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Aquila is the Diocese of Canterbury’s Multi-Academy Trust, and was incorporated as a charitable company limited by guarantee in May 2014.

The trust has been imagined and planned to enable flexibility and responsiveness to local context and needs. We are reflective and forward thinking so our organisational structures will evolve as appropriate, influenced by geography, existing collaborative networks and the pace of academy conversions. We support each school as a unique community of learning.

Our Articles support a model which unleashes potential, enabling us to;

  • deliver positive, immediate support and interventions through our own expertise and capacity, as well as wider regional connections
  • enhance learning and teaching by engaging in collaborative pedagogical projects, action research and professional development with Christ Church University
  • encourage and nurture the dissemination of good practice and promote mutual accountability
  • enable focused, effective local governance and secure options for centralised functions and economies of scale
  • welcome community as well as church schools

Aquila Articles

Initially starting with just one Academy, the trust grew rapidly and we now have 16 academies across Kent. Schools have joined for a variety of reasons; some as a result of difficult Ofsted inspections while others have elected to convert having seen result of the impact of our work and our school improvement offer. Each school within the trust embodies our values and while having freedom to set their own vision and values. Our schools collaborate, sharing practice and using the expertise from across the trust to develop, refine and improve teaching and learning.

Our approach to all aspects of school improvement has continued to evolve. Everyone working in our academies strives to ensure the best possible outcomes for the children in our care within and beyond the classroom. The trust model of collaborative working to find solutions to problems covers all areas including leadership, pedagogy, behaviour, site and business management and governance. 

To find out more about each of our schools please click here:

Academy Stories

Our mission from the beginning has been to support, develop and improve. The majority of our schools that have undertaken Ofsted inspections while being members of Aquila. All schools which had been graded as inadequate (or requiring improvement) prior to the trust taking over their management are now graded good and two are outstanding. Some of these schools had never received a good or better judgement prior to them joining the trust so our record of achievement speaks for itself.

We also value achievements beyond Ofsted grades, and our news page shows the wide variety of successes and awards gained by pupils and schools.

English Hub

Kingsnorth CE Primary School is one of 34 schools nationally to be awarded Enlgish Hub status as a result of sustained high standards in phonics and early reading. The aim of the English Hubs is to promote a love of reading and Kingsnorth English Hub are supporting schools and academies across the South East to deliver and provide excellent phonics and early language teaching.

Literacy specialists within each hub provide tailored support to schools. This includes:

  • running events to showcase excellent practice in teaching phonics and reading
  • bespoke, focused support to local schools to develop their practice 

For more information, please click here:

English Hub

Latest News

By School News
Posted: 10/07/2026

St Clement's praised for Christian vision and "culture of belonging"

St Clement's praised for Christian vision and "culture of belonging" St Clement's Church of England Primary School has been praised by inspectors for a Christian vision that "responds directly to the challenges of the local context" and for creating a strong culture of belonging among pupils, families and staff. The school, in Leysdown, near Sheerness on the Isle of Sheppey, was inspected last month under the Statutory Inspection of Anglican and Methodist Schools framework. Inspectors found the school "living up to its foundation as a Church school and enabling pupils and adults to flourish." The report highlighted the school's support for pupils and families through extra pastoral care and a free breakfast club, describing this as helping pupils to "overcome barriers, grow in confidence and develop a stronger sense of possibility for their future". Religious education came in for particular praise. The report found pupils "talk confidently about their learning” of Christianity, Islam, Sikhism and Humanism, and said RE "makes a positive contribution to pupils' understanding of diversity." Collective worship is “a valued and inclusive part of daily school life,” the inspectors said. St Clement's, which has 160 pupils, is part of Aquila, the Diocese of Canterbury Academies Trust, a family of 17 primary schools across Kent serving more than 4,000 pupils. The trust, founded in 2014, has grown from a single school to become one of the largest primary academy groups in the county and works with Canterbury Christ Church University on classroom research and school improvement. Kelly Lockwood, Headteacher of St Clement's, said: "This report reflects the heart of what we do every day. We want every child here to feel valued, to be curious about the world and to believe in what they can achieve. It's wonderful to have that captured so clearly by inspectors." Annie Wiles, Chief Executive Officer of Aquila, Diocese of Canterbury Academies Trust, said: "St Clement's shows what it means to put a Christian vision into practice every day. The compassion shown to pupils, families and staff at this school reflects the very best of what we want for every school in our trust."
By School News
Posted: 10/07/2026

