THE BLACK PEAR TRUST

What THE BLACK PEAR TRUST does

The Black Pear Trust is a charitable Multi-Academy Trust (MAT) incorporated in England in March 2014, headquartered in Worcester and operating eight schools across Worcestershire and surrounding counties (Worcester, Kidderminster, Bromsgrove, Evesham, Bewdley). The trust provides education from nursery through primary and, since September 2024, secondary (via Woodrush High School), delivering central services to its member schools including governance, finance, HR (via Liberata), estates and health and safety (via MBNH), safeguarding, and curriculum support, with 95% of allocated funds delegated to individual schools.

Beyond operating schools, the trust runs the Black Pear Teaching Alliance, accredited by the University of Worcester, offering Ofsted-rated 'Outstanding' PGCE and QTS initial teacher training programmes (with published 2026-27 fees of £9,790 for UK citizens and £18,400 for non-UK citizens), Continuing Professional Development courses for teachers, School-to-School Support leveraging 10 Specialist Leaders in Education (SLEs) and a National Leader of Education at Hollymount School (a National Support School), Governance Services sold externally to schools in Worcestershire, and on-site Catering. The underlying technology is limited to a Microsoft Office 365 shared portal for resource sharing; there is no proprietary platform, app, or AI capability described.

The trust's go-to-market is primarily organic conversion of local schools into the MAT, combined with a sales-led external push for Governance Services and a community-led model anchored in personal relationships with parents, staff, and local headteachers. Revenue is dominated by UK government per-pupil funding routed through the Education and Skills Funding Agency (ESFA), with incremental, smaller contributions from teacher training fees, CPD, Governance Services pricing (which is based on support required rather than pupil numbers), and Catering. Strategic partners include the University of Worcester (core), University College Birmingham, Warwick University, the Diocese of Worcester, and the Worcestershire Study Group of 8 local headteachers. The trust is governed by a Board led by Chair Paul Shoesmith, Chair of Trustees Julia Cook, CEO Emma Pritchard, and COO Katie Reilly, with no parent company and no external shareholders.

Name

THE BLACK PEAR TRUST

Legal name

The Black Pear Trust

Website

https://blackpeartrust.org

Company type

Private

Founded year

2014

Operating status

Operating

Short description

The Black Pear Trust is a UK charitable Multi-Academy Trust operating eight primary and secondary schools across Worcestershire, delivering central education services, teacher training, CPD, and governance support to its member schools and the wider region.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Multi-Academy Trust Education Services

NAICS

Elementary and Secondary Schools (611110), Educational Support Services (611710)

SIC

Services-Educational Services (8200)

akta.pro primary industry

Charter Special Education & Inclusive Programs (EDAJACAF)

akta.pro secondary industry

Specialized Learning Support (Dyslexia/LD Coaching, Assistive Strategies) (EDAJALAJ)

Keywords

• Multi-academy trust services
• Primary and secondary education
• Teacher training programmes
• School improvement support
• School governance services

Headquarters

HQ city

Worcester

HQ country

United Kingdom

HQ region

Europe

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Infrastructure, Others, Marketing or Sales

Revenue model

1. Government Education Funding: The trust receives per-pupil funding from the Education and Skills Funding Agency (ESFA) for its academy schools. Each school retains its own delegated budget, with the Trust currently proposing a delegation of 95% of allocated funds to individual schools. The trust retains a portion to cover central support services.
2. Initial Teacher Training: The Black Pear Teaching Alliance, accredited by University of Worcester, generates revenue through PGCE and QTS teacher training courses. Course fees for 2026-27 are £9,790 for UK citizens and £18,400 for non-UK citizens.
3. Continuing Professional Development Services: The trust provides CPD courses to its own staff and teachers from other schools, with courses based on school research conducted within trust schools. The trust commits to supporting post-course implementation of practice change.
4. Governance Services: The trust provides comprehensive governance services support including professional clerking services, governor training, and support with governor recruitment and induction to schools in Worcestershire. Pricing is based on support required, not pupil numbers.
5. Catering Services: On-site catering cooking fresh meals for children at member schools.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion2 records

Distribution channels3 records

Marketing channels4 records

Core offering

The Black Pear Trust operates a Mixed Multi-Academy Trust (MAT) running eight primary and secondary schools across Worcestershire and surrounding counties, providing education from nursery through secondary. Beyond operating schools, the trust delivers accredited Initial Teacher Training through the Black Pear Teaching Alliance, Continuing Professional Development (CPD) for teachers, school-to-school improvement support via its National Support School and 10 Specialist Leaders in Education, professional governance services to external schools, and on-site catering services to pupils.

Product overview

The Black Pear Trust is a Multi-Academy Trust (MAT) operating eight schools in Worcestershire, UK. The trust offers a portfolio of educational services including school education (primary and secondary), teacher training through the Black Pear Teaching Alliance (accredited by University of Worcester), Continuing Professional Development for teachers, School-to-School Support leveraging National Leaders of Education, Governance Services for external schools, and Trust Catering providing fresh on-site meals. The trust's schools work collaboratively under the motto 'Growing Excellent Learning Communities Together' and share professional development, best practices, and resources across the network.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• Black Pear Teaching Alliance: An alliance of good local schools that train teachers to an excellent standard, accredited by the University of Worcester. Offers PGCE and QTS training programmes for primary school teachers.
• Carnforth School
• Hollymount School
• St. George's C.E. Primary School
• The Orchards School
• Upper Arley C of E School
• Honeybourne Primary School
• Brockhampton Primary School
• Woodrush High School

