Dereham Sixth Form College

What Dereham Sixth Form College does

Dereham Sixth Form College is a publicly funded further education institution located in Dereham, Norfolk, England, dedicated exclusively to post-16 education for students aged 16-18. The college offers 30+ A-Level, BTEC, and Cambridge Technical qualifications across arts, sciences, humanities, and vocational subjects, supplemented by specialist programmes including Oxbridge/Medicine preparation, the Extended Project Qualification (EPQ), the Gold Duke of Edinburgh Award, and the DESA football academy in partnership with Dereham Town Football Club. It operates as part of Unity Education Trust, a multi-academy trust (Company No. 10591822), sharing leadership with Northgate High School.

The college's core technology is standard educational infrastructure — a website, digital prospectus, and online library catalogue — with no proprietary platforms disclosed. Academic delivery is led by subject-specialist Heads of Department across roughly 20 departments, supported by a Learning Support team for SEND students, a librarian-led research skills programme, and a careers function aligned with the Gatsby Benchmarks. Marketing and student acquisition run through open evenings, digital prospectus, social media (Facebook, Instagram, Twitter), and partnerships with feeder high schools via the national 'helpyouchoose' application service.

The revenue model is government-funded rather than tuition-driven: the college receives funding from the Education and Skills Funding Agency (ESFA) for educational delivery and administers the 16-19 Bursary Fund (including a £1,200/year Nominated Bursary) for student financial support. As a publicly funded institution, it does not charge tuition to eligible 16-18 year olds. Financial figures are not publicly disclosed, and governance is exercised through Unity Education Trust's board, with an Academy Stakeholder Committee established in February 2023 to support community engagement.

Name

Dereham Sixth Form College

Legal name

Dereham Sixth Form College

Website

https://dsfc.org.uk

Company type

Private

Founded year

1970

Operating status

Operating

Short description

Dereham Sixth Form College is a publicly funded post-16 institution in Norfolk, England, part of Unity Education Trust, offering 30+ A-Level, BTEC, and Cambridge Technical qualifications to 16-18 year old students, with specialist Oxbridge/Medicine, EPQ, and football academy programmes.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Further Education / Post-16 Secondary Education

NAICS

Colleges, Universities, and Professional Schools (6113), Junior Colleges (6112)

SIC

Services-Educational Services (8200)

akta.pro primary industry

University/College Continuing Education (Extension) Programs (EDAAAEAA)

Keywords

• Post-16 education
• A-Level courses
• BTEC qualifications
• Further education college
• University preparation

Headquarters

HQ city

Dereham

HQ country

United Kingdom

HQ region

Europe

Offices2 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Infrastructure, Marketing or Sales, Others

Revenue model

1. Government Education Funding: Publicly funded further education institution receiving government funding for 16-18 year old students. Revenue comes from the Education and Skills Funding Agency (ESFA) for educational delivery and the 16-19 Bursary Fund for student financial support.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels2 records

Marketing channels4 records

Core offering

Dereham Sixth Form College is a publicly funded further education institution that delivers A-Level, BTEC, Cambridge Technical, and Applied Diploma qualifications for students aged 16-18. It offers 30+ subjects across arts, sciences, humanities, and vocational pathways, supplemented by specialist programs such as Oxbridge/Medicine preparation, the Extended Project Qualification (EPQ), Gold Duke of Edinburgh Award, and the DESA football academy. The college combines subject specialist teaching with university-style pastoral tutoring, SEND support, and a Super Curriculum Skills and Futures programme.

Product overview

Dereham Sixth Form College is a dedicated sixth form institution offering A Level, BTEC, and Cambridge Technical qualifications across 30+ subjects. The college provides a mix of A Levels (including Art, Biology, Business, Chemistry, Computer Science, Drama, English, Geography, History, Law, Maths, PE, Philosophy, Physics, Psychology, Sociology, and Languages), vocational BTEC courses (Music, Health and Social Care, Sports/DESA), and applied diplomas (Criminology, Early Childhood Development, Medical Science, Mental Health). The college also offers specialist programs including Oxbridge and Medicine preparation, Extended Project Qualification (EPQ), and the Gold Duke of Edinburgh Award. The DESA (Dereham Education Soccer Academy) program combines BTEC Sports with football training at Dereham Town FC. Students study three A-Level subjects with option blocks, supported by pastoral care, university-style tutorials, and a Super Curriculum Skills and Futures (SCSF) program.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• DESA (Dereham Education Soccer Academy): A football academy programme created in 2013 in partnership with Dereham Town Football Club, allowing students to study BTEC qualifications alongside football training and competitive fixtures.

