Delta Academies Trust is one of the best-performing multi-academy trusts in the country. Joining them will provide our school with access to shared leadership and expertise, specialist curriculum support, high-quality professional development, and trust-wide efficiencies that redirect resources back into teaching and learning; all of which improve outcomes for students.

Since February 2025, the school has been working closely with Delta Academies Trust, allowing both organisations to test alignment in culture, values, and operational practice. We followed a rigorous and robust due-diligence process, led by Trust Members and Governors, grounded in one clear motivation: doing what is right for students, staff, and the future of the school.

Importantly, One In A Million Charity, which is a separate legal entity from the school, remains entirely unaffected by this decision.

The charity, which marks its 20th anniversary this year, will continue its mission-driven work across the Bradford District's most disadvantaged communities while exploring enriching extra-curricular opportunities in partnership with Delta Academies Trust.

• Wayne Jacobs, Co-founder / CEO of One In A Million: “Since first joining the football club in 1994, it continues to be an absolute honour and a privilege to serve the Bradford District; initially in the capacity of a player, then the management team, and now through our charity, which also partners with the club. At its heart, One In A Million Charity exists to serve Bradford’s children and communities through long-term, values-led work. This transition marks an exciting and powerful alignment of partnership between Bradford City, Delta Academies Trust and ourselves working together across education, sport/entertainment and community to deepen our collective impact for the good of the Bradford District, for such a time as this”.

The decision comes at a time of achievement. This summer, the school celebrated its best-ever GCSE outcomes and was recognised as one of the most improved schools in the country (top 0.38%) including the 3rd most improved in English+Maths at grade 5 and above. The Trust recognises and celebrates this wonderful achievement. However, the ongoing structural pressures facing single-academy trusts remained a challenge.

Andy Barnett, Chief Executive of Delta Academies Trust:

• “We are delighted to welcome One In A Million Free School into Delta Academies Trust. We can be asked by the Department for Education to support a failing school; this is not the case here. The school is in a strong position, and we thank the Charity for choosing us to continue their good work already achieved. The school has a strong identity and values-led culture, and we look forward to building on its recent success. We will honour that by an acknowledgement to its founding name encompassing the strapline, ‘Where every child is unique, valued and one in a million’. We look forward to developing our partnership with One In A Million Charity, Bradford City AFC and other partners across the city”.

When One In A Million Charity opened One In A Million Free School in 2013, it did so with a clear, innovative vision and a pioneering spirit. Over the decade that followed, and particularly in the wake of the Covid-19 pandemic, the educational landscape has shifted significantly. Although our school model was built on government policy, this has changed. Increasing pressures around financial sustainability, making it harder to provide subject specialist staffing, workforce stability, and school improvement capacity, has made it clear that remaining a single academy trust would limit the school’s ability to fully realise its long-term vision for its students. For these reasons, joining a values-aligned multi-academy trust became the right strategic decision and best way to secure the school’s future and legacy, fully honouring its founding vision.

The school will be newly named Delta Valley Academy.

Ryan Sparks, CEO, Chief Executive of Bradford City AFC:

• “One In A Million Charity has been an important part of our wider community family for many years. We were delighted to partner with them in opening a mainstream secondary school, the first and only club in the country to do so. While the school moves into a new phase with Delta Academies Trust, our commitment to the charity and its work with children and young people across the district remains as strong as ever. We look forward to continuing our support and championing the charity as it enters its next chapter. We are also looking forward to developing our new relationship with Delta, who are one of the most highly regarded educational trusts in the country”.

One In A Million would like to express our deepest gratitude to parents and carers for their confidence and trust in placing their child in our care over the years. Thank you! The next chapter is one of continuity in values, strengthened capacity, and renewed opportunity, with students firmly at the centre of this outcome. Thank you also to our school staff, the many expert volunteers, Members, Governors, specialist advisers, and our partners, Woodhouse Grove School and Bradford City AFC, all have supported, pioneered and served selflessly during this time, modelling our belief that to lead is to serve. We are truly grateful.

What’s next for the Charity?

As One In A Million enters its 20th year of service, this transition creates space for renewed clarity and momentum, sharpening our focus, energy and resources on our core mission: walking alongside children and young people in Bradford’s most disadvantaged communities through our long-term, values-led programmes and pathways. Guided by a bold, courageous, child-centred vision, the charity will continue to strengthen sustainability, deepen community roots, and build a lasting legacy of hope and opportunity for generations to come.