What St Edward's School does

St Edward's School is a privately held, co-educational Catholic Independent Day School located in Cheltenham, Gloucestershire, serving pupils aged 11-18 (Years 7-13). Founded in 1987 through the merger of Charlton Park School for Girls and Whitefriars School for Boys, the school operates a 20-acre main campus at Charlton Park supplemented by 40 acres of sports fields. It is wholly owned by Alpha Schools Holdings Ltd, a holding company operating a network of 19 independent schools across England, providing governance and financial backing following St Edward's January 2022 acquisition by the group.

The school's core academic pathway comprises the Lower School (Years 7-8), a bespoke Year 9 Future Building Programme, Upper School GCSE Programme (Years 10-11), and Sixth Form A Level programme (Years 12-13), with small class sizes and personalized attention as the operating model. The school is non-selective at admissions but reports strong value-added outcomes: 87% GCSE pass rate at A*-C (26% at 9-7) and 39% A*-A at A Level in 2025, with university placements at Exeter, Durham, King's College London, Bath, and Cardiff. Co-curricular breadth is a defining feature, including a Combined Cadet Force, Duke of Edinburgh Award programme (95-98% completion versus 55% national average), Expressive Arts, STEPS elite sport programme, and over 30 clubs. Pastoral infrastructure comprises a Wellbeing Hub, Wellbeing Nurse, School Counsellors, Full-Time Student Care Lead, and a wellbeing dog (Ted), recognized as exceptional by ISI inspectors in 2025.

Revenue is generated almost entirely through termly tuition fees (£7,339-£8,593 per term), supplemented by non-refundable registration fees, refundable deposits, Music/Drama visiting specialist tuition, and a structured venue hire business. Ancillary revenue includes a £500-per-referral 'Refer a Friend' programme and international admissions fees. Technology infrastructure runs on the ISAMS school management system, Firefly Cloud portal, iParent mobile app, and Google/iOS calendar integrations. Go-to-market is sales-led via personal tours, scheduled Open Mornings, direct admissions enquiry handling, and word-of-mouth referrals, with a deliberate international expansion across 11+ countries and an integrated Ashley Manor Preparatory School pipeline covering ages 9 months to 11.

Name

St Edward's School

Legal name

St Edward's School

Website

https://stedwards.co.uk

Company type

Private

Founded year

1987

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

501–1,000 employees

Short description

St Edward's School is a privately held, co-educational Catholic Independent Day School in Cheltenham, UK, serving pupils aged 11-18 through GCSE and A Level programmes, owned by Alpha Schools Holdings Ltd. It generates revenue primarily from termly tuition fees and ancillary services, with an integrated prep-to-sixth-form ecosystem via Ashley Manor Preparatory.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Independent Secondary Education

NAICS

Elementary and Secondary Schools (6111), Educational Services (611), Educational Support Services (611710)

SIC

Services-Educational Services (8200)

akta.pro primary industry

Nonsectarian Independent Day Schools (EDAJABAA)

Keywords

• Independent secondary education
• GCSE preparation
• A Level education
• Private day school
• Co-curricular programmes

Headquarters

HQ city

Cheltenham

HQ country

United Kingdom

HQ region

Europe

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Infrastructure, Marketing or Sales, Others

Revenue model

1. Tuition Fees: Primary revenue stream from termly tuition fees charged for Years 7-13. Fees vary by year group with higher fees for Years 10-11 and Sixth Form. School lunches are included in fees.
2. Registration and Deposits: Non-refundable registration fees and refundable deposits for EU and non-EU pupils.
3. Referral Incentives: Referral credits of £500 per enrolled child paid to existing families who recommend new full-time students.
4. Music and Drama Tuition: Additional private tuition for Music, Speech and Drama provided by Visiting Specialist Teachers.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion2 records

Distribution channels4 records

Marketing channels7 records

Core offering

St Edward's School delivers co-educational independent day education for pupils aged 11-18 through a four-stage academic pathway (Lower School Years 7-8, Year 9 Future Building Programme, Upper School GCSE Years 10-11, and Sixth Form A Levels) complemented by a broad co-curricular programme including CCF, Duke of Edinburgh, Expressive Arts, STEPS sporting excellence, and Supported Learning for SEND/EAL pupils. The school also operates Ashley Manor Preparatory School (9 months-11 years), runs scholarships/bursaries and military/FCDO bursaries, and provides ancillary services such as private music and drama tuition, venue hire, and an international admissions programme with EAL and IELTS support.

