Unity Schools Partnership

What Unity Schools Partnership does

Unity Schools Partnership is a Multi-Academy Trust (MAT) operating a family of 30+ primary, secondary and special schools across Suffolk, Essex, Norfolk, Cambridgeshire and Romford in East London, plus four sixth forms in Haverhill, Great Cornard/Sudbury, Felixstowe and Romford. The trust is structured as a charitable company limited by guarantee, registered in England and Wales (company number 07400386), with no external equity ownership. Its stated model is one of interdependence: schools that are more self-sustaining than stand-alone academies, less dependent than local-authority schools, and organised in geographic hubs that share best practice, specialist staff and roughly 250 local governors. CEO Dominic Norrish, formerly COO of United Learning and CEO of IAPS, leads a Central Team that includes dedicated Directors for Primary, Secondary, SEND, Research School/Professional Development, HR, Operations, IT and the Unity Institute.

The trust's core products and assets are: CUSP (Curriculum with Unity Schools Partnership), a proprietary, evidence-informed curriculum developed by Curriculum Development Director Alex Bedford, now shared with 600 schools nationally and internationally; &iLearn, a 1:1 iPad programme for Years 4-6 integrating Microsoft 365, Google Classroom and Showbie; Unity Research School, part of the 32-school EEF Research Schools Network; Unity Professional Development (UPD) and the annual Unity Day conference; Attendance Hubs serving primary, secondary and special phases; and the Unity Schools Partnership Charitable Foundation (established September 2024) channeling donations into hardship, SEND and curriculum-access grants.

Revenue is derived primarily from government per-pupil funding (academies receive approximately the same per-pupil funding as local-authority schools), supplemented by facilities hire and lettings, and donations/grants routed through the Charitable Foundation. Customers are effectively internal — the trust's own schools and their pupils — with CUSP and Unity Research School extending a commercial-style distribution reach to external schools. The trust has no funding rounds, no parent company, and no disclosed revenue figure.

Name

Unity Schools Partnership

Legal name

Unity Schools Partnership

Website

https://unitysp.co.uk

Company type

Private

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

101–250 employees

Short description

Unity Schools Partnership is a charitable Multi-Academy Trust running 30+ primary, secondary and special schools plus four sixth forms across East England, delivering publicly funded education and licensing its proprietary CUSP curriculum to 600 schools nationally and internationally.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Multi-Academy Trust Education Services

NAICS

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

SIC

Services-Educational Services (8200)

akta.pro primary industry

Public K–12 Combined Schools (EDAJAAAE)

akta.pro secondary industry

Charter Special Education & Inclusive Programs (EDAJACAF)

Keywords

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

Headquarters

HQ city

Haverhill

HQ country

United Kingdom

HQ region

Europe

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

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

Revenue model

1. Government Per-Pupil Funding: The majority of funding comes direct from Government, based on the number of students in schools. Academies receive approximately the same per-pupil funding as local authority schools. This is the primary revenue stream for the trust and its member schools.
2. Facilities Hire and Lettings: The trust generates some income from hiring out facilities, lettings and sports centre revenue.
3. Donations and Grants: The trust receives donations and grants from supporters and charitable foundations. The Unity Schools Partnership Charitable Foundation was established in September 2024 to enhance lives of children through additional resources.

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels3 records

Marketing channels7 records

Core offering

Unity Schools Partnership is a Multi-Academy Trust that operates a family of primary, secondary and special schools across the East of England. It delivers statutory education to pupils through its member schools, supported by its proprietary CUSP curriculum, an &iLearn 1:1 iPad programme, Unity Research School, Unity Professional Development CPD services, Attendance Hubs and a charitable foundation that supplements provision for disadvantaged pupils.

Product overview

Unity Schools Partnership operates as a multi-academy trust (MAT) of secondary, primary, middle and special schools located in Suffolk, Norfolk, Essex, Cambridgeshire and Romford in East London. The organization offers a portfolio of interconnected educational products and services: CUSP (Curriculum with Unity Schools Partnership) serves as the trust's bespoke evidence-informed curriculum; &iLearn provides a 1:1 iPad program for Years 4-6 integrating with Microsoft 365 and Google Classroom; Unity Research School delivers evidence-based training and resources; Unity Professional Development offers CPD for staff; and the Charitable Foundation provides additional resources for children facing hardship. The trust also operates four sixth forms across its schools and provides attendance support through designated Attendance Hubs.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• CUSP (Curriculum with Unity Schools Partnership): Curriculum with Unity Schools Partnership (CUSP) is the trust's own evidence-informed curriculum, underpinned by research and cognitive science. Developed by Curriculum Development Director Alex Bedford, CUSP is now shared with 600 schools nationally and internationally.
• Unity Day
• &iLearn
• Unity Professional Development (UPD)
• Unity Research School
• Unity Schools Partnership Charitable Foundation
• Unity Schools Partnership Attendance Hub

