News

Gail Khan Associates (GKA) is pleased to announce the official formation of Apex Collaborative Trust, marking a significant milestone in the educational sector. Formed on 1 April 2025, Apex Collaborative Trust results 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.  GKA provided comprehensive project management services throughout the merger process, ensuring the smooth integration…

Celebrating Another Successful School Conversion!  We are thrilled to announce that St Charles Catholic Primary School has officially joined St Joseph Catholic MAT as of 1st April – marking yet another milestone in our strong partnership with this exceptional trust.   The GKA team has been proud to provide both capacity and expertise, working 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…

GKA is 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).  The newly established Yorkshire Learning Trust will bring together 17 partner schools, approximately 7,000 students, and 1,000 staff. This collaboration will strengthen the educational provision across the region while ensuring each school retains its unique identity and ethos. …

  We are excited to announce that Oakfield Infant School and Oakfield Junior School, have officially joined Smart Multi-Academy Trust, effective from 1 October 2024.   This conversion to academy status for the schools marks a new chapter of further collaboration with Smart, building on the already established partnership between the schools and trust.  It also signifies further growth for the trust who are dedicated to providing high-quality education and innovative learning experiences across the North-East.  Colin Lofthouse, Chief Executive Officer…

Gail Khan Associates recently supported Stephenson Memorial Primary School to convert to an academy and then join Smart Multi Academy Trust.   SMART Multi Academy Trust is a MAT based in Newcastle Upon Tyne, which covers a vast geographical area. The values of the Trust closely aligned with those of Stephenson Memorial Primary School, particularly the Trust’s ethos of inclusivity for all pupils while allowing the school to retain its unique identity.   GKA supported Stephenson Memorial Primary School in their application…

Wow, what a year and on the last day of term (for many although not all) the sun decides to come out! GKA would like to thank our clients, new and old, for your ongoing relationship with us, we value each and every one of you. The year has been a busy one, we have seen a number of successes whether free school applications, TEG/TCAF applications and formations of new MATs. We have helped many of you grow over the…

Gail and Mel were delighted to attend the Three Spires Trust Summer Conference at the Beaconside Conference Centre in Stafford. Seeing a Trust which we helped form in early 2021 grow from strength to strength and celebrate their achievements was great.  The day included insightful speaker presentations from Andy Wolfe, Executive Director of Education, Church of England; Ollie Newton, Executive Director, Edge Foundation; Emily Verow, Chief Executive Officer and David Lee, Chair of Trustees, Three Spires Trust.    The event also included…

We were delighted that Notre Dame Catholic College, Liverpool announced that they formally joined St Joseph Catholic Multi Academy Trust on 1st June 2024.  The school is now called Notre Dame Catholic Academy.   Gail Khan Associates (GKA) project managed the process of Notre Dame Catholic College becoming an academy and joining St Joseph Catholic Multi Academy Trust.  This involved complex legal negotiations over land and buildings, with the added complication that the College used the Sports Centre facilities for delivery…

Following recent successes, Unity Schools Partnership and Gail Khan Associates have worked together on a Special Free School application for a new school in the London Borough of Havering. The new special school will cater for 300 children and young people aged 4 – 19 with ASD, SEMH and SLD SEND needs. There will be 100 primary aged children (Reception - Year 6), 170 secondary children (Year 7 - Year 11), and a 30-place post 16 provision at the school. …