Exeter Learning Academy Trust

What Exeter Learning Academy Trust does

Exeter Learning Academy Trust (ELAT) is a UK Multi-Academy Trust (MAT) incorporated in 2016 (Company number 10428979) that operates four primary schools in Exeter and Devon: St. Thomas Primary, Ide Primary, Bowhill Primary, and Alphington Primary. The trust delivers primary education for children aged 4-11 across the early years foundation stage, Key Stage 1, and Key Stage 2 curricula, and supplements this core with nursery provision at Ide Primary School operating 8am-5:30pm. Each school retains its own identity and admissions policy while benefiting from coordinated school improvement, governance, and shared back-office functions at the trust level.

As a charitable company limited by guarantee, ELAT receives the entirety of its operating revenue from the UK government via the Education and Skills Funding Agency (ESFA) under the national funding formula. No tuition fees are charged for mainstream primary education; funding is determined by pupil numbers and covers staff salaries, facilities, and educational resources. Governance is led by a board of trustees chaired by Suzannah Curtis, with Debbie Buckingham as Vice Chair, Paul Walker as Chair of Finance and Resources, and Ann Boyce as Chair of Members; Chris Briggs was appointed CEO in September 2025, assuming the statutory Accounting Officer role responsible to Parliament for the use of public funds.

The trust positions itself around three values—ambition, kindness, and courage—and emphasises a coaching culture backed by formal leadership development pathways (NPQH, NPQEL). It maintains strategic relationships with SWIFT, Devon County Council (acting as admissions authority), and a network of other Devon MATs and maintained schools, alongside an extensive set of community sports and cultural partners used for school enrichment. Its published 2024-2027 strategic plan targets sustained school improvement, talent development, and community engagement across the four schools.

Name

Exeter Learning Academy Trust

Legal name

Exeter Learning Academy Trust

Website

https://exeterlearningacademytrust.co.uk

Company type

Private

Founded year

2016

Operating status

Operating

Short description

Exeter Learning Academy Trust is a UK Multi-Academy Trust incorporated in 2016 that operates four primary schools (St. Thomas, Ide, Bowhill, Alphington) in Exeter and Devon, delivering government-funded primary education to children aged 4-11.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Primary Education Services

NAICS

Elementary and Secondary Schools (6111)

SIC

Services-Educational Services (8200)

akta.pro primary industry

Public Elementary Schools (EDAJAAAB)

Keywords

• Primary school education
• Multi-academy trust
• Early years provision
• School governance
• Curriculum delivery

Headquarters

HQ city

Exeter

HQ country

United Kingdom

HQ region

Europe

Offices6 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

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

Revenue model

1. Government Education Funding: As a Multi-Academy Trust, ELAT receives government funding through the Education and Skills Funding Agency (ESFA) for educating pupils. Funding is based on pupil numbers and is used for operational costs including staff salaries, facilities, and educational resources.

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels1 record

Marketing channels4 records

Core offering

Exeter Learning Academy Trust is a Multi-Academy Trust that operates four primary schools in Exeter and Devon — St. Thomas Primary, Ide Primary, Bowhill Primary, and Alphington Primary — delivering primary education for children aged 4-11. The trust provides Early Years Foundation Stage, Key Stage 1, and Key Stage 2 curriculum delivery, supplemented by early years nursery provision at Ide Primary School, with schools retaining individual identities while benefiting from shared governance, school improvement, and central resources.

Product overview

Exeter Learning Academy Trust is an educational Multi-Academy Trust (MAT) operating four primary schools in Exeter and Devon, England: St. Thomas Primary School, Ide Primary School, Bowhill Primary School, and Alphington Primary School. The trust provides primary school education services as its core offering, with supplementary early years nursery provision at Ide Primary School. The schools operate with individual identities while benefiting from coordinated school improvement, governance, and shared resources through the trust structure.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Primary School Education Services
• Nursery Provision at Ide Primary School

Quantifiable outcome

• Successful implementation of previous strategic plan with good quality of education and strong financial performance

Named customers4 records

Segments1 record

Ideal customer profiles2 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Partnerships

14 partnerships are on record, tiered minor and core.

