Lift Schools is excited to announce that Beacon High will be joining the trust next year, bringing the total number of schools to 59.
The secondary school in Islington is a highly regarded school, with a strong reputation for inclusion and community engagement. Since 2019, the school has made significant progress, earning a 'Good' rating in all areas from Ofsted in 2022 and receiving national recognition for its inclusive practices, which have been highlighted in national press.
Last week, we announced that East Wichel, a primary school in south Swindon, will also be joining the trust. The plan is for both schools to officially become part of Lift Schools in January 2026.
Headteacher Alan Streeter said:
"This is an exciting next step for the school and the entire community, allowing us to work collaboratively with other schools on sharing best practice and benefiting from the strength of their operational and educational teams. Our school has developed a strong reputation for inclusivity and keeping pupils with additional needs in mainstream education; this is a commitment that Lift Schools shares also."
Governors and leaders are proud of the school's achievements and are committed to its future. To build on its strengths and ensure continued academic progress, the governing body spent the last year exploring options for the school's future. After a thorough process, they chose Lift Schools as the academy trust that best aligns with the school's values, inclusive ethos, and commitment to serving the community.
Becks Boomer-Clark, CEO of Lift Schools, said:
"We are delighted that the Department for Education has approved Beacon High to join Lift Schools. Beacon High is a school with a strong sense of purpose, deeply rooted in its community, and with a clear commitment to inclusion. These values sit at the heart of everything we do. We look forward to working in partnership with Beacon High, its staff, governors, and community, as the school enters this exciting new chapter."
Dan Shotter, Vice Chair of Governors, said on behalf of the governing board:
"We are incredibly proud of the outstanding work our leaders and staff do every day at Beacon High. The school is well-regarded locally and has built a strong reputation for its inclusive ethos and deep-rooted connection to the community.
We’re excited about the opportunities that joining a strong and values-driven network like Lift Schools can bring. From the beginning, this was never about academisation for its own sake. Our goal has always been to find a trust that truly reflects our values and commitment to inclusion - and we’re confident we’ve found that in Lift. We believe that this is an exciting next step for the Beacon High community and look forward to the school joining the trust in January 2026."
Beacon High is still committed to its strong partnership with the London Borough of Islington. It's working with the local authority to develop a 36-place resource provision for students with communication and interaction needs, which will open this autumn. Lift Schools will support this new provision, bringing our extensive experience in special and mainstream Special Educational Needs (SEN) to the project.
