Shire Oak Academy
Shire Oak Academy is a state-funded secondary school in Walsall Wood, UK, serving approximately 1,471 students aged 11-18 across Years 7-13. It operates under The Mercian Trust multi-academy trust and is funded primarily by the Department for Education through per-pupil grants.
- Company typePrivate
- Founded2018
- HeadquartersWalsall, United Kingdom
- Headcount101–250
- GTM typeB2C
- OfferingServices
What Shire Oak Academy does
Shire Oak Academy is a comprehensive secondary school located in Walsall Wood, Walsall, UK, serving approximately 1,471 students aged 11-18 across Years 7-13. The academy is part of The Mercian Trust multi-academy trust, which it joined on 1 January 2018, and currently operates under an Interim Executive Board (IEB) appointed by the trust to provide temporary governance leadership. Core provision consists of secondary education (Years 7-11) following the National Curriculum and a Sixth Form (Years 12-13) offering A-Levels and vocational qualifications including BTEC courses. Supporting modules include the ASPIRE character development programme, CEIAG careers education aligned with Gatsby Benchmarks, pastoral support services, SEND provision, and Pupil Premium support for disadvantaged students.
The academy's technology stack is entirely third-party: Microsoft Teams serves as the remote learning platform, ClassCharts provides real-time behaviour and achievement tracking with parent-facing access, and the school website is hosted on Greenhouse School Websites. The Sixth Form uses Applicaa as an online application portal. No proprietary technology, AI/ML capabilities, or patented systems are present. Revenue is generated almost exclusively from government sources — primarily Department for Education per-pupil funding via the Education and Skills Funding Agency, supplemented by Pupil Premium grants, the 16-19 Bursary Fund, and catering revenue from Innovate through multiple outlets (Main Counter, Street Vibes, Trattoria, Loakal). The academy does not charge tuition fees; ancillary revenue sources include meal sales (from £2.75) and uniform supply partnerships.
The academy's customer base is its student population and their families, with admissions conducted through Year 7 intake (200+ students annually), mid-year admissions, and Sixth Form applications. Marketing channels include the official website, Facebook, Instagram, in-person open days, and digital prospectus materials. Governance is overseen by the IEB chaired by Professor Will Foster, with key partnerships including Microsoft, ClassCharts, Vaccination UK, Operation Encompass (Walsall Council and West Midlands Police), and the Gatsby Foundation. The academy has received a Food for Life Partnership Silver Award for its catering standards.
Shire Oak Academy firmographics
Firmographics- Name
- Shire Oak Academy
- Legal name
- The Mercian Trust (A company limited by Guarantee)
- Website
- https://shireoakacademy.co.uk
- Company type
- Private
- Founded year
- 2018
- Operating status
- Operating
- Headcount range
- 101–250 employees
- Short description
- Shire Oak Academy is a state-funded secondary school in Walsall Wood, UK, serving approximately 1,471 students aged 11-18 across Years 7-13. It operates under The Mercian Trust multi-academy trust and is funded primarily by the Department for Education through per-pupil grants.
- Ownership category
- akta.pro rank
Where Shire Oak Academy is headquartered
LocationHeadquarters
- HQ city
- Walsall
- HQ country
- United Kingdom
- HQ region
- Europe
Offices1 record
Markets served
Shire Oak Academy business model
Business model- GTM type
- B2C
- Offering type
- Services
- Cost components
- Personnel, Operations, Technology or R&D, Infrastructure, Marketing or Sales, Supply Chain
Revenue model
- Government Funding (DfE): State-funded academy receiving revenue from the Department for Education via the Education and Skills Funding Agency. Funding is based on pupil numbers and specific grants.
- Pupil Premium Funding: Additional government funding allocated to support disadvantaged students who are in care of the local authority, eligible for free school meals, or have been in the last six years.
- 16-19 Bursary Fund: Government-funded financial support for eligible students aged 16-19 to allow them to remain in education. Includes vulnerable bursary (up to £1,200) and discretionary bursary (up to £1,000 plus meal support).
- Catering Services: Food services provided through Innovate catering, generating revenue from meal sales at multiple outlets (Main Counter, Street Vibes, Trattoria, Loakal). The academy has received Food for Life Partnership Silver Award.
