OUR STORY
From our CEO, Nitesh Gor
HUMBLE BEGINNINGS
When the early concept of Avanti began in 2003, our intentions were focused to provide Hindu faith schools as an exciting option for a group in society who otherwise felt their needs weren’t catered for. The subsequent opening of Krishna Avanti Primary School Harrow in 2010 made history as the UK’s first state-funded Hindu school, a revelation for educators and examiners alike who saw the principles in practice, experienced a truly vibrant culture, and now felt impelled to share it in their own communities.
When the early concept of Avanti began in 2003, our intentions were focused to provide Hindu faith schools as an exciting option for a group in society who otherwise felt their needs weren’t catered for. The subsequent opening of Krishna Avanti Primary school in 2010 made history as the UK’s first state-funded Hindu school, a revelation for educators and examiners alike who saw our principles in practice, experienced a truly vibrant culture and now felt impelled to share it in their own communities.
SHARING OUR CULTURE AND PRINCIPLES FURTHER
Following the success of the faith school offering, we realised that there was need for secular schools that share the same values, practices, and principles, which could benefit from the pillars of educational excellence, character formation and spiritual insight. This led to the evolution of the Avanti offerings to the broader community.
It was here we realised that there was need for a secular school option that lived by the same values, practices and principles, that could stand on our pillars of educational excellence, character formation and spiritual insight. This led to the evolution of the Avanti offerings to a broader community.
AN AVANTI WELCOME TO ALL
We welcome children of all faiths and none, who wish to be educated in our unique environment. Learning blossoms for these seekers as a quest for self-discovery and opens the door to their unlimited potential. Avanti now has a proven approach to school development and improvement, with excellent pupil outcomes across our schools and the capacity to support more schools. We have built first-rate centralised functions for finance, HR, project management, marketing, and premises. Our wholly-owned trading subsidiary provides catering to our schools and to others.
We believe in offering integrated daily faith practices to those who want them and for those that don’t, a chance to educate their children in a unique environment. Avanti now has a proven approach to school development and improvement, with excellent pupil outcomes across our schools and the capacity to support more schools. We have built first-rate centralised functions for finance, HR, project management, marketing, and premises. Our wholly-owned trading subsidiary provides catering to our schools and to others.
Welcome from our Chair of Trustees
We have all been pupils, at one stage or another, and lifelong learning is inbuilt into our culture and our expectations. But the quality of this education can vary enormously, and children get only one opportunity to have an enriching and inspiring education. Avanti is committed to providing an education which opens doors and lets the future in, which establishes the foundations for future achievements and opportunities in our multicultural society for all children.
But we are ambitious and aim to do more: to inculcate an enthusiasm for learning and the fostering of a sense of curiosity about the world; to develop in our students a capacity to initiate and respond to change; to promote in them a sense of caring, compassion, and responsibility for self and others; to encourage independence of mind and the capacity to think for oneself.
When we achieve these aims, we understand and fulfil each child’s capacity and potential, so that they are equipped to explore different options and to take risks. Above all, we seek to offer an education which is liberating and fun, to enable our students to take control of their own lives and help make the world a better and more humane place.
Ever since Avanti was conceived, our aspiration has been to develop both faith and non-denominational schools. Our early schools all had Hindu faith-designations, but more recently we have entered the next exciting phase for Avanti, with the establishment of three non-denominational schools in the south-west of the country and with permission to open three schools (two primary and one secondary) in Hertfordshire.
We have all been pupils, at one stage or another, and lifelong learning is inbuilt into our culture and our expectations. But the quality of this education can vary enormously, and children get only one opportunity to have an enriching and inspiring education. Avanti is committed to providing an education which opens doors and lets the future in, which establishes the foundations for future achievements and opportunities in our multicultural society for all children.
But we are ambitious and aim to do more: to inculcate an enthusiasm for learning and the fostering of a sense of curiosity about the world; to develop in our students a capacity to initiate and respond to change; to promote in them a sense of caring, compassion, and responsibility for self and others; to encourage independence of mind and the capacity to think for oneself.