Archbishop Courtenay Primary School praised for its approach to playtime

Archbishop Courtenay Primary School praised for its approach to playtime Archbishop Courtenay Primary School has won a national award recognising the work it has done on how children play at break and lunchtime. The school in Tovil has been awarded Platinum status, the highest level available, by Outdoor Play and Learning, a national programme that helps schools give children more freedom to play during the school day. Assessors praised a "significant increase in the confidence and ability of the children" since the school began the programme and said every child spoken to during the visit was "happy and engaged." They noted how pupils can safely and confidently use large loose parts, build dens, use swings and dig and understand how to weigh up risks and keep themselves and each other safe while playing. The school's staff were praised for creating an inclusive play environment where children are "well regulated". Archbishop Courtenay is part of Aquila, the Diocese of Canterbury Academies Trust, which is a family of 17 primary schools across east and central Kent. Sue Heather, Headteacher of Archbishop Courtenay Primary School, said: "Our children have grown so much in confidence and independence through this programme and it's brilliant to see that recognised in this way. Play is such a vital part of childhood and this award reflects the hard work of our whole school community in making sure every child can enjoy it." Annie Wiles, Chief Executive Officer of Aquila, Diocese of Canterbury Academies Trust, said: "This award shows what's possible when a school commits fully to giving children the freedom and space to play. Archbishop Courtenay has set a brilliant example for schools across our trust."
By School News
Posted: 2/07/2026

St Laurence CE Junior Academy Pro Strike event raises £2.7k for new play equipment

St Laurence CE Junior Academy Pro Strike event raises £2.7k for new play equipment St Laurence Junior pupils, families and staff are celebrating the fantastic success of their Pro Strike fundraising event, which raised an outstanding £2,702 through sponsorship. The event brought a real buzz of excitement to the school in Ramsgate, with pupils taking part enthusiastically, cheering each other on and celebrating their achievements. Children were thrilled to receive their well-deserved prizes and there was a wonderful sense of pride across the school. The money raised will go towards new playtime games and equipment, helping to make playtimes even more active, enjoyable and engaging for all children. Alongside the impressive fundraising total, pupils also took part in a football challenge to test the speed and power of their kicks. There were some fantastic scores across the school, with children showing determination, skill and plenty of competitive spirit. Staff also joined in the fun, with Mr Bottle recording the highest staff score of 104 kph. A special mention goes to all children who raised £100 or more individually, including Bertie (pictured below), who was the school’s top fundraiser with an incredible £157. Headteacher Mrs Buckland said: “We are incredibly proud of all of our pupils for the enthusiasm, determination and team spirit they showed during the Pro Strike event. “To raise £2,702 is a fantastic achievement and reflects the generosity of our families and the strength of our school community. The money raised will make a real difference to playtimes, helping us provide even more opportunities for children to play, be active and enjoy their time together.” Every contribution, no matter the size, helped to reach the fantastic final total.
By School News
Posted: 24/04/2026

Ofsted praises Charing's 'palpable sense of ambition'