Products and services

• Black Pear Trust Schools A network of eight primary and secondary schools across Worcestershire operating under a Multi-Academy Trust model, providing education from nursery through Year 6 and secondary education at Woodrush High School.
• Black Pear Teaching Alliance (Initial Teacher Training) An Initial Teacher Training (ITT) alliance accredited by the University of Worcester, offering PGCE and QTS programmes for Primary, EYFS, SEND, and PE specializations across multiple placement environments.
• Continuing Professional Development (CPD) Professional development courses and programmes for teachers, based on research conducted within trust schools, with post-course implementation support for practice change.
• School-to-School Support Improvement support services provided by the trust's National Support School and 10 Specialist Leaders in Education (SLEs) to help other schools improve teaching, learning, and pupil attainment.
• Governance Services Professional clerking services, governor training, and support with governor recruitment and induction for schools in Worcestershire.
• Trust Catering On-site meal preparation services providing freshly cooked, nutritious meals to pupils at member schools, with menus planned by the school council.

Named customers8 records

Segments5 records

Ideal customer profiles3 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Partnerships

Ten partnerships are on record, tiered core, secondary and operational.

• University of WorcestercoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerUniversity of Worcester is the accredited provider for the Black Pear Teaching Alliance's PGCE and QTS teacher training programmes. The university is rated 'Outstanding for primary and secondary teacher training' by Ofsted. They classify the trust as an outstanding partner supporting teacher training and providing continuing professional development for staff.
• University College BirminghamsecondaryStrategic or Co-development PartnerUniversity College Birmingham supports the trust's teacher apprenticeship scheme through pedagogy and professional studies provision.
• Warwick UniversitysecondaryStrategic or Co-development PartnerThe trust is working with Warwick University on a research project to encourage children from disadvantaged backgrounds to be successful in applying to university.
• Diocese of WorcestercoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerThe Diocese has a Corporate Member on the trust board as outlined by the Articles of Association. The trust is a Mixed Multi Academy Trust (MAT) which includes church schools. St. George's C.E. Primary School is supported by the Diocese.
• LiberataoperationalImplementation/ SI/ Consulting PartnerSchools within the trust use Liberata, commissioned by Worcestershire Local Authority, for Human Resources services including recruitment, capability and disciplinary processes, employment legislation advice, contracts, payroll services and pension support. The trust uses Liberata model policies agreed by the local union representative board.
• MBNHoperationalImplementation/ SI/ Consulting PartnerThe trust brokers strategic support and specific expertise in health and safety, property management, building works project management, and compliance through MBNH.
• Worcester University (Worcester Study Group)secondaryStrategic or Co-development PartnerThe trust collaborates with Worcester University supporting the Worcestershire Study Group consisting of 8 local headteachers who examine the impact of research in their leadership. The trust encourages exchange of information and ideas between teachers in their own schools and beyond.
• Holy Redeemer Pershore, St Andrews School Hampton Evesham, Westlands First School DroitwichsecondaryStrategic or Co-development PartnerTrust schools work collaboratively with these partner schools on professional development, sharing ideas, experience and good practice across different teaching styles and areas of expertise.
• Centre for Early ExcellencesecondaryStrategic or Co-development PartnerHollymount School is a partner with the Centre for Early Excellence for professional development purposes.
• Bishop FlemingoperationalOthersThe trust accounts are currently audited by Bishop Fleming, a chartered accounting firm.

Scale indicators4 records

Recent moves9 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Direct peers

• Ark Schools: Well-known UK MAT operating a network of primary and secondary schools with strong teaching alliances and CPD programmes. Comparable on the ITT/CPD and central support model.
• Star Academies: Multi-phase UK MAT operating primary and secondary schools with a faith-inclusive conversion model, broadly comparable to Black Pear's Mixed MAT status and central-service orientation.
• United Learning: A large UK Mixed MAT (church and non-church schools) offering central educational, operational and governance services to member schools. Closely comparable to Black Pear on the Mixed MAT structure and breadth of support services.
• REAch2: UK's largest primary-only MAT, offering the small-school-focused academy conversion and central support model that parallels Black Pear's predominantly primary portfolio and inclusive ethos.
• Dixons Academies Trust: Mid-sized UK MAT with a strong academic-improvement brand and central school improvement services, comparable to Black Pear's stated focus on teaching quality and attainment outcomes.
• Harris Federation: Major UK MAT operating primary and secondary academies with strong school-to-school improvement infrastructure and teacher training. Direct competitor for academy conversions and improvement services.
• Oasis Community Learning: One of the largest UK Multi-Academy Trusts operating a similar model of academy conversions across primary and secondary schools with central support services, community engagement, and ITT activity. Comparable as a directly competing MAT for school conversions.
• Greenwood Academies Trust: Mid-sized UK MAT operating a regional cluster of academies with central educational services and CPD offerings, comparable in size and operating footprint to Black Pear.
• Outwood Grange Academies Trust: Large regional UK MAT with strong school improvement branding and SLE/NLE infrastructure, comparable to Black Pear's school-to-school support and rapid-conversion growth strategy.

Regional players

• Severn Academies Education Trust: Worcestershire-area MAT directly competing for local school conversions, making it the closest geographic competitor and thus a regional peer to Black Pear's Worcestershire footprint.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• Xtwitter.com/Hollymountsch

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles8 records

Subsidiaries8 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 BLACK PEAR TRUST