Classroom Partnership
The Classroom Partnership is a UK-based Managed Service Provider, founded in 1999, that centralizes temporary staffing supply chains for Multi-Academy Trusts across England and Wales via its proprietary CoreStar platform, SinCeRe compliance portal, and approved agency panel.
- Company typePrivate
- Founded1999
- HeadquartersChester, United Kingdom
- Headcount11–50
- GTM typeB2B
- OfferingServices
What Classroom Partnership does
The Classroom Partnership is a UK private company, founded in 1999 and headquartered in Chester, that operates as a Managed Service Provider (MSP) of temporary and supply staffing exclusively for Multi-Academy Trusts (MATs) across England and Wales. The company centralizes the full staffing supply chain for each trust, replacing fragmented multi-agency relationships with a single approved panel, consolidated invoicing, and trust-wide governance. Its enterprise sales motion targets MAT CEOs, HR directors, and trust leadership, with contracts structured as multi-year engagements (e.g., Shaw Education Trust renewed for a further three years).
The company's product suite centers on CoreStar, a proprietary in-house MSP platform built exclusively for MATs, supporting multi-channel booking (portal, app, mobile, phone, WhatsApp), real-time MI reporting, configurable trust- and school-level dashboards, and consolidated invoicing. Two integrated sub-products extend the platform: SinCeRe, a Single Central Record compliance portal that maintains auditable checks (DBS, right-to-work, references, TRA, overseas police checks) for every supply staff member; and Academize, a CPD platform delivering pre-deployment job-ready training, safeguarding standards, and KCSIE updates. The Classroom Partnership also operates the largest nationwide network of approved specialist staffing agencies, acting as Lot 2 Managed Service Provider on the Government Commercial Agency's RM6376 framework and holding GCA Lot 1, REC Audited Education, and ISO 9001/27001/14001 certifications.
Revenue is generated through managed-services margins on supply staff placed via the approved agency network, plus transaction fees on supply staff deployments, with pricing structured around fixed GCA-compliant rates that satisfy the Academies Financial Handbook and Procurement Act 2023. In the most recent academic year, the company deployed 11,500 supply staff, supported 3,983 schools, trained 31,500+ staff through accredited CPD, and delivered over £350,000 in funded social value projects. The company's management team is led by CEO Paul Broderick.
Classroom Partnership firmographics
Firmographics- Name
- Classroom Partnership
- Legal name
- The Classroom Partnership
- Website
- https://theclassroompartnership.co.uk
- Company type
- Private
- Founded year
- 1999
- Operating status
- Operating
- Headcount range
- 11–50 employees
- Short description
- The Classroom Partnership is a UK-based Managed Service Provider, founded in 1999, that centralizes temporary staffing supply chains for Multi-Academy Trusts across England and Wales via its proprietary CoreStar platform, SinCeRe compliance portal, and approved agency panel.
- Ownership category
- akta.pro rank
Classroom Partnership industry classification
Industry- Product category
- Education Staffing Managed Services
- NAICS
- Educational Support Services (611710)
- SIC
- Services-Help Supply Services (7363)
- akta.pro primary industry
- Facilities Operations Outsourcing (Integrated FM, Work Orders, Asset Mgmt) (EDAEALAF)
Keywords
Where Classroom Partnership is headquartered
LocationHeadquarters
- HQ city
- Chester
- HQ country
- United Kingdom
- HQ region
- Europe
Offices2 records
Markets served
Classroom Partnership business model
Business model- GTM type
- B2B
- Offering type
- Services
- Cost components
- Personnel, Operations, Technology or R&D, Marketing or Sales, Supply Chain
Revenue model
- Managed Staffing Services: MSP/MVS service that centralizes management of a Trust's entire temporary staffing supply chain. Earns margins on supply staff placed through their approved agency network, with fixed GCA rates ensuring compliance with Academies Financial Handbook.
- Agency Panel Management: Manages a nationwide network of approved specialist staffing agencies as Lot 2 Managed Service Provider on GCA RM6376 framework. Agencies join the approved panel with commercial arrangements negotiated by The Classroom Partnership.
- Supply Staff Deployment: Provides supply staff (teachers, teaching assistants, SEN specialists, support staff) to MATs. Staff deployed through platform with consolidated invoicing to trusts.
