The Rowan Learning Trust

What The Rowan Learning Trust does

The Rowan Learning Trust is a multi-academy trust (MAT) and registered UK education charity, founded in 2012 and headquartered at 18 Beecham Court, Goose Green, Wigan. The Trust operates 12 schools across 13 sites in North West England — covering Wigan, Knowsley, Bury, Lancashire, and Cheshire West & Chester — comprising 8 primary schools, 3 secondary schools (11-16 mixed comprehensives), and 1 Alternative Provision Academy (Three Towers APA). Notable member schools include Hawkley Hall High School (~1,185 students, 186 staff), Kirkby High School (~1,000 students), and The Heys School (graded "Good" in all areas by Ofsted in June 2024). The Trust is governed by a Board of Trustees chaired by Andy Wilson, with member schools retaining individual identity and ethos while operating under a shared mission to "maximise potential for all" and the Trust's overarching values of respect, kindness, and integrity.

The Trust has no proprietary technology platform; operations centre on pedagogical delivery, school leadership support, central back-office functions, and shared best-practice dissemination across the 12 schools. Its business model is a not-for-profit, government-funded model: revenue is derived almost entirely from the Education and Skills Funding Agency (ESFA) on a recurring per-pupil basis, with no tuition fees charged to families. Each school has a supplemental funding agreement with the Trust, and the Trust supplements this with an Initial Teacher Training programme run in partnership with the Wigan Institute of Education, accredited by the University of Cumbria and endorsed by the University of Warwick. The Trust's go-to-market motion is community-led: schools join the Trust to benefit from collaborative working, shared expertise, and a collective improvement philosophy, and the Trust's recruitment of both schools and staff is driven through its public website (rlt.education), individual school websites, and direct email enquiry channels.

The Trust's value proposition is differentiated by its school-to-school support model, its centralised leadership and operational scaffolding, and its multi-phase offering (primary, secondary, alternative provision) that allows a single Trust to serve pupils from early years through to post-16 entry. Member schools have accumulated a range of recognitions, including School Games Gold, the British Council International School Award, Arts Mark Silver, and Maths No Problem Model School status. Statutory compliance is in place via published data protection policies, a Modern Slavery Statement 2020, and governance documentation, with the Trust having also publicly responded to a third-party cyber security incident (Intradev) affecting the sector.

Name

The Rowan Learning Trust

Legal name

The Rowan Learning Trust

Website

https://rlt.education

Company type

Private

Founded year

2012

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

501–1,000 employees

Short description

The Rowan Learning Trust is a UK multi-academy trust operating 12 schools across 13 sites in North West England — 8 primary, 3 secondary, and 1 alternative provision academy. It is funded via the Education and Skills Funding Agency and governed by a Board of Trustees chaired by Andy Wilson.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Primary and Secondary Education (Multi-Academy Trust)

NAICS

Elementary and Secondary Schools (611110), Educational Support Services (61171)

SIC

Services-Educational Services (8200)

akta.pro primary industry

Independent Charter Schools (Single-Site) (EDAJACAB)

Keywords

• Multi-academy trust
• Primary education
• Secondary education
• Alternative provision
• Teacher training

Headquarters

HQ city

Wigan

HQ country

United Kingdom

HQ region

Europe

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

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

Revenue model

1. Government Education Funding: As an academy trust, The Rowan Learning Trust receives government funding through the Education and Skills Funding Agency (ESFA). Each school has supplemental funding agreements with the trust.

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels1 record

Marketing channels3 records

Core offering

The Rowan Learning Trust is a multi-academy trust operating 12 schools (8 primary, 3 secondary, and 1 alternative provision academy) across 13 sites in North West England, delivering free, government-funded education to pupils. The trust provides centralized leadership, collaborative expertise-sharing, and back-office support to its member schools while each school retains its individual identity and ethos. The trust also offers an Initial Teacher Training programme accredited by the University of Cumbria.

