GKA has been a trusted partner of St Joseph Catholic Multi Academy Trust (SJCMAT) since their formation in 2021, providing a range of services including project management of conversions, due diligence, recruitment, policy development and procurement of major contracts. GKA believes that successful school conversions require a structured, strategic approach that empowers trusts to take ownership of their growth. Their ongoing partnership with SJCMAT is a testament to this belief, as they have worked closely to develop and refine internal project management and due diligence processes for school conversions. GKA has also supported the Trust with the move to using the Monday.com platform for online project management, allowing trust-wide oversight on all projects.
From the outset, GKA’s role extended beyond standard due diligence. They worked collaboratively with the central team to create a robust, structured framework for assessing schools before joining the trust. The aim was to help the trust build a sustainable, long-term approach to due diligence, which would serve as a stepping stone toward internal delivery in the future. This involved developing a consistent due diligence methodology tailored to the trust’s needs, creating clear reporting mechanisms to ensure transparency with the Board, and building capacity within the central team to strengthen their internal processes. Most recently we supported the appointment of a Graduate Trainee Project Manager who has recently successfully completed their first year in post, GKA provide continuous mentoring to the Project Manager.
To ensure that every aspect of a school’s transition was thoroughly assessed, GKA worked with the trust to develop detailed evaluation and reporting structures across key areas such as finance, quality of education, HR & TUPE, governance, estates and health & safety, ICT, safeguarding, and legal processes. By integrating seamlessly with the central team, GKA has not only enhanced their capacity during school conversions but also acted as a trusted adviser, helping to refine and embed best practices for the future. The largest whole-scale advice has seen SJCMAT embrace the use of Monday.com as a Trust-wide project management tool, which their graduate Project Manager is overseeing the implementation of across the whole Trust. Through GKA’s partnership, St Joseph Catholic MAT now has an online clear, structured process that strengthens the ability of the Board and executive team to assess and onboard new schools with confidence.
In early 2023, Cavendish Learning Trust (CLT) began considering a merger with a larger trust as a strategic move to support their growth and development. After receiving a list of potential Multi-Academy Trusts (MATs) from the Department for Education (DfE), CLT sought the expertise of Gail Khan Associates (GKA) to conduct a two-stage options appraisal and due diligence process. The goal was to create a shortlist of suitable MATs to approach for further discussions regarding a potential merger.
GKA led the forensic intelligence gathering necessary to evaluate the potential trusts and create a strategic recommendation. GKA conducted a thorough analysis, ensuring a comprehensive understanding of each trust. Six critical areas were identified to guide the review, including trust locality, governance, vision and values, performance, finance, and reputation.
Using this framework, GKA began evaluating the longlist of 30 MATs down to 14 trusts. GKA continued its detailed evaluation of the 14 shortlisted MATs using the six KLOEs. GKA then discreetly contacted each trust to assess their interest in a potential merger. Those that expressed openness to further discussions were shortlisted for the next stage. At this point, the MATs contacted were unaware of the identity of the trust GKA was representing, ensuring confidentiality and strategic discretion.
Minerva Learning Trust (MLT) was identified as the preferred partner for CLT. GKA then facilitated further discussions and supported CLT in evaluating MLT as a merger candidate.
GKA’s due diligence confirmed that MLT’s governance, vision, and capacity aligned with CLT’s strategic objectives, paving the way for the merger. After both parties resolved to proceed with the merger, GKA was commissioned by MLT to conduct detailed due diligence on CLT. A comprehensive 131-page report was submitted to MLT’s board in December 2023. This report provided insights into CLT’s performance in education, HR, finance, health and safety, estates, IT, safeguarding, GDPR, and governance.
Following the successful due diligence, GKA continued its involvement by project managing the entire merger process. This involved navigating the complexities of bringing together two organisations with distinct cultures and systems. GKA took charge of coordinating legal requirements, ensuring full compliance with regulations, and managing communications with key stakeholders, including the respective Boards.
By acting as the central liaison, GKA ensured that the merger progressed smoothly, managing risk, addressing concerns, and maintaining momentum towards a successful integration. This also included working closely with DfE Officers, legal teams, overseeing stakeholder engagement, and ensuring a cohesive transition plan that aligned with both trusts’ strategic goals.
GKA’s thorough approach in conducting the options appraisal and due diligence resulted in MLT securing urgent capital funds and a successful merger between Cavendish Learning Trust and Minerva Learning Trust. Both trusts are now poised for a collaborative future, leveraging their combined expertise to enhance educational outcomes and organisational growth.
South York Multi Academy Trust (SYMAT) and The STAR Multi Academy Trust (STAR), two well-established academy trusts in North Yorkshire, embarked on a strategic merger to form a new, larger multi-academy trust for the region. Both existing trusts are mixed MATs and include Church of England schools. Their goal was to consolidate strengths, identify efficiencies, and enhance school improvement capacity across a wider network.
GKA was commissioned in October 2024 to provide independent project management support, covering the DfE application process, comprehensive due diligence, stakeholder consultation, and executive structure planning.
Together, SYMAT and STAR oversee 17 schools, with 7,000 students and 1,000 staff. They share a commitment to their values including inclusion, collaboration, aspiration, and integrity. The merger was driven by a common educational vision and leadership approach, a desire to strengthen long-term sustainability, and an opportunity to deliver greater impact at scale. The Department for Education had also encouraged trust consolidation to promote more resilient and effective MATs.
GKA provided end-to-end project management support for the merger across five key areas:
- DfE Application – Managed all aspects of the formal submission, including document collation, formatting, timeline planning, and coordination with key stakeholders.
- Due Diligence – Conducted thorough reviews across finance, HR, and estates to inform risk planning and support trust board assurance.
- Stakeholder Engagement – Delivered a multi-strand engagement strategy including producing comprehensive engagement materials, managing staff and stakeholder meetings, online surveys, FAQs, and a final engagement report and Q&A document.
- Executive Structure Planning – Facilitated leadership planning to support governance and operational continuity in the new MAT.
- Overarching project support – GKA worked directly with both trust leadership teams, chairs of the boards, and a project steering group to scope and manage the project. A detailed merger project plan was developed and maintained, with progress reviewed in regular meetings at multiple levels.
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Impact:
- The Department for Education formally approved the merger in March 2025 with no conditions.
- Staff and stakeholder engagement was strong, with feedback highlighting opportunities in collaboration, financial benefits, and improved staff and student experiences.
- Concerns raised during consultation (such as maintaining autonomy, communication, and job security) were acknowledged and addressed in project plans.
- GKA’s oversight allowed leaders to maintain focus on delivering core educational priorities during the transition.
- GKA will continue to support the trusts through the next phase of merger implementation to September 2025, including delivery of a comprehensive onboarding programme for year one and beyond.