Pricing tiers
| Model | Billing | Price |
|---|---|---|
| Other | Other | Breakfast Club - Free for all students |
| Other | Other | Vulnerable Bursary - Up to £1,200 |
| Other | Other | Discretionary Bursary - Up to £1,000 plus meals |
| Unit Pricing | Pay-as-you-go | Catering - Meal Deal pricing |
Go-to-market motion2 records
Distribution channels3 records
Marketing channels6 records
Shire Oak Academy product offering
Product offeringCore offering
Shire Oak Academy is a state-funded secondary school providing full secondary education for students aged 11-18 across Years 7-13, delivering the National Curriculum, GCSEs, A-Levels, and BTEC qualifications. As a Mercian Trust academy, it also offers pastoral support, careers guidance (CEIAG), remote learning via Microsoft Teams, and pupil premium support for disadvantaged students. The school operates from a single campus in Walsall Wood and serves approximately 1,471 pupils.
Product overview
Shire Oak Academy is a secondary school offering a unified educational service spanning Years 7-13. The core provision consists of secondary education (Years 7-11) delivering the National Curriculum across core subjects, Arts, Humanities, and Design and Technology, alongside a Sixth Form providing A-Level and vocational qualifications. Supporting modules include Remote Learning via Microsoft Teams, Pastoral Support Services, CEIAG careers guidance, ClassCharts behaviour tracking, the ASPIRE Character Programme, and Pupil Premium support for disadvantaged students. These services operate as an integrated whole under The Mercian Trust multi-academy trust structure.
Differentiator
Problem solved
Functional benefit
Products and services
- Secondary Education (Years 7-11) Comprehensive secondary education programme for students in Years 7 through 11, following the National Curriculum with emphasis on English, Maths, Science, PE, and RE. The curriculum includes core subjects, Arts, Humanities, Modern Foreign Languages, and Design and Technology.
- Sixth Form (Years 12-13) Post-16 education offering full-time Level 3 academic and vocational qualifications including A-Level and BTEC courses. The sixth form provides preparation for higher education, employment, and life through academic courses, enrichment activities, and extra-curricular opportunities.
- 16-19 Bursary Fund Support Government-funded financial support for eligible students aged 16-19 to allow them to remain in education. Includes vulnerable bursary (up to £1,200) and discretionary bursary (up to £1,000 plus meal support), covering meals, transport, uniform, books, stationery, laptop and printer costs.
- Careers Education, Information, Advice and Guidance (CEIAG) Structured careers programme providing impartial careers advice, employer encounters, workplace experiences, and guidance on further education, universities, apprenticeships, and technical routes. Includes one-to-one adviser appointments and enrichment days.
- Pupil Premium Support Programme Additional funding programme supporting students who are in care of the local authority, eligible for free school meals, or have been in the last six years. Aims to improve outcomes for disadvantaged students through targeted support and resources.
- ASPIRE Character Development Programme Character development programme building on core ASPIRE values (Aspirational, Success, Participation, Integrity, Responsibility, Excellence) to help students develop key behaviours and a strong moral code for active citizenship.
Companies that use Shire Oak Academy
Customer profileNamed customers1 record
Segments4 records
Ideal customer profiles3 records
Shire Oak Academy technology and API
TechnologyTechnology focussed No
API detail
- Has API
- No
- API docs
- API detail
Core technology
AI maturity
App detail
Integration2 records
Feature3 records
Shire Oak Academy partnerships and signals
Strategic signalPartnerships
Seven partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.
- The Mercian TrustcoreOn 1st January 2018, Shire Oak Academy joined The Mercian Trust, a multi-academy trust. The trust provides governance leadership, strategic direction, and shared resources across member schools. The trust operates from Mercian House, Sutton Road, Walsall, WS1 2PG.
- AquAidminorThe academy has water coolers from AquAid. With each purchase, a donation is made to The Africa Trust which builds 'Elephant Pumps' for clean water in Africa. AquAid has built over 10,000 pumps across Liberia, Malawi, Mozambique and Zimbabwe and donated over £20 million to charity.
- MicrosoftcoreMicrosoft Teams platform used for remote learning, enabling students to access assignments, participate in virtual classes, and communicate with teachers. Students log in using school-provided email accounts.
- ClassChartscoreOnline behaviour and achievement tracking system. Staff use it to track achievement and behaviour throughout the school day. Parents can securely access real-time reports including recognition points, behaviour points, attendance, timetable, and announcements via the ClassCharts app.
- Vaccination UKminorHealthcare provider that delivers vaccinations in school. Organises HPV injections for Year 8 students (2 doses) and DTP/MenACWY injections for Year 9 students.
