Leigh Academies Trust

Leigh Academies Trust is a multi-academy trust, formed of 31 schools based in the Kent, Medway and South East London areas.^[1] Its Head Office is on the same site as Strood Academy, housing its Executive Team and central teams including Finance, Estates, Marketing, HR, Engagement and IT.^[2]

Leigh Academies Trust

Established	2008
Type	Multi Academy Trust
Location	Carnation Road, Strood, Rochester. ME2 2SX
Key people	Frank Green, Simon Beamish
Website	leighacademiestrust.org.uk
UID 3725

The trust has a number of subsidiaries such as LAT Apprenticeships, which runs a number of apprenticeship schemes and LAT Enterprises which generates income which is fed back into the trust's academies.

History

Leigh Academies Trust was formed in 2008, linking the Leigh Academy and Longfield Academy, under a single governing body with Frank Green CBE as Chief Executive. In November 2013 Simon Beamish was appointed as Chief Executive, replacing Green who was appointed National Schools Commissioner by the Department for Education.^[3]

Over the next ten years the trust grew steadily and in January 2019 merged with The Williamson Trust,^[4] absorbing five additional schools.

Schools

Leigh Academies Trust oversees:^[5]

North Kent Cluster

• Cherry Orchard Primary Academy
• Dartford Primary Academy
• Hartley Primary Academy
• Leigh Academy
• The Leigh UTC
• Longfield Academy
• Milestone Academy
• Wilmington Academy

Medway Cluster

• Ebbsfleet Academy
• High Halstow Primary Academy
• The Hundred of Hoo Academy
• Leigh Academy Rainham
• Peninsula East Primary Academy
• Sir Joseph Williamson's Mathematical School
• Strood Academy

Central Kent Cluster

• Bearsted Primary Academy
• * Horsmonden Primary Academy
• Langley Park Primary Academy
• Leigh Academy Tonbridge
• Marden Primary Academy
• Mascalls Academy
• Molehill Primary Academy
• Oaks Primary Academy
• Paddock Wood Primary Academy
• Snowfields Academy
• Tree Tops Primary Academy

South East London Cluster

• Eastcote Primary Academy
• The Halley Academy
• Leigh Academy Bexley
• Leigh Academy Blackheath
• Stationers' Crown Woods Academy

Future

As of June 2022 there no announced plans to open new academies or take on existing schools, however there are plans to convert High Weald Academy to an extension of Snowfields Academy from September 2022.

Also planned is the conversion of Hayesbrook Academy to a coeducational school, to include girls, from September 2023. The academy will then be rebranded Leigh Academy Tonbridge.

Executive team

• Simon Beamish, Chief Executive^[6]
• Steve Avis, Chief Financial Officer^[7]
• Stephane Vernoux, Chief Information Officer^[8]
• Richard Taylor, People Director^[9]
• Phil Whittall, Estates Director
• Debbie Biggenden, Academies Director (Central Kent and Specialist Academies)^[10]
• Tracey Trusler, Academies Director (North-West Kent and South-East London)^[10]
• Emma Elwin, Academies Director (Medway and Ebbsfleet)^[10]

References

1. "LEIGH ACADEMIES TRUST - GOV.UK". get-information-schools.service.gov.uk. Retrieved 11 January 2020.
2. "Leigh Academies Trust - Contact Us".
3. "Leigh Academies Trust: Executive Team".
4. "Leigh Academies Trust and The Williamson Trust - Merger (Takeover) Agreed". Kent Independent Education Advice. 11 November 2018.
5. "Leigh Academies Trust: Our Academies".
6. "New Leigh Academies Trust head Simon Beamish plans to expand into Greenwich". News Shopper. 13 January 2014.
7. "Steve Avis". LiFT Partnership.
8. "News". www.mass.co.uk. Retrieved 3 January 2019.
9. "Project reveals new way to combat stress and anxiety in teachers". QA Education Magazine. Retrieved 3 January 2019.
10. LAT (27 February 2019). "Appointment of Academies Directors". Leigh Academies Trust. Retrieved 22 February 2020.

External links

• Official website