What net academies trust does

NET Academies Trust is a UK Department for Education (DfE)-approved Multi-Academy Trust (MAT) operating nine primary academies and one nursery across West Essex, serving approximately 2,500 pupils with a workforce of 450+ staff. Founded in 2015 when Abbotsweld Primary Academy was sponsored following a period of instability, the trust has grown to encompass Abbotsweld, Fawbert & Barnard's, Harlowbury, Jerounds, Katherines, Latton Green, Longwood, Tany's Dell, and Waltham Holy Cross, plus the Little Lattons Nursery (opened November 2021). It is structured as a charitable company limited by guarantee, governed by a Board of Trustees, with Jo Coton as Chief Executive Officer and Susan Prickett as Chief Financial Officer. A Central Shared Service Team delivers finance, HR, operations, communications, and specialist SEND support across all academies, allowing school leaders to focus on teaching and learning.

The trust's product surface centres on the proprietary NET Curriculum — a sequential, progressive framework tailored to the West Essex context — layered with third-party content (Read Write Inc. phonics, White Rose Maths, Talk for Writing/Reading) and the trust's own enrichment programmes: Sense of SELF (Social skills, Life Skills, Exposure, Fascination), the Pupil Athlete Pathway, and the "50 Things" childhood-experience initiative. SEND provision is a differentiator, with in-house specialist teachers for Specific Learning Difficulties, Social Communication/Autism, and Speech/Language/Communication Needs, plus a qualified Speech and Language Therapist and Educational Psychologist; SEND Online extends this as a digital video resource, with Alternative Resourced Provisions (ARPs) embedded within trust schools. Technology platforms include Tapestry and Blossom (EYFS learning journeys), Arbor (school management, bookings, payments), and ParentMail (parent communications). Wraparound care runs from 7.30am–6pm, with breakfast club at £2/child/day, school meals at £2.75 each, and Little Lattons Nursery open 50 weeks per year with funded childcare options.

The business model is non-profit and government-funded: the dominant revenue stream is per-pupil DfE grants allocated across the nine academy funding agreements, supplemented by ancillary, transaction-fee income from school meals, breakfast and after-school clubs, and nursery fees (which are subscription-based with part-time/full-time options, 10% sibling discount, and funded childcare options including 30 hours free and 2-year-old grants). Pricing for nursery is quote-based rather than publicly disclosed. The trust grows via DfE sponsorship of additional primary schools and via direct enrolment through Essex County Council for reception admissions and direct trust management for mid-year transfers. Marketing is organic, relying on academy websites, social media (Facebook, Instagram), ParentMail/Arbor communications, weekly school tours, and community partnerships (Stansted Airport Aerozone, Cadnet, Business in the Community/Prince's Responsible Business Network, Abbots Care Centre, Essex Child and Family Wellbeing Service). Notable outcomes include 90%+ parent recommendation rates and, at Abbotsweld, KS2 combined 73.3% (vs 62% national), KS2 Maths 80.6% (vs 74% national), and Year 4 MTC 46.4% perfect scores (vs 37% national).

Name

net academies trust

Legal name

NET Academies Trust

Website

https://netacademies.net

Company type

Private

Founded year

2015

Operating status

Operating

Short description

NET Academies Trust is a DfE-approved Multi-Academy Trust operating nine primary academies and one nursery across West Essex, serving 2,500+ pupils with 450+ staff through a shared central services model.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Primary Education

NAICS

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

SIC

Services-Educational Services (8200)

akta.pro primary industry

Special Needs-Inclusive Early Learning Academies (EDACADAI)

Keywords

• Primary education services
• Multi-academy trust
• Early years education
• SEND support services
• Nursery childcare

Headquarters

HQ city

Harlow

HQ country

United Kingdom

HQ region

Europe

Offices11 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Supply Chain, Infrastructure, Others

