Ormiston Academies Trust
Ormiston Academies Trust is a UK non-profit multi-academy trust operating 45 state-funded secondary, primary, alternative provision, and special schools across England, serving more than 35,000 pupils with 5,000+ staff under DfE funding.
- Company typePrivate
- Founded2009
- HeadquartersBirmingham, United Kingdom
- Headcount1,001–5,000
- GTM typeB2B
- OfferingServices
What Ormiston Academies Trust does
Ormiston Academies Trust (OAT) is a UK-registered non-profit multi-academy trust, founded in 2009 and headquartered in Birmingham, that operates 45 state-funded academies across England: 32 secondary schools, seven primary schools, three alternative provision schools, and three special schools. The trust is the operating arm of The Ormiston Trust, a charitable foundation established in 1969, and serves more than 35,000 pupils with a workforce of over 5,000 staff, holding responsibility for a £1bn+ estate of buildings and sites.
OAT joins the trust network primarily via two routes: the academy sponsor route, where the Department for Education invites OAT to take over inadequate or requires-improvement schools (69% of current academies), and schools proactively approaching OAT for partnership and improvement support. Centralised services - including education, estates, ICT, HR, procurement, governance, and data protection - are delivered to academies through a unified central team, with a trust-wide cloud-based OAT Digital Programme, online energy monitoring, and a sinking-fund system for sports pitches forming the operational backbone. Adjacent to school operations, Ormiston Teacher Training delivers an NIoT-partnered SCITT initial teacher training programme across four regional campuses in Norfolk, Staffordshire, Suffolk, and the West Midlands.
Funding is almost entirely from the Department for Education on a per-pupil basis, with academies remaining free at the point of delivery. Revenue is complemented by ~£350,000 of annual energy cost avoidance from solar installations on 21 sites, plus capital grants and partnership income. Externally, OAT convenes sector infrastructure via The Trust Network (TTN), a DfE-recognised national peer network for school estates management founded and chaired by its National Director of Infrastructure, and pursues thought leadership on inclusion policy with DfE and IPPR.
Ormiston Academies Trust firmographics
Firmographics- Name
- Ormiston Academies Trust
- Legal name
- Ormiston Academies Trust
- Website
- https://ormistonacademiestrust.co.uk
- Company type
- Private
- Founded year
- 2009
- Operating status
- Operating
- Headcount range
- 1,001–5,000 employees
- Short description
- Ormiston Academies Trust is a UK non-profit multi-academy trust operating 45 state-funded secondary, primary, alternative provision, and special schools across England, serving more than 35,000 pupils with 5,000+ staff under DfE funding.
- Ownership category
- akta.pro rank
Ormiston Academies Trust industry classification
Industry- Product category
- Multi-Academy Trust / Education Services
- NAICS
- Elementary and Secondary Schools (6111), Educational Support Services (611710), Colleges, Universities, and Professional Schools (61131)
- SIC
- Services-Educational Services (8200)
- akta.pro primary industry
- International/Global Curriculum Schools (IB, Cambridge, etc.) (EDAJABAG)
- akta.pro secondary industry
- Online Teacher Education Universities (Licensure & M.Ed.) (EDAHALAG)
Keywords
Where Ormiston Academies Trust is headquartered
LocationHeadquarters
- HQ city
- Birmingham
- HQ country
- United Kingdom
- HQ region
- Europe
Offices5 records
Markets served
Ormiston Academies Trust business model
Business model- GTM type
- B2B
- Offering type
- Services
- Cost components
- Personnel, Operations, Infrastructure, Technology or R&D, Marketing or Sales, Supply Chain
Revenue model
- Academy Funding (DfE): Government funding from the Department for Education to operate academies. Trusts receive funding based on pupil numbers and specific needs. This is the primary funding source for all academy operations, staff salaries, and educational programmes.
- Energy Cost Avoidance: Solar panel installations across 21 academies generate over 1,500 MWh of electricity annually, resulting in approximately £350,000 in annual cost avoidance through reduced energy purchases.
Go-to-market motion3 records
Distribution channels3 records
Marketing channels6 records
Ormiston Academies Trust product offering
Product offeringCore offering
Ormiston Academies Trust (OAT) operates a national network of 45 state-funded academies in England, comprising 32 secondary, 7 primary, 3 alternative provision and 3 special schools serving over 35,000 pupils. The trust sponsors underperforming schools, delivers education services, and provides central operational support including estates management, ICT, HR, governance, and professional development. It also delivers school-centred initial teacher training (SCITT) via Ormiston Teacher Training across four regional campuses.
