What Lift Schools does

Lift Schools is a private, non-profit multi-academy trust operating 59 primary, secondary and special schools across five English regions: London, Essex, South West, West Midlands, and Yorkshire & Humber. The trust is headquartered at EdCity in London, is governed by a Board of Trustees, and is led by CEO Becks Boomer-Clark. Its stated mission centres on delivering excellent education to every child in every classroom every day, anchored on six 'Lift maxims' and an instructional excellence methodology that includes the Lift490 achievement framework, subject network groups, and a £100,000 individual development fund for principals.

The trust operates a diversified product set on top of the school network. Core offerings include a school-based Initial Teacher Training programme delivered across all five regions (leading to QTS and PGCE), Level 2-5 apprenticeship programmes in areas such as Teaching Assistants, Early Years, Digital and AI, and Business and Management (Ofsted-rated GOOD with Outstanding features, May 2024), and a suite of professional development products including National Professional Qualifications and executive coaching. Adjacent initiatives include Project H (expertise sharing), KS3 Engagement (anchored by the Cliff Edge report and a partnership with the Reach Foundation), the student oracy campaign Lift Talks, and newly opened Early Years nurseries at Lift Hamford and Lift Shafton. The trust has an articulated AI strategy (workload reduction via AI for staff; data-backed tools for student outcomes) and deploys adaptive technology for SEND students.

Lift Schools' revenue model rests on three streams: (1) per-pupil and grant funding from the Department for Education across its 59 academies; (2) apprenticeship training funded through the apprenticeship levy (with 95% co-funding for non-levy employers); and (3) fee or government-bursary-funded teacher training. Apprenticeships are marketed externally to any school or early years setting in England, not only the Lift network, providing a route to monetise professional services beyond own-academy reach. Customer growth is driven by the 'Become a Lift School' programme (onside additional MATs and standalone schools), teacher pipeline expansion via paid internships, and regional hiring of five Regional Education Directors to support further onboarding.

Name

Lift Schools

Legal name

Lift Schools

Website

https://liftschools.org

Company type

Private

Operating status

Operating

Short description

Lift Schools is a non-profit multi-academy trust operating 59 primary, secondary and special schools across England, delivering government-funded education, school-based teacher training, Level 2-5 apprenticeships, and leadership development supported by a network of five regional hubs.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Multi-Academy Trust (Primary and Secondary Education)

NAICS

Elementary and Secondary Schools (6111), Educational Support Services (611710), Apprenticeship Training (611513)

SIC

Services-Educational Services (8200)

akta.pro primary industry

Public Elementary Schools (EDAJAAAB)

akta.pro secondary industries

School-Age Wraparound Care (Ages 3–5) (EDACAHAA), Integrated Education & Training (IET) / Contextualized ABE (Workforce-Linked) (EDAAAAAK)

Keywords

• Multi-academy trust
• Primary education
• Secondary education
• Teacher training
• Education apprenticeships

Headquarters

HQ city

London

HQ country

United Kingdom

HQ region

Europe

Offices7 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

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

Revenue model

1. Academy Trust Government Funding: Lift Schools operates as a multi-academy trust receiving government funding for school operations through the Department for Education.
2. Apprenticeship Training Programmes: Apprenticeship programmes can be fully funded by the apprenticeship levy. Levy-paying employers can use contributions towards course costs. Non-levy payers receive 95% government funding support.
3. Teacher Training Programmes: Initial Teacher Training programmes that may be funded through government bursaries, scholarships, student loans, and salaried training routes.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion3 records

Distribution channels4 records

Marketing channels10 records

Core offering

Lift Schools operates a network of 59 primary, secondary and special schools across England, delivering full-time education to children aged 5-16. Alongside the school network, the trust runs a school-based Initial Teacher Training (ITT) programme leading to Qualified Teacher Status (QTS) and PGCE, and Level 2-5 Apprenticeship programmes for the education sector covering teaching assistants, business administration, early years, digital and AI, and safeguarding pathways.

Product overview

Lift Schools is an education trust operating as a unified network of 59 primary, secondary, and special schools across England. The core offering comprises the school network providing excellent education, supported by two main professional services: Initial Teacher Training (ITT) programmes and Apprenticeships (Level 2-5). These are complemented by Professional Development offerings including NPQs and leadership development. The trust also runs specialised initiatives including Project H (expertise sharing), KS3 Engagement programmes, and Early Years nursery provision. All offerings are unified by six Lift maxims and a shared mission to provide excellent education for every child in every classroom every day.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Initial Teacher Training (ITT) Programme School-based teacher training programme leading to Qualified Teacher Status (QTS) and PGCE for aspiring teachers, offered across five locations in England (London, Essex, South West, West Midlands, Yorkshire & Humber). Subjects include Maths, English, Physics, Chemistry, Biology, and Primary education, with funding via government bursaries, scholarships, student loans, and salaried training routes.
• Apprenticeships Programme Level 2 to Level 5 apprenticeship programmes for the education sector available to any school, MAT, or early years setting across England, not only Lift Schools. Pathways include Teaching Assistants, Specialist Teaching Assistants, Business and Administration, Early Years, Digital and AI, and Safeguarding. Funded via apprenticeship levy for levy payers and at least 95% government funding for non-levy payers. Rated GOOD with Outstanding features by Ofsted in May 2024.
• Lift Schools Network

