What Orion Education does

Orion Education is a UK Multi-Academy Trust (MAT) operating eight schools — four primary and four secondary — across the Bromley and Canterbury districts of Kent, England. Originally founded in 2021 as Education for the 21st Century (E21C) and rebranded to Orion Education in 2024, the trust provides a unified educational platform comprising a codified backbone curriculum, lesson framework, reading programme, and the DfE-aligned Orion Attendance Toolkit rolled out across all member schools. The central team delivers shared services including estates, HR, payroll, finance, governance, and safeguarding, while individual schools (Orion Blenheim, Orion Coopers, Orion Eden Park, Orion Mead Road, Orion Ravensworth, Orion Scotts Park, Orion Spires, and The Ravensbourne School) operate as sub-brands under the trust's oversight. Technology infrastructure is built on standard education-sector tools — Microsoft Office 365, Greenhouse school websites, and the Steplab instructional coaching platform — with no proprietary AI components disclosed.

The trust's business model is overwhelmingly reliant on government revenue: the Education and Skills Funding Agency (ESFA) provides per-pupil funding as the primary income stream, supplemented by nursery fees from the three Orion Little Stars settings (ages 2-4) launched in 2025 with £450k of DfE grant support, and fees from the School-Centred Initial Teacher Training (SCITT) programme delivered in partnership with Teach First since September 2024. Customer segments span primary-age pupils (5-11), secondary-age pupils (11-18), parents and families in local Kent communities, and trainee teachers. The trust differentiates through its research-backed instructional coaching model, the Inspire Leadership Programme for staff development, and a guaranteed nursery-through-secondary progression pathway, with all schools rated Good or above by Ofsted and improved academic outcomes including Progress 8 rising from -0.43 to +0.17 across its secondaries.

Name

Orion Education

Legal name

Orion Education

Website

https://orionedu.org.uk

Company type

Private

Founded year

2021

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

51–100 employees

Short description

Orion Education is a UK Multi-Academy Trust operating eight schools (four primary, four secondary) across Kent, delivering a unified curriculum, centralised support services, teacher training via a Teach First SCITT partnership, and three school-based nurseries, funded primarily through ESFA per-pupil grants.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Headquarters

HQ city

Chislehurst, Kent

HQ country

United Kingdom

HQ region

Europe

Offices3 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

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

Revenue model

1. Government Education Funding: As a Multi-Academy Trust, Orion Education receives funding from the Education and Skills Funding Agency (ESFA) based on pupil numbers. This is the primary revenue stream covering educational operations, staff salaries, and school operations.
2. Nursery Fee Income: Orion Little Stars nurseries charge fees for childcare services for children aged 2-4 years. The trust secured £450k grant funding from DfE to establish the nurseries.
3. SCITT Training Programme Fees: Revenue from teacher training programmes including QTS and PGCE through the SCITT partnership with Teach First. Trainees pay fees for the one-year programme.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion3 records

Distribution channels3 records

Marketing channels9 records

Core offering

Orion Education is a UK Multi-Academy Trust operating eight schools (four primary and four secondary) in Bromley and Canterbury, Kent, delivering state-funded primary and secondary education under a unified curriculum backbone. The trust also runs the Orion Little Stars nursery programme for children aged 2-5 at three primary school sites and the SCITT teacher training programme in partnership with Teach First. Centralised services (curriculum, HR, finance, estates, governance, safeguarding) support all member schools.

Product overview

Orion Education is a Multi-Academy Trust operating as a unified platform of 8 schools (4 primary and 4 secondary) in Bromley and Canterbury, Kent. The core offering is the Orion Education Trust, which provides shared educational services including a unified curriculum framework, professional development through the Instructional Coaching Programme, leadership development via the Inspire Leadership Programme, and teacher training through the SCITT partnership with Teach First. Individual schools (Orion Blenheim, Orion Coopers, Orion Eden Park, Orion Mead Road, Orion Ravensworth, Orion Scotts Park, Orion Spires, and The Ravensbourne School) operate as sub-brands under the unified Trust platform. The Trust has expanded into early years education through Orion Little Stars nurseries at three primary sites.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• Orion Little Stars: School-based nursery programme for children from 2-4 years old, opened at Orion Blenheim, Orion Scotts Park, and Orion Ravensworth primary schools.