Product overview

The Rowan Learning Trust is a multi-academy trust operating as a unified platform of 12 schools across 13 sites in the North West of England, united by the mission to 'maximise potential for all.' The portfolio includes 8 primary schools, 3 secondary schools, and 1 Alternative Provision Academy. Each school retains its individual identity and character while benefiting from collaborative support, shared best practices, and trust-wide strategic priorities. The schools span Farington Primary School, Hawkley Hall High School, Kirkby High School, Marus Bridge Primary School, Orrell Holgate Academy, Orrell Lamberhead Green Academy, Plantation Primary School, Prescot Primary School, The Acorns Primary & Nursery School, Whitley Village School, Three Towers APA, and The Heys School. The trust provides comprehensive support to strengthen leadership, improve teaching and learning, and create positive inclusive environments across all member schools.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Farington Primary School A primary school within the Rowan Learning Trust, located in Lancashire. The school focuses on high expectations and celebrating children's achievements through its 'Aim high, believe, achieve, together' mission, providing primary education to children in Key Stages 1 and 2.
• Hawkley Hall High School An 11-16 mixed comprehensive school of around 1185 students and 186 staff situated to the west of Wigan. Known for its 'Hawkley Way' ethos based on mutual respect, providing secondary education to students aged 11-16.
• Kirkby High School An 11-16 mixed comprehensive school of around 1000 students. The school embraces the mission of 'Maximising our Potential' and builds a culture of resilience, kindness, respect, aspiration and confidence, providing secondary education to students aged 11-16.
• Marus Bridge Primary School A primary school where everyone has the opportunity to 'Learn, Enjoy and Achieve!' The school provides academic and pastoral provision in a well-resourced and stimulating learning environment for children in Key Stages 1 and 2.
• Orrell Holgate Academy A successful and ambitious primary school with a caring family ethos. Motivated by 'Learning for Life' through the L.E.A.R.N framework: Lifelong learning, Equipped for the world, Ambitious in every area, Resilient and courageous, No limits to our success.
• Orrell Lamberhead Green Academy A two-form entry primary school that works to support, inspire and prepare children for their future. The school is a model school for Maths No Problem, one of only two maths schemes endorsed by the DfE.
• Plantation Primary School A primary school in Halewood, Knowsley, which has received awards including School Games Gold award, Knowsley Schools for Health Gold Award, International School Award, Arts Mark Award Silver, and Educate Awards for Outstanding Commitment to PE & Sport.
• Prescot Primary School A Rights Respecting School that enables every individual to learn and achieve within a safe and trusting environment. The school provides a technology-rich environment and prepares learners to be 'empowered today, prepare for tomorrow.'
• The Acorns Primary & Nursery School A Rights Respecting School where everyone is welcome. The school equips pupils with skills and knowledge to become positive, global citizens and intrinsically motivated life-long learners, offering primary and nursery education.
• Whitley Village School A primary school providing holistic educational experiences which produces citizens who are happy and emotionally and physically healthy. Core values of mutual respect, ambition for all, and nurture.
• Three Towers APA An Alternative Provision Academy that supports learners with their education, providing tailored provision to meet individual academic and social-emotional needs. Vision is to be a safe, caring, happy and nurturing community.
• The Heys School An 11-16 mixed comprehensive school graded as 'Good' in all areas by Ofsted in June 2024. The school's core values of Be Kind, Be Determined, Be Respectful underpin the goal for students to maximise their potential.
• Initial Teacher Training Programme A full Initial Teacher Training programme delivered in partnership with the Wigan Institute of Education, accredited by the University of Cumbria, and endorsed by the University of Warwick. The programme covers all phases from primary through secondary and post-16, with opportunities for placements at special schools with SEND focus.

Quantifiable outcome

• The Heys School graded 'Good' in all areas by Ofsted in June 2024

Segments3 records

Ideal customer profiles1 record

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Partnerships

Three partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• Wigan Institute of EducationcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerThe trust offers a full Initial Teacher Training programme in partnership with the Wigan Institute of Education, accredited by the University of Cumbria. The programme covers all phases from primary through to secondary and post-16, with opportunities for placements at special schools with SEND focus.
• University of CumbriacoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerAccrediting partner for the Initial Teacher Training programme delivered through the Wigan Institute of Education. The accreditation is also endorsed by the University of Warwick.
• University of WarwickminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerUniversity of Warwick provides endorsement for the Initial Teacher Training accreditation delivered in partnership with Wigan Institute of Education and University of Cumbria.

Scale indicators2 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Direct peers

• United Learning: One of the largest UK multi-academy trusts, operating primary and secondary schools across multiple regions. Directly comparable as a non-profit MAT with a similar operating model and governance structure.
• Academy Transformation Trust: UK multi-academy trust operating schools across multiple regions. Comparable as a non-profit MAT with similar scale and educational phase coverage.
• Bright Futures Educational Trust: UK multi-academy trust with schools concentrated in the North West. Closely comparable given geographic overlap with The Rowan Learning Trust and similar trust-wide scale.
• Learning in Harmony Trust: Multi-academy trust operating a portfolio of primary and secondary schools. Comparable as a UK MAT with similar phase mix and ESFA-funded operating model.
• Outwood Grange Academies Trust: Major UK MAT operating a large network of primary and secondary schools. Comparable in scale, funding model, and phase mix to The Rowan Learning Trust.
• Northern Education Trust: Multi-academy trust operating schools primarily in northern England. Particularly comparable due to overlapping geographic footprint and similar multi-school MAT operating model.
• Greenwood Academies Trust: UK multi-academy trust operating schools across multiple regions. Comparable as a non-profit MAT with a similar funding model and school-improvement focus.
• Ormiston Academies Trust: Large UK multi-academy trust operating a network of primary and secondary academies. Comparable as a non-profit MAT with a similar multi-school portfolio funded via ESFA grants.

Market position

Strengths4 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/the-rowan-learning-trust

Compliance10 records

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles1 record

Subsidiaries12 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

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M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about The Rowan Learning Trust