Manchester Communication Academy

What Manchester Communication Academy does

Manchester Communication Academy (MCA) is a state-funded, mixed, non-selective secondary school located in Harpurhey, North Manchester, operating under the umbrella of the Greater Manchester Academies Trust (GMAT, established 2016, Company Number 6754335). The academy delivers the standard English secondary curriculum across Years 7 to 11, covering core academic subjects plus Creative Arts, Physical Education, PSHE, and a careers programme aligned to the Gatsby Benchmarks. Its pupils are drawn entirely from the local Harpurhey and surrounding North Manchester community, with admissions processed through the Manchester City Council admissions framework.

The school's product offering spans a core secondary education programme and an unusually broad portfolio of supporting modules: SEND support via The Hub, the Extended School Activities (ESA) enrichment programme requiring a minimum of two clubs per week per pupil, the Thrive employability-skills programme, the Aspire PSHE/RSE curriculum, MCA Today pastoral and wellbeing check-ins, a Young Carers Club, the Bread and Butter community food hub (£7.70 for ~£35 of groceries) and the Work Safari employer-encounter initiative. Technology is limited to third-party, off-the-shelf edtech platforms (Google Meet, Unifrog, Class Charts). The academy also operates a teacher-training arm through partnerships with Ambition Institute and Learn with FA1 covering Initial Teacher Training, the Early Career Framework, and National Professional Qualifications. It holds Manchester Communication Research School status, providing EEF-aligned CPD to other schools.

Revenue mechanics are typical of a UK state-funded academy: per-pupil funding via the Department for Education / Manchester local-authority formula, supplemented by pupil premium, SEND top-ups, and trust-level shared-service allocations under GMAT. There is no disclosed commercial revenue line. Growth is signalled by a September 2026 capital programme delivering a dedicated Year 7 Only School (eight classrooms plus specialist ICT, Music, Art, Food and DT spaces), an 11-laboratory science block and a 4G pitch (the latter positioned for community hire). The academy is led by Headteacher Susan Watmough (appointed 2019) under the governance of GMAT and an Interim Chair of Governors.

Name

Manchester Communication Academy

Legal name

Manchester Communication Academy

Website

http://www.manchestercommunicationacademy.com/

Company type

Private

Operating status

Operating

Short description

Manchester Communication Academy is a state-funded, mixed non-selective secondary school in Harpurhey, Manchester, serving Years 7 to 11 within the Greater Manchester Academies Trust and delivering a full secondary curriculum alongside enrichment, SEND, careers and community programmes.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Secondary Education

NAICS

Elementary and Secondary Schools (6111), Elementary and Secondary Schools (611110), Educational Support Services (611710)

SIC

Services-Educational Services (8200)

akta.pro primary industry

Instructional Delivery & Pedagogy (School-Led) (EDAJAFAB)

akta.pro secondary industry

Literacy & ELA Instruction (School-Delivered) (EDAJAFAF)

Keywords

• Secondary education
• Secondary school education
• Careers education guidance
• Special educational needs
• Extra-curricular activities

Headquarters

HQ city

Manchester

HQ country

United Kingdom

HQ region

Europe

Offices2 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Infrastructure, Technology or R&D, Others

Distribution channels1 record

Marketing channels6 records

Core offering

Manchester Communication Academy is a mixed, non-selective state-funded secondary school in Harpurhey, Manchester, delivering a comprehensive Year 7 to Year 11 (GCSE) curriculum across core academic subjects. The core offering is augmented by structured enrichment programmes including careers education and guidance (CEIAG) tied to Gatsby Benchmarks, Work Safari work experience, the Thrive employability skills programme, Aspire PSHE/RSE curriculum, Extended School Activities (ESA) extra-curricular clubs, SEND support via The Hub, and pastoral wellbeing services. The academy also operates community-facing programmes such as the Bread and Butter affordable food hub and the free Holiday Club.

