What Kent Catholic Schools' Partnership does

Kent Catholic Schools' Partnership (KCSP) is a charitable multi-academy trust (MAT) and company limited by guarantee established in August 2012 at the request of the Archdiocese of Southwark, with the Archbishop serving as a Member of the Trust. KCSP operates 32 Catholic schools across Kent and Medway in the United Kingdom — 27 primary schools serving pupils aged 4–11 and 5 secondary schools serving pupils aged 11–18. Its portfolio of products and services spans primary and secondary education, a School Centred Initial Teacher Training (SCITT) programme, Continuing Professional Development (CPD), School Improvement support delivered through Area School Improvement Partners (ASIPs), additional-curricular offerings (Forest School, Turing Scheme international placements), a Formation programme for Catholic life, and a Topical Talk curriculum partnership with The Economist Educational Foundation. The trust is non-profit and operates within the Archdiocese of Southwark's Catholic education mission under the ecclesiastical authority of the Archbishop.

The trust's revenue model is state-funded and not commercial. It draws recurrent funding from the Education and Skills Funding Agency (ESFA) based on pupil numbers, plus Pupil Premium grants for disadvantaged pupils, and may receive donations and charitable funding in support of Catholic social teaching initiatives such as CAFOD. No tuition fees are charged to parents; all 32 schools are state-funded academies. The trust's go-to-market is community-led within the Catholic education ecosystem: new schools join by invitation or referral from the Archdiocese, governance is provided through Local Governance Committees recruited from parishes, and the trust markets through its website, social media, regular newsletters, and events such as the annual Trust Conference and CMAT Network Immersion Day.

Underpinning operations is standard educational technology — school management platforms, safeguarding systems, and data management tools typical of UK academy trusts — with no proprietary educational technology platforms. Governance is provided by a Board of Directors (Foundation Directors appointed by the Archbishop), a central executive team led by CEO Annemarie Whittle, and per-school Local Governance Committees. Academic outcomes are above national and Kent averages: 69% KS2 combined RWM at expected standard (vs 61% national), 86% Y1 Phonics (vs 80%), 72% EYFS Good Level of Development (vs 68%), and a Progress 8 score of +0.03 (vs national 0 and Kent LA -0.15). The trust is not publicly traded, has no external investors, and has no funding rounds.

Name

Kent Catholic Schools' Partnership

Legal name

Kent Catholic Schools' Partnership

Website

https://www.kcsp.org.uk

Company type

Private

Founded year

2012

Operating status

Operating

Short description

Kent Catholic Schools' Partnership is a charitable multi-academy trust operating 32 Catholic primary and secondary schools across Kent and Medway, UK, established in 2012 by the Archdiocese of Southwark and funded primarily through the ESFA.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

K-12 Catholic Education (Multi-Academy Trust)

NAICS

Elementary and Secondary Schools (611110), Religious Organizations (8131)

SIC

Services-Educational Services (8200)

akta.pro primary industry

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

Keywords

• Multi-academy trust
• Catholic primary education
• Secondary education services
• School improvement services
• Teacher training programmes

Headquarters

HQ city

Maidstone

HQ country

United Kingdom

HQ region

Europe

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

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

Revenue model

1. Government Funding (ESFA): As an academy trust, KCSP receives recurrent funding from the Education and Skills Funding Agency (ESFA) based on pupil numbers across its 32 schools. This constitutes the primary revenue stream for operating the trust and its member schools.
2. Pupil Premium: Additional government funding allocated based on pupils eligible for free school meals (Ever 6 FSM), children in care, and service personnel children. This funding is ring-fenced to support disadvantaged pupils and is distributed to individual schools.
3. Donations and Charitable Activities: The trust is a charitable company limited by guarantee. It may receive donations and engage in charitable fundraising activities, particularly related to Catholic social teaching initiatives such as CAFOD partnerships.

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels3 records

Marketing channels6 records

Core offering

Kent Catholic Schools' Partnership is a multi-academy trust that directly operates 27 Catholic primary schools (ages 4-11) and 5 Catholic secondary schools (ages 11-18) across Kent and Medway. Through its central team it delivers teacher training via SCITT, continuing professional development, school improvement support through Area School Improvement Partners, governance and HR services, safeguarding oversight, and faith formation programs including formation courses, CAFOD-linked Catholic social teaching, and the Oscar Romero Award programme.

Product overview

Kent Catholic Schools' Partnership is a Catholic Multi-Academy Trust established in 2012 by the Archdiocese of Southwark, operating 32 schools (27 primary and 5 secondary) across Kent and Medway. The Trust's portfolio includes primary and secondary educational services, professional development programs (SCITT teacher training and CPD), school improvement support, curriculum enhancements (Topical Talk), extra-curricular activities (Forest School, Turing Scheme international placements), and faith formation programs. The organization is governed by a Board of Directors and operates with a focus on providing ambitious Catholic education with Christ at the center.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Primary Education Services The trust directly operates 27 Catholic primary schools across Kent and Medway, providing state-funded education for pupils aged 4-11 with a knowledge-rich, skills-led curriculum and a distinctive Catholic ethos.
• Secondary Education Services The trust directly operates 5 Catholic secondary schools across Kent serving pupils aged 11-18 with GCSE and Sixth Form provision, including non-selective admissions in Kent's fully selective county system.
• SCITT (School Centred Initial Teacher Training) Trust-led teacher training programme enabling individuals to qualify as teachers through school-based training across the trust's network of schools.
• Continuing Professional Development (CPD) Ongoing professional development programmes for teachers and staff across the trust's 32 schools, coordinated by the CPD Coordinator, supporting career development and instructional excellence.
• School Improvement Services Central school improvement support delivered by Area School Improvement Partners who provide targeted support, ongoing review of provision, and strengthened leadership, management and governance across the trust's 32 schools.
• Formation Programme Faith formation programme including RCIA (Rite of Christian Initiation of Adults) and Foundations of Faith courses providing Catholic theology and spirituality development for staff, governors and community members.
• Topical Talk Curriculum Programme Partnership with The Economist Educational Foundation providing free lessons about the news to develop critical thinking and communication skills for students aged 10-16; over 300 pupils engaged since partnership began in 2024.

