The Arthur Terry Learning Partnership (ATLP), a Birmingham-based multi-academy trust that fell millions of pounds into debt, is to be dismantled and its schools transferred to seven smaller trusts following an agreement with the Department for Education (DfE).
The trust, headquartered in Sutton Coldfield, faced financial turmoil at the end of 2025, announcing around 100 job cuts in October. That decision prompted the National Education Union (NEU) to stage strike action in January, affecting 20 of the trust's 24 schools.
Strike action and school closures
During the January strikes, schools were closed, teachers and parents formed picket lines, and pupils were told to stay at home. Approximately 11,000 pupils across the 20 affected schools are believed to have been impacted by the walkouts, which came as ATLP was reportedly some £10 million in debt.
The industrial action continued throughout the month, with nine further strike days announced on January 21. The dispute led to the trust's chief executive, Richard Gill, taking a leave of absence and subsequently resigning. The strike ended on January 29 when ATLP said planned redundancies were 'paused'.
Restructuring and new trust arrangements
In May, the trust announced restructuring plans, including slashing 'top slice' central costs and halving its controversial iPads-for-all scheme. Now, following discussions with the DfE, ATLP has announced it will be split into seven smaller 'high-performing' trusts.
ATLP said the exact timeframes had yet to be confirmed, but the arrangement had been agreed in principle. A spokesperson for ATLP said: “Following an in-principle decision earlier this year that Arthur Terry Learning Partnership schools should transition to a small number of high-performing, regionally based academy trusts, the Department for Education has now indicated its intended arrangements for individual schools.”
The spokesperson added: “While final arrangements and timelines are yet to be confirmed, we will continue to work closely with the DfE and relevant partners as the process develops, to ensure a smooth transfer for all of our colleagues and pupils.”
Which schools go where
The DfE has indicated the following intended trust for each school:
- Deykin Avenue Junior and Infant School – Prince Albert Community Trust
- Slade Primary School – Prince Albert Community Trust
- Brookvale Primary School – Prince Albert Community Trust
- Osborne Primary School – Prince Albert Community Trust
- Paget Primary School – Prince Albert Community Trust
- Stockland Green School – King Edward VI Academy Trust Birmingham
- The Royal Sutton School – Arden Multi Academy Trust
- The Arthur Terry School – Arden Multi Academy Trust
- Mere Green Primary School – Arden Multi Academy Trust
- Hill West Primary School – Arden Multi Academy Trust
- Curdworth Primary School – Arden Multi Academy Trust
- The Coleshill School – Summit Learning Trust
- West Coventry Academy – Summit Learning Trust
- St Michael's CofE (C) Primary School – Future Generation Trust
- St Chad's CofE Primary School – Future Generation Trust
- Scotch Orchard Primary School – Windsor Academy Trust
- Nether Stowe School – Windsor Academy Trust
- The Bridge Academy – Windsor Academy Trust
- Anna Seward Primary – Windsor Academy Trust
- Greysbrooke Primary School – Windsor Academy Trust
- Two Gates Primary School – Lift Schools
- William MacGregor Primary School – Lift Schools
- Coton Green Primary School – Lift Schools
- Dunstall Park Primary School – Lift Schools
The trust said it remains fully responsible for the operation and leadership of its schools during the transition, with a priority on maintaining stability and ensuring a continued focus on high-quality education.
