As a primary headteacher, I have had the privilege of working with J&G Marshall Ltd during our recent academy conversion. Their expertise and unwavering support have been invaluable throughout the entire process. From the initial planning stages to the final implementation, the team demonstrated a deep understanding of our unique challenges and needs. Their guidance made the transition seamless, fostering a sense of confidence among our staff and community. We are now excited to embrace our new status and the opportunities it brings for our children. I wholeheartedly recommend Jeff's team to any school considering a similar journey.
Kate Ball Brookdale Primary School
I have had the pleasure to work with Jeff and his colleagues for the last two years, on our academy
journey. The professional service, advice, knowledge and support has been first class, simply
outstanding! Jeff was recommended by a colleague and from the first point of contact he has been
reliable, warm, reassuring and very approachable-always at the end of an email, a phone call or a
text (even late in the evening or at weekends).The time and commitment that Jeff has given over these two years has been phenomenal, definitely
going ‘above and beyond’. He has attended numerous meetings, provided all kinds of
documentation and personally provided advice, guidance and council. He has linked us in with other
Trusts and introduced us to numerous people who can support us in our new Trust moving forwards.
I cannot recommend Jeff’s company enough and I will certainly be looking to work with him more in
the very near future -with his CEO course, and work around governance and trust growth.A huge thank you to Jeff and his team-you have been AMAZING!
Kelly Macadam CEO The Collective Community Trust
The team at J&G Marshall provided us with exceptional and invaluable expertise, support and guidance throughout the academy conversion process for the newest school in our Summit Learning Trust family. Jeff and the team worked tirelessly to ensure that both our Trust and the joining school were able to conduct due diligence processes effectively and efficiently and ensured that a positive integration process was able to take place. Without the support of J&G Marshall, this academy conversion would have taken considerably longer and created significantly more work for both parties. This support and guidance enabled us to focus more on our learners prior to, during and post conversion.
Vince Green Chief Executive Officer Summit Learning Trust
‘As a newly founded Academy Trust, we would like to express our thanks to J&G Marshall LTD who have been instrumental in helping the entire process, from start to finish, go smoothly and well. Jeff’s knowledge of the process has been invaluable. His professional approach and expertise in this field, together with his continuous support and guidance through the complex process, has ensured that our conversion was timely and successful. Jeff takes time to get to know his clients; he is reliable, trustworthy and approachable. We have felt in safe hands throughout! Thank you.’
Elaine Darwin, Headteacher
Working with Jeff Marshall has been invaluable whilst creating a new multi- academy trust. His knowledge of the process and timeline of the journey to academy status is unsurpassed and was vital to our group of 6 schools. I would recommend his service unreservedly and cannot imagine us getting through the conversion without his guide.
Chris Moore, Chief Executive Officer, The Link Education Trust
We have been supported by J and G Marshall LTD for the last twelve months. There professionalism, expertise and personable approach have been exceptional. They have navigated five complex conversions for our trust and it has been seamless. They have alleviated the stress, and enabled the executive team to focus on the day to day running of the Trust. I recommend them wholeheartedly; they have made a complex process appear straightforward. They provide excellent value for money and go above and above to support their clients. I would never use another company.
Y L Brown CEO Leading Learners MAT
Thank you to Jeff and Peter of J&G Marshall Ltd for all your hard work in conducting our recent Governance and Growth Audit. Your professionalism combined with the rigour of the process ensured the audit was really robust. By taking time to speak with a range of people across our Trust, as well as scrutinising a wide range of documentation, we felt that you really ‘got to know and understand us’ and the final report was accurate and incredibly informative.
Throughout the process we have benefited enormously from your expertise and knowledge and the outcomes of the audit have significantly helped to shape our strategic thinking around future growth. Thank you for your time, care and professionalism, it has been a pleasure working with you.
Kylie Spark, Head of Trust, Inspiring Learners Trust
When we started on our MAT journey Jeff’s company came up in our research. They had
Steve Campbell, CEO, LET Education Trust
testimonials from other trusts in our area and from people I knew and respected. After making
contact with Jeff, back in November 2019, and up until the present day, I cannot speak highly
enough of the service he and his team have provided. Jeff has supported us, challenged the DfE on
our behalf, assisted us in jumping through numerous hoops, used his nationwide contacts to ensure
we were best placed for conversion and has become a personal friend and guide to me and our chair
of trustees.
