Farnham Sixth Form College
Farnham College is a further and higher education institution in Farnham, Surrey, operating within the Activate Learning group and serving 16-18 school leavers, adult learners, SEND students, and apprentices with A Levels, vocational programmes, apprenticeships through Degree Level 7, ESOL, and Higher Education courses.
- Company typePrivate
- Founded2018
- HeadquartersFarnham, United Kingdom
- Headcount—
- GTM typeB2C
- OfferingServices
What Farnham Sixth Form College does
Farnham College (also referenced as Farnham Sixth Form College) is a further and higher education institution located on Morley Road in Farnham, Surrey, operating as a campus within the Activate Learning group. The college delivers academic and vocational programmes across five broad streams: 16-18 Further Education (A Levels, vocational courses, GCSE retakes), adult learning, apprenticeships at Levels 2 through 7, ESOL and language programmes, and Higher Education (Foundation Degrees, HNC/HND, Top-up degrees). It serves school leavers aged 16-18, adults seeking qualifications or career changes, learners with special educational needs and disabilities, and apprenticeship candidates placed with a network of 1,250+ employers including BMW, Decathlon, Merlin Entertainments, Miele, and Halfords. University progression routes are established with Oxford Brookes, Reading, Southampton Solent, and Winchester.
The college's core technology platform is ALO (Activate Learning Online), a Canvas-based learning management system with separate internal and external portals for students, staff, employers and partners. Supporting tools include an online application portal, ExamNet for exam timetable management, an ALO Chatbot for enquiry handling, and a personalised digital prospectus system. The college holds Ofsted 'Good' rating (2022), AoC Beacon Award for SEND support (2019), and Matrix Accreditation (2022) for careers guidance, with reported outcomes of 81.8% A*-C pass rate (4 percentage points above national average) and 95% graduate progression to work or higher education.
Revenue mechanics are primarily government-funded for 16-18 programmes, supplemented by fee-based adult tuition, apprenticeship levy and employer co-funding, ESOL course fees (£275 per term), and Higher Education tuition with Advanced Learner Loans available. Marketing and enrolment run through open events, a schools partnership team, an interactive careers quiz, career pathway content, and organic social channels (Facebook, YouTube, Instagram). The institution is a privately-operated UK further education college; no private equity, venture capital, or public listing signals were identified.
Farnham Sixth Form College firmographics
Firmographics- Name
- Farnham Sixth Form College
- Legal name
- Farnham College
- Website
- https://farnham.activatelearning.ac.uk
- Company type
- Private
- Founded year
- 2018
- Operating status
- Operating
- Short description
- Farnham College is a further and higher education institution in Farnham, Surrey, operating within the Activate Learning group and serving 16-18 school leavers, adult learners, SEND students, and apprentices with A Levels, vocational programmes, apprenticeships through Degree Level 7, ESOL, and Higher Education courses.
- Ownership category
- akta.pro rank
Farnham Sixth Form College industry classification
Industry- Product category
- Further Education
- NAICS
- Junior Colleges (61121), Colleges, Universities, and Professional Schools (6113), Technical and Trade Schools (6115)
- SIC
- Services-Educational Services (8200)
- akta.pro primary industry
- Junior Colleges (Associate-Degree Granting) (EDAHADAC)
- akta.pro secondary industries
- University/College Continuing Education (Extension) Programs (EDAAAEAA), Professional & Applied Skills Noncredit Certificates (Non-licensure) (EDAAAEAD), Workforce Development & Continuing Education Divisions (Noncredit) (EDAHADAG)
Keywords
Where Farnham Sixth Form College is headquartered
LocationHeadquarters
- HQ city
- Farnham
- HQ country
- United Kingdom
- HQ region
- Europe
Offices1 record
Markets served
Farnham Sixth Form College business model
Business model- GTM type
- B2C
- Offering type
- Services
- Cost components
- Personnel, Infrastructure, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Technology or R&D
Revenue model
- Government-funded Further Education: Primary revenue stream from government funding for 16-18 year old students. Students aged 16-18 on funded further education programmes pay no tuition fees. Students aged 19-24 with EHCP also receive funded tuition.
- Adult Education Tuition: Fee-based programmes for adult learners (19+) at Levels 1, 2 and 3, with eligibility for Advanced Learner Loans for Level 3/4 programmes. Free for those earning under £25,750 or unemployed seeking employment.
- Apprenticeship Levy/Employer Funding: Apprenticeship programmes funded through employer levy contributions and government top-up funding. Employers pay into the apprenticeship levy and receive funds for training apprentices at Intermediate (Level 2), Advanced (Level 3), Higher (Levels 4-5) and Degree (Levels 6-7) levels.
- ESOL and Language Course Fees: English for Speakers of Other Languages courses charged at £275 per term with potential for lower or higher fees depending on circumstances. IELTS preparation and citizenship preparation courses also offered on fee basis.
