{"id":234089,"date":"2025-09-03T10:43:11","date_gmt":"2025-09-03T09:43:11","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/schoolsweek.co.uk\/?p=234089"},"modified":"2025-09-03T13:25:40","modified_gmt":"2025-09-03T12:25:40","slug":"ark-schools-to-set-up-northern-hub-after-mat-merger","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/schoolsweek.co.uk\/ark-schools-to-set-up-northern-hub-after-mat-merger\/","title":{"rendered":"Ark Schools to set up ‘northern hub’ after MAT merger"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

A MAT running schools teaching almost 30,000 pupils is set to become one of the 10 largest trusts in England after absorbing nine more academies.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Ark Schools has unveiled plans<\/a> to merge with the Pontefract Academies Trust next year, having eyed expansions into \u201cnew regions\u201d. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

The schools will form the \u201cfounding base of a new northern hub\u201d for the trust, which currently has schools in London, the south and the Midlands.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Meanwhile, PAT\u2019s chief executive \u2013 who pulled out of taking over at another national academy trust a few weeks ago \u2013 will move into a role in Ark\u2019s central team.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cBoth trusts are excited about the opportunity to come together to strengthen outcomes, improve efficiencies, invest in staff development, and ensure our schools are places where children can thrive,\u201d a joint statement said.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cArk chooses to work where they can make the biggest difference and has been considering growth into new regions where there is strong local leadership and a commitment to delivering excellent results.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

CEO’s new role<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

Julian Appleyard, PAT\u2019s CEO, had been named the next chief executive of the David Ross Education Trust, which has 36 schools on its books, in July<\/a>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\"\"
Julian Appleyard<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

But Schools Week revealed last week<\/a> he was \u201cno longer able to take up the role\u201d due to \u201ca change\u2026in personal circumstances\u201d.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Pontefract has now revealed Appleyard \u201cwill become the Ark director for growth and regional director for the north\u201d once the merger is completed next September, provided the plans are greenlit by the Department for Education.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

He will focus on his trust\u2019s \u201cintegration\u201d into the larger MAT and be a member of its \u201cschool management team\u201d. Ark added there will also be PAT representation on its board \u201cto ensure continuity and integration at all levels\u201d.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Pontefract, which runs nine schools, has seen \u201csignificant improvements\u201d under Appleyard\u2019s leadership. In primary, it has \u201cone from one of the lowest performing nationally to one of the top three multi-academy trusts\u201d for outcomes.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Ark’s ‘northern hub’<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

Pontefract has been \u201cexploring how to build on this success to benefit more children, families and staff\u201d nearby. It believes \u201cthe best way to achieve its aims is to join with a like-minded trust that shares its values and has a proven record of success\u201d.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

It noted that Ark\u2019s \u201csignificant expertise\u201d will also help it \u201ccontinue to build upon the strong foundations in our two secondary schools\u201d.  <\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cRecognising their alignment, shared ambition for greater impact, and complementary strengths, the boards of both trusts propose a merger, with Pontefract becoming the founding base of a new northern hub for Ark.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

When asked if it would expand further, Ark said it will “consider sustainable growth in existing and new regions where we believe we can make a difference”. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

The merger will take its tally of schools to 48, making it the seventh largest trust in the country.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

This comes after Delta Academies Trust completed its merger with the Coast and Vale Learning Trust this week. The move took expanded it from 57 to 63 schools. Only United Learning Trust is larger.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

Merger with 9-school trust will also put Ark in the country’s top 10 biggest MATs<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":311204,"featured_media":208105,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_acf_changed":false,"om_disable_all_campaigns":false,"footnotes":""},"categories":[4],"tags":[3717],"post-theme":[],"class_list":["post-234089","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-news","tag-mat-mergers"],"acf":[],"aioseo_notices":[],"aioseo_head":"\n\t\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t