Jeff and his team worked with us for over two years before we paid anything to his company for the
services provided. That spoke volumes! Jeff went out of his way to find out whether our Trust was
eligible for TCaF funding, and when we were, provided support and guidance leading to the Trust
receiving a significant sum to develop central functions. This was beyond the remit of the conversion
contract and there was no charge for this.
We have been so impressed by his team’s work that we have commissioned Trust and LGB audits
from him, along with a growth audit and CEO training course. All of these have been of high quality
and helped the Trust develop further. I would be happy to speak to anyone considering using J&G
Marshall to tell them of our experience which was first class and definitely value for money.
J&G Marshall Ltd have been so supportive in helping our MAT to develop and launch on 1st March this year. Guidance and support at all stages have been remarkable, particularly Jeff Marshall, who has a vast experience of conversions which helped our team through some difficult times. Always available to discuss issues and challenges and prepared to go the extra mile to help out, it has been a great pleasure to have Jeff and his team at this crucial stage. I know he will support us through the next few months as we embed LET Education Trust and would like to thank Jeff for all his assistance.
Jenny Woodward, Chair of Trustees, LET Education Trust
Jeff and his team have been amazing throughout our Multi Academy Trust journey. From initial discussions with governors through to conversion and beyond; they have been extremely approachable, efficient, professional and have always been there to support us. They have worked brilliantly with all stakeholders. We can't thank them enough and highly recommend J&G Marshall to any schools or trusts.
everyone at The Beam Education Trust
Just a few words to thank you for your excellent service this year with the various schools that have joined our Trust.
Always good to know I have you guys in my corner and riding shotgun, when needed.
Much appreciated by Directors, the central team and myself.
Your excellent service and expertise has also been commented on by our contacts from the DfE.
Once again many, many thanks.
Richard Redgate, CEO, Manor Hall Academy Trust
I have worked with J & G Marshall Ltd on a number of projects, some of them very complex. I have always found them to be extremely professional and pay significant attention to detail. They leave no stone unturned. The priority is to always protect their clients with complete commitment, so we feel safe and secure when faced with uncertainty and concern. They always work at pace and to tight deadlines. The Department for Education were very impressed by their work and how they turned around our last project which was very difficult. I couldn't recommend them enough.
Mrs A Nicholson, CEO, Kings Academy Trust.
During the autumn term 2020, an NLG was offered to provide support and professional guidance to myself, as chair of governors and the governing board of our primary School.
Our NLG ( Jeff Marshall ) is extremely knowledgeable, helpful and supportive. He responds to queries and questions promptly, appropriately and in a timely manner.Jeff’s advocacy for governance and doing the right thing is commendable, he has excellent communication skills and shares his knowledge with skill and professionalism.
Jeff is enthusiastic about all aspects of Governance and is an inspiration to me,
thank you.I would certainly recommend Jeff’s support to all schools, who wish to be the best that they possibly can be!
Jayne Bamber, Chair of Governors, Victoria Road Primary School
J&G were integral to ensuring our conversion process was smooth. With five schools all converting at once, the process was handled really effectively, efficiently and successfully. It was however, the support which was given at every stage of the process which impressed us the most. No question was too sillly, no email was sent too late at night and all calls were responded to quickly. As complete newcomers to the Academy world we were guided the whole way and the Heads of all the schools involved cannot speak highly enough of the personal service we received.
Kate Turnpenney, Chief Executive, Children First Academy Trust
Thank you to Jeff and his fabulous team for making something very daunting so straightforward. Your patience, knowledge and support have enabled me to manage the process effectively whilst still remaining focused on our schools and their development. Your communication with us has been perfect: regular, simple and supportive. I would highly recommend your service to anyone about to begin their journey to academisation.
Abigail Rourke, Children First Learning Partnership
We have worked with Jeff Marshall on our last three conversions. I have been impressed with their breadth of knowledge and responsive, pro-active approach to the process. They are genuinely interested in both the Trust and the converting school and go over and above to ensure a smooth transition. They are not a faceless organisation – they have taken the time to get to know our Trust and its culture, which is very important to us.
