Salford City Academy

What Salford City Academy does

Salford City Academy is a state-funded secondary school in Eccles, Manchester, serving students aged 11-16 (Years 7-11) as part of United Learning, a charitable Multi-Academy Trust operating under the motto 'The Best in Everyone'. The academy delivers a broad curriculum spanning Key Stage 3 and Key Stage 4 across 15+ subject areas, alongside differentiated programmes including the Pioneer Programme (STEM enrichment featuring a national go-kart competition), ASPIRE (character education, house system, student leadership), Step Beyond (careers guidance via Unifrog), and Duke of Edinburgh Award. It is Ofsted-rated Good, holds School of Sanctuary status (July 2025), and was recognized at the United Learning Best in Everyone Awards (Governor of the Year 2026). The school operates as a community hub for the Eccles and Brookhouse estate, delivering food box distribution via Rapid Relief Team, health checks via Salford Health Improvement Connect, and an annual Family Festival with 1,300+ attendees.

The academy's technology footprint is composed entirely of third-party platforms rather than proprietary systems: Arbor for parent communications and absence reporting, ParentPay for secure online payments, Sora for e-books and audiobooks, Unifrog for careers guidance, and Bedrock for literacy. It runs a 32.5-hour weekly instruction schedule across 188 school days per year. Core physical infrastructure includes Main Hall, Drama and Dance Studios, Sports Halls, MUGA 3G Pitch, conference rooms, and outdoor grounds, which are also commercialized through a facility-lettings partnership with Actihire.

The business model is government-funded: per-pupil funding allocated through United Learning Trust covers core operations, staff salaries, and facilities, with supplementary Pupil Premium funding for eligible students and ancillary revenue from facility lettings and a small number of fee-based after-school clubs (e.g., Weightlifting Club at £5 per half-term). Distribution is channeled through the UK local authority secondary school admissions process with the catchment centered on Eccles and Brookhouse. Marketing relies on community engagement — open evenings, prospectus distribution, 3D virtual tours, social media across Facebook, Instagram, LinkedIn, and BlueSky, and half-termly newsletters — rather than paid acquisition.

Name

Salford City Academy

Legal name

Salford City Academy

Website

https://salfordcity-academy.org

Company type

Private

Founded year

2024

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

101–250 employees

Short description

Salford City Academy is a state-funded secondary school in Eccles, Manchester, serving students aged 11-16 (Years 7-11) as part of United Learning Multi-Academy Trust, with STEM and character education programmes and an integrated community hub for local families.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Secondary Education

NAICS

Elementary and Secondary Schools (611110), Educational Services (611)

SIC

Services-Educational Services (8200)

akta.pro primary industry

Nonsectarian Independent Day Schools (EDAJABAA)

akta.pro secondary industries

Charter Career & Technical Education (CTE) Schools (EDAJACAK), Charter Special Education & Inclusive Programs (EDAJACAF)

Keywords

• Secondary education
• Academy school
• STEM enrichment
• Character education
• Community hub services

Headquarters

HQ city

Manchester

HQ country

United Kingdom

HQ region

Europe

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Infrastructure, Operations, Technology or R&D, Marketing or Sales, Others

Revenue model

1. Government School Funding: Per-pupil government funding allocated through United Learning Trust, covering core educational operations, staff salaries, and facilities maintenance.
2. Facility Lettings: Revenue generated from hiring school facilities including the Main Hall, Drama Studio, Dance Studio, Sports Halls, MUGA 3G Pitch, Conference rooms, and outdoor grounds to community groups and organizations via partner Actihire.
3. After-School Club Fees: Weightlifting Club sessions at £5 per half-term after free trial period. Tag-Wrestling Club offered free of charge.
4. Pupil Premium Funding: Additional government funding for students eligible for free school meals, used to provide uniform assistance, revision materials, and trip contributions through the SCA Supporting Students Fund.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels4 records

Marketing channels7 records

Core offering

Salford City Academy is a state-funded secondary school (Years 7-11) that delivers the national Key Stage 3 and Key Stage 4 curriculum alongside specialised programmes such as the Pioneer Programme (STEM enrichment), ASPIRE Programme (character education and careers), Duke of Edinburgh Award, SEND support, and a Community Hub providing family services, food boxes, and venue lettings. Core education is provided at no direct cost to families through government per-pupil funding routed via United Learning Trust.

