MAT Tracker

A tool tracking the growth of multi-academy trusts in England – with deep-dive analysis of MAT data and essential guides to key aspects of the trust system

Tuesday

20th Jan 2026

MAT merger plan called off after ‘aggressive’ opposition
Pennine Alliance Learning Trust and Trinity Multi-Academy Trust had been exploring a possible merger, but the process has now ended with one chair stepping down
Proposed academy trust merger called off after opposition

Monday

19th Jan 2026

GLF Schools posts £3m surplus as reserves rise to £17m
The 43-school trust says the improvement in its finances reflects ‘strong expense management and receipt of unbudgeted income’
GLF schools posts £3m surplus as reserves rise to £17m

Thursday

15th Jan 2026

Ark CEO among 5 new Ofsted board members
The appointments come after Ofsted’s chair recommended that the inspectorate’s governing board should be ‘revised’
Lucy Heller, CEO of Ark Schools

Wednesday

14th Jan 2026

Trust plans to draw down £5m reserves amid SEND pressures
Bishop Bewick Catholic Education Trust says in its latest accounts that ‘most schools have agreed in-year deficit budget plans’ for 2025-26
Trust plans £5m reserves drawdown amid SEND and falling rolls

Thursday

8th Jan 2026

Outwood Grange turns £3m deficit into £3m surplus
Outwood Grange Academies Trust also upped its reserves by 9 per cent year-on-year to £43.7 million, its latest accounts show
Outwood Grange turns £3m deficit to £3m surplus

Tuesday

6th Jan 2026

It’s ‘impossible’ to take on special schools, says MAT
Thirty-school trust says the size of the financial deficits being reported by special schools mean that it cannot take on any more
SEND school deficits make them ‘impossible’ acquisitions, trust warns

Friday

2nd Jan 2026

Saracens Multi-Academy Trust appoints new CEO
Chris Woolf joins the three-school trust following the retirement of Kate Alcock
Chris Woolf

Tuesday

30th Dec 2025

New Year Honours: MAT boss knighted and other leaders recognised
Six multi-academy trust leaders are among the education figures included in the New Year Honours list
A MAT leader has been knighted in the King's New Year Honours list

Tuesday

16th Dec 2025

David Ross Education Trust announces new chief executive
Simon Rose had been interim chief executive of the 36-school trust since September and has held other senior roles across DRET
Simon Rose

Friday

28th Nov 2025

How we built a successful CEO-chair dynamic from day one
A multi-academy trust chief and its chair of trustees explain how they addressed working together to ensure alignment in direction, but also the space to challenge and think
Synchronised swimmers

Monday

24th Nov 2025

EMET appoints Paul Smith as new chief executive
The Northern Schools Trust chief education officer says he is excited to create ‘world-class’ opportunities for pupils and staff when he takes up the post
EMET appoints Paul Smith as new chief executive

Friday

7th Nov 2025

What will push the last single-academy trusts to merge?
Nearly 850 single-academy trusts remain, including some of the highest performing schools in England. Labour wants them to join multi-academy trusts, but persuading them won’t be easy, finds Jabed Ahmed
The number of single-academy trusts is in decline after government efforts to promote groups of schools