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Our History
Our journey began with Brooke Weston Academy and has been shaped by a legacy of ambition and innovation.
Key Milestones in Our History
Brooke Weston Academy (formerly Brooke Weston City Technology College) opened with the support of our founding sponsors, the de Capell Brooke family and the Weston family. The Academy quickly established itself as a centre of excellence, regularly ranking among the highest performers in GCSE league tables and educating tens of thousands of students who have gone on to lead fulfilling lives.
Under the guidance of Sir Peter Simpson, we opened Corby Business Academy, a large secondary school with a special educational needs unit. This marked the start of our mission to expand our ethos and ideals to other schools.
Kettering Science Academy became part of our Trust. We oversaw a £30m rebuild, transforming it into one of the best-equipped schools in the area.
We opened Corby Technical School as an outstanding free school and welcomed Thomas Clarkson Academy, Gretton Primary Academy, and Beanfield Primary School into our family. Each school embraced our ethos of high standards and innovation.
Our family grew further with Peckover Primary School and Oakley Vale Primary School joining us. This marked a significant step in expanding our primary education provision.
Kettering Science Academy Primary was renamed Compass Primary Academy to reflect its unique identity within our Trust.
The Brooke Weston Trust Leadership Academy is set up to nurture talent and ensure good succession planning across our family of schools. 68 members of staff have graduated from the Leadership Academy since its launch, many of whom are now in leadership positions across our trust.
Northamptonshire Teaching School Hub was designated by the Department for Education as a centre of excellence for teacher development in Northamptonshire with Brooke Weston Academy named as its lead school. The Hub has since been redesignated and will continue to support Northamptonshire schools until at least 2028.
In October 2023, we welcomed Thrapston Primary School to the Trust family, a vibrant village school at the heart of the community.
Our Centre for Professional Development runs a suite of exciting courses and workshops, providing rich and varied opportunities for personal and professional development for our colleagues across all levels, in all roles.
Our newest addition is The Wisbech Academy, a Free School offering places for students from Year 7 to Year 11. This school represents our continued commitment to providing exceptional education opportunities to the Wisbech community.
We are proud of our journey so far and grateful to all stakeholders - our trustees, governors, parents, directors, staff, students, and members of the local community - who have supported us along the way.
Our Founding Sponsors
We would not be where we are today without the unwavering support and guidance of our founding sponsors, the de Capell Brooke family. Hugh de Capell Brooke was the founding sponsor of Brooke Weston City Technology College, and it was his determination, vision, and passion that brought high-quality, innovative, state-funded education to Corby and the surrounding area.
Hugh served for many years as Chairman of the College’s Trustees and took a keen interest in the development of Brooke Weston Trust as it grew into a multi-academy trust. Today, the Trust continues to benefit from the support of the de Capell Brooke family, with Hugh’s son, Alexander de Capell Brooke, playing an active role as a Director on the Trust Board.
The Garfield Weston Foundation
The Garfield Weston Foundation made a significant contribution to Brooke Weston City Technology College early in its operation and has continued to be a staunch supporter of the Trust. Founded with the aim of supporting a broad range of activities in the fields of religion, education, the environment, the arts, health (including research) and other areas of general benefit to the community in the UK, the Garfield Weston Foundation makes generous donations to a wide range of organisations each year. The Foundation is represented by George Weston and Helena Khayat, who sit on the Trust Board as Directors.
