The Emmanuel Schools Foundation (ESF) has so far sponsored four schools in England. Beginning with Emmanuel College in Gateshead in 1990 (which remains a City Technology College) the Foundation sponsors the King's Academy in Middlesbrough, which opened in 2003, and Trinity Academy in Thorne near Doncaster, which opened in 2005. The Foundation's latest school, Bede Academy in Blyth, Northumberland, will open in September 2009. Trinity Academy was the main case study school in the research drawn upon in this article and replaced its predecessor as the only secondary school serving the communities of Thorne and Moorends near Doncaster. In 2007, Trinity Academy was designated the "Most Improved Academy in England" and the "Most Improved School in Yorkshire and Humberside." After its first academic year in 2006, only 34 per cent of students gained 5+ A*-C grades at GCSE but by 2008, 74 per cent of students were enjoying this level of success. Raising attainment by 40 percentage points is a significant achievement and this article provides insights into key factors contributing to this success. From this case study of the country's most improved Academy (and the data on the success of the ESF) it is valid to assume that future Academies sponsored by the ESF would result in the transformation of the lives and educational opportunities of more young people. It is entirely valid, on this basis, to make the policy recommendation that the ESF should be encouraged to sponsor more Academies. Whether or not one's politics leads one to favour business involvement in education, in this case, sponsorship appears integral to the effectiveness of Trinity Academy. Whatever one thinks of Christian involvement in education, in this case, the emphasis on widely endorsed core values and the good character and school culture this promotes appears distinctly beneficial. (Contains 1 table.)