Products and services

• CUSP - Curriculum with Unity Schools Partnership The trust's proprietary, evidence-informed curriculum framework, developed by Curriculum Development Director Alex Bedford. It is deliberately sequenced to activate prior learning, build on skills and deepen knowledge and understanding, with emphasis on vocabulary acquisition, retention and use and specific skills discreetly taught and practised. Now shared with 600 schools nationally and internationally.
• &iLearn (1:1 iPad Program) Trust-wide 1:1 iPad initiative providing all children in Year 4 to Year 6 with their own iPad to use in class and take home. Integrates with Microsoft 365 and Google Classroom, and uses apps like Showbie for assessment and feedback. Designed to support the trust's home learning strategy.
• Unity Research School A team of experienced educationalists passionate about education research and evidence-based strategies. Part of the Research Schools Network supported by the Education Endowment Foundation (EEF), providing training, bespoke support, website resources, newsletters, and hosting researchED conferences.
• Unity Professional Development (UPD) High-quality, evidence-informed CPD for Unity schools and external schools, including annual whole-trust PD Day (Unity Day), subject-specific training and networking groups. Provides approximately 120 workshops and has hosted conferences with over 1,000 employees.
• Sixth Form Provision Four sixth forms located in Haverhill (Samuel Ward), Great Cornard/Sudbury (Thomas Gainsborough), Felixstowe, and Romford (St Edward's). Each offers A-Level and vocational courses with high-quality teaching, pastoral support, and pathways to university, apprenticeships or employment.
• Attendance Hubs Support service for schools to improve attendance, with primary hub hosted by Abbots Green Academy and Houldsworth Valley Primary Academy, and secondary hub hosted by St Edward's C of E Academy. Provides resources and hub meetings to address attendance challenges.
• Unity Schools Partnership Charitable Foundation Established in September 2024 to enhance the lives of children attending trust schools through three focus areas: hardship funding (Happy Top Up Sheds), children with greater educational need (special schools and provisions), and accessing the broader curriculum (libraries, music instruments, cultural experiences).

Quantifiable outcome

• Pupil Premium strategy audited annually with bespoke approaches for each setting
• +3 more outcomes

Named customers14 records

Segments4 records

Ideal customer profiles2 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Integration3 records

Feature2 records

Partnerships

Nine partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• OM Health and Wellbeing Consultancy LtdcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerProvides whole trust community support in all aspects of health and wellbeing. Delivers evidence-based interventions for staff and pupil wellbeing, and supports schools with teaching all aspects of the RSE (Relationships education, relationships and sex education) curriculum.
• ApplecoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerUnity Schools Partnership is an Apple Regional Training Centre delivering training on making best use of iPads and associated apps. Apple supports primary schools rolling out one-to-one iPad approaches for Key Stage 2. Partnership enables the &iLearn programme and integrates with Microsoft 365 and Google Classroom.
• PiXL ClubminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerCollaboration of school leaders focused on raising standards across GCSE, A Level and Key Stage 2. The trust engages with conferences, networks, and training and development programmes.
• Suffolk County CouncilcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerKey strategic partner in the Raising the Bar initiative, Suffolk's response to raising achievement. The trust partners to help attain objectives through member schools.
• Department for EducationcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerSeeks to improve the quality of the education workforce and help schools improve. The trust is involved in networks at local and national levels for teacher development and school improvement.
• Stone KingminorImplementation/ SI/ Consulting PartnerSolicitors providing seamless, complementary legal advice covering all aspects of the law. National leaders in the charity and education sectors who have supported the trust through all conversions.
• Schools ChoiceminorImplementation/ SI/ Consulting PartnerTrading arm of Suffolk County Council supporting the trust with human resources, payroll, pensions, finance services and business development.
• West Suffolk CollegeminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerImportant partner in improving quality of vocational education. Currently partnering on developing an animal husbandry course at Newmarket Academy.
• PCH AssociatesminorImplementation/ SI/ Consulting PartnerDynamic and professional building consultancy that has supported the trust with successful bids through the Academy Capital Maintenance Fund and Environmental Improvement Grants.

Scale indicators5 records

Recent moves9 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Direct peers

• United Learning: One of the UK's largest multi-academy trusts operating primary, secondary and independent schools nationally. Highly comparable in operating model, central-team structure and curriculum focus; Unity's CEO previously served as COO here.
• Harris Federation: Large multi-academy trust with primary, secondary and special schools predominantly in London and the South East. Comparable in operating scale and emphasis on disadvantaged pupil outcomes.
• Ark Schools: National MAT operating primary and secondary schools with a strong curriculum-led identity and central CPD function. Directly comparable as a curriculum- and CPD-focused trust that also licenses content externally.
• Greenwood Academies Trust: Multi-academy trust with schools in the Midlands and East of England. Comparable in regional footprint and mix of primary and secondary academies.
• Ormiston Academies Trust: Multi-academy trust operating 40+ secondary and primary schools across England. Closely comparable in scale, regional mix (including East of England schools) and school improvement approach.
• Oasis Community Learning: National multi-academy trust running primary and secondary academies across England. Comparable in scale and academy-conversion growth model, with similar central service functions.
• REAch2 Academy Trust: Primary-focused multi-academy trust with national reach. Comparable in primary-centric operating model and shared services structure, particularly relevant given Unity's strong primary base.
• Dixons Academies Trust: Multi-academy trust with strong curriculum identity and a track record of school improvement, comparable to Unity's CUSP-led, evidence-informed approach.

Regional players

• Meridian Trust: Multi-academy trust operating across the East of England and surrounding regions. Highly regionally comparable to Unity, with overlapping geography in Cambridgeshire and Peterborough.

Broad incumbents

• Academies Enterprise Trust (AET): One of the UK's largest sponsors of academies with a national footprint. Broadly comparable as a large incumbent MAT, but with less specialism in licensed curriculum products.

Market position

Strengths4 records

Weaknesses4 records

Competitive moat6 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/unityschoolsp
• YouTubeyoutube.com/channel/UC6FaMnucnX5qjgTKfHVrjLg
• Facebookfacebook.com/UnitySchoolsPartnership
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/unity-schools-partnership

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles26 records

Subsidiaries40 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 Unity Schools Partnership