Products and services

• Orion Blenheim Primary School State-funded primary school for ages 5-11 located in Bromley, Kent, part of the Orion Education Trust. Rated Good by Ofsted and providing primary education including reading, literacy, and Science Week activities, with on-site Orion Little Stars nursery.
• Orion Coopers School State-funded secondary school in Chislehurst, Kent, delivering GCSE programmes with strong academic outcomes. Maintained Good Ofsted rating (March 2023) and serves as the trust's headquarters site (Mansion House, Coopers School).
• Orion Eden Park High School State-funded secondary school in the Bromley/Kent area offering GCSE programmes, career guidance, and personal development. James Fisher appointed Executive Headteacher effective September 2024.
• Orion Mead Road Infants School State-funded infant school within the trust providing early primary education for younger primary-age children in the Bromley area.
• Orion Ravensworth Primary School State-funded primary school in the trust with on-site Orion Little Stars nursery. Led by Executive Principal Andy Bocchi with over eleven years of successful headship and executive leadership experience.
• Orion Scotts Park Primary School State-funded primary school in the trust with on-site Orion Little Stars nursery. Awarded Silver TKAT ACE Accreditation with elements of Gold. New Principal Cheryl Raithby appointed starting September 2026.
• Orion Spires Academy State-funded secondary school in Kent providing comprehensive secondary education including GCSE programmes, career guidance, and enrichment activities. Partnered with Transform Our World and East Kent Schools Together for community action initiatives.
• The Ravensbourne School State-funded secondary school in the trust offering sixth form provision, GCSE programmes, and career guidance. Maintained Good Ofsted rating (January 2024) and partners with Bromley Y for student counselling and mentoring.
• Orion Little Stars Nursery Programme School-based day nursery programme for children aged 2-5 offering full-time, year-round childcare at three Bromley sites (Blenheim, Scotts Park, Ravensworth). Funded by a £450k DfE grant and offering guaranteed pathways to primary schools within the trust.
• SCITT Teacher Training Programme One-year teacher training programme in partnership with Teach First offering Qualified Teacher Status (QTS) and PGCE. Delivered as a SCITT programme in Bromley with four-day weekly school placement, weekly study days, and a six-week Broader School Experience. Applications processed via the DfE application service.

Quantifiable outcome

• Progress 8 improved from -0.43 to +0.17 across four secondary schools
• +3 more outcomes

Named customers8 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

Integration1 record

Feature3 records

Partnerships

Nine partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• Teach FirstcoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 22 January 2024Orion Education works in official partnership with Teach First as an accredited SCITT (School-Centred Initial Teacher Training) delivery partner in Bromley. The one-year programme leads to Qualified Teacher Status (QTS) and PGCE, with training developed in partnership with Teach First's curriculum design experts.
• The Archbishop Lanfranc AcademycoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartner school for Orion Education's SCITT programme. Located in Croydon, providing training placement opportunities for trainee teachers alongside main trust schools.
• Ray Lodge Primary SchoolcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartner school for Orion Education's SCITT programme. Located in Woodford Green, Essex, providing training placement opportunities for trainee teachers.
• Farnham Green Primary SchoolcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartner school for Orion Education's SCITT programme. Located in Ilford, Essex, providing training placement opportunities for trainee teachers.
• Gateway Learning CommunityminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerAdditional partner school for SCITT programme provision, offering broader placement options for trainee teachers.
• Department for Education (DfE)coreOthersDfE approved Orion Education to open three new school-based nurseries (Orion Little Stars) with £450k grant funding. DfE also recognised the trust's schools for opening nurseries at Blenheim, Ravensworth, and Scotts Park. The trust participates in London RISE (Regional Improvement for Standards and Excellence) programme.
• Bromley YminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerRavensbourne School partners with Bromley Y to provide students with access to counselling, workshops, and additional mentoring opportunities beyond the school environment.
• Transform Our WorldminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerSpires Academy partnered with Transform Our World and East Kent Schools Together for youth-centred community action initiatives including beach cleans.
• East Kent Schools TogetherminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartnership network for collaborative school initiatives including community action projects like the Margate beach clean with Spires Academy.

Scale indicators7 records

Recent moves9 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Direct peers

• REAch2 Academy Trust: Primary-focused UK MAT operating schools across multiple regions with centralised curriculum and professional development. Comparable to Orion in primary education model and central service functions.
• Outwood Grange Academies Trust: Large UK MAT with a strong focus on instructional leadership and measurable pupil progress. Comparable to Orion's instructional coaching strategy and data-driven outcomes focus.
• Harris Federation: One of the largest UK Multi-Academy Trusts operating primary and secondary schools across London and the South East. Comparable to Orion in operating model, centralised support functions, and instructional focus — Orion's new Director of English was recruited directly from Harris.
• Oasis Community Learning: National UK MAT running primary, secondary, and all-through academies with integrated community services. Comparable in operating model, social-mobility mission, and central team structure.
• Greenwood Academies Trust: Mid-sized UK MAT operating primary and secondary schools in the East Midlands and surrounding areas. Comparable in scale, mixed primary/secondary portfolio, and trust-wide improvement focus.
• Dixons Academies Trust: Northern UK MAT known for academic rigour and explicit curriculum design. Comparable through its codified backbone curriculum framework and lesson-by-lesson approach, similar to Orion's 'Backbone' and lesson framework.
• TKAT (The Kemnal Academies Trust): UK Multi-Academy Trust operating primary and secondary schools in the South East. Directly comparable — Orion Scotts Park holds TKAT ACE Accreditation, indicating operational engagement with TKAT's quality framework.

Broad incumbents

• Academies Enterprise Trust (AET): One of the largest UK MATs operating academies nationwide. Comparable through its portfolio scale, centralised support, and standardised operating model.
• United Learning: Large national MAT and independent schools group running both state-funded academies and fee-paying schools. Comparable to Orion through its academy operations, teacher training pathways, and whole-school improvement methodology.

Others

• Steplab: EdTech platform supporting instructional coaching in schools. Directly comparable as Orion's chosen partner for its trust-wide instructional coaching strategy, making it an adjacent technology vendor rather than a competitor.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/orion_education
• Facebookfacebook.com/OrionEduc
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/orionedu
• Instagraminstagram.com/orionedu.org.uk

Compliance6 records

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles7 records

Subsidiaries11 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 Orion Education