Anita Ghidotti, Chief Executive, Pendle Education Trust
Throughout the whole conversion process we found the team from J&G Marshall to be reliable, approachable, knowledgeable and professional. They were consistently helpful, patient and responsive. They provided an excellent, friendly service which was very much appreciated and we felt reassured that we were in safe hands every step of the way. Thank you.
Sandra Swift, Headteacher, Rocklands School
"Thank you for all of your support through the Academy conversion. I have been particularly impressed with the support and guidance that you provided us, as an individual school, before making our decision to convert. You and your team have always been available to answer questions and queries along the way (no matter what time of day/night). We really couldn’t have done it without you! We are really looking forward to working with you in the future, and we know that we will continue to receive first class support from your professional team. Thanks again."
Louise Gohr, Headteacher, Pikemere School
"Jeff's experience and reassurance throughout the process of our conversion was invaluable. His friendly, knowledgeable manner meant both myself and the Business Manager were always fully informed with excellent communication and guidance, we couldn't have wanted for a better team."
Steve Wheeldon, Headteacher, Wilbraham Primary School,
"Since our initial conversion in 2015 Jeff has worked with us on converting another school into the MAT as well as providing support with due diligence on other schools and academies to make sure that we are fully informed in all aspects of the schools before we agree for other schools to join us. The level of detail and information that Jeff’s team have given us has ensured that our Directors are confident in making informed decisions about our growth strategy. This vital work ensures that we are not risking our existing schools by making poor decisions."
Dan Thomas, CEO, The Learning for Life Partnership
"The governors would like to thank Jeff Marshall and his very dedicated team for their help and support in getting us to the academy finishing line. It has to be noted that their constant availability and in depth knowledge about the complicated process helped considerably on the journey. All you need are correct answers given in a timely manner that will not impact negatively on the deadlines set. These answers were always forthcoming. A very impressive team."
Paul Elliott, CEO, Endeavour Multi-Academy Trust
"Stepping into the unknown is always nerve wracking and daunting. This was made so much easier by the team at J&G Marshall who showed us commitment and unwavering support throughout our journey towards MAT conversion. I would recommend them because their ethos resonates with us. They are client centred, always available and totally committed to seeing the job through. A pleasure to work with."
Stephanie Moran, Executive Headteacher
"It has been an absolute pleasure to work work with Jeff Marshall and his team for the last 3 years. We could not have been in better hands during a difficult conversion to academy and they were with us, fighting for us, every step of the way. Jeff is always on the end of an e-mail and I can guarantee that you will get first class, friendly, professional support. The attitude of Jeff and his team certainly helped to make a difficult 3 year wait more bearable and we would recommend this company without hesitation. I can not imagine there being a better service."
Elaine Preston, Headteacher, Gladstone Primary School
"As a small MAT, considering growth as part of our future vision, we undertook a "growth audit" earlier this year to see if we were ready in every sense to progress our expansion plans. The onsite evaluation and monitoring process and written feedback have been immensely valuable in shaping our strategy for the future and in providing practical help on where we needed to take action to strengthen our Trust's readiness for growth. Rigorous, robust, positive, empowering - the MAT Growth Audit from J&G Marshall has significantly contributed to our strategic vision and planning for the future; worth every penny!"
Mrs Nicki Wright, Executive Headteacher, Redditch West School Trust
"A professional, supportive and friendly conversion service! Jeff and his team were always available to answer any questions, however big or small and to offer advice and guidance whenever required. They supported me (as head teacher) and the governing board through the academy conversion process from start to finish in an understanding and clear way. I can't recommend them enough!"
Steve Martin, Headteacher, Goldenhill Primary School
“Using J&G Marshall to undertake an External Review of Governance (ERG) has enabled us to clearly identify strengths and areas for development as well as create an effective action plan that will allow the school to rapidly implement further improvements to our leadership team.
Excellent professional relationships have been built with all stakeholders and I would have no hesitation in recommending a J&G Marshall ERG to other leaders."
