At Ormiston Academies Trust, we’ve been dedicated to transforming education since 2009. We’re proud to be one of the oldest, largest and most established school trusts in the country, supporting over 35,000 pupils in 45 schools with over 5,000 staff – currently 32 secondary schools, seven primary schools, three alternative provision schools and three special schools.
We are one of the few national trusts in the school system with our schools spread across England in diverse locations such as Lowestoft, the Isle of Wight, Grimsby, Runcorn, London and the West Midlands. This national reach reflects the diversity of the communities we serve and the learning opportunities we aim to provide for every child.
At the heart of everything we do is a simple yet powerful vision: a school system where every child can thrive, and our mission is to ensure every child has excellent learning opportunities, inside and outside of the classroom, which enrich their lives and afford them choice and opportunity in the future.
At the heart of everything we do is a simple yet powerful vision: a school system where every child can thrive.
We’re proud of our rich history and the strong values and beliefs that underpin everything we do. These form the foundation of our strategy and help us tell our story through:
- Our story
- Our core beliefs
- Our vision and mission
- Purpose of schools
- Our values
Each of these elements reflects who we are, what we stand for, and the impact we aim to have.
Our story
Fiona Ormiston Murray’s tragic death in 1969 spurred her family on to establish The Ormiston Trust, dedicated to helping children and families in need.
For over 40 years, The Ormiston Trust has supported families and, in 2009, began running schools through Ormiston Academies Trust, founded by Fiona’s brother, Peter Murray. Ormiston Academies Trust operates on the principle that every child deserves to thrive.
Our founding story and history provide us with three beliefs which guide our work.
- Every child deserves the opportunity to thrive, regardless of their background.
- We work where the challenge is greatest, and we embrace this challenge.
- We have a broad and rich vision of education and are committed to providing the best learning experiences for every child both inside and outside the classroom.
Our vision
Our vision is a school system where every child can thrive.
Our mission
To ensure every child has excellent learning opportunities, inside and outside of the classroom, which enrich their lives and afford them choice and opportunity in the future.
Purpose of our schools
We believe there are three core purposes of our schools: education, enrichment and futures.
- Education inducts young people into the knowledge and achievements of humankind. It enables them to think about, appreciate and understand the world in different ways and, in turn, to contribute to it.
- Enrichment supports young people in developing wider interests and passions to carry into their adult lives. It encourages them to become part of a school community built on shared values, experiences and relationships, enabling them to positively contribute to their communities and wider society.
- Futures are nurtured in our schools which prepare young people to take their place in the world, which afford dignity to all forms of work, and which acknowledge there are many ways to live a good life. Future-focused schools give young people the qualifications that provide choice and opportunity, the capacity to flourish in adult life and, in turn, enable them to create a positive future for others.
Our values
At Ormiston, we have five values:
- Ambition: we believe everyone can achieve, and we aspire for excellence in all we do
- Learning: we are always learning and see development as the route to improvement
- Perseverance: we embrace challenge and learn through doing difficult things
- Collaboration: we achieve more through working together
- Inclusion: we break down barriers to learning and participation