Revenue model

1. Government Education Funding: Per-pupil funding from the Department for Education through academy funding agreements. Funding is allocated based on pupil numbers across all nine academies.
2. School Meals: Payable meals at £2.75 per meal for pupils not receiving universal free school meals. Reception, Year 1, and Year 2 pupils receive Universal Free School Meals.
3. Breakfast and After School Clubs: Breakfast club at £2 per child per day, providing breakfast and enrichment activities. After school sessions based on SELF and Pupil Athlete Pathway programmes.
4. Nursery Fees: Little Lattons Nursery provides childcare for children aged 6 months to 5 years, open 50 weeks per year from 7.30am-6pm with funded childcare options available.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels3 records

Marketing channels5 records

Core offering

NET Academies Trust operates as a Department for Education (DfE) approved sponsor of nine primary schools and one nursery in West Essex, serving over 2,500 pupils. It delivers primary education from Early Years Foundation Stage through Key Stage 2 via its NET Curriculum, alongside SEND outreach services, specialist enrichment programmes (Sense of SELF, Pupil Athlete Pathway), wraparound childcare, and shared central services (HR, finance, operations) for its member academies.

Product overview

NET Academies Trust operates as a DfE-approved sponsor managing nine primary schools and one nursery in West Essex, serving over 2,500 students. The trust provides a unified educational framework through its NET Curriculum while maintaining each academy's distinct character. Core offerings include the trust-wide curriculum, enrichment programmes like Sense of SELF and Pupil Athlete Pathway, SEND outreach services with specialist teachers, and shared central services for HR, finance, and operations. Member schools include Abbotsweld, Fawbert & Barnard's, Harlowbury, Jerounds, Katherines, Latton Green, Longwood, Tany's Dell, Waltham Holy Cross, and Little Lattons Nursery. The trust leverages technology platforms including Tapestry and Blossom Educational for learning journey tracking and parent engagement.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Abbotsweld Primary Academy Primary school for children from EYFS through Year 6 in Harlow, featuring the bespoke Sense of SELF Programme, Pupil Athlete Pathway, and STAC enrichment activities; rated Good by Ofsted in March 2023.
• Katherines Primary Academy Primary school in Harlow operated by NET Academies Trust, holding Music Mark accreditation for 2025-2026 and serving the local Harlow community.
• Longwood Primary Academy and Nursery Primary academy in Harlow with on-site nursery provision, reporting 80%+ Year 6 outcomes and using Tapestry for EYFS learning journeys.
• Waltham Holy Cross Primary Academy and Nursery Primary academy with nursery provision located in Waltham Abbey, Essex, serving 350+ pupils with around 50 staff.
• Latton Green Primary Academy & Nursery Primary academy with nursery provision in Harlow, which also serves as the trust headquarters location.
• Jerounds Primary Academy Primary academy in Harlow operated by NET Academies Trust, providing EYFS through Key Stage 2 education.
• Fawbert & Barnard's Primary School Primary school in Old Harlow operated by NET Academies Trust.
• Harlowbury Primary School Primary school in Old Harlow operated by NET Academies Trust.
• Tany's Dell Primary Academy and Nursery Primary academy with nursery provision in Harlow operated by NET Academies Trust.
• Little Lattons Nursery Ofsted-registered nursery under NET Academies Trust providing childcare for children aged 6 months to 5 years, open 50 weeks per year from 7.30am to 6pm, offering Forest School learning, home-cooked meals, and funded childcare options.
• SEND Outreach Services Trust-wide specialist SEND services providing specialist teachers for learning difficulties, autism, speech/language/communication needs, a Speech and Language Therapist, an Educational Psychologist, and a SEND Online support platform with video resources.
• Alternative Resourced Provisions (ARPs) Specialist SEND provisions for children with additional needs, located within trust schools.
• Breakfast and After School Clubs Wraparound childcare offered across trust schools, including breakfast club at £2 per child per day and after-school sessions built around SELF and Pupil Athlete Pathway programmes, bookable via the Arbor platform.
• School Meals Payable school meals at £2.75 per meal for pupils not receiving universal free school meals; Reception, Year 1 and Year 2 pupils receive Universal Free School Meals.

