A Busy Start to 2025! 

Gail Khan Associates had a very busy start to the year supporting a number multi academy trusts undertake mergers to form new Trust’s and assisting with school conversions and MAT growth. 

• On 1st March Linthwaite Clough Junior, Infants and Early Years School became an academy and joined Together Learning Trust.  As part of the conversion process, Gail Khan Associates facilitated the project management support on behalf of Together Learning Trust, offering expert advice and guidance throughout each stage. The team ensured that all necessary steps were meticulously followed, enabling a smooth transition for all. 

• GKA were also delighted to have played a key role in supporting South York Multi-Academy Trust (SYMAT) and The STAR Multi-Academy Trust (STAR MAT) in successfully securing approval from the Department for Education (DfE) for their merger to form Yorkshire Learning Trust (YLT).   

• GKA supported five Schools in gaining approval form the DFE to form a new Multi-Academy Trust later this year. Industrious Education Trust initially will bring together five primary schools in Kirklees. 

• GKA played a pivotal role in the successful creation of the Heritage MAT which officially formed on 1st April 2025.  The new Trust has been established through the collaboration of two single academies and four local authority-maintained schools in the Kirklees area.  The first two schools are now in the Trust with two more scheduled to join in September and November respectively. 

• GKA provided comprehensive project management in the formation of Apex Collaborative Trust.  The new trust was formed from the merger of The Pennine Trust and South Craven Academy Trust, bringing together a shared commitment to delivering high-quality education across a wider community of schools for children and young people aged 3-18.  The new Trust officially formed on 1st April 2025. A further secondary school is scheduled to join the Trust over the next 12months. 

• GKA provided project management, advice and guidance to Three Spires Trust when as part of its growth strategy, the Trust sought to bring St. Michael’s CofE Aided Primary School into the Trust.  Supporting the school’s conversion to an academy and project managing the process from application to onboarding GKA also worked alongside the school and LA to ensure their first Additional Resource Provision SLA was put in place.   

• GKA provided project management support to Norbury CofE Primary when they converted to an academy and joined ACE Derbyshire Trust on 1st April.  Norbury CofE were the last school of the original six schools who made the application to form a new MAT – ACE Derbyshire Trust. 

• GKA provided both capacity and expertise, project managing St Charles Catholic Primary School joining St Joseph Catholic MAT. GKA worked closely with the school leadership and trust central team to ensure a seamless and compliant transition. From delivering comprehensive due diligence to expertly managing the conversion and TUPE processes, we were by their sides every step of the way, ensuring a smooth and successful transition.   

Gail Khan said “We have had a very busy few months / first term supporting a number of different projects through key milestones and these are just a few.  It has been an absolute pleasure to see these projects come to fruition and I’m immensely proud of the team and the work they’ve undertaken. Summer term activity includes some of the above plus SEND reviews, due diligence, free school openings and more MAT mergers.” 

To find out what GKA have been doing this year or how we may be able to help you please visit www.gailkhanassociates.co.uk/news