Product overview

St Edward's School is an independent co-educational senior school for students aged 11-18 in Cheltenham, offering a non-selective yet academically ambitious education. The core educational pathway spans Lower School (Years 7-8), Year 9 Future Building Programme, Upper School GCSE Programme (Years 10-11), and Sixth Form A Level Programme—all built on small class sizes and personalized attention. The school distinguishes itself through comprehensive co-curricular offerings including the Combined Cadet Force (CCF), Duke of Edinburgh Award (with 95-98% completion rate), Expressive Arts Programme (music and drama), STEPS sporting excellence programme, and over 30 co-curricular clubs across Physical, Creative, Academic, Community, Well-being, and Interest categories. Financial support is available through Scholarships, Bursaries, and Military/FCDO Bursaries programmes. The school also operates the Parent Portal powered by ISAMS for parent communication, Ashley Manor Preparatory as a sub-brand for early years (9 months-11 years), and offers Venue Hire for external events plus an International Admissions Programme with EAL and IELTS support.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• St Edward's Family: St Edward's School Cheltenham together with Ashley Manor Preparatory School, forming a joined-up independent education from 9 months to 18 years.

Products and services

• Lower School (Year 7-8) Programme Foundational education programme for students aged 11-13 offering a broad and inspiring curriculum including swimming, drama, cookery, computing, modern languages, and sport to build curiosity, resilience, and independent learning skills. Termly tuition £7,339.
• Year 9 Future Building Programme Bespoke teenage brain-friendly programme preparing students for GCSE studies, teaching organisational skills, engagement techniques, and good study habits while allowing subject choices tailored to individual strengths and passions. Termly tuition £7,339.
• Upper School (Year 10-11) GCSE Programme GCSE preparation programme covering core subjects (English, Mathematics, Science) plus optional subjects including Art, Business, Computer Science, Drama, Languages, and PE, delivering 87% A*-C pass rate (26% at top 9-7/A*-A grades) in 2025. Termly tuition £8,593.
• Sixth Form A Level Programme Two-year A Level programme for students aged 16-18 with small class sizes, expert teaching, personalised university application guidance, and opportunities for leadership, sport, performing arts, and community service. 2025 outcomes: 39% A*-A, 64% A*-B, 84% A*-C. Termly tuition £8,593.
• Supported Learning Specialist support programme for students with learning challenges, offering 1:1 specialist tuition, small-group interventions, personalised learning plans, dyslexia-friendly classrooms, and exam access arrangements. Recognised by ISI 2025 for exceptional SEND and EAL provision.
• STEPS (St Edward's Excellence Programme and Scholars) Talent development programme supporting elite sporting students with advanced physical training and tactical coaching, integrated within the sports faculty.
• Combined Cadet Force (CCF) Military-style training programme open to Year 8 upwards, offering Army section activities, field weekends, marksmanship, navigation, leadership training, and adventure activities including climbing and skiing.
• Duke of Edinburgh Award Voluntary award scheme available from Year 9 with Bronze, Silver, and Gold levels, including overseas canoe expeditions to Canada. School achieves 95-98% completion rate compared to 55% national average.
• Expressive Arts Programme Music and drama programme offering peripatetic instrument lessons, choirs, orchestras, concert bands, major performances at Tewkesbury Abbey and Pittville Pump Room, annual school productions, and LAMDA examination preparation.
• Co-Curricular Clubs and Societies Wide-ranging activity programme spanning six categories: Physical (sports clubs), Creative (art, drama, robotics), Community and Service (CCF, outreach), Academic (subject clinics, public speaking), Well-being, and Interest (choir, chess, cyber club). Provided at no additional charge beyond tuition.
• Scholarships and Bursaries Merit-based scholarships for 11+, 13+, and 16+ entry recognising talent across academic, creative, and sporting areas, plus limited means-tested bursaries reviewed annually.
• Military and FCDO Bursaries Financial support programme offering 15% discount to FCDO families and up to 10% for those in receipt of Continuity of Education Allowance (CEA), with rank-based eligibility criteria and a reduced deposit scheme.
• Venue Hire Facilities available for external hire including a training hub (up to 25 people) and halls (up to 300 people capacity), with catering and technical support options.
• International Admissions Programme Comprehensive support for international students including EAL lessons, IELTS preparation, GCSE and A Level curriculum pathways, CAS visa support, and guardian arrangement assistance.
• Parent Portal (ISAMS) Secure online platform providing parents real-time access to student attendance, school reports, calendars, invoices, timetables, and exam schedules, accessible via web and iParent mobile app.
• Ashley Manor Preparatory School Nursery and prep education for pupils aged 9 months to 11 years, forming the preparatory stage of the St Edward's Family, located 13 minutes from St Edward's Senior School with dedicated minibus service.

Quantifiable outcome

• 87% GCSE pass rate (A*-C) with 26% achieving top grades (9-7/A*-A equivalent)
• +3 more outcomes

Named customers8 records

Segments1 record

Ideal customer profiles2 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Integration5 records

Feature4 records

Partnerships

Four partnerships are on record, tiered core.

• Pulhams CoachescoreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorPulhams Coaches operates a shared school bus service in partnership with other independent schools in Cheltenham. Routes operate from Broadway, Moreton-in-Marsh, Burford, Ashton Keynes, Nailsworth, and Gloucester, with return routes at end of school day and a 6pm service for co-curricular activities.
• Alpha Schools Holdings LtdcoreOthersAlpha Schools Holdings Ltd is the parent company of St Edward's School, providing long-term financial stability, governance, shared best practice across teaching, pastoral care and leadership. Alpha Schools comprises 19 independent schools across England. Registered at 19 London Road, High Wycombe, Buckinghamshire, HP11 1BJ.
• Ashley Manor Preparatory SchoolcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerAshley Manor Preparatory School (formerly St Edward's Prep) forms part of the St Edward's Family, providing joined-up independent education from 9 months to 18 years. Located 13 minutes from St Edward's School, with dedicated minibus service available. Both schools are under the Alpha Schools umbrella.
• Independent Schools Inspectorate (ISI)coreOthersRegulatory body that conducts inspections of independent schools in England, awarding compliance with the Independent School Standards.

Scale indicators5 records

Recent moves10 records

Expansion highlights4 records

Direct peers

• Dean Close School: Co-educational independent day and boarding school located in Cheltenham, serving pupils across nursery, pre-prep, prep, senior, and sixth form. Direct geographic and product competitor for the same UK families considering St Edward's.
• Rendcomb College: Co-educational independent day and boarding school in the Cotswolds, near Cirencester. The school is actively absorbing Rendcomb College families, indicating direct overlap in target families and curriculum model.
• King's School, Gloucester: Historic co-educational independent school in Gloucester with nursery through sixth form provision. Competes for the same Gloucestershire families and shares the cathedral-city independent-school positioning.
• Cheltenham Ladies' College: Prominent independent day and boarding school in Cheltenham, now co-educational in Sixth Form. Same-city competitor with overlapping catchment and comparable premium positioning for Gloucestershire families.
• Bloxham School: Co-educational independent day and boarding school in Oxfordshire offering GCSE, A Level, and a strong co-curricular programme. Closely comparable mid-tier independent model in the same regional competitive set.
• Stowe School: Co-educational independent boarding school in Buckinghamshire with a broad co-curricular offer and historic estate campus. Comparable premium co-ed day/boarding model targeting similar UK family segments.
• Repton School: Co-educational independent school in Derbyshire offering day and boarding from prep through sixth form. Similar full-spectrum independent offering with strong sporting and co-curricular positioning.
• Oundle School: Large co-educational independent day and boarding school in Northamptonshire with strong STEM, co-curricular, and pastoral programmes. Comparable mid-tier independent competitor for fee-paying families.
• Shrewsbury School: Co-educational independent day and boarding school in Shropshire with a strong academic and co-curricular record. Directly comparable independent school model targeting similar UK family demographics.
• Marlborough College: Co-educational independent boarding school in Wiltshire with strong academic outcomes and broad co-curricular programme. Comparable premium full-boarding independent model serving UK and international families.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/StEdwards_Prep

Compliance3 records

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles10 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about St Edward's School