Dixons Academies Trust partners with Simpson Associates for Educational Excellence  

Dixons Academies Trust, which operates 16 schools and one college across disadvantaged communities in Leeds, Bradford, Manchester, and Liverpool, has announced a major investment in its data and digital infrastructure and a major step in its strategic data transformation journey. The trust has partnered with Simpson Associates, a leading data transformation consultancy, to modernise its data infrastructure to accelerate student support and productivity.

The trust’s mission is to challenge educational and social disadvantage in the North, supporting children in areas of high deprivation. The schools are a mix of sponsored turnaround academies and start-up free schools. The trust recognised the need to build a modern, scalable data foundation that could provide a clearer, more holistic view of operations and student support. 

Empowering Education Through Data Modernisation  

The partnership addresses the strategic necessity of modernising data systems to provide a holistic, real-time picture of every student. By implementing Microsoft Fabric, Simpson Associates is helping the trust integrate and connect core data platforms that bring together Bromcom attendance insights, and other operational systems.  

Microsoft Fabric offers a single, unified environment where data from the core data platforms can be ingested, modelled, secured, and analysed without the complexity of managing disconnected tools. By adopting Fabric, the trust is investing in a future proof data platform that supports both operational reporting and advanced analytics, without compromising scalability or security.  

By linking data sources through Fabric, staff will gain immediate insights into key areas like attendance and curriculum engagement, enabling a rapid response to challenges.  

“Modernisation in education isn’t just about adopting new technology — it’s about building the foundations for a more responsive and inclusive learning environment. By partnering with Simpson Associates and investing in modern data platforms, we will enable our staff with the insights they need to provide our students the personalised support they deserve. This collaboration is how we ensure our academic community thrives and responds effectively to changing impacts.“

Mark Rothery, Executive Principal at Dixons Academies Trust

Why it Matters – A Focus on People and Commitment to Growth  

The data platform upgrade utilises Microsoft technology, with Simpson Associates providing the implementation expertise. This approach helps build internal competency and gives trust staff new skills to deliver on the academies’ data needs. By adopting best practices for data governance and quality, Dixons Academies Trust is ensuring it is audit-ready and compliant while providing unparalleled speed of response to regulatory requirements.  

The enhanced platform will improve the trust’s ability to track student progress against high quality, recognisable curricula to identify students who need personalised intervention quickly. The platform is designed to benefit both staff and students, by reducing administrative burden, improving access to trusted information and helping teams focus their time on what matters most: improving outcomes for young people. 

“Developing internal capability and giving our teams the tools and skills they need to make confident, data-led decisions is central to our future sustainability, and to how we continue to improve outcomes for our students.“

Tom Rennie, Executive Director Business Services at Dixons Academies Trust 

A Platform Ready for Future Growth  

The modern data foundation has been designed with growth in mind. As Dixons Academies Trust continues to expand, opening new schools and strengthening existing academies, the platform provides the scalability, governance and resilience required to support that ambition.  

By integrating multiple applications and standardising data practices, the trust is building a future-ready environment that supports audit-readiness, compliance and speed of response, without over-complicating the technology landscape. This approach ensures that insight is no longer locked in systems, but made available to the people who need it, when they need it.  

About Dixons Academies Trust

Dixons Academies Trust operates 16 schools and one college across Leeds, Bradford, Manchester and Liverpool. The trust is committed to tackling social and educational disadvantage, serving more than 14,000 students, focusing on social mobility, educational excellence, and community impact. Its portfolio includes secondary, primary, all-through and sixth-form academies, and it continues to grow through a combination of turnaround schools and new free schools.  

Visit https://www.dixonsat.com/ to learn more.

About Simpson Associates

Simpson Associates is an award-winning data transformation partner with more than 30 years’ experience delivering modern data platforms for education, public sector and purpose-led organisations. As a Microsoft Solutions Partner, a Fabric Featured Partner and an award-winning Data and AI consultancy, Simpson Associates helps organisations modernise their data estates, improve governance and unlock the value of trusted information to drive better outcomes.  

Simpson Associates mission extends beyond technology – they are dedicated to helping purpose-led organisations harness data as a lever for change, empowering them to realise business value and truly implement using ‘data for good.’