Product overview

Salford City Academy is a secondary school offering a comprehensive educational programme through its unified school operations. The core academic curriculum spans Key Stages 3 and 4 across diverse subjects including English, Mathematics, Science, humanities, languages, and arts. Supporting the curriculum are specialist programmes: the Pioneer Programme provides enhanced STEM education with hands-on projects like go-kart building; the ASPIRE Programme delivers character education, student leadership, and careers guidance; and the Duke of Edinburgh Award offers personal development through volunteering and expeditions. Digital services including the Arbor App for parental communication, ParentPay for payments, and Sora digital library for reading access enhance the educational experience. The school also operates a Community Hub offering family support services and facilities lettings, along with wellbeing services including counselling and SEND support.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• Pioneer Programme: A STEM-focused enhanced curriculum programme for students with strong interest and aptitude in Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics, featuring hands-on enrichment projects and national competitions.
• STEM On Track
• ASPIRE Programme
• Step Beyond
• Feel Good Fridays
• Community Hub

Products and services

• Secondary Academic Curriculum (Years 7-11) A broad and balanced curriculum for students aged 11-16 covering Key Stage 3 (Years 7-9) and Key Stage 4 (Years 10-11), including core subjects (English, Maths, Science), humanities, languages, arts, technology, and vocational subjects, leading to GCSE qualifications.
• Pioneer Programme An enhanced STEM programme for students with strong interest and aptitude in Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics, featuring accelerated curriculum and hands-on enrichment projects including go-kart building competitions and partnerships with Espire Education and Farrat.
• ASPIRE Programme Character education programme offering opportunities to learn new skills, challenge oneself, and grow as individuals through clubs, house system (Ignis, Aqua, Terra, Aero), student leadership, careers guidance, and character rewards including Feel Good Fridays.
• Duke of Edinburgh Award Scheme Bronze-level Duke of Edinburgh Award programme for students from Year 9, involving volunteering, skills, fitness, and expedition components to develop well-rounded individuals.
• Step Beyond Careers Programme Comprehensive careers education from Year 7 to Year 11 including university visits, dedicated careers lessons, employer workshops with ITV and Upriser, work experience, and apprenticeship guidance using the Unifrog platform.
• SEND Support Services Special Educational Needs and Disabilities support services including dedicated SENDCo (Mrs Adrienne Devonport), tailored programmes, and transition support for students with additional needs entering Year 7.
• School Counselling Services School-based counselling service supporting students from all year groups with issues including anxiety, eating disorders, coping with change, and bereavement, delivered in partnership with 42nd Street.
• Community Hub Services Community engagement initiative connecting families with support services, food boxes through Rapid Relief Team partnership, Mini Health Checks delivered with Salford Health Improvement Connect, and facilities lettings via Actihire.
• Facilities Lettings Venue hire services offering Main Hall, Drama Studio, Dance Studio, Conference facilities, Sports Halls, MUGA 3G Pitch, and outdoor grounds for community use during evenings, weekends, and school holidays, managed through partner Actihire.
• Weightlifting Club (After-School) After-school Weightlifting Club offered free until October half-term, then £5 per session paid upfront per half-term, available to enrolled students.
• Tag-Wrestling Club (After-School) Free after-school Tag-Wrestling Club held every Tuesday in the Sports Hall, open to enrolled students.
• Library Services and Sora Digital Library Physical library with reading resources, Homework Club, and Student Librarian programme, combined with the Sora online reading platform providing free access to e-books, audiobooks, and magazines with teacher-set reading tasks and progress tracking.

Quantifiable outcome

• More than two-thirds of Year 11 students achieved grade 4 or above in English and Maths (GCSE 2024)
• +5 more outcomes

Named customers2 records

Segments4 records

Ideal customer profiles2 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Integration7 records

Feature3 records

Partnerships

18 partnerships are on record, tiered minor and core.

