Following a wide ranging consultation with staff, parents/carers, governors, trustees and local communities, colleagues from Gatehouse Green Learning Trust (GGLT) and Excalibur Academies Trust (EAT) are delighted to share the news that the Regional Director’s Advisory Board has approved its joint application to merge the two trusts. This important step gives real purpose and direction for both trusts as it enters its next phase, with a formal merger hoping to be completed in time for the academic year 2023.

This latest news, which was formally approved on the morning of Wednesday 14^th December, gives the green light for GGLT and EAT to plan carefully and in detail how the various elements of the trusts will work together.

The proposals to the Regional Director’s Advisory Board include a “hub model”, with the schools in each area collaborating on activities such as training, curriculum planning and supporting young people. Links between the two trusts are already starting to have clear benefits, with shared SEND expertise being one example. Now that the merger has been approved, both organisations can prioritise creating stronger links to ultimately shape and develop the local hubs.

This work will begin in earnest from next term, with a collective commitment to a set of joint values shared across all school communities. Meetings and activities to ensure people within the two trusts get to know each other, fully understand the merger and shape its future by informing trustees of what they value most, will also feature highly on the agenda.

A Shadow Board with fair representation from both GGLT and EAT will be established, although oversight for detailed planning will continue to be overseen by the joint merger steering group.

Margaret Simmons-Bird, OBE, Board Chair of Gatehouse Green Learning Trust comments: “This is excellent news and will allow us to continue the next exciting part of our journey. I would like to thank everyone in our schools’ communities for sharing their voices and opinions in the consultation; we have spent considerable time taking each and every one on board, enabling us to change our plans wherever possible.”

Toby Watson, Board Chair of Excalibur Academies Trust said: “We are delighted that our merger has been given the green light by the Regional Director’s Advisory Board. Much hard work went into the submission and now we can work more closely serving our young people, staff and communities.”

Nicky Edmondson, CEO of EAT adds: “I am looking forward to the next stage of Excalibur and Gatehouse Green’s development. I can see a bright future for all our stakeholders, with ultimately our young people always being our first and foremost priority.”

Nick Lewis, Interim CEO, GGLT concludes: “I am so pleased for our communities and young people that after rigorous scrutiny and a positive consultation, our trusts are able to move a step closer together.”

Further information/next steps:

Both trusts will formally consult with staff and unions on the protection of employment rights as part of the TUPE process.

Whilst the Regional Director’s Advisory Board has approved the merger, the final merger has to be signed off by both trusts and is still subject to legal ratification. 

The GGLT and EAT merger webpage can be found here: GGLT-Excalibur Merger Webpage. Whilst formal consultation has concluded, individuals’ views and opinions are welcome via this dedicated email address: [email protected]