Stoke-on-Trent City Council has reached an agreement with Ormiston Academies Trust for a new management arrangement at New Horizons Sport and Leisure Centre in Chell. From Tuesday 1 September 2026 the trust — which runs the neighbouring Ormiston Horizon Academy — will assume responsibility for the centre’s daily operation, while the council says it will continue to deliver key swimming and leisure services.
What will change — and what will stay the same
The council has stressed that the centre will remain open to the public and will continue to offer swimming, sport and leisure opportunities. Under the new arrangement:
- The trust will manage day-to-day operations of the centre and oversee wider facility hire.
- The council’s Wellbeing and Leisure Services will continue to run education swimming sessions, including the Learn to Swim programme, group lessons and a number of public swimming slots.
- Community venue hire will be coordinated through Edu Lettings, appointed to manage bookings on behalf of the trust.
| Responsibility | Before 1 Sept 2026 | From 1 Sept 2026 |
|---|---|---|
| Day-to-day management | Stoke-on-Trent City Council | Ormiston Academies Trust |
| Education swimming (schools, Learn to Swim) | Stoke-on-Trent City Council | Stoke-on-Trent City Council (continued delivery) |
| Community facility hire | Council-managed | Managed via Edu Lettings for the trust |
Councillors and school leaders back the move
Councillor Jane Ashworth, Leader of Stoke-on-Trent City Council, framed the transfer as a continuation of partnership working aimed at safeguarding the centre’s future. In describing the proposal she said the arrangement "builds on our longstanding partnership" and sought to reassure residents that council-run services would remain available.
"We recognise the value and success of New Horizons Sport and Leisure and we have a shared commitment with Ormiston Academies Trust to ensure it continues to play an important role in supporting health, wellbeing and opportunities for local people."
Andy Fitzgibbon, Principal of Ormiston Horizon Academy, described New Horizons as an "important asset" for the neighbourhood, noting its role for pupils as well as for families, clubs and local groups. The principal said the trust’s management would offer a "strong and sustainable foundation for the continued success of the centre".
What residents should know
The council has indicated there will be no immediate reduction in public swim sessions or in its Learn to Swim provision. Residents who use the centre for club activities, lessons or private hire should expect to see bookings and venue hire administered through Edu Lettings once the handover is complete.
For stakeholders — including school groups, sports clubs and community organisations — the shift places an academy trust at the heart of the site's management, while keeping the council involved in delivering core public swimming services. The arrangement will be watched closely by local campaigners for community sport and by parents whose children attend swimming lessons at New Horizons.
Further practical details on bookings, timetables and any planned changes to staffing or programming are expected to be published by the trust and the council ahead of the September handover.