Pricing tiers
| Model | Billing | Price |
|---|---|---|
| Other | Multi-year contract | GCA Framework Compliant Pricing |
Go-to-market motion2 records
Distribution channels3 records
Marketing channels6 records
Classroom Partnership product offering
Product offeringCore offering
The Classroom Partnership delivers end-to-end Managed Service Provision (MSP) for Multi-Academy Trusts, centralising their entire temporary and supply staffing supply chain through a single approved provider. Its offer is anchored by CoreStar, a proprietary platform for multi-channel booking, real-time MI reporting, compliance management and consolidated invoicing, backed by the largest nationwide network of approved specialist staffing agencies, REC Audited Education credentials and GCA Lot 1 & 2 framework approval.
Product overview
Classroom Partnership offers a unified Managed Service Provision (MSP) solution for Multi-Academy Trusts. At its core is CoreStar, a proprietary MSP platform that serves as the central technology for managing staffing operations. CoreStar incorporates SinCeRe for Single Central Record compliance management and integrates with Academize for CPD and training delivery. The platform provides multi-channel access (portal, app, phone, WhatsApp), real-time MI reporting, consolidated invoicing, and agency supply chain management—all designed exclusively for MAT operations.
Differentiator
Problem solved
Functional benefit
Brands
- CoreStar: Proprietary MSP platform built exclusively for MATs offering multi-channel booking, real-time MI reporting, self-serve portal, and consolidated invoicing
- SinCeRe
- Academize
Products and services
- Managed Service Provision (MSP) for Multi-Academy Trusts End-to-end managed staffing solution that centralises a Multi-Academy Trust's entire temporary and supply staffing supply chain through one approved provider, reducing cost, guaranteeing compliance with the Academies Financial Handbook and providing Trust leadership with full control and consolidated invoicing.
- CoreStar Platform Proprietary MSP platform providing multi-channel booking (portal, app, phone, WhatsApp), real-time MI reporting, self-serve booking portal, supply chain management, Trust- and school-level dashboards, and consolidated invoicing for MAT staffing operations.
- SinCeRe Compliance Portal Single Central Record portal integrated within CoreStar that maintains an auditable record of compliance checks for every supply staff member, including proof of address, right to work, ID, TRA, references, DBS, overseas police checks and job-ready training.
- Academize CPD Platform CPD platform accessible to all suppliers that delivers pre-deployment job-ready training, safeguarding standards and Keeping Children Safe in Education (KCSIE) updates to ensure consistency across all supply staff working with the MAT.
Quantifiable outcome
- Over £1m saved in agency supply chain costs in single academic year (Shaw Education Trust)
- +3 more outcomes
Companies that use Classroom Partnership
Customer profileNamed customers10 records
Segments3 records
Ideal customer profiles2 records
Classroom Partnership technology and API
TechnologyTechnology focussed Yes
API detail
- Has API
- No
- API docs
- API detail
Core technology
AI maturity
App detail
Integration1 record
Feature4 records
Classroom Partnership partnerships and signals
Strategic signalPartnerships
Seven partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.
- Shaw Education TrustcoreKey MAT partner operating 31 schools. 93% of supply requirements fulfilled through The Classroom Partnership platform. Recently signed a further three-year contract. Generated over £1m in savings for the trust in one academic year.
- SHINE TrustcoreTrust partner for urgent and planned cover support across academies, SEN specialist placements, and strategic account management.
- INOVA TrustcoreTrust partner for teaching and support staff supply across all schools. Strong compliance, safeguarding, and responsive account management.
- Our Sustainability AcademyminorLead partner bringing Our Sustainability Academy's climate change programme Our Classroom Climate to primary schools across the UK. Includes 4 modules with 24 lessons, 11 core experiments, and Science Box equipment.
- Magic BreakfastminorCharity partner committed to funding 1 million breakfasts for school children. Team members participate in fundraising challenges including Mount Toubkal trek and Manchester Half Marathon.
- Dog, Duck & Cat TrustminorEducational resource partner providing PSHE/RSHE resources for children aged 11 and under. The Classroom Partnership has secured prepaid access to full resource library for partner schools at no cost.
- Approved Agency NetworkcoreLargest network of approved specialist staffing agencies nationwide as part of MSP. Agencies are audited before joining and receive ongoing audits. Many work with The Classroom Partnership across multiple trust MSPs.
