Our Journey

Lionheart Academies Trust was founded, establishing a foundation for the improvement and enhancement of education provision in Leicestershire. Beauchamp College set the benchmark for this initiative as the founding school.

Lionheart moved from a single to a multi-academy Trust after welcoming Highcliffe and Riverside Primaries. 

With Trust support, Highcliffe and Riverside Primary Schools in Birstall achieved a ‘Good’ Ofsted rating.

The Cedars Academy joined the Lionheart Trust and strengthened the Trust’s breadth of excellent provision - alongside the Primary Schools - in Birstall, Leicestershire. Through the sharing of best practice and extensive collaboration, The Cedars Academy later achieved Ofsted ‘Good’.

The Trust opened Hallam Fields Primary School - a brand new one form entry school - following the success of other Birstall Primary Schools.

The Trust officially welcomed Judgemeadow Community College in Evington. Lionheart implemented a number of key changes to ensure standards were raised, with the school later receiving a 'Good' Ofsted judgement.

Martin High School in Anstey joined the Trust, and formed the Cedars Martin Sixth Form in partnership with The Cedars Academy in Birstall, establishing the second Post-16 School in our Trust.

Humphrey Perkins School in Barrow upon Soar joined Lionheart, extending our provision throughout north Leicestershire, and working collaboratively to enrich the quality of education for students.

Sir Jonathan North Girls' College, an ‘Outstanding’ Secondary school in Leicester, joined the Trust. With a committed staff body, a strong track record of student progress and enthusiastic students, Sir Jonathan North worked in unison with Beauchamp College and the Trust to extend this top-tier standard of provision to all our of schools.

In November, the ‘Outstanding’ Brocks Hill Primary School joined the Trust. The vibrant school is situated in Oadby, closely neighbouring Beauchamp College.

The Trust opened Beauchamp City Sixth Form, a new Post-16 Free School in Leicester City Centre. Focusing on a Traditional Academic A-Level Curriculum, it welcomed students from any background who had high aspirations to achieve through commitment to study.

The Trust changed its name to Lionheart Educational Trust to better reflect the breadth of work it undertakes in education.

Three Coalville schools – The Castle Rock, The Newbridge and Broom Leys Primary Schools – joined Lionheart, with an ambitious and continuous improvement plan implemented from the very start, to provide the young people of Coalville with an outstanding education.

Our work on equality, diversity and inclusion was recognised at the national MAT Excellence Awards.

The Pioneers' Centre opened to ensure quality alternative provision for Lionheart students where a different approach to education was needed.

Lionheart celebrated 10 years as a multi-academy trust.

Mercia Academy, an 11-16 school in Swadlincote, Derbyshire, joined the Trust. With a dynamic plan from the start, we supported the school in providing the young people of Swadlincote with an outstanding education, as well as a new school building.

Expanding into South Derbyshire, Newhall, a 7 - 11 Junior School, joined Lionheart, strengthening primary provision and ensuring that the young children of Swadlincote were able to access enriching academic and holistic opportunities.

The Trust was selected to open Greenstone Primary School, a two-form entry school at the heart of the Swinfen Vale housing development in Southeast Coalville. With a forest school ethos, it blends nature-based learning with a traditional curriculum. The school welcomed its first EYFS pupils in August 2025.