Mander Portman Woodward
Mander Portman Woodward is a UK private education provider founded in 1973, operating three colleges in London, Birmingham, and Cambridge that deliver A Level, GCSE, and International Foundation programmes to fee-paying students aged 14-18, with a focus on small classes and university placement. It is a subsidiary of Kaplan Inc., ultimately owned by Graham Holdings Company.
- Company typePrivate
- Founded1973
- HeadquartersLondon, United Kingdom
- Headcount51–100
- GTM typeB2C
- OfferingServices
Mander Portman Woodward firmographics
Firmographics- Name
- Mander Portman Woodward
- Legal name
- Mander Portman Woodward Limited
- Website
- https://mpw.ac.uk
- Company type
- Private
- Founded year
- 1973
- Operating status
- Operating
- Headcount range
- 51–100 employees
- Short description
- Mander Portman Woodward is a UK private education provider founded in 1973, operating three colleges in London, Birmingham, and Cambridge that deliver A Level, GCSE, and International Foundation programmes to fee-paying students aged 14-18, with a focus on small classes and university placement. It is a subsidiary of Kaplan Inc., ultimately owned by Graham Holdings Company.
- Ownership category
- akta.pro rank
Mander Portman Woodward industry classification
Industry- Product category
- Independent Further Education (A Level & GCSE Tuition)
- NAICS
- Elementary and Secondary Schools (6111), Exam Preparation and Tutoring (611691), All Other Schools and Instruction (61169)
- SIC
- Services-Educational Services (8200)
- akta.pro primary industry
- International/Global Curriculum Schools (IB, Cambridge, etc.) (EDAJABAG)
- akta.pro secondary industries
- Overseas Summer School Programs (Secondary) (EDAIAHAC), K–12 Core Curriculum Small-Group Tutoring Centers (Math/ELA/Science/Social Studies) (EDANAHAA), Subject-Specific Short Courses & Academies (e.g., STEM, Business, Arts) (EDAIAIAC)
Keywords
Where Mander Portman Woodward is headquartered
LocationHeadquarters
- HQ city
- London
- HQ country
- United Kingdom
- HQ region
- Europe
Offices3 records
Markets served
Mander Portman Woodward business model
Business model- GTM type
- B2C
- Offering type
- Services
- Cost components
- Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Technology or R&D, Infrastructure
Revenue model
- A Level Tuition: MPW generates revenue primarily through tuition fees for A Level courses. The college offers two-year, 18-month, and one-year A Level programmes at campuses in London, Birmingham, and Cambridge.
- GCSE/IGCSE Tuition: Revenue from GCSE and IGCSE courses, including one-year and two-year programmes, as well as retake courses for students seeking to improve their grades.
- NCUK Foundation Programme: International Foundation Year programmes delivered at MPW Birmingham and Cambridge campuses, providing guaranteed access to NCUK university partners.
- Summer School: International summer school programmes hosted in London and Cambridge for students aged 13-17, featuring academic courses, cultural activities, and university visits.
- Easter Revision Courses: Intensive revision courses for A Level and GCSE students during the Easter break period.
Pricing tiers
| Model | Billing | Price |
|---|---|---|
| Subscription | Multi-year contract | Academic Programme Enquiry |
Go-to-market motion2 records
Distribution channels2 records
Marketing channels5 records
Mander Portman Woodward product offering
Product offeringCore offering
Mander Portman Woodward provides private A Level and GCSE/IGCSE tuition across three UK campuses (London, Birmingham, Cambridge) for students transitioning from secondary school into UK universities. Core offerings include two-year, 18-month, and one-year A Level programmes across 30+ subjects, GCSE/IGCSE courses, NCUK International Foundation Year, MPW University Foundation, UAL Foundation Diploma, Oxbridge and Medical School preparation, retake courses, Easter Revision, and an international Summer School. All programmes feature small class sizes (average 6, maximum 10 students), personal tutoring, UCAS support, and flexible subject combinations with no pairing restrictions.
Product overview
Mander Portman Woodward (MPW) operates as a group of independent fifth and sixth form colleges offering a comprehensive portfolio of educational programmes across three UK campuses (London, Birmingham, and Cambridge). The core offerings are A Level courses (available in two-year, 18-month, and one-year formats) and GCSE/IGCSE programmes. Supporting programmes include NCUK International Foundation Year, MPW University Foundation Programme, UAL Foundation Diploma, Easter Revision courses, Retake courses, and Extra Tuition. For international students, MPW provides specialised pathways including Summer School, Art Portfolio Programme, and Pre-sessional English. The institution also offers preparation programmes for Oxbridge and Medical School applications. All programmes feature small class sizes (average 6 students for GCSE, under 10 guaranteed) and include a Personal Tutoring System for academic and university application support.
Differentiator
Problem solved
Functional benefit
Products and services
- A Level Courses
Quantifiable outcome
- 92% of NCUK Foundation students achieved grades A*-C (2019/20)
- +2 more outcomes
Companies that use Mander Portman Woodward
Customer profileNamed customers5 records
Segments4 records
Ideal customer profiles4 records
Mander Portman Woodward technology and API
TechnologyTechnology focussed No
API detail
- Has API
- No
- API docs
- API detail
Core technology
AI maturity
App detail
Integration5 records
Feature1 record
Mander Portman Woodward partnerships and signals
Strategic signalPartnerships
Five partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.
- NCUK (Northern Consortium UK)coreMPW delivers the NCUK International Foundation Year at Birmingham and Cambridge campuses. Students who successfully complete the programme gain guaranteed access to thousands of degree courses at NCUK university partners including University of Manchester, University of Sheffield, and others.