Scale indicators12 records
Recent moves6 records
Expansion highlights4 records
Classroom Partnership competitors and assessment
Company assessmentDirect peers
- Opogo: UK education staffing platform connecting schools and MATs with vetted supply teachers and support staff. Comparable as a digital-first staffing platform competing for the same MAT-supply relationships in England.
- Zen Educate: UK digital marketplace for supply teachers and school staff, targeting schools and MATs with a tech-led platform model. Direct competitor in the same MAT staffing segment with a platform-native approach that pressures traditional MSP economics.
- Celsian Education: UK education recruitment specialist (formerly New Directions Education) supplying teachers, TAs, and SEN staff to schools and MATs. Direct comparable in size, geography, and core supply staffing offerings.
- Protocol Education: UK specialist education recruitment agency supplying teachers, TAs, and SEN staff to schools and MATs. Closely comparable in customer segment, geography, and core supply staffing model, though operates a more traditional recruitment model rather than the centralised MSP approach.
- TeacherActive: UK education recruitment agency providing supply teachers, TAs, and support staff to schools and academy trusts. Comparable in customer focus (UK schools/MATs) and supply staffing model, with national coverage.
- Milk Education: UK specialist education recruitment agency focused on teachers, teaching assistants, and SEN staff for schools and MATs. Comparable in target segment, service offering, and UK geographic footprint.
Broad incumbents
- Reed Education: Education division of Reed, one of the UK's largest recruitment groups. Provides supply teaching and education staffing services to schools and MATs as part of a much broader portfolio — overlapping customer base but with materially greater scale and resources.
- Pertemps Education (Smart Teachers): Education staffing arm of Pertemps, a major UK recruitment group (acquired Smart Teachers). Competes for MAT and school supply contracts with the backing of a large diversified staffing parent.
- Randstad Education: UK education vertical of Randstad, a global staffing and HR services group. Competes for MAT and school staffing contracts as part of a wider workforce solutions portfolio, with significantly larger resourcing and global compliance capabilities.
- Hays Education: Education arm of Hays plc, a global staffing leader. Supplies teachers and education professionals to UK schools and trusts as part of its diversified portfolio, offering scale advantages and broader workforce solutions to MAT customers.
Market position
Strengths4 records
Weaknesses4 records
Competitive moat5 records
Key risks5 records
Key highlights6 records
Customer concentration
Classroom Partnership social profiles
Digital presenceClassroom Partnership compliance and trust
Trust signalCompliance6 records
Classroom Partnership financial estimates
Financial estimateRevenue estimate
Valuation estimate
Classroom Partnership leadership team
Management profileNumber of profiles
Profiles2 records
Classroom Partnership funding detail
Funding detailFunding overview
Funding rounds
Investors
Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Classroom Partnership M&A and investment
M&A and investmentM&A
Investments
M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Frequently asked questions about Classroom Partnership
What does Classroom Partnership do?
The Classroom Partnership delivers end-to-end Managed Service Provision (MSP) for Multi-Academy Trusts, centralising their entire temporary and supply staffing supply chain through a single approved provider. Its offer is anchored by CoreStar, a proprietary platform for multi-channel booking, real-time MI reporting, compliance management and consolidated invoicing, backed by the largest nationwide network of approved specialist staffing agencies, REC Audited Education credentials and GCA Lot 1 & 2 framework approval.
Is Classroom Partnership a public or private company?
Classroom Partnership is a private company. It is classified as founder individual operated bootstrapped and is currently operating.
When was Classroom Partnership founded?
Classroom Partnership was founded in 1999. It employs 11 to 50 people.
Where is Classroom Partnership based?
Classroom Partnership is headquartered in Chester, United Kingdom, in the Europe region.
How does Classroom Partnership make money?
Three revenue lines are on record. Managed Staffing Services are the primary driver. The others are agency Panel Management and supply Staff Deployment.
Who are Classroom Partnership's main competitors?
Direct peers on record are Opogo, Zen Educate, Celsian Education, Protocol Education, TeacherActive and Milk Education. Broad incumbents are Reed Education, Pertemps Education (Smart Teachers), Randstad Education and Hays Education.
Does Classroom Partnership have an API?
No public API is recorded for Classroom Partnership.
What industry is Classroom Partnership in?
Classroom Partnership's product category is Education Staffing Managed Services. Its primary akta.pro industry code is EDAEALAF, Facilities Operations Outsourcing (Integrated FM, Work Orders, Asset Mgmt). Its NAICS code is 611710 and its SIC code is 7363.