The only operationally distinctive technical component identified is a cashless catering system at Vista Academy Littleport using thumbprint biometrics for student identification, with the system explicitly not storing personal identity data. Academic differentiation rests on the trust's IB programmes (Middle Years, Diploma, Careers) at Impington Village College and the IB autism provision at The Cavendish School.

ELA is a not-for-profit, state-funded charitable organisation rather than a commercial enterprise. There is no commercial pricing model: education is provided free to students and parents, with income derived from per-pupil funding from the UK Department for Education and Cambridgeshire County Council administered through the standard local-authority admissions system. Customer segments are students aged 4-18+ and their families, with secondary engagement channels including a parent forum and the EduLink app. Leadership is headed by Executive Headteacher Nick Harrison with dedicated trust-level positions including Trust Director of Safeguarding and Executive SENDCO.

Name

Eastern Learning Alliance

Legal name

Eastern Learning Alliance

Website

https://tela.org.uk

Company type

Private

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

Eastern Learning Alliance is a UK multi-academy trust operating 11 state-funded primary, secondary, sixth form, and specialist autism schools across Cambridgeshire and Norfolk, serving approximately 3,000 students via per-pupil government funding rather than commercial pricing.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

K-12 Education Services

NAICS

Elementary and Secondary Schools (6111), Educational Services (61)

SIC

Services-Educational Services (8200)

akta.pro primary industry

International/Global Curriculum Schools (IB, Cambridge, etc.) (EDAJABAG)

Keywords

• Multi-academy trust
• Primary education
• Secondary education
• Sixth form college
• Special autism education

Headquarters

HQ city

Impington

HQ country

United Kingdom

HQ region

Europe

Offices6 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

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

Distribution channels1 record

Marketing channels5 records

Core offering

Eastern Learning Alliance is a multi-academy trust that operates a network of 11 state-funded primary, secondary, sixth form, and specialist autism schools across the east of England. It delivers free education to approximately 3,000 learners, with notable specialisations in International Baccalaureate programmes and autism-specialist provision. The trust provides mainstream academic curricula, the IB Middle Years, Diploma and Careers Programmes, GCSEs, A-level equivalents, and enrichment activities including the Duke of Edinburgh Award and the iCAS programme.

Product overview

Eastern Learning Alliance is a multi-academy trust operating a network of 11 schools in the east of England. The trust offers a unified educational experience across primary, secondary, and sixth form levels, with schools including Athena Sixth Form College, Cambridge Maths School, Chesterton Community College, Downham Market Academy, Girton Glebe Primary School, Impington International College, Impington Village College, The Cavendish School, Vista Academy Littleport, and Witchford Village College. The portfolio includes mainstream schools, specialist autism provision (The Cavendish School), and International Baccalaureate programmes (Impington Village College and Impington International College). Vista Academy Littleport offers specific digital learning services including a homework and revision platform integrated with Microsoft Teams and Edulink, a comprehensive revision toolkit, and reading programmes. The trust serves approximately 3,000 learners across its schools and colleges.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Athena Sixth Form College Sixth form college within the Eastern Learning Alliance network providing post-16 education for students in the Cambridge area.
• Cambridge Maths School Specialised mathematics school within the trust offering focused mathematics education to students.
• Chesterton Community College Secondary school within the Eastern Learning Alliance network serving the Cambridge local community.
• Chesterton Sixth Form Sixth form provision at Chesterton, part of the trust's post-16 education offerings.
• Downham Market Academy Secondary school within the trust serving the Downham Market area in Norfolk.
• Girton Glebe Primary School Primary school catering for pupils aged 4-11 in the Girton village community, part of the trust's primary education provision.
• Impington International College UK's top non-selective provider of the International Baccalaureate, offering sixth form education with an internationally-focused curriculum for over 30 years.
• Impington Village College Non-selective secondary school and one of the UK's leading IB World Schools, offering IB Middle Years, Diploma and Careers Programmes. Ranked in top 100 state schools by Sunday Times Parent Power.
• The Cavendish School World's first International Baccalaureate special autism school and Cambridgeshire's first state-maintained special free school provision for young people with autism.
• Vista Academy Littleport Community secondary school with expert-led curriculum providing academic opportunities alongside extra-curricular experiences and personal development programmes for students in the Littleport community.
• Witchford Village College Secondary school providing academic education, sports facilities including all-purpose 3G courts, and musical performances within the trust.
• Duke of Edinburgh Award Extra-curricular award scheme offered from Year 9 onwards (Bronze Award) developing skills through volunteering, physical, skills, and expedition sections over 3 months each.

Quantifiable outcome

• 100% of students accepted at first choice of university
• +4 more outcomes

Segments2 records

Ideal customer profiles1 record

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Integration9 records

Feature2 records

Partnerships

Two partnerships are on record, tiered minor and core.

• Littleport and Ely LibrariesminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerVista Academy Littleport has close partnerships with local libraries in Littleport and Ely. The school has access to eBooks online through this partnership and libraries provide resources and visits to support student reading.
• Schools Advisory Service (SAS)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerSAS provides confidential wellbeing services to staff at ELA schools including unlimited physical and mental health support, bereavement support, menopause support, cancer and chronic illness support, free access to Thrive app, The Relaxation Room, E-gym, and 24/7 GP helpline.

Scale indicators9 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Direct peers

• Ark Schools: UK multi-academy trust operating a network of non-selective state schools focused on academic outcomes for disadvantaged pupils; directly comparable to ELA as a charity-run MAT with a brand-led admissions story.
• Harris Federation: Large London-based multi-academy trust running state primary and secondary academies with a reputation for strong outcomes; directly comparable to ELA in MAT structure and pupil-outcome-driven positioning.
• Ormiston Academies Trust: National multi-academy trust operating dozens of state primary and secondary schools across England; directly comparable to ELA in operating model, geography, and reliance on per-pupil DfE funding.
• Greenwood Academies Trust: UK multi-academy trust running primary and secondary academies, primarily in the East Midlands and East of England; directly comparable to ELA in regional footprint and MAT operating model.
• Academies Enterprise Trust (AET): One of the largest UK MATs operating a large portfolio of primary and secondary academies; directly comparable to ELA in state-funded multi-academy trust structure and school-network operating model.
• United Learning: One of the largest UK multi-academy trusts, operating a comparable mix of primary, secondary and sixth-form state academies with a strong academic brand; directly comparable to ELA in governance model and pupil-funded revenue.
• Outwood Grange Academies Trust: Large UK multi-academy trust focused on school improvement and academic outcomes across a network of state secondary and primary academies; directly comparable to ELA in scale and outcomes-led strategy.
• Delta Academies Trust: Multi-academy trust operating a portfolio of state primary and secondary schools in northern England; directly comparable to ELA in MAT governance, funding model, and outcomes-driven positioning.

Broad incumbents

• Inspired Education: International premium schools group operating IB and other international curricula across multiple continents; comparable to ELA's IB schools in curriculum positioning, but operates as a for-profit group rather than a state-funded MAT.
• Nord Anglia Education: Global operator of premium private schools, many offering the IB Diploma; comparable to ELA's Impington IB offering in curriculum framework, but operating in the for-profit premium segment across multiple geographies.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks7 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/ela_trust
• Facebookfacebook.com/vistalittleport
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/eastern-learning-alliance

Compliance2 records

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles13 records

Subsidiaries11 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 Eastern Learning Alliance