The Dean Trust
The Dean Trust is a multi-academy trust operating 11 primary and secondary schools across Greater Manchester, Trafford, Knowsley, and Wigan, funded by the UK Department for Education and supplemented by teacher training and community facility revenue. The trust delivers education to school-age children, teacher training through AOM SCITT, and professional development via the Believe Learning Institute.
- Company typePrivate
- Founded2012
- HeadquartersSale, United Kingdom
- Headcount101–250
- GTM typeB2C
- OfferingServices
What The Dean Trust does
The Dean Trust is a multi-academy trust (MAT) established in 2012, headquartered in Sale, Cheshire, England. It operates 11 schools spanning primary, secondary, and combined-age education across the Manchester, Trafford, Knowsley, and Wigan areas of Greater Manchester. The trust's portfolio includes Ashton on Mersey School, Blacklow Brow, Broadoak School, Dean Trust Ardwick, Dean Trust Rose Bridge, Dean Trust Wigan, Forest Gate Academy, Lord Derby Academy, Partington Central Academy, Park View Academy, and Abraham Moss Community School. Beyond the schools, the trust runs AOM SCITT (a School Centred Initial Teacher Training programme) and the Believe Learning Institute (BLI) for professional development, extending its educational services beyond direct student delivery.
The trust's revenue model is primarily government-funded: as an MAT, it receives Department for Education (DfE) funding through funding agreements for each academy, with no tuition fees charged to students. Secondary revenue streams include community facility hire (notably the £1.05 million Broadoak 3G pitch at Partington Sports Village, operated in partnership with Trafford Leisure) and fees from teacher training and professional development programmes. The trust's GTM combines a formal sales-led process for recruiting new schools (expression of interest, due diligence, DfE consultation, TUPE transfer, Trust Board approval) with community-led engagement through school events, parent meet-and-greets, and partnerships with organisations such as Sale Sharks, Manchester United Foundation, Trafford Leisure, and Simplyhealth.
The trust's technology backbone is a centralised, 10+ year-old IT function spanning cyber security, project management, IT operations, and trust-wide Management Information Systems (MIS) for timetabling, assessment, and data reporting. Shared services in HR, IT, Finance, and Estates produce economies of scale across the network. The trust is governed by an experienced Trust Board and executive team led by CEO Jane O'Brien, following the July 2025 passing of founding Chairman Brian Dean Rigby MBE, who originally grew the trust from a single school since 2005.
The Dean Trust firmographics
Firmographics- Name
- The Dean Trust
- Legal name
- The Dean Trust
- Website
- https://thedeantrust.co.uk
- Company type
- Private
- Founded year
- 2012
- Operating status
- Operating
- Headcount range
- 101–250 employees
- Short description
- The Dean Trust is a multi-academy trust operating 11 primary and secondary schools across Greater Manchester, Trafford, Knowsley, and Wigan, funded by the UK Department for Education and supplemented by teacher training and community facility revenue. The trust delivers education to school-age children, teacher training through AOM SCITT, and professional development via the Believe Learning Institute.
- Ownership category
- akta.pro rank
The Dean Trust industry classification
Industry- Product category
- Multi-Academy Trust (K-12 Education Services)
- NAICS
- Elementary and Secondary Schools (611110), Elementary and Secondary Schools (6111), Elementary and Secondary Schools (61111)
- SIC
- Services-Educational Services (8200)
- akta.pro primary industry
- Public Career & Technical Education (CTE) Centers & Programs (EDAJAAAJ)
Keywords
Where The Dean Trust is headquartered
LocationHeadquarters
- HQ city
- Sale
- HQ country
- United Kingdom
- HQ region
- Europe
Offices5 records
Markets served
The Dean Trust business model
Business model- GTM type
- B2C
- Offering type
- Services
- Cost components
- Personnel, Operations, Infrastructure, Technology or R&D, Marketing or Sales
Revenue model
- Government Education Funding: As a multi-academy trust, The Dean Trust receives government funding through the Department for Education (DfE) to operate its schools. Funding agreements are in place with the DfE for each academy.
- Community & Leisure Facilities: The trust generates income through community use of facilities such as the Broadoak 3G pitch at Partington Sports Village, operated in partnership with Trafford Leisure.