• Premier SportminorOthers · 24 June 2019Sports coaching provider that delivered taster sessions during YST National School Sport Week at Ide Primary School
• Isca Hockey ClubminorOthers · 24 June 2019Local hockey club that delivered taster sessions during YST National School Sport Week
• Exeter University TennisminorOthers · 24 June 2019University tennis program that delivered coaching sessions during sports week activities
• Scrum KidsminorOthers · 24 June 2019Youth rugby organization that provided taster sessions during sports week
• Chance to Shine CricketminorOthers · 24 June 2019Charitable cricket organization delivering coaching and cricket experiences during sports week
• Rob Baxter from Exeter ChiefsminorOthers · 24 June 2019Exeter Chiefs rugby director who participated in sports week activities at Ide Primary School
• Jenny Dell YogaminorOthers · 24 June 2019Yoga instructor who delivered sessions during YST National School Sport Week
• Rugby TotsminorOthers · 24 June 2019Youth rugby development program that provided taster sessions during sports week
• Exeter Golf and Country ClubminorOthers · 24 June 2019Local golf club that participated in sports week activities
• South West AthleticsminorOthers · 24 June 2019Athletics organization that provided coaching during sports week
• BikeabilityminorOthers · 24 June 2019Cycling proficiency training program delivered during sports week
• SWIFTcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerStrategic partnership with SWIFT for collaborative working and school improvement across the education landscape
• Devon County Council (Local Authority)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerLocal Authority partner providing admissions authority services and educational oversight in Devon
• Other MATs and Maintained SchoolscoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartnership network with other Multi-Academy Trusts and maintained schools for collaborative school improvement initiatives

Scale indicators3 records

Recent moves5 records

Expansion highlights4 records

Broad incumbents

• Oasis Community Learning: Large national Multi-Academy Trust running primary and secondary academies across England. A broad incumbent with similar governance, ESFA funding model, and central trust-wide support functions.
• Cabot Learning Federation: Large South West Multi-Academy Trust spanning primary and secondary phases. A relevant incumbent peer operating in the same region with similar curriculum-delivery model and school-improvement support structure.
• United Learning: One of the largest UK Multi-Academy Trusts operating a broad portfolio of schools nationally. Comparable as an incumbent MAT competitor for staff, pupils, and ESFA-funded growth opportunities.
• Harris Federation: Large national Multi-Academy Trust operating primary and secondary academies. A broad incumbent peer with the same ESFA funding model, MAT governance structure, and centralised school-improvement approach.

Regional players

• Plymouth CAST (Catholic Schools Trust): Faith-rooted Multi-Academy Trust with schools across Devon and the South West. Comparable because it is a similarly sized regional MAT drawing from the same ESFA-funded pipeline and recruiting staff in overlapping labour markets.
• Diocese of Exeter Academies Trust: Devon-based Multi-Academy Trust operating a portfolio of primary and secondary schools around Exeter. Directly comparable as a regional MAT competing for pupils, staff, and government funding in the same catchment.
• Bath and Wells Multi Academy Trust: Faith-rooted Multi-Academy Trust covering many primary schools in the South West. A regional peer operating a similar school-improvement and shared-curriculum model with overlapping recruitment markets in the South West.

Direct peers

• Greenshaw Learning Trust: Primary-focused Multi-Academy Trust operating a network of primary schools with a shared school-improvement and coaching model. A direct functional peer in MAT structure, target phase, and central support design.
• Ted Wragg Academy Trust: Devon-based Multi-Academy Trust operating multiple schools including primaries in the Exeter area. A direct regional peer competing for pupils, families, and teaching staff in overlapping Devon catchments.
• Reach Academy Trust: UK Multi-Academy Trust centred on primary education with shared central services. Comparable in scale, target phase, and the way it bundles school improvement, governance, and back-office functions across schools.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat3 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/exeter-learning-academy-trust

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles18 records

Subsidiaries4 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 Exeter Learning Academy Trust