- Higher Education Programmes: University-level courses including Foundation Degrees (FDA/FDSc), HNC/HND, and Top-up BA/BSc degrees, with associated tuition fees and potential for student loans.
Pricing tiers
| Model | Billing | Price |
|---|---|---|
| Subscription | Annual | 16-18 Further Education - No tuition fees for funded programmes |
| Subscription | Annual | 19-24 with EHCP - No tuition fees for funded programmes |
| Subscription | Term | ESOL Courses - £275 per term |
| Subscription | Annual | 19+ Level 2 or below - Income-based fee remission |
| Subscription | Annual | 19+ Level 3 - Free Courses for Jobs or Advanced Learner Loan |
Go-to-market motion1 record
Distribution channels5 records
Marketing channels8 records
Farnham Sixth Form College product offering
Product offeringCore offering
Farnham Sixth Form College is a UK further education college delivering post-16 academic and vocational programmes including A Levels, vocational courses, apprenticeships, ESOL, SEND provision, and higher education qualifications. The college operates as part of the Activate Learning group and serves school leavers, adult learners, and apprentices through on-campus and employer-based delivery.
Product overview
Farnham College is a further and higher education institution offering a broad portfolio of academic and vocational programmes. The core student-facing product is ALO (Activate Learning Online), a Canvas-based learning management system. Academic programmes are structured through the STEP-STRIVE-STRETCH progression ladder: STEP provides one-year GCSE retake courses for students with mostly grade 3s; STRIVE offers a one-year GCSE boost for those with five grade 4s; and STRETCH delivers the standard two-year A Level programme for students with five grade 5s minimum. Vocational programmes span Levels 1-3 across multiple industries. Specialist offerings include apprenticeships (Levels 2-7), ESOL courses, SEND/Supported Foundation programmes, and career-specific pathways such as the Space Pathway and Forensic Science route. The college also provides a personalised digital prospectus and an online application portal.
Differentiator
Problem solved
Functional benefit
Brands
- MindGreen: Activate Learning's wellbeing and inclusion initiative dedicated to supporting student and staff mental health while creating opportunities for wider participation, connection, and community impact.
- Activate Apprenticeships
Products and services
- A Level Programmes Two-year academic qualifications for 16-18 year-old students preparing for university entry or higher-level study, delivered on campus at Farnham College.
- Vocational Courses Work-related vocational qualifications providing practical skills for direct entry into employment or further training, targeted at 16-18 and adult learners.
- Apprenticeships Workplace-based training programmes combining on-the-job learning with off-the-job instruction, co-funded by employers and the government.
- ESOL Programmes English language courses for non-native speakers, supporting integration, further study, and employment.
- SEND Programmes Tailored educational programmes for learners with special educational needs and disabilities, providing additional support within the further education setting.
- Higher Education Courses Higher education qualifications (such as HNCs/HNDs or foundation degrees) delivered through the college, providing progression routes beyond A Levels.
Quantifiable outcome
- 95% of graduates go into work or higher education
- +5 more outcomes
Companies that use Farnham Sixth Form College
Customer profileNamed customers9 records
Segments4 records
Ideal customer profiles3 records
Farnham Sixth Form College technology and API
TechnologyAPI detail
- Has API
- No
- API docs
- API detail
Core technology
AI maturity
App detail
Feature3 records
Farnham Sixth Form College partnerships and signals
Strategic signalPartnerships
15 partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.
- Oxford Brookes UniversitycoreStrong university partnership providing UCAS Takeover Week workshops on personal statements and student finance, plus campus fair with 40+ university exhibitors. Second-year A Level students participate in autumn UCAS events.
- University of ReadingcoreLeading university partnership providing UCAS Takeover Week workshops and higher education fair participation. Close links for student progression to undergraduate programmes.
- Southampton Solent UniversitycoreUniversity partnership with close links for student progression. Participates in UCAS Takeover Week and campus higher education fair.
- University of WinchestercoreUniversity partnership with close links for student progression. Participates in UCAS Takeover Week and campus higher education fair.
- Penningtons ManchesminorLeading law firm providing legal masterclasses for A Level students. Part of industry partnership approach to provide real-world insights and career guidance.
- BMWcoreMajor employer partner for apprenticeships through Activate Apprenticeships programme. Part of network of 1,250+ employers offering apprenticeship opportunities across various sectors.
- DecathloncoreSports retailer employer partner for apprenticeships through Activate Apprenticeships programme. Part of 1,250+ employer network.
- Merlin Entertainments GroupcoreEntertainment group employer partner for apprenticeships through Activate Apprenticeships programme. Part of 1,250+ employer network.
- MielecoreManufacturing employer partner for apprenticeships through Activate Apprenticeships programme. Part of 1,250+ employer network.
- HalfordscoreRetail/cycling employer partner for apprenticeships through Activate Apprenticeships programme. Part of 1,250+ employer network.