Products and services

• A Level Biology AQA A Level covering biological molecules, cells, organisms exchange, genetics, energy transfers, and control of gene expression with three exam papers. Up to 80 students take this course in recent years.
• A Level Chemistry OCR A A Level covering atoms, equations, acid-base reactions, periodic table, enthalpy, organic chemistry, and transition elements across three exam papers.
• A Level Computer Science OCR A Level focusing on processors, software development, data types, algorithms, computational thinking, and programming projects using Python.
• A Level Physics OCR A Level covering forces, motion, electrons, waves, photons, Newtonian world, astrophysics, and particles with Practical Endorsement.
• A Level Maths and Further Maths Edexcel A Levels covering quadratics, calculus, coordinate geometry, statistics, mechanics, and further topics including complex numbers and differential equations.
• A Level Business Studies AQA A Level covering business objectives, marketing, finance, people management, operations, and business strategy across three papers.
• A Level Economics AQA A Level covering individual economic decision making, market failure, macroeconomic performance, and international economy across three papers.
• A Level Law AQA A Level covering English Legal System, criminal law, tort, contract law, and jurisprudential theory across three papers.
• A Level History Edexcel A Level covering Britain transformed 1918-97, USA 1920-55, witch craze in Europe, and First World War origins across three papers plus coursework.
• A Level Geography AQA A Level covering coastal systems, hazards, water and carbon cycles, global systems, and population through fieldwork and three assessment components.
• A Level Psychology AQA A Level covering social influence, memory, attachment, clinical psychology, biopsychology, research methods, and forensic psychology across three papers.
• A Level Sociology AQA A Level covering education, crime and deviance, families and households, and media with theory and methods across three papers.
• A Level English Literature AQA B A Level covering aspects of tragedy, political and social protest writing, and critical theory through three texts including Shakespeare.
• A Level English Language and Literature AQA A Level developing independent reading, analysis, and creative writing skills covering Remembered Places, Imagined Worlds, and Poetic Voices.
• A Level Art, Craft & Design WJEC Eduqas A Level offering diverse media options including Fine Art, Textile Design, Photography, Graphic Design, and Three Dimensional Design endorsements.
• A Level Fine Art Eduqas A Level exploring painting, drawing, sculpture, printmaking, photography, and lens-based media with emphasis on independent creative development.
• A Level Graphic Design and Communication Eduqas A Level creatively designing outcomes for design briefs including book covers, posters, and CD covers following the design process.
• A Level Design and Technology Eduqas A Level combining design and technology skills for future design careers including product designer, architect, and engineer roles.
• A Level Photography WJEC Eduqas A Level covering aperture, shutter speed, digital editing, Photoshop, and various photography genres with personal investigation.
• A Level Dance AQA A Level covering historical and current dance practices including work by Christopher Bruce and Rambert Dance Company with practical and written assessments.
• A Level Drama and Theatre Studies AQA A Level developing enjoyment of drama through studying historical periods, performance skills, and theatre analysis across three components.
• A Level Physical Education AQA A Level covering applied anatomy, physiology, exercise physiology, sport psychology, biomechanics, and practical performance assessment.
• A Level Philosophy OCR Religious Studies A Level covering Philosophy of Religion, Religious Ethics, and Developments in Religious Thought across three papers.
• A Level French AQA A Level developing fluent French communication through sophisticated topics of current and cultural interest, including study of Molière and French films.
• A Level Spanish AQA A Level developing fluent Spanish communication through social, political, and artistic topics including García Lorca and Spanish films.
• A Level Environmental Science AQA A Level taking scientific approach to understanding global environment, challenges, and solutions covering living environment, energy resources, and sustainability.
• Applied Diploma in Criminology WJEC Level 3 qualification covering types of crime, campaigns for change, investigative techniques, and criminal justice system study.
• Extended Certificate in Early Childhood Development Pearson BTEC Level 3 qualification investigating children's care and education sector with work placement in nursery or primary school.
• Media Studies WJEC A Level covering music videos, advertising, newspapers, radio, film, television, and media in the global age with practical production units.
• BTEC Music Pearson BTEC Level 3 National Certificate in Music Performance covering contemporary music across periods and genres with solo and ensemble performance.
• Cambridge Technical Health and Social Care Pearson BTEC Level 3 qualification providing perspective on contemporary issues in health, social care, education, and criminal justice sectors.
• Mental Health: Individuals and Society Cambridge OCR Level 3 Advanced National covering mental health concepts, wellbeing factors, society's role, and community-based support across five units.
• Medical Science Pearson Level 3 National Extended Certificate covering principles of human physiology, health issues, diagnostic techniques, and practical microbiology. New for September 2026.
• Extended Project Qualification (EPQ) AQA Level 3 qualification equivalent to half an A Level offering independent research project as 5,000 word report or artefact with 1,500 word report.
• Gold Duke of Edinburgh Award Life-changing opportunity valued by employers and universities covering volunteering, physical, skills, expedition, and residential sections.
• Oxbridge and Medicine Program Specialist support program for Oxbridge, Medicine, Dentistry, and Veterinary Medicine applicants including residential visits, UCAS guidance, and interview practice, with partner college relationships at University of Oxford (Christchurch) and University of Cambridge (Gonville and Caius).
• DESA - Dereham Education Soccer Academy BTEC Nationals Sports Coaching and Development program combined with 8 hours weekly football training at Dereham Town FC with UEFA qualified coaches and competitive fixtures.

Quantifiable outcome

• Students consistently achieve higher results than the national average

Segments1 record

Ideal customer profiles1 record

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Partnerships

One partnership is on record.

• Unity Education TrustcoreOthersDereham Sixth Form College is a proud member of Unity Education Trust, a multi-academy trust operating multiple schools in Norfolk. The trust provides governance, strategic direction, and shared services including HR, finance, and legal support. The college operates alongside Northgate High School under shared leadership.

Scale indicators4 records

Recent moves2 records

Expansion highlights4 records

Direct peers

• Reigate College: High-performing UK sixth form college consistently posting strong A-Level outcomes. Closely comparable in mission, scale, curriculum breadth, and Oxbridge-prep focus, providing a benchmark for academic quality and program design.
• Long Road Sixth Form College: Cambridge-based sixth form college with similar post-16 specialist identity, broad A-Level/BTEC mix, and strong university progression focus. Comparable on curriculum model and target student demographic.
• Hills Road Sixth Form College: Large, high-attaining Cambridge-based sixth form college with an extensive Oxbridge and medicine preparation programme. Highly comparable model: dedicated post-16 campus, broad A-Level/BTEC mix, and strong partner relationships with the University of Cambridge.
• Barton Peveril Sixth Form College: One of the largest sixth form colleges in the UK, offering a comparable A-Level and vocational portfolio on a dedicated post-16 campus. Useful benchmark for scale, curriculum breadth, and outcomes at the upper end of the sixth form sector.

Regional players

• City College Norwich: Major Norfolk further education college offering A-Levels, vocational courses, and apprenticeships. Direct regional competitor drawing students from the same Norfolk/East of England catchment that Dereham Sixth Form College serves.
• College of West Anglia: Nearby further education college serving Norfolk and Cambridgeshire with A-Level and vocational provision. Overlapping geographic catchment and similar publicly-funded model make it a relevant regional comparison.
• Easton & Otley College (now merged under Suffolk New College): East-of-England post-16/FE provider with A-Level and vocational programs serving adjacent counties. Relevant regional comparison for further education vs. sixth form competition dynamics.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Xtwitter.com/derehamsixthform
• Facebookfacebook.com/derehamsixthformcollege
• Instagraminstagram.com/derehamsixthformcollege
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/dereham-sixth-form-college

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles7 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 Dereham Sixth Form College