An education trust is considering merging with another academy group for the second time in a year.

Medway-based Rainham Mark Education Trust (RMET) is looking to join Veritas Multi Academy Trust which oversees three primary schools elsewhere in Kent.

RMET, which also runs Riverside Primary in Rainham and Twydall Primary, has sent a letter to parents of Rainham Mark pupils outlining its plan.

It reads: “Both Trusts are heavily invested in and committed to our respective local communities, and by coming together and forming a larger Trust, with increased capacity, we feel strongly that we can really deliver far more for our young people and communities than we could do on our own.”

It is signed by Dr Kerry Jordan-Daus, RMET’s interim chief executive and the chief executive of Veritas, which is based in Deal.

A formal decision to merge will be made by the end of March 2025 by both Trust boards. Parents will be informed after the completion of a due diligence process which is currently underway.

This involves both Trusts independently reviewing each other in a range of areas including finance, quality of education, facilities and premises.

Should a decision to merge be agreed, it is anticipated the new Trust will be established for September this year following approval by the Department for Education.

Meanwhile, parents have compiled a survey to gauge views amid concerns it might be pushed through hastily.

Rainham Mark Education Trust was first established in 2011 and Veritas Multi Academy Trust in 2015.

Both were initially established as single stand-alone academies, and have increased in size.

The multi-academy trusts serve diverse communities in Kent and Medway.

The letter continues: “All the schools are aspirational in their vision and mission to enhance the life chances of children and young people, through high-quality education and enrichment.

Both Trusts have proven their capacity and capability of school improvement

“Both Trusts have proven their capacity and capability of school improvement. Our schools create communities through a sense of belonging.

“All our schools have proud histories and are locality based. Both Trusts value the importance of what each individual school brings to the collective family of schools within each Trust.”

The move follows advice from the DfE over the past six months which encourages smaller trusts to expand by way of mergers to create a stronger, larger multi-academy organisation.

The thinking is that it would improve educational outcomes for children, combining expertise, experience, resources and governance.

It would also provide greater staff development opportunities.

Schools under Veritas are three primary schools: Warden House in Deal, Pilgrims Way in Canterbury and Mundella, Folkestone.

Last year an attempt to join with the Medway-based Skills for Life failed after coming under scrutiny.

Skills for Life Trust has Greenacre Academy, Walderslade Girls School, Hilltop Primary Academy in Strood, Warren Wood Primary Academy in Rochester and Chantry Primary Academy in Gravesend under its umbrella.

The decision was made after damning Ofsted inspections on Walderslade Girls and Greenacre.