What The Harbour Schools Partnership does

The Harbour Schools Partnership (THSP) is a UK Multi-Academy Trust headquartered in Exeter, Devon, operating 36 schools across the South West of England that collectively serve approximately 10,096 pupils aged 2–16 and employ 1,713 staff. Formed in April 2025 through the merger of Tarka Learning Partnership and Ventrus Multi Academy Trust, the trust is structured as a company limited by guarantee and registered as an exempt charity (Company Number 7821367). It delivers early years, primary, and secondary education through a mix of community and Church of England schools, with Pilton Community College as the principal secondary provision and Eden Park Academy and The Park Community School offering combined primary/secondary stages.

THSP operates a centralized support services model comprising a Chief Executive, Chief Finance Officer, Chief Operations Officer, Director of School Improvement, SEND Lead, Safeguarding Lead, People Service Lead, IT Service Lead, Estates Service Lead, and Governance & Information Service Lead. These services are delivered across member schools alongside a leadership development programme (BASIC360) offered in partnership with Andy Buck and BASIC Leadership, providing structured CPD including 20 leadership videos, diagnostic tools, bespoke 360 feedback, reflective journals, and qualification pathways. IT infrastructure is described as cloud-based for educational management, though no proprietary software products are offered externally.

The trust's revenue model is government per-pupil funding routed through the Education and Skills Funding Agency (ESFA), supplemented by grants including pupil premium, sports premium, and recovery premium. Admissions are coordinated through Devon County Council's coordinated admissions scheme. The trust grows its network by welcoming additional schools into the partnership, with the April 2025 merger representing its most significant recent expansion. Governance includes trustees nominated by the Exeter Diocesan Education Network (EDEN), the University of Exeter, and foundation members.

Name

The Harbour Schools Partnership

Legal name

The Harbour Schools Partnership

Website

https://ventrus.org.uk

Company type

Private

Founded year

2025

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

The Harbour Schools Partnership is a UK Multi-Academy Trust operating 36 schools across Devon and the South West, serving roughly 10,096 pupils aged 2–16 with 1,713 staff, funded by government per-pupil allocations and centralized through Exeter-based support services.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Primary and Secondary Education Services

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)

akta.pro secondary industry

Public K–12 Combined Schools (EDAJAAAE)

Keywords

• Multi-academy trust
• Primary education services
• Secondary education services
• School improvement programs
• Leadership development education

Headquarters

HQ city

Exeter

HQ country

United Kingdom

HQ region

Europe

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Infrastructure, Others

Revenue model

1. Government School Funding: As a Multi-Academy Trust, The Harbour Schools Partnership receives government funding through the Education and Skills Funding Agency (ESFA) for the operation of its academies. Schools receive per-pupil funding, with additional grants for specific purposes such as the pupil premium, sports premium, and recovery premium.

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels1 record

Marketing channels3 records

Core offering

The Harbour Schools Partnership is a Multi-Academy Trust operating 36 schools (primary, secondary, infant, junior, and nursery) across Devon and surrounding areas, delivering early years, primary, and secondary education to approximately 10,096 pupils aged 2-16. It provides centralised support services including school improvement, SEND and inclusion, safeguarding, IT, estates, HR, and governance support, and offers the BASIC360 leadership development programme in partnership with BASIC Leadership for school staff.

Product overview

The Harbour Schools Partnership is a Multi-Academy Trust that operates as a single unified educational organization comprising 36 schools serving approximately 10,096 pupils. The portfolio includes BASIC360, a leadership development programme offered in partnership with Andy Buck and BASIC Leadership team providing video-based learning, diagnostic tools, and qualification pathways for school leaders. The Trust's core offering is the schools themselves (primary and secondary) along with centralized support services including school improvement, SEND & inclusion, safeguarding, IT, estates management, HR, and governance support delivered through a dedicated Support Services Team.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• BASIC Leadership: A leadership development programme offered in partnership with Andy Buck and the BASIC Leadership team, providing video content, diagnostic tools, reflective journals, and qualifications for aspirant, middle and senior leaders across the trust's schools.

Products and services

• BASIC360 Leadership Development Programme A comprehensive leadership development package offered in partnership with Andy Buck and the BASIC Leadership team, providing unlimited access to 20 leadership videos, diagnostic tools, a bespoke 360 feedback tool, reflective journals, and discounted books for aspirant, middle, and senior leaders across the trust's schools.
• Harbour Support Services Centralised support services including Chief Executive Officer, Chief Finance Officer, Chief Operations Officer, Director of School Improvement, SEND Lead, Safeguarding Lead, People Service Lead, IT Service Lead, Estates Service Lead, and Governance & Information Service Lead that support the operation of 36 schools within the Multi-Academy Trust.

