Ormiston Academies Trust

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.

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

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

• Multi-academy trust
• Academy school sponsorship
• Teacher training programmes
• Primary secondary education
• Alternative provision schooling

Headquarters

HQ city

Birmingham

HQ country

United Kingdom

HQ region

Europe

Offices5 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Infrastructure, Technology or R&D, Marketing or Sales, Supply Chain

Revenue model

1. 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.
2. 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

Core 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

Named customers6 records

Segments4 records

Ideal customer profiles3 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Integration3 records

Feature3 records

Partnerships

Ten partnerships are on record, tiered core, flagship and minor.

• The Papillon ProjectcoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2026Partnership 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)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerOrmiston 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)flagshipStrategic or Co-development PartnerCowes 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 TheatrecoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerRSC, 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 UKcoreGTM or Marketing PartnerOrmiston 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)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerNational 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)coreOthersOAT 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)minorStrategic or Co-development PartnerCollaborated 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-SchoolscoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerNearly 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 EnglandminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerOAT 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

Direct 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

• Xx.com/ormistonacads
• YouTubeyoutube.com/user/OrmistonUK
• Facebookfacebook.com/ormistonacademiestrust
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/ormiston-academies-trust

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles22 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Ormiston Academies Trust