COLFE'S SCHOOL
Colfe's School is an academically selective, co-educational independent day school in South East London, founded in 1652 and governed by the Leathersellers' Livery Company. It educates pupils aged 3-18 across Junior, Senior, and Sixth Form stages with a Microsoft Showcase-accredited digital programme.
- Company typePrivate
- Founded-
- HeadquartersLondon, United Kingdom
- Headcount251–500
- GTM typeB2C
- OfferingServices
What COLFE'S SCHOOL does
Colfe's School is an academically selective, co-educational independent day school located in South East London (Horn Park Lane, SE12 8AW), founded in 1652 by Reverend Abraham Colfe and governed since inception by the Leathersellers' Livery Company. It educates approximately 1,000+ pupils aged 3-18 across three integrated stages: Junior School (EYFS and Key Stages 1-2), Senior School (Years 7-11 covering GCSE across 19 academic departments), and Sixth Form (Years 12-13 offering A-levels and BTEC across 17 subject areas). The school also operates sports grounds, an athletics track, and a climbing centre across multiple South East London sites.
The school's academic core is built around broad curriculum delivery (18+ A-level subjects), distinctive pastoral and wellbeing programmes (Tougher Minds resilience training developed with Tougher Minds consultancy, and the Eudaimonia virtue-ethics curriculum), the Goldsmiths Colfe's Interim Examination (GCiE) co-developed with Goldsmiths, University of London, and a Microsoft Showcase School-accredited digital learning programme. Co-curricular offerings include 100+ clubs and societies, Combined Cadet Force (with Army Air Corps and RAF flights), Duke of Edinburgh's Award at Bronze/Silver/Gold, and a structured outdoor education programme with residential expeditions. Careers support spans Years 7-13 and incorporates Morrisby psychometric profiling, UCAS and Unifrog platforms, and a biennial Careers Fair with 100+ professional guests.
Revenue is generated primarily through recurring annual tuition fees charged to families at five admission entry points (3+, 4+, 7+, 11+, 16+). The school is registered as a charitable company limited by guarantee in England and Wales (Company No. 5352523, Charity No. 1109650), reinvesting surplus into operations. Supplementary income comes from donations to the Colfe's Charitable Trust (established 1978), Leathersellers' Foundation grants funding the Leatherseller Scholarship Programme (means-tested, fully-funded Sixth Form places for disadvantaged pupils from state schools), and the recently established endowment fund. The customer base is individual families in South East London plus a scholarship segment drawing from local state schools. Go-to-market is direct admissions via the school website, Open Events, school visits, and the Old Colfeian alumni referral network.
COLFE'S SCHOOL firmographics
Firmographics- Name
- COLFE'S SCHOOL
- Legal name
- Colfe's School
- Website
- https://colfes.com
- Company type
- Private
- Operating status
- Operating
- Headcount range
- 251–500 employees
- Short description
- Colfe's School is an academically selective, co-educational independent day school in South East London, founded in 1652 and governed by the Leathersellers' Livery Company. It educates pupils aged 3-18 across Junior, Senior, and Sixth Form stages with a Microsoft Showcase-accredited digital programme.
- Ownership category
- akta.pro rank
COLFE'S SCHOOL industry classification
Industry- Product category
- Independent Education
- NAICS
- Elementary and Secondary Schools (611110)
- SIC
- Services-Educational Services (8200)
- akta.pro primary industry
- International/Global Curriculum Schools (IB, Cambridge, etc.) (EDAJABAG)
Keywords
Where COLFE'S SCHOOL is headquartered
LocationHeadquarters
- HQ city
- London
- HQ country
- United Kingdom
- HQ region
- Europe
Offices5 records
Markets served
COLFE'S SCHOOL business model
Business model- GTM type
- B2C
- Offering type
- Services
- Cost components
- Personnel, Operations, Infrastructure, Marketing or Sales
Revenue model
- School Fees: Colfe's School generates revenue primarily through tuition fees for students aged 3-18. The school is a registered charity (1109650) and operates as a charitable company limited by guarantee.
Pricing tiers
| Model | Billing | Price |
|---|---|---|
| Subscription | Annual | Full-fee paying places for all year groups |
Go-to-market motion1 record
Distribution channels1 record
Marketing channels6 records
COLFE'S SCHOOL product offering
Product offeringCore offering
Colfe's School is an independent co-educational day school in South East London delivering full-time education to pupils aged 3-18 across three stages: Junior School (EYFS and Key Stages 1-2), Senior School (Years 7-11, GCSE) and Sixth Form (Years 12-13, A-levels and BTEC). The school sells tuition places funded primarily by annual fees, supplemented by the Leatherseller Scholarship Programme which provides fully-funded means-tested Sixth Form places to state-school applicants. Academic delivery spans 19 departments including Sciences, Mathematics, Computer Science, Languages, Humanities and Creative Arts, supported by extensive co-curricular programmes and a Microsoft Showcase School-recognised digital learning curriculum.
