Altus Education Partnership

What Altus Education Partnership does

Altus Education Partnership is a multi-academy trust headquartered in Rochdale, Greater Manchester, England, operating five schools and colleges that deliver state-funded education from primary through post-16. The trust was founded in 2017 and operates as an exempt charity and company limited by guarantee. Its portfolio comprises Bamford Academy (primary), Caldershaw Primary School (primary, joined July 2025), Edgar Wood Academy (secondary), Kingsway Park High School (secondary, joined February 2022), and Rochdale Sixth Form College (post-16, TES Sixth Form College of the Year 2021). The trust serves nearly 5,000 students and employs 497 staff across the network.

The trust's core "products" are its academies themselves, augmented by shared central services covering finance, HR, governance, marketing, communications, school improvement, and IT. Outside of the academy portfolio, the trust runs three community programmes: Children's University (a free extra-curricular engagement scheme for primary pupils, with 622 graduates in 2026 across 13 schools), REACH (an online enrichment hub for young people aged 11+), and the Altus Community Hub (broader community outreach). Technology usage is limited to operational platforms such as the myHappyMind wellbeing programme; no proprietary technology stack, AI, or API offerings are disclosed.

The business model is state-funded education: the trust receives UK government per-pupil funding, charges no tuition fees, and operates under standard local-authority admissions processes. Revenue is not publicly disclosed. Go-to-market is community-led, relying on local reputation, outreach through community programmes, recruitment fairs, and partnerships with bodies such as the Children's University Trust, Rochdale Council, and Rochdale Development Agency. Customer segments span primary and secondary pupils, post-16 students, education professionals, and local community members, all served free at the point of use within the Rochdale borough.

Name

Altus Education Partnership

Legal name

Altus Education Partnership

Website

https://altusep.com

Company type

Private

Founded year

2017

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

101–250 employees

Short description

Altus Education Partnership is a Rochdale-based multi-academy trust operating five state-funded schools and colleges (primary through post-16) serving nearly 5,000 students, with central services and community programmes including Children's University and REACH enrichment.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

K-12 Education

NAICS

Elementary and Secondary Schools (6111), Colleges, Universities, and Professional Schools (61131)

SIC

Services-Educational Services (8200)

akta.pro primary industry

Public Middle Schools (EDAJAAAC)

Keywords

• Multi-academy trust
• Primary education
• Secondary education
• Sixth form college
• Community education programmes

Headquarters

HQ city

Rochdale

HQ country

United Kingdom

HQ region

Europe

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

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

Revenue model

1. Government Education Funding: As a multi-academy trust, Altus Education Partnership receives government funding for education services based on student enrollment across its academies. Funding supports operational costs, staff salaries, and educational programmes.

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels1 record

Marketing channels7 records

Core offering

Altus Education Partnership is a multi-academy trust operating five academies across the borough of Rochdale covering primary, secondary, and post-16 education (Bamford Academy, Caldershaw Primary School, Edgar Wood Academy, Kingsway Park High School, and Rochdale Sixth Form College). The trust provides centralised services including finance, HR, governance, school improvement, marketing, communications, and IT, and operates community programmes (Children's University, REACH, and Altus Community Hub) that extend educational enrichment beyond the classroom.

Product overview

Altus Education Partnership is a multi-academy trust operating a portfolio of five educational institutions across the borough of Rochdale: Bamford Academy (primary), Caldershaw Primary School (primary), Edgar Wood Academy (secondary), Kingsway Park High School (secondary), and Rochdale Sixth Form College (post-16). The trust provides shared central services including finance, school improvement, HR, governance, marketing, communications, and IT. In addition to its academies, the trust operates three community programmes: Children's University (rewarding extra-curricular engagement for primary pupils), REACH (an online enrichment hub for 11+ young people), and the Altus Community Hub. The trust's central digital presence is its website, which serves as the primary platform for communicating with stakeholders about its educational and community services.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• Children's University: A free offer to all Rochdale primary schools, recognising and rewarding engagement in extra-curricular activity.
• REACH
• Altus Community Hub

Products and services

• Bamford Academy Primary academy within the Altus Education Partnership trust, offering education from Reception to Year 6 for primary school children. Early Adopter of the government's Breakfast Club programme with Bamford Boost! pilot.
• Caldershaw Primary School Primary school that joined the Altus Education Partnership in July 2025, rated 'Outstanding' by Ofsted, serving the local community with Gold myHappymind accreditation for mental health and wellbeing.
• Edgar Wood Academy Secondary academy within the trust inspected by Ofsted in June 2026 and found to meet the 'Expected' standard in all areas. Hosts careers fairs with 40+ professionals and the Power2 'Teens & Toddlers' mentoring programme.
• Kingsway Park High School Secondary school that joined Altus Education Partnership in February 2022, rated 'Good' by Ofsted, with strong progression pathways to Rochdale Sixth Form College (nearly 1,000 students over 10+ years). Developing Support Space vocational provision.
• Rochdale Sixth Form College Sixth form college consistently rated 'Outstanding' by Ofsted and named TES Sixth Form College of the Year in 2021, offering A-Level and BTEC qualifications. 99.2% A-Level pass rate, 78% first-choice university placement, 48% Sutton 30 universities placement in 2025.
• Children's University Free programme for primary school children in Rochdale in partnership with the Children's University Trust, recognising and rewarding engagement in extra-curricular activities with certificates for completing 30+ hours of activity. 622+ pupils graduated in 2026 from 13 schools plus 1 community group.
• REACH Centralised online hub showcasing local enrichment activities for young people aged 11+. Works with diverse providers and partners to ensure quality local activities supporting skill development, confidence, and community engagement.
• Altus Community Hub Community outreach initiative providing resources and support to the wider Rochdale community, recognised at the Rochdale Diversity Awards 2025 for work on Children's University, REACH, and community initiatives.

