News

On the 29 January 2024, Gilbert Ward Academy finally moved into their permanent premises after being in temporary accommodation since September 2023. Gilbert Ward Academy is a special free school for children aged 11-16 with Social, Emotional and Mental Health needs in Northumberland. GKA are delighted to have been a part of this project since the application was approved back in 2020, writing the application and project managing the pre-opening phase. Gilbert Ward Academy is now part of Prosper Learning…

Together Learning Trust have welcomed their 7th academy into the Trust when Castle Hill School (a specialist college for communication and interaction) transferred into the MAT on 1 February 2024. GKA were happy to support TLT with this transfer (a school which was already part of a MAT and was being rebrokered), providing project management capacity and TUPE expertise.

GKA would like to share some exciting news!! On the 1 February 2024, Hanley St Luke’s CofE Primary School became an Academy and joined Three Spires Trust after starting their journey 2 years ago. This project took a little longer than expected due to PFI and legal complexities. The Academy is now part of a growing Trust which formed in January 2021 and now has 6 schools in total. We wish the school and its community all the very best.

Gail Khan Associates (GKA) work with a huge variety of Trusts, all at different points on their journey. We are often involved even before a MAT officially exists and one of the areas, we are proud to deliver a huge impact on, is supporting stakeholders to bring new MATs to fruition. We support schools and their leaders, looking to form a MAT, to navigate the many challenges and curve balls that come their way, one of which is securing the…

Gail Khan Associates (GKA) is here to support you through the due diligence process and beyond, assisting in finding a suitable partner for your educational journey. In response to a shifting landscape, we've observed a growing trend among smaller academy trusts seeking to merge with larger, established Multi Academy Trusts (MATs). In August 2023, Gail Khan Associates was approached by one such larger MAT to conduct due diligence on a group of four schools that had expressed interest in a…

At Gail Khan Associates, we are currently collaborating with diverse groups of schools, and in some cases, the associated diocese, who are embarking on their journey towards establishing new Multi Academy Trusts. Our team at Gail Khan Associates is proud to be a part of this exciting journey. We're here to offer guidance, support, expertise and DfE liaison every step of the way, ensuring that their vision for their Multi Academy Trust becomes a reality. More updates will follow as…

Exciting news! Three Trees CofE Junior Academy & Three Trees Infant Academy, formerly Woodville Federation J&I Schools, joined Rise Multi Academy Trust on 1st September. Gail Khan Associates are thrilled to have supported both the Trust and the schools in this conversion process. We're confident that this change will only bring more success and growth to the schools. Here's to a bright future ahead!

As the new academic year approaches, many Multi-Academy Trusts (MATs) are evaluating their current scheme of delegation to ensure its effectiveness. With increasing scrutiny on educational governance and accountability, it is important for MATs to have a robust scheme in place. So what is a scheme of delegation? Quite simply this document should be your go-to document that clearly outlines the distribution of powers and responsibilities within a MAT, determining who has decision-making authority at various levels. It enables effective…

We would like to thank all of our wonderful clients, both established and new. Each and every one of you we value so highly. The 2022/23 academic year has been a crazy busy year. We are proud to announce that GKA has doubled in size, now with seven team members on board and a network of active associates. Together, we have delivered remarkable work, empowering you to achieve many tasks. For those who get a break over the summer period…

We are thrilled to announce the addition of Smart Multi Academy Trust (Smart MAT) to our expanding portfolio of clients. Based in the Northeast of England, Smart MAT has entrusted us with crucial support in due diligence and project management as they enter their forthcoming growth phase. GKA will collaborate closely with Smart MAT, ensuring a smooth transition and the successful execution of their expansion plans. Leveraging our expertise in due diligence and project management, we aim to guide Smart…