Nikki Lawton, Headteacher, Pebble Brook Primary School
"Since our conversion, Jeff and his team have continued to provide help and support, often going the extra mile. We would highly recommend J&G Marshall to any school considering academy conversion or growing their Multi Academy Trust."
Sue Pollard, Headteacher, Marlborough Primary School
"I would wholeheartedly recommend J&G Marshall for any school considering a conversion as they made the whole process very smooth and as stress free as possible from the beginning to the end of the conversion. They are still on the end of the phone 7 months later!"
Clare Grehan, Headteacher, Willaston Primary Academy
“Although we’d done a fair amount of research beforehand and thought we knew what to expect, our conversion process would have been a challenge without the attention and expertise of J&G Marshall Ltd.
Marshalls did what they said they’d do - and they did it on budget!”
Julian Goodier-Page, Trust Member, The Learning For Life Partnership
"As a newly approved sponsor we will not look any further than Marshalls to support us with future conversions. Their honest, no nonsense approach coupled with their vast experience of the conversion process is exactly what we needed and we were delighted with the service we received. I would not hesitate in recommending Marshalls."
Kirsty Haw, Principal, The Three Saints Academy Trust
"This decision proved to be invaluable as we faced many challenges on our journey. J&G Marshall employs a team of qualified specialists in a range of fields (Law, Insurance, Finance, Land) all of whom have answers at their fingertips. Nothing was too much trouble for Jeff and his team and all our queries were responded to immediately either by phone call, by email or by a visit. J&G Marshall are professional in approach, yet have the personal touch. We were never made to feel that our queries were inappropriate or ridiculous."
Rebecca Wilkinson, Executive Principal, St Ann’s Church of England
"Governors and senior leaders were asked deep and probing questions about their strategic leadership and the way it impacts on the school. They felt the high-quality report accurately reflected the strengths of the governing board and provided clear areas for development. The whole process felt like a partnership and an excellent CPD opportunity for all involved."
Steven Martin, Headteacher, Goldenhill Primary School
"What makes J&G Marshall stand out is their way of working. They are always available and working to the principle that whatever is important to us is important to them. The combination of skills, experience and can-do attitude is a powerful one, and is the heartbeat in Jeff's team."
Darrell Janes, Chair of Governors, Hermitage Primary School
"In terms of cost J&G Marshall Ltd cannot be beaten. They provide excellent value for money. We made a saving on the grant which we will use to provide additional resources for the children."
Mr N K Carr, Headteacher, Park Road Primary Academy
"J&G Marshall Ltd were appointed as our consultants and I can honestly say they were worth every penny. Jeff has a dedicated team, with experience of leading many schools across the country successfully through the process. Jeff is very well respected by the DfE. I would strongly recommend any school considering conversion to speak informally to Jeff BEFORE beginning the process. He and his specialist team provided excellent service and made a very complex process far easier for us!"
Chris Millward, Headteacher, Webheath First School
"Little did we envisage this twisted road when we asked you to support us with our academy conversion. Without your unwavering support and positiveness this would have been much more difficult for us in many, many ways. Knowing you were always there and "holding our hands" has meant such a lot."
Fiona Parr, Headteacher, Rothley CE Primary School
"Jeff introduced the school to a number of highly professional and experienced legal, financial and property organisations and consultants with a proven track record.
At the final meeting with unions and professional organisations just prior to conversion, they said: "I wish all conversions were as trouble free as this one"."
David How, Headteacher, Beaver Road Primary school
"We always found Jeff to be very approachable and had very prompt responses to all our enquiries. The face-to-face meetings were always well prepared and personable and, throughout the process, we were given sound advice.
Even though our conversion is now complete, I feel we have found a new friend and would happily work with Jeff and his company in the future."
Elaine Huntington, Headteacher, Honeybourne First School Academy
"I commend to you the services of Jeff Marshall and his colleagues to guide you through the process of converting into an academy. As busy professionals, still running a school, we found their ‘no nonsense, just leave it up to us’ approach both refreshing and time-saving. They answered the key questions as they arose, with advice a-plenty if needed."
John Rowan, Headteacher, Whirley Primary school