When we achieve these aims, we understand and fulfil each child’s capacity and potential, so that they are equipped to explore different options and to take risks. Above all, we seek to offer an education which is liberating and fun, to enable our students to take control of their own lives and help make the world a better and more humane place.
Ever since Avanti was conceived, our aspiration has been to develop both faith and non-denominational schools. Our early schools all had Hindu faith-designations, but more recently we have entered the next exciting phase for Avanti, with the establishment of three non-denominational schools in the south-west of the country and with permission to open three schools (two primary and one secondary) in Hertfordshire.
LEARN HOW THE TRUST WAS
BORN, GREW AND EVOLVED
READ THE AVANTI WAY
For more insight on our ethos and philosophy
of education, please enjoy the Avanti Way.
INSTILLING VALUES
From students, to staff, to our community of parents and carers, our values drive who we are and what we do.
QUEST TO DISCOVER
A challenging, holistic curriculum cultivates independently thoughtful and reflective students by working towards a sense of mastery, emphasizing depth, and not just breadth.
CONSCIOUS CHANGEMAKERS
Learning develops for these conscious changemakers as a quest for making the world a better place, starting with oneself.
PERSONAL JOURNEY
: The curriculum supports the transition of knowledge to wisdom and includes global perspectives to facilitate their transcultural proficiency.
TEAM MEMBERS
We have the pleasure of working with some of the most creative, competent and innovative colleagues who play fundamental roles in making the Trust what it is.
NITESH GOR, OBE
CEO
MIKE ION
EDUCATION DIRECTOR
KIRIT PATEL
FINANCE DIRECTOR
REBECCA UNDERWOOD
SCHOOL IMPROVEMENT LEAD
GOPINATH BLOCH
ORGANISATIONAL CULTURE LEAD
SAHIL AGARWAL
HEAD OF BUSINESS SERVICES
BHAVINI BUDHDEV
HEAD OF FINANCE
SALINA VENTRESS
SCHOOL IMPROVEMENT LEAD
AURORA REID
SCHOOL IMPROVEMENT LEAD
BOARD OF TRUSTEES
Our Board of Trustees play a pivotal role in enabling the Trust to continue to evolve and improve its offerings to the school community and the wider community at large. Click here to view full profiles of our Trustees.
NITESH GOR, OBE
CEO & TRUSTEE
MIKE YOUNGER
CHAIR
ANDREW READ
TRUST DIRECTOR
ANJANA GUPTA
TRUST DIRECTOR
BAVAANI NANTHABALAN
TRUST DIRECTOR
DIPA DHOKIA
TRUST DIRECTOR
MICHELLE LOUGHREY
TRUST DIRECTOR
MOLLY WARRINGTON
TRUST DIRECTOR
PRAFUL GANATRA
TRUST DIRECTOR
PREEYA POPAT
TRUST DIRECTOR
SUKWINDER BASSI
TRUST DIRECTOR
OUR RECEPTION FROM OFSTED
Below is a selection of feedback from Ofsted examiners as they reflected on the Avanti Schools Trust experience.
Below is a selection of feedback from Ofsted examiners as they reflected on the Avanti Schools Trust experience.
The provision for pupils’ spiritual, moral, social and cultural development is exceptional. School leaders and governors, through the Avanti Trust, are wholly committed to ambitious outcomes for all pupils.
MEMBERS
Our Members support the Trust and have key governance responsibilities.
MIKE YOUNGER
CHAIR
KUSHAL MEHTA
MEMBER
VINAY TANNA
MEMBER
NEEL SHAH
MEMBER
DILRAJ HOTHI
MEMBER
GET IN TOUCH TO GET INVOLVED
If this sounds like the type of organisation you’d like to be part of, please get in touch. We’re always looking for schools and families to join, partners to work with a volunteers to help.
If this sounds like the type of organisation you’d like to be part of, please get in touch. We’re always looking for schools and families to join, partners to work with a volunteers to help.