- Royal Berkshire HospitalcoreSupported internship partner providing work experience opportunities for learners with special education needs and disabilities (SEND). Part of supported internship programme.
- MencapcoreLearning disability charity partner providing supported internship opportunities for SEND learners. Part of supported internship programme recognised by AoC Beacon Awards.
- Oxfordshire Employment ServicescoreLocal authority employment service partner providing supported internship opportunities for SEND learners. Part of supported internship programme with close links to special schools.
- MoreTreesminorEnvironmental partnership through digital prospectus initiative. For every five digital prospectus downloads, a tree is planted through MoreTrees. Current count: 869 trees planted with 4 projects supported.
- Activate Learning GroupcoreParent organisation of Farnham College. Activate Learning is a further education college group managing multiple campuses and providing shared services including Activate Apprenticeships (16,000 apprentices), Activate Business School, and Higher Education programmes.
Scale indicators13 records
Recent moves6 records
Expansion highlights6 records
Farnham Sixth Form College competitors and assessment
Company assessmentDirect peers
- Alton College: Hampshire-based sixth form college providing A Levels, BTECs and some HE programmes, with a comparable student profile and catchment overlap with Farnham.
- Sparsholt College: Hampshire college offering A Levels, vocational programmes, apprenticeships and HE in land-based and related sectors, with comparable further education scope to Farnham.
- East Surrey College (Orbital South Colleges): Surrey further education provider offering A Levels, vocational courses, apprenticeships and adult learning, competing for the same regional cohort as Farnham.
- Brooklands College: Surrey further education college offering A Levels, vocational courses, apprenticeships and adult learning, directly comparable in scope and geography to Farnham College.
- Godalming College: Surrey sixth form college offering A Levels and a broad post-16 curriculum within a short distance of Farnham, serving an overlapping applicant pool.
- Guildford College: A sister campus within the Activate Learning group, offering similar further education, HE and apprenticeship provision in Surrey, sharing back-office and apprenticeship network.
- Reading College: Another Activate Learning sister college, providing further education, HE and apprenticeship programmes in Berkshire with shared group infrastructure and employer network.
- Esher College: A Surrey-based sixth form college offering A Levels and vocational programmes to 16-19 year olds, directly competing with Farnham for the same school-leaver cohort in the surrounding geography.
- Reigate College: Surrey sixth form college offering A Level and vocational pathways, competing directly with Farnham for high-attaining 16-18 students in Surrey.
Broad incumbents
- LTE Group: A large UK further education and training group operating multiple colleges and employer-facing programmes. Comparable as a broader FE incumbent competing for apprenticeship levy, HE and adult learner funding across the same policy environment as Activate Learning/Farnham.
Market position
Strengths5 records
Weaknesses5 records
Competitive moat4 records
Key risks6 records
Key highlights7 records
Customer concentration
Farnham Sixth Form College social profiles
Digital presenceFarnham Sixth Form College financial estimates
Financial estimateRevenue estimate
Valuation estimate
Farnham Sixth Form College leadership team
Management profileNumber of profiles
Profiles1 record
Farnham Sixth Form College funding detail
Funding detailFunding overview
Funding rounds
Investors
Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Farnham Sixth Form College 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 Farnham Sixth Form College
What does Farnham Sixth Form College do?
Farnham Sixth Form College is a UK further education college delivering post-16 academic and vocational programmes including A Levels, vocational courses, apprenticeships, ESOL, SEND provision, and higher education qualifications. The college operates as part of the Activate Learning group and serves school leavers, adult learners, and apprentices through on-campus and employer-based delivery.
Is Farnham Sixth Form College a public or private company?
Farnham Sixth Form College is a private company. It is classified as nonprofit foundation owned and is currently operating.
When was Farnham Sixth Form College founded?
Farnham Sixth Form College was founded in 2018.
Where is Farnham Sixth Form College based?
Farnham Sixth Form College is headquartered in Farnham, United Kingdom, in the Europe region.
How does Farnham Sixth Form College make money?
Five revenue lines are on record. Government-funded Further Education is the primary driver. The others are adult Education Tuition, apprenticeship Levy/Employer Funding, ESOL and Language Course Fees and higher Education Programmes.
Who are Farnham Sixth Form College's main competitors?
Direct peers on record are Alton College, Sparsholt College, East Surrey College (Orbital South Colleges), Brooklands College, Godalming College, Guildford College, Reading College, Esher College and Reigate College. LTE Group is listed as a broad incumbent.
Does Farnham Sixth Form College have an API?
No public API is recorded for Farnham Sixth Form College.
What industry is Farnham Sixth Form College in?
Farnham Sixth Form College's product category is Further Education. Its primary akta.pro industry code is EDAHADAC, Junior Colleges (Associate-Degree Granting), with a secondary code of EDAAAEAA, University/College Continuing Education (Extension) Programs. Its NAICS code is 61121 and its SIC code is 8200.