Our Story
Place Partnership is the result of two established and highly respected organisations coming together with a shared vision for the future of education.
Maltby Learning Trust
Maltby Learning Trust was established in 2014, rooted in a strong commitment to serving communities across South Yorkshire. From its beginnings, the Trust focused on creating high-quality educational opportunities and improving outcomes for children and young people, particularly within its local communities.
Over time, Maltby Learning Trust grew into a family of primary and secondary academies, educating thousands of pupils and employing hundreds of dedicated staff. Its success has been built on collaboration, strong leadership, and a clear focus on delivering exceptional experiences for every learner.
The Trust developed a reputation for innovation, inclusivity and a deep commitment to community, working closely with families and partners to support not only academic achievement but also wider wellbeing and opportunity.
Accord Multi Academy Trust
Accord Multi Academy Trust was founded in 2016, with a clear mission to bring schools together to work collaboratively and raise standards for all learners.
Under the leadership of Alan Warboys, Accord developed a strong track record of school improvement, partnership working and leadership development. With experience spanning primary and secondary education, the Trust built expertise in supporting schools to thrive through collaboration, shared practice and strong governance.
Accord’s approach has always been underpinned by a belief in the power of partnership and the importance of investing in people to deliver sustainable improvement.
Coming Together: Place Partnership
In 2026, Maltby Learning Trust and Accord Multi Academy Trust came together in a voluntary merger of equals to form Place Partnership.
This was not simply a structural change, it was a purposeful decision to build on the strengths of both organisations and create a Trust with greater capacity, resilience and opportunity for the future.
With a combined family of academies serving around 9,000 learners aged 2–18, Place Partnership is united by shared values and a clear moral purpose, to improve life chances and transform communities through education.
Place Partnership is built on strong foundations, shaped by the history and success of both Maltby Learning Trust and Accord. Together, we are creating a future-focused organisation that is ambitious for every child, every member of staff, and every community we serve.
Guided by our core belief that people belong, place matters and purpose lasts, we are committed to building a Trust where collaboration drives excellence, and where every learner has the opportunity to thrive.