In the mid-1980s, the then steward of The Great Oakley Estate, Hugh de Capell Brooke, late father of current steward Alexander de Capell Brooke, began to explore the possibility of bringing a new school to Corby. This was driven by a passion for good, state-funded education and the huge positive effect it can have not only on children, but on local communities.

Hugh donated 18 acres of Great Oakley land and contributed financially towards the project. The new City Technology College required 30% of its funding to come from the private sector, and the Weston family provided the additional financial support needed to meet that requirement and enable the school to go ahead.

The Brooke City Technology College opened in 1991 and later became Brooke Weston Academy. The partnership between the de Capell Brooke and Weston families laid the foundations for The Brooke Weston Trust, an educational charity which now educates more than 10,000 students across twelve schools.