- University of ManchestercoreNCUK university partner accepting MPW NCUK Foundation graduates for undergraduate degree programmes including International Business, Finance and Economics.
- University of SheffieldcoreNCUK university partner accepting MPW NCUK Foundation graduates for undergraduate degree programmes.
- Kaplan InccoreMPW is part of Kaplan Inc (Group) which operates multiple education businesses in the UK including Kaplan Higher Education UK Ltd, Kaplan UK Professional, and Kaplan International Pathways. Kaplan's ultimate parent company is Graham Holdings Company based in the USA.
- University of CambridgeminorSummer School programme includes visits to the University of Cambridge as part of the academic and cultural enrichment experience.
Scale indicators6 records
Recent moves6 records
Expansion highlights5 records
Mander Portman Woodward competitors and assessment
Company assessmentDirect peers
- Bellerbys College: Network of UK independent colleges (London, Cambridge, Brighton) delivering A Level, GCSE, and International Foundation Year for international students. Operated by Study Group; directly comparable to MPW's NCUK Foundation pathway business.
- DLD College London: Independent London sixth-form college offering A Level, GCSE, and International Foundation programmes for UK and international students. Directly comparable to MPW on curriculum, customer segments, and premium pricing model.
- Cambridge Tutors College: London-based independent college offering A Level, GCSE, retake, and university foundation programmes with a similar international student focus. Comparable in product mix and direct-to-consumer recruitment.
- Oxford International College: Independent Oxford-based college offering A Level and university foundation programmes with a strong international student intake. Comparable to MPW on premium pricing, small-class teaching, and Oxbridge progression.
- CATS Colleges (Cambridge Education Group): Multi-campus UK independent college group (Cambridge, London, Canterbury) delivering A Level, GCSE, and International Foundation Year. Comparable scale and product breadth to MPW under a similar UK independent college positioning.
- Abbey College Cambridge: Independent Cambridge-based college providing A Level, GCSE, International Foundation, and university preparation programmes. Closely matches MPW's Cambridge campus offering and Oxbridge preparation focus.
- David Game College: Independent London sixth-form college delivering A Level, GCSE, and International Foundation programmes to UK and international students. Comparable on curriculum breadth and small-class differentiation.
- Lansdowne College: London independent sixth-form college offering A Level, GCSE, and retake programmes for UK and international learners. Closely comparable to MPW's London campus on target customer and course mix.
Broad incumbents
- Navitas: Global education provider with a large portfolio of university foundation and pathway programmes including UK operations. Broader incumbent in the same international foundation/transition segment MPW addresses through NCUK.
- Kaplan International Pathways: Sibling business under MPW's parent Kaplan Inc, delivering international foundation and pre-master's pathways globally. Comparable on university pathway product but operates at significantly larger scale and broader geographic footprint.
Market position
Strengths4 records
Weaknesses4 records
Competitive moat5 records
Key risks6 records
Key highlights7 records
Customer concentration
Mander Portman Woodward social profiles
Digital presenceMander Portman Woodward financial estimates
Financial estimateRevenue estimate
Valuation estimate
Mander Portman Woodward leadership team
Management profileNumber of profiles
Profiles3 records
Mander Portman Woodward funding detail
Funding detailFunding overview
Funding rounds
Investors
Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Mander Portman Woodward M&A and investment
M&A and investmentM&A1 record
Investments
M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Frequently asked questions about Mander Portman Woodward
What does Mander Portman Woodward do?
Mander Portman Woodward provides private A Level and GCSE/IGCSE tuition across three UK campuses (London, Birmingham, Cambridge) for students transitioning from secondary school into UK universities. Core offerings include two-year, 18-month, and one-year A Level programmes across 30+ subjects, GCSE/IGCSE courses, NCUK International Foundation Year, MPW University Foundation, UAL Foundation Diploma, Oxbridge and Medical School preparation, retake courses, Easter Revision, and an international Summer School. All programmes feature small class sizes (average 6, maximum 10 students), personal tutoring, UCAS support, and flexible subject combinations with no pairing restrictions.
Is Mander Portman Woodward a public or private company?
Mander Portman Woodward is a private company. It is classified as corporate owned and is currently operating.
When was Mander Portman Woodward founded?
Mander Portman Woodward was founded in 1973. It employs 51 to 100 people.
Where is Mander Portman Woodward based?
Mander Portman Woodward is headquartered in London, United Kingdom, in the Europe region.
How does Mander Portman Woodward make money?
Five revenue lines are on record. A Level Tuition is the primary driver. The others are GCSE/IGCSE Tuition, NCUK Foundation Programme, summer School and easter Revision Courses.
Who are Mander Portman Woodward's main competitors?
Direct peers on record are Bellerbys College, DLD College London, Cambridge Tutors College, Oxford International College, CATS Colleges (Cambridge Education Group), Abbey College Cambridge, David Game College and Lansdowne College. Broad incumbents are Navitas and Kaplan International Pathways.
Does Mander Portman Woodward have an API?
No public API is recorded for Mander Portman Woodward.
What industry is Mander Portman Woodward in?
Mander Portman Woodward's product category is Independent Further Education (A Level & GCSE Tuition). Its primary akta.pro industry code is EDAJABAG, International/Global Curriculum Schools (IB, Cambridge, etc.), with a secondary code of EDAIAHAC, Overseas Summer School Programs (Secondary). Its NAICS code is 6111 and its SIC code is 8200.