Quantifiable outcome

• 89% of Year 1 pupils passed the phonics screening check (9 ppt above national average)
• +4 more outcomes

Named customers11 records

Segments7 records

Ideal customer profiles3 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature2 records

Partnerships

Ten partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• Department for Education - KS3 RISE AlliancecoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2026CEO Becks Boomer-Clark appointed by Department for Education to co-chair the KS3 RISE Alliance alongside Dame Lesley Powell. The Alliance aims to transform education for ages 11-14, working with Regional Alliances across eight areas to improve engagement, literacy, numeracy, assessment, innovation, and future pathways.
• Reach FoundationcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerKS3 Futures project partnership with the Reach Foundation focused on improving the Key Stage 3 curriculum and daily school experience for Year 7-9 students.
• ArkcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerLift Schools collaborates with Ark network. The teacher training programme is offered alongside Ark, and staff collaborate across the network for best practices and professional development.
• Archway Learning TrustminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerEmployer case study partner for apprenticeships - Teaching Assistant, Specialist Teaching Assistant, Safeguarding Support, Business and Early Years programmes.
• Lift BeaconminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerEmployer case study partner for Specialist Teaching Assistant apprenticeship programme.
• Lift Lea Forest and Lift Percy ShurmerminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerEmployer case study partners for TA3 Specialist TA and Coaching Professional apprenticeships.
• Lift New ForestminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerEmployer case study partner for Level 3 Teaching Assistant (TA3) apprenticeship programme.
• KS3 RISE Alliance Regional PartnerscoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerNetwork of eight Regional Alliances co-chaired by leaders from multiple academy trusts including North East Learning Trust, Pele Trust, The Laurus Trust, Outwood Grange Academies Trust, Dixons Academies Trust, NOVA Education Trust, Windsor Academy Trust, Cam Academy Trust, Inspiration Trust, Bourne Education Trust, White Horse Federation, Ted Wragg Trust, and Twyford CofE Academies Trust.
• Government Grant (Early Years)coreOthersNew nursery facilities at Lift Hamford and Lift Shafton made possible through successful government grant applications for early years education expansion.
• Sky NewsminorGTM or Marketing PartnerStudents from Lift Richmond Park featured on Sky News report about social media ban for under 16s, with Technology Secretary Liz Kendall and Political Editor Beth Rigby.

Scale indicators10 records

Recent moves8 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Direct peers

• Ark: UK education charity operating a network of academies and teacher training programmes. Named partner of Lift Schools on ITT delivery and broader collaboration, making it both a direct peer in MAT operations and a partner in teacher training.
• Greenwood Academies Trust: Mid-size UK multi-academy trust with comparable primary/secondary footprint and focus on areas of social disadvantage. Directly comparable in terms of scale, geography and outcomes-driven mission.
• Outwood Grange Academies Trust: One of the largest UK multi-academy trusts operating a comparable network of primary and secondary academies across multiple regions. Named co-partner with Lift Schools in the KS3 RISE Alliance, indicating directly comparable scale, model and policy positioning.
• Oasis Community Learning: UK multi-academy trust running primary and secondary academies with a community-focused model. Comparable peer operating in similar geographies with similar reliance on DfE funding and a comparable regional footprint.
• E-ACT: UK multi-academy trust operating primary and secondary academies across multiple regions. Comparable peer for regional MAT operating model, academy conversion programme and reliance on DfE funding.
• Ormiston Academies Trust: UK multi-academy trust operating a similar network of primary and secondary academies with comparable per-pupil government funding model and regional operating footprint. Direct competitor for academy conversions and DfE programmes.
• Star Academies: UK multi-academy trust with strong academic outcome track record across primary and secondary schools. Comparable peer for the trust-level operating model and outcomes-led positioning in challenging areas.

Broad incumbents

• Academies Enterprise Trust: Largest UK multi-academy trust by school count, operating primary, secondary and special academies nationwide. Comparable as a broad incumbent in the same MAT category with greater procurement and policy scale than Lift Schools.
• United Learning: Large UK MAT-style group of independent and state-funded schools. Comparable as a broader incumbent combining schools with teacher training and professional development programmes similar to Lift's ITT and apprenticeship offering.

Others

• Reach Foundation: UK education foundation partnered with Lift Schools on the KS3 Futures project. Adjacent ecosystem participant rather than a direct competitor, but operates in the same KS3 curriculum improvement space and shapes the same policy conversations.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/LiftSchools
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/lift-schools

Compliance2 records

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles10 records

Subsidiaries19 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 Lift Schools