Who Are We?
In November 2025, Franklin College became only the second sixth form college in England to convert to an empty Multi Academy Trust (MAT). The conversion coincided with over £6m investment in the college campus over the previous three years, the final investment being the opening of a new campus building to deliver our business curriculum, a new reception and state-of-the-art lecture theatre seating 163 people.
As a specialist provider of post-16 education serving multiple partner schools, the prospect of joining an existing traditional MAT risked diluting the specialist focus the college offers or constraining collaboration with neighbouring education settings that might sit outside the trust structure.
Our solution, as a designated sixth form college, was to pursue an ‘empty MAT’ model, a trust established without existing academies, designed to grow through partnership rather than absorption. This approach to our academisation journey remains rare and we are immensely proud to have been supported by the Department for Education to achieve it.
Working with all our partner schools, irrespective of the own trust status
Our vision ‘To provide the best possible life chances for our community’ remains at the heart of everything we do as a Trust and a College. This vision is extended to work with all our partner schools, irrespective of the own trust status. Through the establishment of our new trust structure, Franklin Sixth Form College became the founding academy within the new empty multi-academy trust, with the explicit intention of operating as a central hub working in partnership with local schools. Rather than drawing schools into a traditional trust hierarchy, our structure allows for collaborative sixth form provision across multiple institutions while preserving local identity and autonomy for all partners.
Throughout our educational journey we remain committed to educational benefits for all partners, robust governance and financial stability, made possible through our long-standing role within the local educational ecosystem and our capacity to support consistent, high-quality post-16 outcomes across the region.
Franklin Vision
To provide the best possible life chances for our community.
Franklin Values
Our College values are (ASPIRE):
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A
Aspirational
Franklin is a place for all staff and students to fulfil their academic potential and achieve success.
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S
Supportive
We take great pride in supporting all students, staff and stakeholders in realising their potential and pursuing their ambitions.
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P
Persistent
At Franklin, all staff and students work persistently to change lives through education positively.
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I
Inclusive
Franklin is a place which takes great pride in encouraging all students to be the very best they can be and enabling them to see the best in themselves.
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R
Respectful
It is an integral part of our institution that all students and staff promote mutual respect and recognise others' individual strengths and differences.
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E
Even and consistent
At Franklin, we strive to ensure that all are treated equally and receive equal opportunities.
Our Intent
Franklin aims to be:
Our strategic objectives
1. To be an inclusive Trust serving its community and local business
The Trust will remain inclusive in approach, retaining a curriculum which includes level 2 and level 3 provision and a range of academic and applied options as relevant and appropriate to our community and a small adult provision which is predominantly geared to supporting the development of adult numeracy and literacy locally.
2. To continue to be a high performing Trust - with outstanding progress and progression
The Trust will increasingly be known locally as the most successful post-16 education provider because our students are guided to enrol on appropriate programmes, succeed beyond their expectations and beyond what might be expected from their incoming attainment and because our students go on to positive destinations which are aspirational and productive.
3. To create a Trust campus that is promotes learning and development
The Trust will continue to invest in the campus to meet the needs of its community.
4. To be a great place to work
As the Trust grows and develops it is crucial that it has a settled and happy staff body to support the students to achieve their highest ambitions.
