The Department for Education has approved a plan from two trusts in the South West to merge and create a 36-school multi-academy trust.

Olympus Academy Trust, which currently has nine schools, soon to be 10, and Futura Learning Partnership, which currently has 26 schools, will now consult staff, pupils and parents before their boards make a final decision.

If the proposal is agreed, the new trust is expected to launch in early 2026 and will be called Halcyon. It will consist of 25 primary schools, 10 secondaries and one all-through school across Bristol, Somerset, North Somerset, South Gloucestershire, and Bath and North East Somerset.

Trust merger plan

Gary Schlick (pictured below), chief executive of Futura, would lead the new trust, while Dave Baker, CEO of Olympus, would take on a new role in the MAT, the trusts said.

Mr Schlick said: “The trustees of Futura and Olympus believe strongly that this proposed merger will be in the best interests of learners and staff and will secure the future of both trusts.

“It will bring together two similar, like-minded trusts to create an organisation with a new name and identity, and the capacity, expertise and resilience to make sure its schools are great places in which to learn and work.”

The news follows two recent merger announcements: Ebor Academy Trust and Nexus Multi Academy Trust are proposing to merge in Yorkshire to create a 47-school trust, while the Compass Partnership of Schools and Eko Trust are proposing to merge into a 25-school MAT.

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