Specialist Data Strategy Session – Learn from Delta Academies Trust

We are delighted to invite you to a specialist session of our Data Leads PLLC, open to anyone in our MAT partnership. While our PLLC usually brings together Data Leads, this session is a unique opportunity to hear directly from a large, high-performing MAT and gain practical insight that can be applied across your own trust.

This session is an incredible chance to learn from Delta Academies Trust one of the largest MATs in the country, and explore how they use data to drive strategic improvement at scale.

Session logistics 

📅 Date: Thursday 22nd January 2026 
🕤 Time: 9:30am – 12:30pm 
📍 Venue: Redhill Training Centre, Redhill Road, Arnold, NG5 8GX Redhill Training Centre Directions link

What to expect:

• A guest presentation from Ian Gilsenan, Trust Data Director at Delta Academies Trust (64 academies across primary, secondary, all-through, and alternative provision settings).

• Group discussion and collaboration to identify shared priorities and actionable strategies.

• In-depth exploration of trust-wide data strategy, including systems, culture, leadership, and governance.

About Ian Gilsenan:

Having joined Delta in 2016, he brings over 20 years of experience in education - including leadership roles as Assistant Principal in four schools, and as Regional Data Lead for Academies Enterprise Trust (AET), which supports 73 academies nationally. Ian’s background in Computer Science and school leadership gives him a unique perspective on the technical and cultural demands of effective data strategy. 

At Delta, his responsibilities include: 

• Leading on MIS and third-party systems 

• Power BI development 

• KS4 target setting and KS3/KS4 assessment and reporting 

• GL Assessment leadership and results analysis across all key stages 

• ICFP, timetabling, and DfE census returns 

• Exams policy development and attendance guidance 

• National collaboration through the Education Exchange network of over 50 MATs.

This session is a must-attend opportunity to see how a leading MAT harnesses data for improvement and to take away practical ideas for your own trust.