This page explains the proposal for The Hawksmoor Learning Trust to join Orbis Education Trust and how you can have your say.
What is being proposed
The Hawksmoor Learning Trust (THLT or Hawksmoor) proposes to join Orbis Education Trust (Orbis) to build a sustainable future for its schools, deepen the strong relationship already established between the two Trusts, and continue delivering outstanding opportunities and experiences for children in its Towcester and Brackley schools.
This move brings together two organisations with shared values, complementary strengths, a shared commitment to high-quality education, and to empowering students, staff, and communities.
Hawksmoor’s primary experience and expertise will help guide the development of Orbis’ expanding primary provision, supporting schools in delivering learning and enrichment experiences that enable every child to thrive both academically and personally.
Under the proposal, all four THLT schools would join Orbis, with THLT Trustees taking positions on the Orbis Board to ensure their schools retain a strong and equal voice within the Trust, and help shape its future, while continuing to champion the needs and aspirations of their local communities.
The reason for this proposal
As a Trust, we are committed to supporting the wellbeing and academic outcomes of every pupil, regularly reviewing our strategic objectives to ensure pupils and families receive the high-quality experiences they deserve. In recent months, several external factors in the wider education landscape have begun to create challenges in achieving these objectives.
Nationally, small primary Trusts face significant challenges. Limited access to grants restricts scope for school improvements, while smaller central teams and constrained financial resilience limit the support we can provide to schools within our Trust family.
We carefully considered whether THLT could continue independently but concluded that the risks were too great, and that additional support and capacity would be vital to secure the long-term future of our schools.
Joining Orbis will provide the resilience and additional resources each school needs, ensuring pupils in Brackley and Towcester continue to enjoy outstanding educational opportunities and enrichment experiences.
Over a period of 12-months, Trustees conducted a thorough assessment of local Trusts that THLT could potentially join, focusing on which partnership would bring the greatest benefits to pupils, staff, and the wider school communities.
THLT considered Trusts that are committed to delivering outstanding education, providing a comprehensive range of central services and support, and enabling schools to maintain their unique identities while building on good practice.
Trustees also looked for Trusts offering the very best opportunities for professional growth and the overall wellbeing of staff and pupils.
Following this careful evaluation, Trustees identified Orbis as the Trust that best aligns with THLT’s culture, values, and ethos, and offers the strongest future for our schools, ensuring that pupils and staff are supported, cared for, and can access the very best opportunities.
Orbis Education Trust
Orbis is a local Trust currently made up of Southfield School (Kettering), Kingsthorpe College (Northampton), and Hunsbury Park Primary (Northampton), and is also in the process of opening a new secondary free school in the Kettering area.
Orbis is committed to providing all children with an outstanding education, helping them reach their academic potential and enjoy a breadth of opportunities to grow into confident, well-rounded young people.
Passionate about empowering pupils through world-class education and enrichment, Orbis shares the same culture, values and ethos as Hawksmoor.
Our schools, staff and pupils are already benefiting from the strong partnership with Orbis, and the new arrangement will further strengthen these opportunities. For example, teachers and leaders are engaging in a range of professional development through Orbis, including the SEND partnership, pedagogy, and training events on key topics.
By formally joining Orbis, THLT schools would benefit from:
- Enhanced support from a larger central team
- Greater financial resilience
- Opportunities for investment in schools
- Specialist expertise, including SEND provision
- Additional resources in Educational Psychology, Occupational Therapy, and Speech and Language
- Trust-wide IT support
You can find out more about Orbis here: https://orbismat.com
FAQs
This document contains responses to Frequently Asked Questions and will be updated throughout the consultation period as further questions or comments are received.
The first section primarily addresses questions from parents, while the second section is intended for staff.
Next Steps
A consultation on the proposal for our Trust to join Orbis Education Trust will take place from Monday 5th January to Monday 2nd February 2026 (four weeks).
This is a significant decision for our Trust, and we strongly encourage all parents, staff, and stakeholders to share their views on the proposal.
Please send responses, questions, concerns or feedback via email to: enquiries@thlt.academy.
We will endeavour to address all questions and queries received during the consultation through the FAQ document on our website.
Should this not be possible, both THLT and Orbis may consider other ways to respond to consultation feedback, which could include (but is not limited to) a ‘drop-in’ question and answer session.
All feedback received during this period will be carefully considered as part of the decision-making process.
Following the consultation, if the Trustees conclude that the proposal remains in the best interests of our pupils, a formal application for Hawksmoor to join Orbis will be submitted to the Department for Education (DfE).