Product overview
Ormiston Academies Trust operates a unified network of 45 academies spanning secondary, primary, alternative provision, and special schools across England. The trust provides educational services through its academy network and complements this with Ormiston Teacher Training, a SCITT programme offered through four regional campuses that partners with the National Institute of Teaching. The trust also offers governance support and professional development services to member academies.
Differentiator
Problem solved
Functional benefit
Products and services
- Ormiston Academies Trust Network A national network of 45 state-funded academies in England (32 secondary, 7 primary, 3 alternative provision, 3 special schools), serving over 35,000 pupils with 5,000+ staff. The trust provides comprehensive educational services, school improvement support, central operational infrastructure, governance, and central team expertise to academies.
- Ormiston Teacher Training (OTT) A School-Centred Initial Teacher Training (SCITT) programme delivered through four regional campuses in England, in partnership with the National Institute of Teaching. The programme provides an immersive, school-centred teacher training experience, placing aspiring teachers in classrooms from the start of their career.
Quantifiable outcome
- 94% of Ofsted key judgements (166 of 176) are good or better across 44 academies
- +4 more outcomes
Companies that use Ormiston Academies Trust
Customer profileNamed customers6 records
Segments4 records
Ideal customer profiles3 records
Ormiston Academies Trust technology and API
TechnologyTechnology focussed No
API detail
- Has API
- No
- API docs
- API detail
Core technology
AI maturity
App detail
Integration3 records
Feature3 records
Ormiston Academies Trust partnerships and signals
Strategic signalPartnerships
Ten partnerships are on record, tiered core, flagship and minor.
- The Papillon ProjectcorePartnership began January 2026 with Ormiston Venture Academy for eco garden project. The project provides hands-on outdoor learning opportunities for students. Following success, partnership continues throughout 2026-27 academic year.
- National Institute of Teaching (NIoT)coreOrmiston Teacher Training (OTT) partners with NIoT to deliver an immersive and holistic school-centred initial teacher training (SCITT) programme. The partnership places aspiring teachers in classrooms from the start of their career, building on OAT's experience in teacher development.
- Royal Shakespeare Company (RSC)flagshipCowes Enterprise College participates in the prestigious RSC Associate Schools Programme. Students performed A Midsummer Night's Dream as part of the programme. Cowes Enterprise College is the only secondary school on the Isle of Wight in the RSC Associate Schools Cluster.
- Mayflower TheatrecoreRSC, Mayflower Theatre and HSDC Playmaking Festival partnership for Hampshire and Isle of Wight. Mayflower Theatre provided transport grant for complimentary coach travel to performances.
- Cancer Research UKcoreOrmiston SWB Academy annual Race for Life event raises funds for Cancer Research UK. Principal Dan Mason also ran 2026 London Marathon for the charity. Total raised over £21,000.
- The Trust Network (TTN)coreNational peer support network dedicated to effective school estates management. James Miller, OAT National Director of Infrastructure, serves as chair and founder. Network officially recognised by DfE and provides support to hundreds of academy trusts.
- Department for Education (DfE)coreOAT works with DfE on capital building programmes, compliance, and education policy. TTN coordinates with DfE on behalf of academy trusts. OAT is officially recognised and supported by DfE.
- Roots (Birmingham-based illustrator/street artist)minorCollaborated with Ormiston Latimer Academy (Freston Junction) and Ormiston Bridge Academy on student-led mural projects celebrating identity, inclusion, and community. Students participated in workshops to shape designs reflecting their experiences and aspirations.
- Eco-SchoolscoreNearly half of OAT academies have achieved Eco-Schools Green Flag Award. Partnership supports environmental education, sustainability initiatives, and ecological stewardship across the trust.
- Football Foundation and Sport EnglandminorOAT works with grant-awarding bodies to take advantage of funding opportunities for developing academy sites, including sports facilities.
Scale indicators15 records
Recent moves6 records
Expansion highlights6 records
Ormiston Academies Trust competitors and assessment
Company assessmentDirect peers
- United Learning: Large national MAT combining state-funded academies with independent schools. Comparable to OAT in operating a diverse school portfolio (primary, secondary, AP) under a unified central team.
