- Home
- About Us
- Our History
Our History
Our journey began with Brooke Weston Academy and has been shaped by a legacy of ambition and innovation.
From its beginnings in Corby in 1991, inspired by a vision to transform educational opportunity, Brooke Weston Trust has grown into a high-performing family of schools serving communities across Northamptonshire and Cambridgeshire. Built on strong partnerships and a commitment to excellence, the Trust has expanded thoughtfully over time, improving schools, investing in people, and creating opportunities for thousands of young people. Today, our story is one of growth, ambition and impact — shaped by dedicated leaders, staff and communities working together to ensure every child can succeed.
Key Milestones in Our History
Our journey reflects a clear and deliberate commitment to growth, improvement and impact. From our beginnings as a single school in Corby, Brooke Weston Trust has developed into a family of schools serving communities across Northamptonshire and Cambridgeshire.
The milestones below highlight the key moments that have shaped our Trust, from expanding into new areas to investing in leadership, professional development and school improvement, all with the shared aim of providing the very best opportunities for every child.
Brooke City Technology College opened in Corby, driven by Hugh de Capell Brooke’s vision to provide high-quality, innovative state education. Eighteen months later, with the support of the Weston family, it became Brooke Weston City Technology College and is now known as Brooke Weston Academy. The school quickly established a strong reputation for excellence, achieving high academic outcomes and transforming the life chances of thousands of students.
Corby Business Academy opened under the leadership of Sir Peter Simpson, marking the first major step in extending the Trust’s ethos beyond a single school. With a strong focus on inclusion, including a dedicated special educational needs unit, the academy broadened access to high-quality education within the local community.
Kettering Science Academy joined the Trust and underwent a £30 million redevelopment, transforming it into a modern and well-equipped learning environment. This significant investment demonstrated the Trust’s commitment to improving schools through both high-quality facilities and strong leadership.
A period of significant growth saw the opening of Corby Technical School, an innovative free school, alongside the addition of Thomas Clarkson Academy, Gretton Primary Academy and Beanfield Primary School. The inclusion of Thomas Clarkson Academy marked a major milestone as the Trust’s first school in Cambridgeshire, extending our reach into Wisbech and laying the foundations for future growth in the region. This expansion reflected our ambition to bring high-quality education to a wider range of communities.
Peckover Primary School in Wisbech and Oakley Vale Primary School in Corby joined the Trust, further strengthening our primary provision and building on our expansion into Cambridgeshire. The addition of Peckover Primary deepened our presence in the Wisbech area, while Oakley Vale Primary, located close to Brooke Weston Academy within the Oakley Vale community, enhanced local provision and supported strong educational pathways for families.
Kettering Science Academy Primary was renamed Compass Primary Academy, establishing a clear and distinct identity while continuing to reflect the shared values and high standards of the Trust.
The Brooke Weston Trust Leadership Academy was launched to nurture talent and support succession planning. Since its launch, it has developed many colleagues into leadership roles, strengthening leadership capacity and supporting sustained improvement across our schools.
The Trust was designated to lead the Northamptonshire Teaching School Hub, a Department for Education-recognised centre of excellence for teacher development. This marked an important step in extending the Trust’s influence beyond its own schools, supporting education across the wider region.
Thrapston Primary School joined the Trust, bringing a vibrant village school into our family and strengthening our connection with local communities.
The Centre for Professional Development was launched, offering a wide range of high-quality training opportunities for staff across all roles and career stages, ensuring continuous development and excellence across the Trust.
The Wisbech Academy opened as a new free school, strengthening the Trust’s presence in Cambridgeshire and building on our established work in the Wisbech community. This reflects our ongoing commitment to providing exceptional education in areas of need and creating greater opportunities for local families.