Quantifiable outcome

• 99.2% A-Level pass rate at Rochdale Sixth Form College (2025)
• +9 more outcomes

Named customers17 records

Segments6 records

Ideal customer profiles3 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Partnerships

Ten partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• Rochdale Development Agency: Rochdale CreatescoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2026Altus Education Partnership is supporting Rochdale Development Agency's bid for Rochdale to become the UK Town of Culture in 2028. The trust is participating in the #WeAreRochdale campaign showcasing local talent and cultural initiatives.
• Power2coreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2026Power2 delivers the 'Teens & Toddlers' mentoring programme at Edgar Wood Academy, partnering teenagers with pre-school children in early years settings. Programme supports attendance re-engagement and confidence building, filmed as BBC short documentary.
• Children's University Graduation 2026 SponsorsminorGTM or Marketing Partner · 1 January 2026Sponsors for Children's University 2026 graduation: Casey Construction, Edgar Wood Academy, Hopwood Hall College, Just Teachers, Kingsway Park High School, Lancaster University, Madeleine Lindley, The Ogden Trust, Rochdale BID, Rochdale Sixth Form College, Rochdale Training, University of Salford, Star Academies, Top Marks Education
• Place2BeminorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2026Partnership delivering counselling and drop-in services across Altus academies as part of Children's Mental Health Week 2026 and ongoing wellbeing support.
• KoothminorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2026External partner delivering assemblies and providing confidential mental health support information to pupils and students across Altus academies.
• Kingsway Park Support SpaceminorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2025Altus Education Partnership secured the old NHS Clinic adjacent to Kingsway Park High School to develop vocational provision including gym, hairdressing/barbering, design technology and construction facilities. Seeking local company partnerships for tools, equipment, materials, and uniform donations.
• Children's University TrustcoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2024Partnership delivering the Children's University programme across Rochdale primary schools. The free programme recognises and rewards engagement in extra-curricular activity with graduation ceremonies at Rochdale Town Hall. Altus hosts the local programme with 622+ children graduating in 2026.
• REACH (rochdalereach.co.uk)coreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2024REACH is a centralised, online hub showcasing local enrichment offer for young people aged 11+ years. Partnership works with diverse providers and partners to ensure quality local activities supporting skill development, confidence, and community engagement.
• Rochdale CouncilcoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2023Rochdale Council represented at Altus Recruitment Fair alongside academies, NASUWT, NEU and Metro Moneywise. Local authority partnership for education sector careers and community engagement.
• Kingsway Park High SchoolcoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2012Kingsway Park High School joined Altus Education Partnership on 1st February 2022, having worked closely with Rochdale Sixth Form College for over 10 years prior to joining. Nearly 1000 students progressed from Kingsway to RSFC in that period.

Scale indicators17 records

Recent moves8 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Direct peers

• Northern Education Trust: Multi-academy trust operating in the North of England across primary, secondary and alternative provision. Direct regional comparable to Altus on geography (Northern England), scope (multi-phase) and willingness to take on alternative provision/SEMH-style work.
• Greenwood Academies Trust: Mid-sized UK MAT running primary and secondary academies across the Midlands and East. Comparable on portfolio size (~5–10 schools), phase mix, and reliance on community engagement for admissions.
• Dixons Academies Trust: Northern-based multi-academy trust known for strong academic outcomes at secondary and post-16, including A-Level results that regularly feature among the country's highest. Highly comparable on the post-16 outcomes dimension that drives Altus's RSFC reputation.
• Oasis Community Learning: National multi-academy trust running Oasis academies that explicitly bundle educational delivery with community hubs and family services. Closest strategic analogue to Altus's combination of schools plus Children's University, REACH and Altus Community Hub programmes.

Broad incumbents

• Harris Federation: Major UK multi-academy trust with primary and secondary academies (and some sixth form) across London and the South East. Comparable through its academy-sponsor model, growth by acquisition and academic-outcome driven admissions strategy.
• Star Academies: Large UK multi-academy trust operating primary, secondary and post-16 provision across multiple regions. Star is explicitly named as a Children's University graduation sponsor alongside Altus, indicating direct overlap in the Rochdale community programmes and a comparable MAT operating model.
• Ark Schools: UK multi-academy trust running academies focused on academic outcomes in areas of disadvantage. Comparable to Altus in prioritising attainment metrics in lower-affinity areas and operating a portfolio brand across multiple academies.
• United Learning: One of the UK's largest multi-academy trusts operating both state-funded academies and independent schools across primary, secondary and sixth form. Comparable to Altus in operating a vertically integrated, multi-phase portfolio under a single charitable trust structure.

Regional players

• Hopwood Hall College: Further education college based in Rochdale/Middleton delivering post-16 vocational and academic programmes. Comparable to Rochdale Sixth Form College as a regional post-16 provider and named Children's University graduation sponsor in Altus's data.

Emerging players

• Reach Academy Feltham: Smaller UK academy trust operating an all-through primary-to-post-16 model with a strong community/wellbeing orientation. Closely comparable to Altus's vertical integration ethos and community-hub programmes, though at smaller scale.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/AltusEducation
• Facebookfacebook.com/AltusEducationPartnership
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/altus-education-partnership

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles7 records

Subsidiaries5 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 Altus Education Partnership