Quantifiable outcome

• 90%+ of parents agree or strongly agree with all Parent View statements including happiness, safety, progress, and recommendation
• +3 more outcomes

Named customers10 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

Integration2 records

Feature4 records

Partnerships

Six partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• Business in the Community / Prince's Responsible Business NetworkcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerAbbotsweld is the sole NET Academies representative in The Prince's Responsible Business Network. Business Connector Sharon Summerfield facilitates introductions to local businesses for curriculum-aligned workshops and community engagement activities.
• CadnetminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerCadnet delivers carbon monoxide safety workshops to pupils as part of the Sense of SELF curriculum, providing free CO alarms to families.
• Stansted AirportminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerStansted Airport Aerozone programme provides pupils with exposure to airport operations and future skills development opportunities.
• Essex Child and Family Wellbeing ServiceminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerCommunity Engagement Manager supports young people through communication and collaborative projects including PSHE curriculum delivery.
• Abbots Care CentreminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerCare home partnership enabling inter-generational activities including Christmas lunch, board games sessions, carol singing, and curriculum support activities.
• Princess Alexandra HospitalminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerFuture planned partnership for STEM representative and careers advice programmes.

Scale indicators8 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Direct peers

• REAch2 Academy Trust: The UK's largest primary-focused Multi-Academy Trust, operating a national network of primary academies. Closest structural peer to NET given primary-only focus, multi-academy governance model, and DfE sponsor status, though at materially greater scale (~60 schools vs NET's 9).
• Schoolsworks Academy Trust: A regional primary-focused Multi-Academy Trust operating in Sussex. Highly comparable to NET in scope (primary-only), scale, shared central services model, and DfE-approved sponsor status, with similar central team structure supporting member academies.
• Greenshaw Learning Trust: A growing primary-focused Multi-Academy Trust with several primary academies. Comparable governance structure, shared services approach, and pupil-focused operating model make it a direct peer for regional primary MAT expansion strategy.
• Academy Transformation Trust: A multi-academy trust sponsoring both primary and secondary schools across multiple regions. Comparable in operating a network of academies under a shared central services team with DfE sponsor status, though with broader phase mix than NET.
• The Howard Partnership Trust: A multi-academy trust operating a mix of primary and secondary schools in the south of England. Comparable on shared central services delivery, DfE sponsor framework, and multi-academy governance structure, though with broader phase coverage.
• Learning in Harmony Trust: A regional Multi-Academy Trust operating primary and secondary schools with a focus on community engagement and shared enrichment programmes. Comparable on DfE sponsor framework and multi-academy central services model to NET.

Broad incumbents

• United Learning: A large, established multi-phase Multi-Academy Trust operating primary, secondary and all-through schools nationally. Overlaps with NET on primary phase operation and shared services model, but at materially greater scale and with broader phase portfolio.
• Oasis Community Learning: One of the largest Multi-Academy Trusts in England, operating academies across primary and secondary phases with a strong community-hub operating philosophy. Comparable on trust-level governance and DfE sponsor framework, but at significantly larger scale than NET.
• E-ACT: A large national Multi-Academy Trust operating primary and secondary academies across multiple regions. Overlaps with NET on multi-academy primary sponsorship and DfE sponsor status, but operates at materially greater scale with broader phase mix.
• Academies Enterprise Trust: A large national Multi-Academy Trust operating primary and secondary academies. Overlaps with NET on multi-academy governance and primary phase sponsorship, but at significantly greater scale and broader geographic footprint.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks7 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Xtwitter.com/NET_Lattongreen
• Facebookfacebook.com/LittleLattonsNurseryHarlow
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/net-academies-trust

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles1 record

Subsidiaries10 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 net academies trust