Guidance

Apply to transfer an academy into your trust

Make an application to transfer one or more academies into your trust.

• From: Department for Education
• Published: 16 December 2025

Applies to England

This service is for:

• multi-academy trusts (MATs) that want to add an academy or academies from single academy trusts (SATs)
• multi-academy trusts that want to add an academy or academies from a different MAT
• MATs merging or consolidating, where all the academies from one trust are transferring to another trust

There is a separate application form for single academy trusts (SATs) who want to change their governance so they can become a MAT.

Before you apply

Make sure the lead applicant completes the application.

The lead applicant:

• should be a representative from the trust that academies are joining
• can invite anyone involved in the transfer to help complete the application

The chair of trustees from each trust involved in the transfer must also sign a declaration.

What you will need

Before you start your application make sure you have the following information:

• names of the academies involved, including unique reference numbers
• names of trustees and members
• date you want to transfer

Anyone who has a DfE Sign-in account for your school or trust can use this service.

Register for a DfE Sign-in account if you do not already have one.

Growing your academy trust

All plans to grow an academy trust need to be agreed by the regions group for your area. Find out more from:

• Academy transfers: information for academy trusts
• Multi-academy trusts: establishing and developing your trust

Published 16 December 2025