Fortis Trust is based in Medway and Kent, serving some of the most deprived communities in England. The trust comprises a specialist all-through academy, a specialist post-16 institution called Forward2Employment (a separate charity working closely with the Trust), and is expanding to include additional schools and institutions, including a potential new free school and schools in Essex.
Young people at Fortis often face some of the greatest barriers to education and employment. Many live below the poverty line, and all learners have moderate to complex learning needs and disabilities (SEND). The trust’s ethos is rooted in collaborative working, drawing on community partnerships and employer engagement to ensure young people and families have access to better life chances. Fortis sees partnership as the cornerstone of raising achievement and building thriving local communities.
Economically, Medway and Kent face higher-than-average unemployment rates. Local labour markets are dominated by warehousing, retail, hospitality, and catering, with fewer opportunities in creative industries, animal care, or construction and placements are complicated further due to insurance and logistical challenges. Despite these obstacles, Fortis views its context as one of opportunity, working to create inclusive pathways that genuinely change the life chances of the young people it serves.