- Teacher Training (AOM SCITT): The trust operates a School Centred Initial Teacher Training (SCITT) programme through AOM SCITT, providing teacher training across the trust and beyond.
Go-to-market motion2 records
Distribution channels4 records
Marketing channels6 records
The Dean Trust product offering
Product offeringCore offering
The Dean Trust operates a portfolio of eleven state-funded primary, secondary, and combined schools across Manchester, Trafford, Knowsley, and Wigan, delivering the national curriculum with sixth-form, SEND, and enrichment provision. It also delivers School Centred Initial Teacher Training through AOM SCITT and staff professional development through the Believe Learning Institute (BLI), backed by centralised HR, IT, finance, and estates services.
Product overview
The Dean Trust is a multi-academy trust established in 2012 comprising eleven schools across Manchester, Trafford, Knowsley, and Wigan. The portfolio includes primary schools (Blacklow Brow, Forest Gate Academy, Partington Central Academy, Park View Academy), secondary schools (Ashton on Mersey, Broadoak, Dean Trust Ardwick, Dean Trust Rose Bridge, Dean Trust Wigan, Lord Derby Academy), and one combined primary and secondary school (Abraham Moss Community School). Supporting educational services include AOM SCITT (teacher training) and the Believe Learning Institute (professional development). All schools subscribe to a common curriculum with collaborative teaching networks, unified governance, and shared support services including HR, IT, Finance, and Estates. The Trust's vision is for all pupils to Believe, Achieve, and Succeed.
Differentiator
Problem solved
Functional benefit
Brands
- Believe Learning Institute: A learning institute operated by The Dean Trust providing professional development and educational services.
- AOM SCITT
Products and services
- Ashton on Mersey School
Quantifiable outcome
- Pupils develop excellent attitudes to learning and impeccable behaviour (Blacklow Brow Ofsted 2021; Dean Trust Rose Bridge Ofsted 2023)
- +1 more outcomes
Companies that use The Dean Trust
Customer profileNamed customers5 records
Segments3 records
Ideal customer profiles3 records
The Dean Trust technology and API
TechnologyTechnology focussed No
API detail
- Has API
- No
- API docs
- API detail
Core technology
AI maturity
App detail
Feature2 records
The Dean Trust partnerships and signals
Strategic signalPartnerships
Seven partnerships are on record, tiered core, major and minor.
- SimplyhealthcoreThe Dean Trust partnered with Simplyhealth in June 2025 to support the wellbeing of its staff. The partnership reflects the trust's commitment to employee health and happiness, providing staff with access to Simplyhealth's health and wellbeing services.
- Sale SharkscoreAshton on Mersey School's Sixth Form partnered with Sale Sharks in April 2025. The Sharks Academy offers students the chance to train for a career in rugby alongside their A-Level or BTEC studies, providing elite coaching, strength and conditioning, player development, and academic support. The school also gains a place in the national ACE league linked to Gallagher Premiership clubs.
- UA92coreUA92 (a Manchester-based education and sports institution) hosted the Pupil Leadership Conference for students from across The Dean Trust schools. Distinguished speakers included Nick Parry (SCITT Lead), Mike Evans (Detective Chief Superintendent), Claire Henson (HR Director), Aaron Saxton (Head of Disruptive Learning), and Sam Webster (Head of BLI). Students enjoyed an exclusive tour of UA92's immersive space.
- Trafford LeisurecoreThe Broadoak 3G pitch at Partington Sports Village was developed in collaboration between Trafford Leisure and The Dean Trust. The facility, costing £1.05 million, is operated by Trafford Leisure, with The Dean Trust providing the majority of usage, particularly for women and girls. Jo Cherrett is CEO of Trafford Leisure.
- Football FoundationmajorThe Football Foundation granted £801,000 towards the £1.05 million Broadoak 3G pitch project at Partington Sports Village. This funding was part of the collaborative effort between The Dean Trust, Trafford Leisure, Trafford Council, and County FAs for Cheshire & Manchester.
- Mellors CateringminorMellors Catering provided catering services ex gratia for the Governors Conference 2023 held at Lancashire Manor Hotel, a partner in hosting trust governance events.
- Manchester United FoundationcoreJohn Shiels, Chief Executive of Manchester United Foundation (appointed 12 April 2012), is a trustee of The Dean Trust. The foundation delivers football coaching, educational programmes and personal development, engaging upwards of 20,000 young people per season. The foundation's CEO is also a board member of The Dean Trust, representing a deep strategic connection between both organisations.
Scale indicators5 records
Recent moves7 records
Expansion highlights6 records
The Dean Trust competitors and assessment
Company assessmentDirect peers
- Oasis Community Learning: UK multi-academy trust running primary, secondary, and all-through academies with a community-focused ethos and hub-based regional model similar to The Dean Trust's geographic clustering.
- Academies Enterprise Trust: Large UK academy trust operating a portfolio of primary and secondary academies with centralised shared services, directly comparable in scale and operating model to The Dean Trust.
- United Learning: One of the largest UK multi-academy trusts operating primary and secondary schools across multiple regions, with shared services, teacher training, and similar DfE-funded operating model directly comparable to The Dean Trust.
- Priory Federation of Academies: UK academy trust operating a portfolio of primary, secondary, and special schools with shared services and regional hubs, directly comparable in structure to The Dean Trust.
- Greenshaw Learning Trust: Multi-academy trust operating primary and secondary schools across southern England with a growth-by-conversion model and shared curriculum and services approach similar to The Dean Trust.
- Reach Academy Trust: UK-based academy trust focused on school improvement and conversion, with a comparable mix of primary and secondary schools and a similar DfE funding model.
- Star Academies: Multi-academy trust operating primary and secondary schools across England with shared services and central governance analogous to The Dean Trust's structure.
Others
- Manchester United Foundation: Partner organisation rather than a direct peer; operates youth-education and community programmes reaching 20,000+ young people per season in Greater Manchester, linked to The Dean Trust through board member John Shiels and community programming.
Broad incumbents
- Harris Federation: One of the largest UK academy trusts with primary and secondary schools across London and beyond; a broader, larger incumbent operating a comparable academy model with deeper resources.
- Outwood Grange Academies Trust: Major UK multi-academy trust with a large portfolio of primary and secondary schools and strong school-improvement track record, broadly comparable to The Dean Trust at greater scale.
Market position
Strengths4 records
Weaknesses4 records
Competitive moat6 records
Key risks5 records
Key highlights7 records
Customer concentration
The Dean Trust social profiles
Digital presenceThe Dean Trust financial estimates
Financial estimateRevenue estimate
Valuation estimate
The Dean Trust leadership team
Management profileNumber of profiles
Profiles18 records
The Dean Trust subsidiaries and ownership
Company hierarchySubsidiaries13 records
The Dean Trust funding detail
Funding detailFunding overview
Funding rounds
Investors
Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
The Dean 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 The Dean Trust
What does The Dean Trust do?
The Dean Trust operates a portfolio of eleven state-funded primary, secondary, and combined schools across Manchester, Trafford, Knowsley, and Wigan, delivering the national curriculum with sixth-form, SEND, and enrichment provision. It also delivers School Centred Initial Teacher Training through AOM SCITT and staff professional development through the Believe Learning Institute (BLI), backed by centralised HR, IT, finance, and estates services.
Is The Dean Trust a public or private company?
The Dean Trust is a private company. It is classified as nonprofit foundation owned and is currently operating.
When was The Dean Trust founded?
The Dean Trust was founded in 2012. It employs 101 to 250 people.
Where is The Dean Trust based?
The Dean Trust is headquartered in Sale, United Kingdom, in the Europe region.
How does The Dean Trust make money?
Three revenue lines are on record. Government Education Funding is the primary driver. The others are community & Leisure Facilities and teacher Training (AOM SCITT).
Who are The Dean Trust's main competitors?
Direct peers on record are Oasis Community Learning, Academies Enterprise Trust, United Learning, Priory Federation of Academies, Greenshaw Learning Trust, Reach Academy Trust and Star Academies. Manchester United Foundation is listed as an others. Broad incumbents are Harris Federation and Outwood Grange Academies Trust.
Does The Dean Trust have an API?
No public API is recorded for The Dean Trust.
What industry is The Dean Trust in?
The Dean Trust's product category is Multi-Academy Trust (K-12 Education Services). Its primary akta.pro industry code is EDAJAAAJ, Public Career & Technical Education (CTE) Centers & Programs. Its NAICS code is 611110 and its SIC code is 8200.