Quantifiable outcome

• 97% of parents would recommend our schools
• +2 more outcomes

Named customers2 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

Feature1 record

Partnerships

Seven partnerships are on record, tiered core.

• Devon County CouncilcoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 April 2025The Harbour Schools Partnership participates in Devon County Council's coordinated admissions schemes. The trust's schools use Devon County Council's admissions portal and follow their admissions policies and timetables. Devon County Council publishes admissions information and manages the application and appeals process for THSP schools.
• Andy Buck / BASIC LeadershipcoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 April 2025BASIC Leadership works in partnership with The Harbour Schools Partnership to offer a comprehensive package of leadership development support for schools. The programme includes unlimited access to 20 leadership videos, diagnostic tools, a bespoke 360 feedback tool, reflective journals, and the BASIC Certificate in Reflective Leadership qualification.
• University of ExetercoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerThe University of Exeter has a named representative (Ruth Flanagan) on the trust's Members body. The university also has a foundation member (James Hutchinson) representing the institution. This relationship provides academic partnership and oversight.
• Exeter Diocesan Education Network (EDEN)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerEDEN provides trustees to the Harbour Schools Partnership board including Caroline Thomas (Chair of Audit & Risk), David Edwards (Vice-Chair), Johnathon Hayward, Mike Wright, and Sharon Blyth. Many THSP schools are Church of England schools, making this partnership important for religious distinctiveness and governance.
• Exeter Diocesan Board of Education (EDBE)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerEDBE is listed as a relevant interest for Christina Mabin, EDEN's foundation member representative on the trust. This connection provides oversight for Church of England schools within the trust.
• Department for Education (DfE)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerThe trust works with the DfE as an education system partner. CEO Gary Chown has worked across the South-West of England as an Education Advisor for the Department for Education. The DfE oversees academy funding and regulatory requirements.
• OfstedcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerThe trust works with Ofsted for school inspections. CEO Gary Chown has served as an OFSTED inspector. Trustee David Edwards spent ten years as one of Her Majesty's Inspectors at Ofsted. Trustee Jonathan Gower is an Ofsted Inspector.

Scale indicators4 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Direct peers

• Reach Academy Trust: A Multi-Academy Trust operating multiple primary and secondary schools in the UK. Directly comparable as a multi-site MAT delivering K-12 education through a collaborative school improvement model similar to THSP's.
• Greenwood Academies Trust: A UK Multi-Academy Trust running multiple academies with shared services and a regional footprint. Directly comparable to THSP as a multi-site academy network focused on collaborative school improvement.
• Outwood Grange Academies Trust: One of the largest Multi-Academy Trusts in the UK, operating dozens of primary and secondary schools with a centralised school improvement model. Comparable to THSP in structure, scale ambitions, and trust-wide collaboration approach.
• Academy Transformation Trust: A UK Multi-Academy Trust operating a network of primary and secondary schools. Comparable to THSP in structure as a mid-sized MAT delivering education through shared services and collaborative improvement.
• Windsor Academy Trust: A UK Multi-Academy Trust operating multiple primary and secondary schools in the West Midlands. Comparable to THSP as a mid-sized multi-site MAT delivering K-12 education with shared services.
• Bright Tribe Trust: A UK Multi-Academy Trust operating a network of primary and secondary schools. Comparable to THSP in operating multi-site academy networks delivering K-12 education through collaborative governance models.

Broad incumbents

• Ark Schools: A UK charity running a network of academies with a focus on school improvement in underserved areas. Comparable to THSP in operating multi-site academy networks with centralised support services.
• Harris Federation: A very large UK Multi-Academy Trust operating primary and secondary academies across multiple regions. Comparable to THSP as a multi-site MAT, though at significantly larger scale with a broader geographic footprint.
• E-ACT: A national Multi-Academy Trust operating primary and secondary academies across multiple English regions. Comparable to THSP in operating multi-site academy networks with centralised support, though at greater national scale.
• Oasis Community Learning: A large UK Multi-Academy Trust with hubs across the country operating primary, secondary, and special academies. Comparable to THSP in operating multi-site academy networks, though at a larger national scale.

Market position

Strengths4 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/harbourschoolspartnership

Compliance4 records

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles6 records

Subsidiaries36 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 The Harbour Schools Partnership