Proposed Trust Merger
Background and Context
The Trustees and Members of Maltby Learning Trust have been considering for some time how we might further grow our family of schools to extend the impact of our work to date. The reasons behind our ambition to grow are twofold: firstly, we recognise that a larger organisation will have greater capacity to deliver the very best learning experiences and continue to improve our schools; and, secondly, we want to be able to contribute further to the education system and support more children, families, and communities to achieve success in our locality.
For some time, we engaged in discussions with Accord Multi Academy Trust about the possibility of the two successful and well-established Trusts joining together to create a brand-new organisation, built on the strengths of the two Trusts and resulting in an organisation that will be greater by the sum of their parts. In October 2025, the Department for Education (DfE) publicly approved the application from Maltby Learning Trust and Accord to merge creating a larger Trust with a new name and identity of Place Partnership Trust.
Maltby Learning Trust and Accord are well established Trusts who will now seek to create a combined family of 12 academies committed to ‘uniting our communities to provide exceptional experiences and achieve success’.
Looking Ahead
This arrangement will be a voluntary merger of equals, rather than any form of takeover/acquisition of one Trust by the other. The two Trusts have much in common, starting with a similar vision and values shaped around putting children and young people first, setting high standards, delivering exceptional learning experiences, and committing to and connecting with the local communities that we serve. The merger will be a true partnership, with two existing organisations coming together as the new Trust, with a co-created vision and mission that prioritises:
- Place: Serving and responding to the needs of our communities, working in partnership with a range of stakeholders to support growth, regeneration, and transformation.
- People: Investing in people as our most important resource, aligned with our vision for children and our communities.
- Purpose: Providing exceptional experiences for all young people that go beyond the classroom, delivering outcomes and opportunities that secure pathways to success, particularly for our most vulnerable children.
Each Academy will retain its unique identity whilst benefiting from increased collaboration, shared services, and broader expertise. This is not only a strategic move for both Trusts but also a response to national policy direction encouraging Multi Academy Trust (MAT) consolidation to strengthen the education sector.
We strongly believe that both Trusts are rooted in their local communities, and that our staff teams are central to our respective success. This merger opens up exciting opportunities for professional growth, innovation, and the continued improvement of the quality of education we provide to ensure the very best for our young people.
At this stage, the merger is anticipated to take effect from 1 September 2026.
Below you will find the latest documentation relating to the merger.
frequently Asked Questions
Is this the right time to consider a merger of Maltby Learning Trust and Accord Multi Academy Trust?
Yes, both Trusts have been considering their future development and have spent considerable time looking into different options. At Maltby Learning Trust, we have been looking to grow by either more schools joining the Trust or by exploring the potential of a merger with another like-minded organisation. Growth will result in future-proofing our schools and Trust, and Accord Multi Academy Trust represents an ideal partner to merge with to form a larger organisation that will be even stronger together.
Has the decision to merge already been made?
The merger was subject to approval by the DfE Advisory Board, which was received in October 2025. Both Trusts are strongly in favour of this merger and are now completing all the necessary due diligence processes for a smooth legal transfer into one entity.
What is the timescale for the merger to happen?
We are anticipating that we would look to merge to form a single Trust by 1st September 2026. This will provide enough time for all the necessary due diligence checks to take place as part of the legal transfer.
Who will be responsible for running our school?
Schools will continue to operate as they do now and will be led by the Principal, supported by the Senior Leadership Team and wider body of staff.
This would work in the same way as it does now, respectively at Maltby Learning Trust and Accord Multi Academy Trust in terms of Governance, whereby the respective Board of Trustees is responsible to the Secretary of State for the schools in each Trust. If the merger goes ahead, that responsibility will continue to be the Board of Trustees of the new Multi Academy Trust, including all schools and staff transferred into the new organisation.
The proposed Governance structure will include equal representation from Members and Trustees of both Maltby Learning Trust and Accord Multi Academy Trust, with each school having a clearly defined and delegated responsibility from the Board of Trustees along similar lines to those that currently exist in each Trust. Local governance arrangements would also be retained to support and challenge the continued success of each school in serving its local community with parents retained as governors in line with existing arrangements.
Who will lead the new Trust?