- Academies Enterprise Trust (AET): One of the largest UK multi-academy trusts operating dozens of academies nationally. Directly comparable to OAT by scale, sponsor-route model, and DfE-funded academy portfolio serving similar pupil demographics.
- Star Academies: Large UK multi-academy trust operating primary and secondary schools with a strong focus on school improvement in disadvantaged areas. Highly comparable to OAT's turnaround-oriented, sponsor-route growth strategy.
- Ark Schools: National multi-academy trust operating schools across England, including networks serving disadvantaged communities. Comparable to OAT in mission, scale of central operations, and approach to sponsor-route growth.
- Harris Federation: One of the largest and highest-performing UK multi-academy trusts, operating 50+ primary and secondary academies. Directly comparable in scale, Ofsted outcomes focus, and central-service operating model.
- Oasis Community Learning: UK multi-academy trust operating academies across England with a strong social-purpose and inclusion focus. Comparable to OAT's mission-driven approach and sponsor-route growth in disadvantaged communities.
- REAch2 Academy Trust: National primary-focused multi-academy trust operating 60+ primary schools across England. Comparable to OAT's primary school portfolio and central-service infrastructure for academy improvement.
Others
- Ambition Institute: UK teacher training and professional development charity that works with thousands of teachers across half of all English schools. Comparable to OAT's OTT teacher training programme and central CPD/development function.
- Teach First: UK teacher training and leadership development charity placing teachers in disadvantaged schools. Comparable to OAT's OTT programme and central school improvement mission; operates as a talent pipeline partner rather than a school operator.
Broad incumbents
- GEMS Education: Global K-12 education operator with portfolio of schools and education services. Comparable as a broad school operator; not a direct UK MAT competitor but illustrative of large-scale education trust operating models.
Market position
Strengths5 records
Weaknesses5 records
Competitive moat5 records
Key risks6 records
Key highlights7 records
Customer concentration
Ormiston Academies Trust social profiles
Digital presenceOrmiston Academies Trust financial estimates
Financial estimateRevenue estimate
Valuation estimate
Ormiston Academies Trust leadership team
Management profileNumber of profiles
Profiles22 records
Ormiston Academies Trust funding detail
Funding detailFunding overview
Funding rounds
Investors
Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Ormiston Academies Trust M&A and investment
M&A and investmentM&A
Investments
M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Frequently asked questions about Ormiston Academies Trust
What does Ormiston Academies Trust do?
Ormiston Academies Trust (OAT) operates a national network of 45 state-funded academies in England, comprising 32 secondary, 7 primary, 3 alternative provision and 3 special schools serving over 35,000 pupils. The trust sponsors underperforming schools, delivers education services, and provides central operational support including estates management, ICT, HR, governance, and professional development. It also delivers school-centred initial teacher training (SCITT) via Ormiston Teacher Training across four regional campuses.
Is Ormiston Academies Trust a public or private company?
Ormiston Academies Trust is a private company. It is classified as nonprofit foundation owned and is currently operating.
When was Ormiston Academies Trust founded?
Ormiston Academies Trust was founded in 2009. It employs 1,001 to 5,000 people.
Where is Ormiston Academies Trust based?
Ormiston Academies Trust is headquartered in Birmingham, United Kingdom, in the Europe region.
How does Ormiston Academies Trust make money?
Two revenue lines are on record. Academy Funding (DfE) is the primary driver. The others are energy Cost Avoidance.
Who are Ormiston Academies Trust's main competitors?
Direct peers on record are United Learning, Academies Enterprise Trust (AET), Star Academies, Ark Schools, Harris Federation, Oasis Community Learning and REAch2 Academy Trust. Others are Ambition Institute and Teach First. GEMS Education is listed as a broad incumbent.
Does Ormiston Academies Trust have an API?
No public API is recorded for Ormiston Academies Trust.
What industry is Ormiston Academies Trust in?
Ormiston Academies Trust's product category is Multi-Academy Trust / Education Services. Its primary akta.pro industry code is EDAJABAG, International/Global Curriculum Schools (IB, Cambridge, etc.), with a secondary code of EDAHALAG, Online Teacher Education Universities (Licensure & M.Ed.). Its NAICS code is 6111 and its SIC code is 8200.