About Us

J & G Marshall Ltd is a company created to help schools not just understand the academy conversion process, but to navigate successfully and effectively through it.

Our approach is, however, based on more than just the outcome. As nearly all J&G Marshall staff sit on Trust Boards and governing bodies, our founder has been a primary school Chair of Governors for over 20 years and a governor for over 30 and is also MAT Trust Member, we see the process from the point of view of the schools, not the policy makers.

We appreciate that there is lots of conflicting information about academy conversion. We know that trying to determine whether your school should consider creating an academy trust with other schools or be part of a larger MAT poses questions that most school leaders have never had to face.

What schools need is independent advice that enables and facilitates them to make the right decision for their school, and then guidance as to how to make that decision a reality.

With over 320 academy conversions to our name, J & G Marshall has that expertise.

Furthermore, our support grows with you. We have the credentials and experience to help MATs grow and flourish. We can highlight your strengths and signpost areas to develop before they become critical concerns. This understanding is a vital part of a healthy academy trust.

Our aim is to be a long-term partner, allowing educationalists to focus on outcomes, and our team of experts to ensure the framework is in place for your school and MAT to flourish.

 

About Jeff Marshall

 

 

Jeff has been a school Governor for 31 years and Chair for 24, at one of the first 5 Primary Schools in the country to become an academy. For over a decade, he has been an Academy Trust Member and Chair of Trustees. He is also a Trust Member of a successful Multi Academy trust.

Jeff is MD of J & G Marshall Ltd which, since the company was formed, has supported over 330 schools to academy conversions around the country. The company supports many MATs in MAT Growth Audits, MAT MOTs, Trust Mergers and Due Diligence. J&G Marshall Ltd was voted Academy Conversion Provider of the year in both 2022, 2023, 2024 and Multi Academy Trust Support Company of the Year 2025.

He is also MD of Marshall Professional Development Ltd, a CPD, training and coaching company. Jeff has written accredited courses for Trustee Development, Being a MAT CEO and Maintained School Governance. Marshall Professional Development was voted Best Corporate & Education Training Provider 2023 – U.K, Best Education Training Provider 2024 and School Governance Training Provider of the Year 2025.

Jeff was a National Leader of Governance and Reviewer of Governing Bodies for 8 years. He has personally undertaken over 100 External Reviews of Governance on Maintained schools and Academy Trusts. Both of Jeff’s companies undertake Governance Review and Governance training work.

He is a Fellow of the Chartered Governance Institute, a Fellow of the Chartered Management Institute and a Fellow of the Institute of CPD.

 

 

The successful launch of Four Hills Education Trust in September 2025 is a direct result of the outstanding support and guidance provided by Jeff Marshall and his team at J&G Marshall. From the earliest stages of planning through to the official opening, their expertise in academy conversion and trust establishment has been invaluable. Quite simply, without Jeff and his team, we would not have been able to launch the trust as smoothly or as successfully as we did. J&G Marshall’s philosophy of seeing the process from the perspective of schools rather than policy makers was evident throughout our journey. Their ability to handle the complexities of conversion, while allowing us to remain focused on educational outcomes, meant that we could concentrate on our pupils and staff, confident that the technical and regulatory aspects were in safe hands. Jeff’s insights and practical advice ensured that we completed our first DfE audit within the very first term with ease, a milestone that speaks volumes about the thorough preparation and strategic guidance we received. Alongside this, I undertook the Becoming the CEO professional development programme through Marshall Professional Development. This accredited, modular programme provided me with the skills, knowledge, and confidence to step into the CEO role effectively. Its focus on practical rather than theoretical learning, designed in collaboration with experienced CEOs, gave me the tools I needed to lead our trust with assurance from day one. Now that the trust is established, Jeff’s ongoing support continues to be instrumental. His team’s experience in governance reviews, MAT growth audits, and strategic planning is helping us strengthen our governance structures and shape our growth strategy for the future. Jeff himself is personable, approachable, and fully invested in the success of those he works with. His commitment goes far beyond consultancy, it feels like a genuine partnership, with our trust’s success as his priority.

Kirsty Osman, CEO of Four HIlls Education Trust