- Gatsby FoundationminorCareer education framework based on 8 Gatsby Benchmarks: stable career programme, labour market information, addressing student needs, linking curriculum to careers, employer encounters, workplace experiences, further/higher education encounters, and personal guidance.
- Walsall Council and West Midlands PolicecoreJoint participation in Operation Encompass - a scheme to help schools provide support to children who have been present at domestic violence incidents. Academy receives confidential communication the morning after any domestic incident where a student may have been involved.
Scale indicators9 records
Recent moves7 records
Expansion highlights6 records
Shire Oak Academy competitors and assessment
Company assessmentDirect peers
- Queen Mary's Grammar School: Selective boys' grammar school in Walsall, referenced in Shire Oak's governance team's prior experience. Directly comparable as a local secondary competing for the same high-attaining cohort.
- Queen Mary's High School: Single-sex girls' secondary school located in Walsall, serving the same West Midlands catchment. Comparable as a state-funded secondary provider competing for the same Year 7 and Sixth Form intake.
- Blue Coat Church of England Academy: Secondary school in Walsall with a similar faith-affiliated ethos and broad 11-18 curriculum. Directly comparable as a local secondary competing for pupils in the same catchment.
- Aldridge School: Secondary school located in Aldridge within the broader Walsall borough. Directly comparable as a neighbouring state secondary competing for the same Year 7 intake.
- St Francis of Assisi Catholic College: Catholic secondary school in the Walsall area offering a comparable 11-18 educational programme. Directly comparable as a local faith-affiliated secondary competing for the same pupil cohort.
- Joseph Leckie Academy: State-funded secondary academy in Walsall serving a similar demographic. Directly comparable as a nearby academy competing for the same pupil intake and operating under a similar UK secondary-school funding model.
Broad incumbents
- Oasis Community Learning: Large UK multi-academy trust referenced in Shire Oak's governance team's background. Comparable as a broader incumbent running a network of UK secondary academies under a similar state-funded model.
- Ark Schools: Large UK multi-academy trust referenced in Shire Oak's governance team's background. Comparable as a broader incumbent operating a portfolio of UK secondary academies with similar funding model and curriculum scope.
Regional players
- Walsall College: Further-education college in Walsall offering post-16 academic and vocational pathways. Comparable as an alternative post-16 destination competing with Shire Oak's Sixth Form for 16-19 students in the same region.
Market position
Strengths4 records
Weaknesses4 records
Competitive moat5 records
Key risks6 records
Key highlights7 records
Customer concentration
Shire Oak Academy social profiles
Digital presenceShire Oak Academy financial estimates
Financial estimateRevenue estimate
Valuation estimate
Shire Oak Academy leadership team
Management profileNumber of profiles
Profiles12 records
Shire Oak Academy funding detail
Funding detailFunding overview
Funding rounds
Investors
Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Shire Oak Academy 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 Shire Oak Academy
What does Shire Oak Academy do?
Shire Oak Academy is a state-funded secondary school providing full secondary education for students aged 11-18 across Years 7-13, delivering the National Curriculum, GCSEs, A-Levels, and BTEC qualifications. As a Mercian Trust academy, it also offers pastoral support, careers guidance (CEIAG), remote learning via Microsoft Teams, and pupil premium support for disadvantaged students. The school operates from a single campus in Walsall Wood and serves approximately 1,471 pupils.
Is Shire Oak Academy a public or private company?
Shire Oak Academy is a private company. It is classified as nonprofit foundation owned and is currently operating.
When was Shire Oak Academy founded?
Shire Oak Academy was founded in 2018. It employs 101 to 250 people.
Where is Shire Oak Academy based?
Shire Oak Academy is headquartered in Walsall, United Kingdom, in the Europe region.
How does Shire Oak Academy make money?
Four revenue lines are on record. Government Funding (DfE) is the primary driver. The others are pupil Premium Funding, 16-19 Bursary Fund and catering Services.
Who are Shire Oak Academy's main competitors?
Direct peers on record are Queen Mary's Grammar School, Queen Mary's High School, Blue Coat Church of England Academy, Aldridge School, St Francis of Assisi Catholic College and Joseph Leckie Academy. Broad incumbents are Oasis Community Learning and Ark Schools. Walsall College is listed as a regional player.
Does Shire Oak Academy have an API?
No public API is recorded for Shire Oak Academy.