We’re really proud that the Co-op Academies Trust is different to every other multi-academy trust.

Our values, shared by co-operatives across the globe, guide us in our decision-making and define us in all that we do.

Through a great education we are changing the lives of young people across the north of England. We work with academies to empower teachers and young people to work together for a better education and a better community.

We have consistently been one of the highest performing multi-academy trusts in the Government’s Multi-Academy Trust League Table and we have also been recognised by the Sutton Trust Charity as one top performing multi-academy trusts for disadvantaged students.

What makes our Trust unique is that we are sponsored by the Co-op Group. That close relationship means that we benefit from all of the business expertise that has seen the Co-op grow to one of the most respected, successful businesses in the country.

Popular with students, parents and teachers, we began in 2010 with just two academies. One in Manchester and one in Stoke-on-Trent. Two years later, in 2012, we began to work with academies in Leeds and by 2014 we had five academies in Leeds; made up of one secondary and four primary academies. Pragmatic in our approach to growth we worked closely and co-operatively to improve all of our academies. Improving results and impressive Ofsted inspections lead to schools requesting to join our Trust. In 2016 we were joined by Manchester Creative and Media Academy.

Our success led to a significant amount of interest in schools wanting to join our Trust and in 2017 we were joined by Co-op Academy Failsworth, Co-op Academy Priesthorpe and Co-op Academy Beckfield – bringing our Trust to eleven academies.

In 2018 we were joined by Co-op Academy Swinton.

Shortly after this the Co-op turbo charged the academies programme with a £3.6m investment into the growth of the Trust. Moving us from 12 academies to 40 by 2022.

As we move forwards, we look to grow but never to the detriment of our current academies. Our academies now work as part of a Hub structure, where the schools in their region work together with regards to operations, finance and HR. We are looking to grow in these regions and others regions in the north of England – though our co-operative ethos means we’d be happy to work with any school to improve education.

Every young person and staff member in our Trust lives by the ‘Ways of Being’.