YORKSHIRE CAUSEWAY SCHOOLS TRUST

What YORKSHIRE CAUSEWAY SCHOOLS TRUST does

Yorkshire Causeway Schools Trust is a charitable multi-academy trust (company limited by guarantee) that operates 14 Church of England and community schools across the Harrogate and Craven areas of North Yorkshire, England. Founded in March 2015, the trust comprises one secondary school (St. Aidan's Church of England High School), twelve primary schools, and one infant school, serving pupils from nursery age through to 18. The trust is led by Chief Executive Jane Goodwin, with a central team including a CFO (Clare Dowson), COO (Justin Waters), a School Improvement Lead, Governance Professional, and Estates Lead, supported by a board chaired by Rachel Flower and over 100 governance volunteers.

The trust's core product is the unified educational platform delivered across its member schools, underpinned by shared central services covering school improvement, safeguarding, inclusion and SEND, central finance, HR, estates, and compliance. Its underlying technology is non-proprietary: the trust's digital estate is a public-facing website (www.yorkshirecauseway.co.uk) integrated with standard third-party tools (Google Analytics, Vimeo for staff testimonial videos, Facebook, Instagram, Twitter, LinkedIn, YouTube, ParentPay, WisePay, PayPal, and Issuu), with no custom platform, no AI/ML capabilities, and no mobile applications. Pedagogical differentiation rests on Christian distinctiveness (sustained via the Diocese of Leeds partnership), the WALK values framework at St. Aidan's, externally validated quality marks (Outstanding SIAMS, IQM Flagship, Eco-Schools Green Flag with Distinction), and enrichment programmes such as CATCH (the trust-wide Active Travel Community Hub funded by the Mayor for York & North Yorkshire) and Big Little Sing.

Commercially, the trust is a non-profit with no commercial pricing model. Revenue is generated from government per-pupil funding routed through the Education and Skills Funding Agency, supplemented by occasional competitive grants (e.g., the over £50,000 Mayor's Active Travel Fund grant) and charitable partnerships. Its go-to-market is school conversion: schools voluntarily apply, undergo due diligence with governing bodies, the Diocese of Leeds, North Yorkshire Council, and the Department for Education, and upon approval join the trust, retaining their local identity while accessing shared services, CPD, and collaborative networks. Customer segments are pupils and families, governance volunteers, staff and educators, and prospective member schools across North Yorkshire.

Name

YORKSHIRE CAUSEWAY SCHOOLS TRUST

Legal name

Yorkshire Causeway Schools Trust

Website

https://yorkshirecauseway.co.uk

Company type

Private

Founded year

2015

Operating status

Operating

Short description

Yorkshire Causeway Schools Trust is a charitable multi-academy trust operating 14 Church of England and community schools across the Harrogate and Craven areas of North Yorkshire, delivering state-funded education from infant to secondary level under partnership with the Diocese of Leeds and funded via the Education and Skills Funding Agency.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Multi-Academy Trust Education Services

NAICS

Elementary and Secondary Schools (611110)

SIC

Services-Educational Services (8200)

akta.pro primary industry

Faith-Based (Religious) K–12 Schools (EDAJABAC)

akta.pro secondary industry

Faith-Based Preschools (EDACABAF)

Keywords

• Multi-academy trust
• Primary education services
• Secondary education provision
• Church of England schools
• Academy school governance

Headquarters

HQ city

Harrogate

HQ country

United Kingdom

HQ region

Europe

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Infrastructure, Others, Marketing or Sales

Revenue model

1. Government Education Funding: As a multi-academy trust, Yorkshire Causeway Schools Trust receives funding from the Education and Skills Funding Agency (ESFA) for educating students across its member schools. Funding is based on pupil numbers and educational needs.

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels1 record

Marketing channels6 records

Core offering

Yorkshire Causeway Schools Trust runs a network of 14 state-funded Church of England and community schools (1 secondary, 12 primary, 1 infant) across the Harrogate and Craven areas of North Yorkshire, delivering primary and secondary education from infant age through to age 18. The trust provides centralised school improvement, governance, SEND and inclusion, safeguarding, finance, HR, estates and compliance support to its member schools, and operates under funding agreements with the Education and Skills Funding Agency.

Product overview

Yorkshire Causeway Schools Trust operates as a multi academy trust offering a unified educational platform across 14 schools in North Yorkshire. The portfolio includes one secondary school (St. Aidan's CE High School), twelve primary schools, and one infant school. The trust provides school improvement services, governance support, SEND and inclusion services, safeguarding, central finance, HR, estates management, and compliance support. The schools span Church of England and community schools across Harrogate and Craven localities, unified by shared values of respect, ambition, and integrity under the mission 'Ambition, Learning and Enrichment for All'.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• St. Aidan's Church of England High School Secondary school in Harrogate serving pupils to age 18, offering a broad curriculum, extracurricular activities and Christian values-based education. Ranked 24th in Top 200 Sporting Schools of 2025 (5th nationally among state schools) and Outstanding in SIAMS inspection.
• Pannal Primary School Primary school serving the Pannal community near Harrogate, providing mainstream primary education within the trust.
• St Peter's Church of England Primary School Church of England primary school in Harrogate with an active climate education programme; achieved Eco Schools Green Flag with distinction in 2024/25.
• Skipton Parish Church CE Primary School Church of England primary school in Skipton, part of the trust's Craven hub alongside Embsay and Gargrave schools.
• Hampsthwaite Church of England Primary School Church of England primary school in Hampsthwaite serving local families within the trust.
• Oatlands Infant School Infant school in Harrogate awarded IQM Flagship Status (highest level of national recognition for inclusive practice) and 4 stars at Harrogate Spring Flower Show; leads active travel initiatives including Yorkshire's first bike bus.
• North Rigton Church of England Primary School Church of England primary school in North Rigton with co-headteachers serving the local community.
• All Saints Church of England Primary School Church of England primary school in Kirkby Overblow that has achieved Prem Aware Accreditation.
• Richard Taylor Church of England School Church of England primary school in Harrogate with co-headteachers.
• Masham Church of England Primary School Primary school in Masham, Ripon, HG4 4EG, that joined the trust in February 2025 with strong community links and inclusive, nurturing education.
• Embsay Church of England Primary School Church of England primary school in Embsay, Skipton, BD23 6RH, that joined the trust in 2025, deepening the trust's Craven hub.
• CATCH - Causeway Active Travel Community Hub Trust-wide active travel initiative spanning nine schools across North Yorkshire, providing cycling infrastructure, training and community cycling events. Funded by over £50,000 from the Mayor's Active Travel Fund.