• Salford Health Improvement ConnectminorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 May 2026Health partnership delivering Mini Health Checks at Family Festival events. Conducted 137 health checks and promoted Brookhouse Walk initiative with pedometer distribution at Family Festival 2026.
• ZooLabminorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 March 2026Delivers biomimicry workshops for Year 7 and 8 STEM Pioneers during British Science Week. Students explore how scientists and engineers take inspiration from nature to design inventions, meeting creatures including cockroaches and spiders.
• Leadership Skills FoundationcoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 October 2025Partnership for Year 8 STEM Leadership Course within Pioneer Programme. Programme helps students develop leadership qualities through activities including planning and delivering STEM lessons to primary school pupils.
• University of SalfordminorChannel Partner/ Reseller/ Distributor · 1 October 2025University attending annual Careers Fair to advise students on higher education pathways, courses, and university entry requirements.
• Xaverian CollegeminorChannel Partner/ Reseller/ Distributor · 1 October 2025Further education college attending annual Careers Fair to inform students about A-Level and vocational course options post-GCSE.
• BAE SystemsminorChannel Partner/ Reseller/ Distributor · 1 October 2025Engineering and defense company attending annual Careers Fair to showcase career opportunities in engineering and manufacturing sectors.
• Kier ConstructionminorChannel Partner/ Reseller/ Distributor · 1 October 2025Construction company attending annual Careers Fair to inform students about apprenticeships and careers in construction and engineering.
• English National OperaminorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 October 2025Opera company providing opportunities for Year 9 Music Enrichment students to attend professional opera performances at The Lowry, broadening cultural horizons and building cultural capital.
• Northern Girls Rugby NetworkminorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 September 2025Expert coach James Wright from the network joins SCA every Thursday to deliver Rugby Academy sessions during lunch and enrichment time for students of all year groups and abilities.
• Royal Opera HouseminorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 June 2025Partnership with United Learning delivering opera project. Professional opera singers and artists conduct workshops with students preparing for performances at prestigious venues including Bridgewater Hall.
• Rapid Relief Team (RRT)coreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2025Charitable organization providing essential food boxes for distribution to local families in need through the academy's Community Hub. Boxes contain staple food items and are available for collection at school reception with no questions asked.
• Sale SharksminorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2025Partnership delivering body positivity programme for Year 9 and 10 girls. Sale Sharks Ladies players and Salford Active Community engage with students weekly in rugby fitness activities.
• ITVcoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 November 2024Career guidance and work experience partnership providing apprenticeship panels, speed networking events, creative enrichment days, office tours at MediaCity, and employability workshops. ITV representatives deliver talks at Enrichment Days and Year 11 aspiration events.
• FarratcoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 September 2024Engineering firm sponsoring the STEM on Track programme for Pioneer Programme students. Provides financial support enabling students to design, build, and race custom go-karts in national competition. Representatives attend national final events to support student participants.
• Espire EducationcoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 September 2024Develops and delivers the STEM on Track national schools STEM competition programme. Provides curriculum framework, online learning platform, and coordinates the Grand Prix national final event where students race their custom-built go-karts.
• Eccles RFCcoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 September 2024Rugby union club partnership supporting academy rugby programme. Students graduate from academy rugby sessions to club-level play. Mr Nicholls serves as Junior Chairman at Eccles RFC. Expert coaching provided through partnership with Northern Girls Rugby Network.
• UprisercoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 September 2024Career programme partner working alongside ITV to provide students access to apprenticeship opportunities, networking events, creative activities, office tours, and work experience placements through the Step Beyond programme.
• The Gaddum CentrecoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 September 2024Salford Young Carer Organisation partnership providing support for students with caring responsibilities at home. Community Hub lead Sarah Johnson coordinates with Gaddum to establish weekly Young Carers Hub in school.

Scale indicators11 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights4 records

Direct peers

• Burnage Academy for Boys: Manchester secondary academy with similar urban catchment profile and community-facing ethos. Useful peer for community-hub replication and same-city admissions benchmarking.
• Manchester Communication Academy: United Learning secondary academy in central Manchester, operating a comparable urban state-academy model with a similar catchment demographic and academy conversion history. Directly comparable in scale, governance (UL MAT) and operating context.
• Harrop Fold: Salford-area secondary school serving a comparable post-industrial catchment. Direct geographic peer with overlapping admission geography and similar community-school profile.
• Sale High School: Trafford secondary school in the immediate SCA hinterland, drawing from a similar Greater Manchester family demographic. Comparable in size, curriculum breadth and state-secondary positioning.
• St Ambrose College: Altrincham-based Catholic voluntary aided secondary serving Greater Manchester families. Comparable size, sixth-form presence and aspirational family catchment in the south Manchester market.
• William Hulme's Grammar School: United Learning secondary school in Manchester with a longer academy/MAT history. Closest United Learning peer for benchmarking Pioneer Programme replicability and MAT-wide operating practices.

Regional players

• Pendleton Sixth Form College: Salford-based post-16 institution serving SCA's destination geography. Relevant as a downstream competitor/partner for Year 11 progression routes rather than as a like-for-like KS3-4 peer.
• Loreto Grammar School: Altrincham-based selective Catholic grammar school drawing from the same aspirational south Manchester family pool. Functions as a competitive destination for high-attainment SCA catchment families.

Market position

Strengths4 records

Weaknesses4 records

Competitive moat3 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• Facebookfacebook.com/SalfordCityAcademyUL
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/salfordcity-academy
• Instagraminstagram.com/salfordcityacademy_
• Xx.com/SCA_community

Compliance2 records

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles4 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 Salford City Academy