Six schools were the founder members of the BEST family – Etonbury Academy, Gothic Mede Academy, Gravenhurst Academy, Langford Village Academy, Robert Bloomfield Academy and Samuel Whitbread Academy – along with two nurseries at Arlesey and Shefford.

In the seven years since, the trust has grown significantly, with a 60% increase in pupil numbers.

St Christophers Academy in Dunstable became the first school to join BEST in September 2017.

Lawnside Academy in Biggleswade and Campton Academy followed in January 2019 and November 2020 respectively, while BEST also opened Pix Brook Academy in Stotfold – a new free school – in September 2019.

Nursery provision has also grown, with Langford added to the facilities under our BEST Nurseries banner in April 2021, with school-based provision at Gothic Mede and St Christophers Academies bringing the total number of nurseries to five.

Growth has continued, and the latest development saw a new Sixth Form open at Etonbury Academy in September 2023.

With performance up in all key stages, all schools rated Good or better by Ofsted and strong financial health secured, the formative years of BEST has been a true success story.

In September 2021 we produced a commemorative brochure to mark our fifth anniversary and to chart our journey so far. Click the cover image below to read it: