What Ellesmere College does

Ellesmere College is a private co-educational boarding and day school located on a 160-acre campus in Shropshire, England, founded in 1884 by Canon Nathaniel Woodard as St. Oswald's School and now part of the Woodard Schools network. The school serves approximately 800–1,000 students aged 7–18 across three segments (Lower School Years 3–8, Middle School Years 9–11, and Sixth Form Years 12–13), offering GCSE, A Level, International Baccalaureate and BTEC pathways. It is accredited as one of only 39 High Performance Learning (HPL) World Class Schools globally and operates seven specialist Sports Academies including a PSG Academy UK football partnership, Tennis, Rugby, Cricket, Golf, Swimming and Shooting programmes.

The school's revenue model is anchored in recurring annual tuition and boarding fees (day, weekly, and full boarding), supplemented by facility hire, holiday camps, sports academy programmes, and franchise/licensing income from international branch campuses. Its go-to-market is sales-led via a structured admissions process (school visits, taster days, registration, entrance exams, scholarship assessments) supported by community-led marketing through social media, newsletters, alumni networks and an active Parent Society. Distribution extends internationally through dedicated campuses in Riyadh (Saudi Arabia, launched 2024 with Glory & Princeton), Muscat (Oman, opened 2024) and Doha (Qatar, opening September 2026 with Education Avenue Group), creating cross-border student pathways and licensing revenue.

Ellesmere is governed by a board led by Chair of Governors (Custos) Charles Lillis; the school appointed a new Headmaster, Mr Jonathan Shaw, effective September 2025. It holds memberships in HMC, ISC and BSA, has passed successive ISI inspections, and reports academic outcomes materially above UK averages (89%+ GCSE pass rate in 2024 versus 67% national; 97% A Level pass rate in 2025; IB average 34.5/45 versus 30 global average). The institution has no disclosed AI/technology platform and operates as a fee-funded, privately governed educational charity with no external venture or private equity ownership on record.

Name

Ellesmere College

Legal name

Ellesmere College

Website

https://www.ellesmere.com/

Company type

Private

Founded year

1884

Operating status

Operating

Short description

Ellesmere College knows that students develop at different rates and at different times.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Independent School Education

NAICS

Elementary and Secondary Schools (6111), All Other Schools and Instruction (61169)

SIC

Services-Educational Services (8200)

akta.pro primary industry

International/Global Curriculum Schools (IB, Cambridge, etc.) (EDAJABAG)

Keywords

• Independent school education
• Boarding school services
• Secondary education programs
• Sports academy training
• International baccalaureate programs

Headquarters

HQ city

Ellesmere

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 and Boarding Fees: Ellesmere College generates revenue primarily through tuition fees for day and boarding students across Lower School, Middle School, and Sixth Form. The school offers full boarding, weekly boarding, and day student options at different price points. Additional revenue streams include facility hire, holiday camps, and sports academy programmes.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels5 records

Marketing channels8 records

Core offering

Ellesmere College is a private independent co-educational boarding and day school delivering primary through secondary education (ages 7-18) across Lower School, Middle School, and Sixth Form, with academic pathways including GCSE, A Level, International Baccalaureate, and BTEC qualifications. The school offers seven specialist Sports Academies, multiple boarding options (day, weekly, full), and operates as one of only 39 High Performance Learning World Class Schools globally, with international branch campuses in Riyadh, Doha, and Muscat.

Product overview

Ellesmere College is a co-educational boarding and day school offering a comprehensive educational programme across three schools: Lower School (Years 3-8, ages 7-13), Middle School (Years 9-11, ages 13-16), and Sixth Form (Years 12-13, ages 16-18). The school operates seven Sports Academies (PSG Academy UK, Tennis, Rugby, Cricket, Golf, Swimming, and Shooting) providing specialist coaching alongside academic studies. It offers multiple qualification pathways including A Levels, International Baccalaureate Diploma, BTEC, and GCSE/IGCSE. The school is accredited as a High Performance Learning World Class School and integrates its distinctive Life:Ready programme focusing on holistic student development. Support for Learning services are available for students with dyslexia and related conditions. The school has international campuses in Riyadh and Doha.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Lower School Educational programme for students aged 7-13 years (Years 3-8), focusing on nurturing positive, independent, active, and enquiring individuals with entry available at every level from Years 3 to 8.
• Middle School Educational programme for students aged 13-16 years (Years 9-11), featuring a broad range of subjects that builds towards GCSE attainment with emphasis on academic skills and personal responsibility.
• Sixth Form Post-16 education (Years 12-13) offering both A Levels and International Baccalaureate Diploma Programme, focusing on academic priorities, leadership, communication, and employability skills.
• PSG Academy UK Football Programme Football academy programme in partnership with Paris Saint-Germain UK Academy, offering specialist coaching and development programmes for aspiring footballers using PSG methodology.
• Tennis Academy Specialist tennis programme offering high-level coaching and competition opportunities, with students achieving international rankings and US university tennis scholarships.
• Rugby Academy Specialist rugby programme with high-level coaching, with students progressing to represent counties and professional clubs including Toulouse Espoirs.
• Cricket Academy Cricket development programme ranked in Top 100 Senior Schools for cricket in the UK for eight consecutive years.
• Golf Academy Golf programme with ISGA tournament successes, ranked fourth in UK for school golf with national singles champion achievements.
• Swimming Academy Competitive swimming programme with students achieving success at British Championships level.
• Shooting Academy Pistol shooting programme with multiple consecutive national team titles and individual achievements at British Shooting Schools Pistol Championships.
• High Performance Learning (HPL) Programme Accredited HPL World Class School programme developing evidence-based cognitive competencies for academic and life success, positioning Ellesmere as one of only 39 HPL schools in the world.
• International Baccalaureate (IB) Diploma International Baccalaureate Diploma Programme offered alongside A Levels, with students achieving average scores of 34.5 points above the global average of 30.
• Life:Ready Programme Holistic preparation programme with five strands focused on developing skills, character, and responsibility for life beyond school.
• Support for Learning Specialist support for students with dyslexia, dyspraxia, and dyscalculia, designated as CReSTeD category DU school with tailored provision beyond academic adjustments.
• Boarding Boarding options including Day, Weekly, and Full Boarding across seven boarding houses, with over 40% of students involved in boarding.
• Arts Programme Comprehensive arts offering including music, drama, visual arts, dance (GCSE Dance launched 2023), and performance opportunities, with Artsmark Platinum Award recognition.
• Duke of Edinburgh Award Scheme DofE programme with students completing thousands of volunteering hours and achieving Gold Awards.
• Combined Cadet Force (CCF) Military-themed youth organisation developing leadership skills through drills, expeditions, and training activities.
• Ellesmere College Riyadh International branch campus in Saudi Arabia delivering British education for students aged 3-18 with focus on High Performance Learning, IGCSE, and pre-university pathways.
• Ellesmere College Doha International branch campus in Qatar opening September 2026 in partnership with Education Avenue Group, offering world-class British education.

Quantifiable outcome

• 97% A Level pass rate with 41% grades A*/A/B in 2025
• +6 more outcomes

Named customers6 records

Segments1 record

Ideal customer profiles3 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Partnerships

Six partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• Education Avenue GroupcoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 13 January 2025Landmark partnership agreement with Education Avenue Group to establish Ellesmere College Doha in Qatar. The partnership brings the Ellesmere educational philosophy to the Middle East through a purpose-built campus offering world-class British education. Opening planned for September 2026.
• Paris Saint-Germain (PSG) Academy UKcoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2025Ellesmere College Football Academy established formal partnership with PSG Academy UK. The partnership provides elite football coaching and development programmes, with PSG branding and methodology integrated into the academy's curriculum. Students benefit from professional coaching, competition pathways, and the prestige of the PSG Academy network.
• Glory & Princeton International Schools GroupcoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 16 April 2024Partnership with Glory & Princeton International Schools Group to establish Ellesmere College Riyadh in Saudi Arabia. The school delivers inclusive British education for students aged 3-18 with focus on High Performance Learning, IGCSE, and pre-university pathways.
• Woodard SchoolscoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerEllesmere College is part of Woodard Schools, the largest group of independent Church of England schools in England and Wales, founded in 1848 by Canon Nathaniel Woodard. The network provides shared educational philosophy, chaplaincy support, and collaborative events across member schools.
• Holroyd HoweminorImplementation/ SI/ Consulting PartnerHolroyd Howe provides catering services to Ellesmere College, managing food and nutrition across the dining facilities. They focus on sustainability, nutrition education, and quality meal provision for students.
• BAL (Bursary Administration Limited)minorOthersBAL administers the bursary application process for Ellesmere College, handling means-tested financial assistance applications for families. The process includes interviews and secure portal document submission.

Scale indicators11 records

Recent moves9 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Direct peers

• Millfield School: Millfield is a leading UK co-educational independent school with an extensive sports academy programme and international student mix, directly comparable to Ellesmere's positioning as a premium UK boarding school anchored by elite sports.
• Marlborough College: Marlborough is a high-profile HMC co-educational boarding school in Wiltshire with a similar full-boarding, international-curriculum (IB/A Level) and broad co-curricular offer to Ellesmere.
• Wellington College: Wellington is one of the UK's most prestigious co-educational independent boarding schools, HMC member, with comparable international intake, IB provision and a strong sporting and pastoral offering.
• Repton School: Repton is a Derbyshire-based HMC co-educational boarding school with full/weekly boarding, strong sport and IB/A Level pathways that mirror Ellesmere's product mix and UK independent positioning.
• Shrewsbury School: Shrewsbury is an HMC co-educational boarding school located in the same Shropshire region as Ellesmere, with overlapping feeder geography and a comparable full-boarding, IB and A Level academic offer.
• Sedbergh School: Sedbergh is a co-educational HMC boarding school in northern England known for strong sports academies and a full-boarding model, closely comparable to Ellesmere's sport-led premium positioning.
• Charterhouse School: Charterhouse is a leading HMC independent boarding school in Surrey with comparable IB and A Level pathways, international student mix and breadth of co-curricular provision to Ellesmere.
• Oundle School: Oundle is a large HMC co-educational boarding school with a STEM and broader academic reputation, multiple boarding houses and international intake, comparable in scale and product to Ellesmere.
• Uppingham School: Uppingham is a leading HMC co-educational boarding school with strong music, sport and full-boarding provision, directly comparable to Ellesmere in target market and product mix.
• Stonyhurst College: Stonyhurst is a historic co-educational HMC boarding school in Lancashire with comparable IB and A Level provision, a strong co-curricular programme and an international student body.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• YouTubeyoutube.com/user/TheEllesmereCollege
• Facebookfacebook.com/EllesmereCollegeOfficial
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/ellesmere-college
• Instagraminstagram.com/ellesmere_college

Compliance12 records

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles3 records

Subsidiaries3 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 Ellesmere College