Quantifiable outcome

• St. Aidan's ranked 24th in Top 200 Sporting Schools of 2025 and 5th nationally among state schools
• +6 more outcomes

Named customers12 records

Segments5 records

Ideal customer profiles2 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Integration11 records

Partnerships

Nine partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• Diocese of LeedscoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 March 2015Long-standing strategic partnership with the Diocese of Leeds through the Leeds Diocesan Board of Education. The diocese appoints trustees and supports Church of England schools within the trust. The partnership ensures Christian distinctiveness is maintained and celebrated across Church of England schools. Working relationship includes Site Trustees and foundation governor appointments.
• North Yorkshire CouncilcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartnership with North Yorkshire Council for school governance, local authority oversight, and community collaboration. The council works with schools during conversion processes and provides ongoing support for education services across the region.
• Department for EducationcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerFormal partnership with the DfE for academy conversions, funding agreements, and regulatory oversight. All school conversions require DfE approval. The trust operates under funding agreements with the ESFA.
• Mayor for York & North YorkshireminorGTM or Marketing PartnerPartnership with the Mayor's Active Travel Fund enabling £50,000+ grant for CATCH (Causeway Active Travel Community Hub) initiative across nine schools. North Yorkshire Mayor David Skaith launched active travel schemes benefiting trust schools.
• Education and Skills Funding Agency (ESFA)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerGovernment body providing core funding for academies within the trust. Funding is based on pupil numbers and educational needs. ESFA oversees academy funding agreements and financial compliance.
• Artisan InternationalminorGTM or Marketing PartnerCharitable organization supported by St. Aidan's Zawadi student group. Students raised funds for Artisan International which supports families with disabled members in Peru, Ecuador and UK.
• North Yorkshire SportminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartnership with North Yorkshire Sport to develop Active Travel Toolkit, shared with every school in North Yorkshire. Most of the 25 schools awarded active travel grants utilized this toolkit developed in partnership with Oatlands Infant School.
• SAMAminorGTM or Marketing PartnerSAMA (South Africa and More Association) provides invaluable support to St. Aidan's music program and concerts, helping fund and promote musical activities and performances.
• St. Aidan's Education ServicesminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerRelated entity through CEO Jane Goodwin's directorship, providing educational services that complement trust operations.

Scale indicators6 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Broad incumbents

• Oasis Community Learning: One of the largest multi-academy trusts in England, operating 50+ academies nationally with a strong faith-based (Christian) identity. Comparable as a national faith-rooted MAT using a conversion and sponsored-academy growth model.
• Greenwood Academies Trust: Multi-academy trust operating primary and secondary schools across the East Midlands and East of England. Comparable as a regional/national MAT with a conversion-based growth model and shared central services.
• Academy Transformation Trust: Multi-academy trust operating primary and secondary schools across the Midlands and East of England. Comparable as a regional MAT with a conversion-led growth strategy and centralised school improvement services.
• E-ACT: Large national multi-academy trust operating primary and secondary academies across multiple English regions. Comparable as a national MAT with central shared services (finance, HR, estates) and academy conversion growth model.
• Harris Federation: Large London-led multi-academy trust operating primary and secondary academies with strong school improvement outcomes. Comparable as a national MAT focused on educational excellence outcomes and central service efficiency.
• United Learning: Large national multi-academy trust running both state-funded academies and independent schools across England. Comparable as a MAT offering shared services, school improvement support, and conversion-based expansion.

Emerging players

• Star Academies: Faith-based (Muslim) multi-academy trust with a strong track record of educational outcomes in underserved areas. Comparable as a faith-rooted MAT pursuing conversion-based growth and central service scale, though with a different religious affiliation.

Regional players

• Beckfoot Trust: Yorkshire-based multi-academy trust operating primary and secondary schools across the Bradford and surrounding West Yorkshire area. Comparable as a regional MAT with shared services, school improvement focus, and academy conversion pipeline in a similar Northern English education market.
• Wellspring Academy Trust: Yorkshire and Lincolnshire-based multi-academy trust with a mixed portfolio of primary and secondary schools, including faith-affiliated schools. Comparable as a regional MAT of similar scale and conversion-based growth strategy.

Direct peers

• Diocese of York Educational Trust: A Church of England multi-academy trust operating primary and secondary schools across the Diocese of York, which borders and overlaps with Yorkshire Causeway's Harrogate and Craven footprint. Directly comparable as a regional diocesan C of E MAT with a similar conversion-led growth model.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Facebookfacebook.com/yorkshirecausewayschoolstrust
• Instagraminstagram.com/yorkshirecausewayschoolstrust

Compliance4 records

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles8 records

Subsidiaries12 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 YORKSHIRE CAUSEWAY SCHOOLS TRUST