Quantifiable outcome

• 69% KS2 combined RWM at expected standard vs 61% nationally in 2024
• +4 more outcomes

Named customers7 records

Segments3 records

Ideal customer profiles3 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Partnerships

Seven partnerships are on record, tiered core, strategic and supporting.

• Archdiocese of SouthwarkcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerThe Archdiocese of Southwark is the founding partner of KCSP. The trust was created in 2012 at the request of the Archbishop to support and develop Catholic education in Kent. The Archbishop serves as a Member of the trust, and Foundation Directors are appointed by the Archbishop. The trust works in close partnership with the Archdiocese and its Education Service.
• The Economist Educational Foundation (TEEF)strategicStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartnership since 2024 to grow awareness and engagement with Topical Talk across KCSP schools. TEEF provides free lessons about the news to inspire students aged 10-16 and help develop critical-thinking and communication skills. Over 300 pupils have engaged through this programme, and teachers have received bespoke training.
• CAFOD (Catholic Agency for Overseas Development)strategicStrategic or Co-development PartnerCAFOD is the official aid agency of the Catholic Church in England and Wales. KCSP schools engage with CAFOD through fundraising, global justice campaigns, and using CAFOD's Catholic Social Teaching resources for primary and secondary schools.
• CMAT NetworkstrategicStrategic or Co-development PartnerKCSP hosted a CMAT Network Immersion Day at its head office near Maidstone, bringing together nearly 40 senior leaders from CMATs and Dioceses across the UK. The day focused on sharing practical strategies, sparking innovation, and encouraging collaborative dialogue.
• Turing SchemesupportingOthersThe Turing Scheme is a UK government initiative funding international study and work placements for students. KCSP secondary schools (St Simon Stock and Ursuline College) have participated, with students travelling to France, Spain, Belgium, and Germany for fully funded work placements.
• Aylesford PriorystrategicStrategic or Co-development PartnerAylesford Priory hosts the Trust's annual Beginning of the Year Mass, bringing together pupils, staff, clergy, and leaders from across all 32 schools. The Priory provides hospitality for this key annual celebration.
• Primary Science Teaching TrustsupportingOthersKCSP collaborates with the Primary Science Teaching Trust for workshop delivery during network events, supporting primary science education across the trust's schools.

Scale indicators7 records

Recent moves8 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Broad incumbents

• United Learning: National group of schools and academies operating both state-funded and independent schools. Comparable in scale and central-services approach, but operates a broader portfolio including independent schools outside KCSP's state-funded Catholic focus.
• Oasis Community Learning: One of the largest UK multi-academy trusts with a national footprint of primary and secondary academies. Operates a similar centralized-services model across a wide network but is secular and broader in scope than KCSP.
• Academy Transformation Trust: Multi-academy trust operating primary and secondary schools across the Midlands and East of England. Comparable scale and central-services model, though distinct in governance and geographic focus.
• Harris Federation: Large national multi-academy trust operating primary and secondary academies across London and southern England. Comparable scale and school improvement infrastructure, but secular and predominantly London-focused.
• REAch2 Academy Trust: Large primary-focused multi-academy trust with a national footprint. Comparable central improvement function and scale, but primary-only and secular, whereas KCSP operates a mixed primary/secondary Catholic portfolio.
• David Ross Education Trust: Multi-academy trust operating primary and secondary schools primarily in the East Midlands. Comparable scale of network and central services model, though geographically distinct and secular.

Regional players

• Greenwood Academies Trust: Multi-academy trust operating schools across the East Midlands with a comparable primary/secondary portfolio. Operates a similar school improvement infrastructure but in a different region to KCSP.

Direct peers

• Hallam Catholic Schools Trust: Catholic multi-academy trust associated with the Hallamdiocese, operating Catholic schools across South Yorkshire. Shares the Catholic-diocesan MAT model and similar faith-based governance structure with KCSP.
• Bishop Hogarth Catholic Education Trust: Catholic multi-academy trust in the North East of England operating Catholic primary and secondary schools under a diocesan structure similar to KCSP. Directly comparable operating model (Catholic ethos, diocesan backing, mixed primary/secondary network).
• Leigh Academies Trust: Large Kent-based multi-academy trust operating a comparable portfolio of primary and secondary schools across Kent and Medway. KCSP's former Estates Manager previously ran estates for 15 of Leigh's schools, evidencing operational overlap. Most directly comparable peer by geography and scale.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/KentCatholic
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/kent-catholic-schools-partnership
• Instagraminstagram.com/kcsp_trust

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles12 records

Subsidiaries32 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 Kent Catholic Schools' Partnership