Ofsted praises Aquila primary school's 'palpable sense of ambition'   School inspectors have praised an Aquila primary school for its rapid improvement and “highly ambitious” curriculum. In their report, published this month, Ofsted inspectors rated Charing Church of England Primary School in Ashford as ‘Strong’ in six of seven areas and ‘Expected’ in just one. Inspectors said leaders have "an almost palpable sense of ambition for every pupil". They found that all pupils, including those with multiple barriers to learning, achieve very well and are "very well prepared for their next steps". The report highlights that pupils become fluent and confident readers, with the school prioritising reading from the early years. In the most recent national tests, 93% of pupils met the expected standard in reading, writing and mathematics combined - well above the national average of 62%. Nearly half of pupils at Charing are eligible for free school meals - well above the national average of 26%. Yet 88% of those pupils met the expected standard in reading, writing and mathematics, against a national average of 47%. Inspectors also praised the school's early years provision, noting that leaders "ensure that children have a very successful start to their education". They described the early years as a “purposeful and happy environment”. The report said that staff have very high expectations of pupils’ behaviour and that this helps pupils to “behave very well”. The only area to receive an expected standard rating was attendance. Inspectors acknowledged the school's high levels of pupil mobility, with many children joining mid-year, and noted that attendance has improved steadily. They asked leaders to maintain the work already under way to raise it further. Tom Bird, the school’s Headteacher, said: "We set high expectations for every pupil from the moment they arrive, whatever their background or starting point. To see that reflected in what Ofsted found - and in our results - is enormously pleasing. The real credit belongs to our staff, who work every day to make this a welcoming and wonderful community where every child succeeds." Annie Wiles, Chief Executive Officer of Aquila, the Diocese of Canterbury Academies Trust, said: "These findings are testament to Tom and his team's commitment to the pupils and community they serve. The rapid improvement Charing has made is something the whole Aquila family is proud of." For the full Ofsted report click HERE.
By School News
Posted: 22/03/2026

Archbishop Courtenay Pupils Win Second and Third Place in Public Speaking Competition

Pupils from Archbishop Courtenay Pimary School have won second and third place in a regional public speaking competition, competing against more than 200 schools across Kent and south-east London. Finley in Year 5 and Lena in Year 6 took part in the Oracy Cup, a high-profile competition aimed at encouraging young people to develop confidence and public speaking skills. Pupils from primary and secondary schools across Greenwich, Bexley and Kent entered the competition, which was organised by Charlton Athletic Community Trust and Equalitas. Finley and Lena worked individually to prepare and deliver a structured presentation as part of the competition, demonstrating their ability to communicate ideas clearly, build arguments and speak confidently in front of an audience. Lena talked about animal rights and Finley spoke about the impact of art on his life. The Oracy Cup aims to help pupils express ideas effectively through speech, develop confidence and critical thinking. Sue Heather, Headteacher of Archbishop Courtenay Primary School, said: “We're incredibly proud of our pupils for winning second and third places in this competition. Developing confident speakers is an important part of helping children succeed both in school and in later life. This achievement is especially meaningful for our school because many of our pupils speak English as an additional language. Seeing them present their ideas with such confidence is wonderful. I must also congratulate our English Lead, Mel Hawks, and Year 6 teacher, Courtney Taylor, for their dedication and leadership in preparing our pupils for this competition.” Annie Wiles, CEO of Aquila, Diocese of Canterbury Academies Trust, said: “This is a fantastic achievement. Competitions like the Oracy Cup give young people the opportunity to develop the confidence and communication skills that will support them throughout their education and beyond."
By School News
Posted: 9/03/2026

Brenzett Primary School to Open New Nursery

Brenzett Primary School to open new nursery to meet growing demand for childcare places. Brenzett Primary School is expanding its offering with a new nursery to help meet growing childcare demands in the local community. There are currently no nursery provisions in the village of Brenzett, with The Nursery School in Brookland being the closest available setting for families.  As such leaders at Brenzett Primary School, which is part of Aquila Trust, have announced it will launch a nursery from September. The new nursery will be based within the main school building and is expected to provide 21 places for children aged between two and four.  Brenzett Primary submitted a community consultation last summer, when it was suggested there was a “clear demand” for additional early years places in the area. Rowan Wright, head teacher at Brenzett Primary School, said: “The nursery aims to give young children the best possible start in their education by offering a nurturing, play-based environment from the age of two. We want to ensure our children feel supported at every step. Starting that journey earlier will help children build confidence and develop the foundations they need to thrive.” Twelve places have already been filled and two new members of staff will be employed. The “teacher-led” nursery is set to be located directly next to the school’s current Year R classroom. This decision was taken because both reception-aged children and nursery pupils fall under the Early Years Foundation Stage (EYFS) of education. Staff currently working in the school will work closely with the new nursery team from September to help create a 'seamless' start to school life. Brenzett Primary School has worked in collaboration with Northfleet Nursery School on the project, with comprehensive support from Aquila Trust and other schools within Aquila. In January 2025, Brenzett Primary School was rated ‘Good’ by educational watchdog Ofsted, with inspectors saying pupils are “blossoming academically and emotionally”.
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