Product overview
Colfe's School is an independent co-educational day school founded in 1652, providing education for pupils aged 3-18 across three key stages: Junior School (EYFS and Key Stages 1-2), Senior School (Years 7-11 covering GCSE), and Sixth Form (Years 12-13 offering A-levels and BTEC). The school operates as a unified educational institution supported by distinct programmes including the Leatherseller Scholarship Programme for fully-funded Sixth Form places, a comprehensive Digital Learning Programme recognised as a Microsoft Showcase School, and over 100 clubs and societies. Academic delivery spans 19 departments including Sciences, Mathematics, Computer Science, Languages, Humanities, and Creative Arts. The school provides integrated careers guidance through its Careers and Apprenticeships Programme, outdoor education including Duke of Edinburgh's Award and Combined Cadet Force, and alumni engagement via the Colfesnet networking platform. The Colfe's Charitable Trust and Old Colfeian Society support fundraising and alumni relations activities.
Differentiator
Problem solved
Functional benefit
Products and services
- Junior School (EYFS - Year 6) Independent day education for pupils aged 3-11 covering EYFS, Key Stage 1 and Key Stage 2, including the academic curriculum, co-curricular activities in art, drama, music and sports, pastoral care, wraparound care and after-school clubs. Sold to parents as a per-pupil annual tuition place.
- Senior School (Year 7-11) Independent secondary education for pupils aged 11-16 covering GCSE preparation across 19 academic departments (Sciences, Mathematics, Computer Science, English, Modern Languages, Humanities, Creative Arts) plus co-curricular sport, drama, music, outdoor education and over 100 clubs and societies. Sold to parents as a per-pupil annual tuition place.
- Sixth Form (Year 12-13) Post-16 independent education offering A-levels and BTEC qualifications across 17 subject areas including Business, Economics, Politics, Sciences, Mathematics, Computer Science and Languages, with bespoke careers guidance, UCAS application support, Oxbridge and Medics preparation programmes. Sold to parents as a per-pupil annual tuition place.
- Leatherseller Scholarship Programme Fully-funded, means-tested Sixth Form scholarship providing comprehensive academic scholarships to talented pupils from local state schools who demonstrate academic potential and economic need, supporting up to 16 students annually with full tuition and additional enrichment opportunities.
- Colfesnet Alumni Networking Platform Standalone alumni networking website enabling Old Colfeians to reconnect with former classmates, access mentorship opportunities for current students, grow professional networks and stay informed about school news. Free and automatic membership for all former pupils.
Quantifiable outcome
- 95% of A-level grades were A*-B in 2025
- +4 more outcomes
Companies that use COLFE'S SCHOOL
Customer profileNamed customers7 records
Segments2 records
Ideal customer profiles2 records
COLFE'S SCHOOL technology and API
TechnologyTechnology focussed No
API detail
- Has API
- No
- API docs
- API detail
Core technology
AI maturity
App detail
Integration1 record
Feature3 records
COLFE'S SCHOOL partnerships and signals
Strategic signalPartnerships
Five partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.
- Leathersellers' CompanycoreThe school has been governed by the Leathersellers' Livery Company since its founding in 1652. The Leathersellers' Foundation funds the Leatherseller Scholarship Programme providing fully-funded places for disadvantaged Sixth Form students.
- Goldsmiths, University of LondoncoreCollaborative partnership to develop the Goldsmiths Colfe's Interim Examination (GCiE), an exclusive examination registered with UCAS that supports students' informed subject choices and provides university application benefits.
- Trinity Laban Conservatoire of Music and DanceminorStrong working partnership with one of London's leading music colleges. Pupils have opportunities for collaborative projects with conservatoire students and attend recital series featuring Trinity Laban students.
- UCAScoreOfficial university application platform used by all Sixth Form students. School provides comprehensive UCAS programme including personal statement support, reference writing, and application guidance.
- MicrosoftcoreAs a Microsoft Showcase School, Colfe's has integrated Microsoft technology across its curriculum. The school has achieved Showcase School status for two consecutive years.
Scale indicators8 records
Recent moves6 records
Expansion highlights6 records
COLFE'S SCHOOL competitors and assessment
Company assessmentDirect peers
- King's College School, Wimbledon: Highly regarded London independent day school in South-West London with a strong academic record and Russell Group university placement rates. Operates in a closely comparable day-school, A-level-based model.
- Trinity School, Croydon: Independent co-educational day school in South London serving pupils aged 10-18. Operates a similar HMC-equivalent model with comparable curriculum (GCSE/A-level) and competes for South London fee-paying families.
- Haberdashers' Aske's Hatcham College: Co-educational independent day school in New Cross / SE London, also historically aligned to a Livery Company (Haberdashers'). Competes with Colfe's for the same South East London pupil pool across similar age groups.
- Eltham College: Co-educational independent day school in South East London serving pupils 7-18. Eltham College is one of the closest geographic and demographic comparables to Colfe's, competing directly for the same South East London family market.
- Sevenoaks School: Co-educational independent day and boarding school in Kent serving pupils 11-18, known for IB curriculum and academic excellence. Comparable to Colfe's on size, co-ed model and aspirational London/south-east academic positioning.
- Reigate Grammar School: Co-educational independent day school in Surrey covering ages 2-18 with GCSE and A-level curriculum. Comparable scale, day-only model, and academic positioning to Colfe's within the south-east England independent market.
- City of London School: Leading central London independent day school for boys, with comparable curriculum and league-table positioning. While single-sex, City of London competes with Colfe's for top London academic families.
Broad incumbents
- Dulwich College: Large, long-established independent day school (with boarding) in South East London. Overlaps significantly with Colfe's on geography and curriculum but operates at much larger scale and serves a more international, premium market segment.
- Westminster School: One of Britain's most prestigious independent schools in central London. Not a direct co-ed peer, but its league-table performance and Oxford/Cambridge placement rates set the benchmark Colfe's aspires to within the London independent sector.
- North London Collegiate School: Leading London independent day school (girls, with co-ed Junior) with elite university placement track record. Different demographic focus but competes for top London academic families and represents a benchmark for premium positioning.
Market position
Strengths5 records
Weaknesses5 records
Competitive moat6 records
Key risks6 records
Key highlights6 records
Customer concentration
COLFE'S SCHOOL social profiles
Digital presenceCOLFE'S SCHOOL compliance and trust
Trust signalCompliance1 record
COLFE'S SCHOOL financial estimates
Financial estimateRevenue estimate
Valuation estimate
COLFE'S SCHOOL leadership team
Management profileNumber of profiles
Profiles9 records
COLFE'S SCHOOL funding detail
Funding detailFunding overview
Funding rounds
Investors
Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
COLFE'S SCHOOL 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 COLFE'S SCHOOL
What does COLFE'S SCHOOL do?
Colfe's School is an independent co-educational day school in South East London delivering full-time education to pupils aged 3-18 across three stages: Junior School (EYFS and Key Stages 1-2), Senior School (Years 7-11, GCSE) and Sixth Form (Years 12-13, A-levels and BTEC). The school sells tuition places funded primarily by annual fees, supplemented by the Leatherseller Scholarship Programme which provides fully-funded means-tested Sixth Form places to state-school applicants. Academic delivery spans 19 departments including Sciences, Mathematics, Computer Science, Languages, Humanities and Creative Arts, supported by extensive co-curricular programmes and a Microsoft Showcase School-recognised digital learning curriculum.
Is COLFE'S SCHOOL a public or private company?
COLFE'S SCHOOL is a private company. It is classified as nonprofit foundation owned and is currently operating.
When was COLFE'S SCHOOL founded?
COLFE'S SCHOOL was founded in -1. It employs 251 to 500 people.
Where is COLFE'S SCHOOL based?
COLFE'S SCHOOL is headquartered in London, United Kingdom, in the Europe region.
How does COLFE'S SCHOOL make money?
One revenue line is on record: school Fees.
Who are COLFE'S SCHOOL's main competitors?
Direct peers on record are King's College School, Wimbledon, Trinity School, Croydon, Haberdashers' Aske's Hatcham College, Eltham College, Sevenoaks School, Reigate Grammar School and City of London School. Broad incumbents are Dulwich College, Westminster School and North London Collegiate School.
Does COLFE'S SCHOOL have an API?
No public API is recorded for COLFE'S SCHOOL.
What industry is COLFE'S SCHOOL in?
COLFE'S SCHOOL's product category is Independent Education. Its primary akta.pro industry code is EDAJABAG, International/Global Curriculum Schools (IB, Cambridge, etc.). Its NAICS code is 611110 and its SIC code is 8200.