The proposals set out are that the Chief Executive Officer (CEO) and Accounting Officer for the new Trust will be Alan Warboys (currently CEO of Accord Multi Academy Trust), and that David Sutton will be Deputy Chief Executive Officer (currently CEO of Maltby Learning Trust). Both Trust leaders are fully committed to the proposed merger and will continue to work in partnership to realise the significant potential arising from this opportunity.
Will the curriculum change?
Both Trusts currently teach to the National Curriculum and already have the power to change this if they so wish. There is a culture across the respective Trusts to do some things in a similar way, but school leaders are empowered to contextualise their curriculum while being aligned to the agreed curriculum principles. This will not change because of the merger.
Would the schools have to change their name, logo, or uniform?
No, there will be no change to the name, logo, or uniform of any school as a result of the merger.
Would there be any changes to the Admissions Policy/criteria?
No, there will be no changes to the Admissions Policy or criteria for any school as a result of the merger.
Will our responsibilities in relation to Special Educational Needs and Disabilities (SEND) and exclusions change?
No, the responsibilities in relation to SEND and exclusions will be just the same as they are now. What we will have is an increased capacity to support this important area of our work.
Would the term and holiday dates or the timings of the school day change?
Academies, free schools and voluntary aided schools can set their own term dates but are asked to set the same or similar dates in the interest of parents/carers who may have children at different schools. The calendars of each respective Trust have always been very much in line with local schools and other schools in each region and this will continue. Some synchronised calendar dates will allow leaders to potentially plan shared training and development on set Inset Days each year, for example, for an annual Trust Conference.
How are pupils and students affected?
Our pupils and students will not notice any immediate difference; they will be in the same uniform, in the same classrooms and with the same teaching staff, supported by the same pastoral/associate staff. We will continue to strive for an outstanding education for all our children in every school.
Will a new Trust get more money through this process?
We will continue to receive the same amount of funding per pupil as we do currently. However, through increasing the size of the Trust, by this merger, we will be able to achieve far greater economies of scale, which ultimately means more funding directed to support learning.
Does this merger change the relationship with other schools and the community?
No, both of our Trusts are committed to serving their respective communities and will continue to collaborate and share expertise with other schools outside of the proposed Trust and wider community.
Should there be consideration of other potential partners, specifically in each secondary pyramid that are geographically closer to each Trust?
Whilst the geography may seem a challenge to some stakeholders it is not viewed as such by both Trusts. Both Trusts are heavily invested in their local communities, and this will not change or be a detriment to pupils, parents or staff because of the merger. Each Trust will continue to work closely with other schools, academies and Multi Academy Trusts locally as has been the case to date.
Will a wide range of staff be required to travel between Doncaster, Rotherham and Wakefield?
Staff across each Trust have been assured that only a small minority of job roles will be required to operate across the two current ‘hubs’ of Accord Multi Academy Trust and Maltby Learning Trust. Colleagues based in schools will remain in their current roles and work in the same location. Colleagues employed in central Trust associate staff teams will see some changes to process, but these changes will be communicated and consulted upon in an appropriate manner and timeline.
It is important to note that one real positive of the merger is the greater opportunity for development and/or career progression and where opportunities arise in the new Trust, all colleagues will have opportunity to apply for positions should they wish.
How will the merger proposal be approved and will there be a parental vote?
The merger was subject to approval by the DfE Advisory Board, which was received in October 2025. The DfE will considered the views gained via our stakeholder engagement / consultation, and did not require a parental vote.
Is it the case that larger Trusts do not always deliver value for money and direct resources to meet greatest need borne out of the increased management costs with a larger entity?
As one Trust the same amount of funding per student will be received as is the case currently. However, through increasing the size of the Trust, by this proposed merger, the new Trust will be able to achieve far greater economies of scale, which ultimately means more funding directed to support learning.
Will there be a negative impact on staff in terms of redundancies and terms and conditions?
Terms and conditions of employment are protected by the Transfer of Undertakings (Protection of Employment) Regulations 2006 (TUPE). TUPE protects employees' rights when their employment transfers to a new employer. As part of the TUPE process all employees' contracts, including terms and conditions and pensions automatically transfer to the new employer. This means that employees retain their existing rights, powers, duties, and liabilities.
The proposed merger would not seek to create redundancies, and in contrast would seek to reduce this risk moving forward in what is a challenging financial landscape in education. One of the key drivers is to create enhanced opportunities for professional development and career progression.