A multi-academy trust (MAT) is a type of organisation that oversees and manages multiple academies (schools) in the education system. In the context of education systems,  a single academy is an independent, publicly funded school that operates outside of local authority control. Multi-academy trusts are created to unite a group of academies under a single legal and administrative framework.

Key features of a multi-academy trust may include:

1. Centralised Governance: The trust has a central governing body that oversees and manages multiple academies. This can lead to more consistent policies and practices across the academies within the trust.

2. Collaboration: Academies within the trust often collaborate on various aspects, such as sharing resources, expertise, and best practices. This collaboration aims to improve educational outcomes for students.

3. Autonomy: While academies within a trust work together, they also retain a level of autonomy. Each academy may have its own governing body and some degree of independence in decision-making.

4. Efficiency: Multi-academy trusts are often formed to achieve operational and administrative efficiencies. By consolidating certain functions at the trust level, there can be cost savings and streamlined management.