Product overview

Manchester Communication Academy is a mixed, non-selective secondary school serving local children in Manchester, part of Greater Manchester Academies Trust. The school offers a comprehensive educational programme spanning Years 7-11, built around a core secondary education curriculum complemented by support services and enrichment programmes. The product portfolio includes the main Secondary Education Programme alongside specialized modules including the Careers Education and Guidance Programme (with Work Safari work experience), SEND Support Services, the ESA (Extended School Activities) Programme, Thrive Employability Skills Programme, Aspire PSHE Curriculum, Teacher Training Programme with Early Career Framework, MCA Today pastoral programme, and community initiatives such as the Bread and Butter food hub, Young Carers Club, and Holiday Club Programme. Development projects include a Year 7 Only School, State-of-the-art Science Block, and 4G Pitch all opening September 2026.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Secondary Education Programme (Years 7-11)
• Careers Education and Guidance Programme (CEIAG)
• SEND Support Services
• Extended School Activities (ESA) Programme
• Thrive Employability Skills Programme Employability skills programme focused on communication, teamwork, leadership, computer skills, problem solving and resilience, with students tracking progress in a Thrive Graduation log for college and job applications.
• Aspire PSHE Curriculum Relationship and Sex Education (RSE) curriculum integrated with a broader PSHE programme covering personal development, health education, and character development aligned with British Values.
• Work Safari Programme Work experience initiative for Year 10 students providing workplace insight and career pathways through partnerships with employers including Wythenshawe Hospital, Robert Walters, Catella APAM, FEC Development Management, Arcadis, WSP, and Manchester Airport.
• MCA Today Pastoral Programme Pastoral and wellbeing programme providing daily check-ins, progress monitoring, and family partnership support, including a Senior Mental Health Lead and Family Partnerships Officers.
• Bread and Butter Community Hub Community food programme offering weekly groceries at reduced prices (£7.70 for approximately £35 worth of food, family size £8.50, small £4, large double £17), open Tuesdays at 3:30pm, providing fresh fruit, vegetables, chilled goods and cupboard staples from surplus food.
• Young Carers Club Supportive community for students who care for loved ones, providing workshops, counselling services, educational support, and recreational activities for young carers.
• Holiday Club Programme Free holiday programme for children in years 3-9 (aged 7-14), running February Half Term 2026 from 9:30am-3pm with free breakfast and lunch, including cooking, dance, drama, sports, and STEM education activities.

Quantifiable outcome

• Top 20% of schools nationally for student progress
• +2 more outcomes

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

14 partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• Greater Manchester Academies Trust (GMAT)coreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2016MCA is part of Greater Manchester Academies Trust, established in 2016. The Trust provides governance, support, and strategic direction for the academy. Trust details: Company Number 6754335, Registered Office at Silchester Drive, Harpurhey, Manchester, M40 8NT. The Trust board oversees local governing body reporting.
• Manchester Communication Research SchoolcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerPart of the Research Schools network providing training and support for schools informed by the latest EEF (Education Endowment Foundation) guidance.
• Learn with FA1 (Forward as One CE Multi Academy Trust)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartnership for teacher training and professional development. Provides Initial Teacher Training, Early Career Framework, and National Professional Qualifications delivery as part of the Learn with FA1 and Ambition Northwest Hub.
• Ambition InstitutecoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerEducation charity partnered to deliver the Early Career Framework induction programme and National Professional Qualifications. Supports development of early career teachers and school leaders.
• FFT (Fischer Family Trust)minorOthersFFT provides attendance benchmarking data and awards recognition for schools performing in top 25% for attendance among similar schools.
• Wythenshawe Hospital (NHS Professionals)minorGTM or Marketing PartnerYear 10 Health & Social Care students attended career insight morning on October 15th 2025, participating in activities and discussing career pathways with NHS professionals.
• City PressminorGTM or Marketing PartnerYear 10 Work Safari on November 26th 2026 where students engaged in brainstorming and speed networking tasks learning about different roles.
• Robert WaltersminorGTM or Marketing PartnerRecruitment specialist hosting Year 10 students on December 1st 2025 for interview opportunities, CV writing workshop, and scenario presentations.
• Catella APAMminorGTM or Marketing PartnerReal estate and accountancy firm providing work safari on December 12th including panel discussion, building tour, and career insights.
• FEC Development ManagementminorGTM or Marketing PartnerConstruction and regeneration company providing February 23rd work safari covering development projects, Victoria North regeneration area, and built environment careers.
• Manchester AirportminorGTM or Marketing PartnerAviation Careers Festival at Runway Visitor Park on February 24th 2026 featuring cabin crew training, airfield operations, and simulator sessions.
• ArcadisminorGTM or Marketing PartnerProfessional services firm hosting work safari on March 17th with activities including ice breakers, structure building, and site error spotting.
• WSPminorGTM or Marketing PartnerEngineering and construction firm providing insight to construction and engineering on May 15th with talks from rail, tram, and bridge engineers.
• NandosminorGTM or Marketing PartnerRestaurant chain hosting work safari on May 20th where students learned about food sourcing, customer service, and kitchen operations.

Scale indicators6 records

Recent moves7 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Direct peers

• Manchester Academy: State-funded secondary academy in Manchester serving a similar urban intake. Closest peer to MCA given shared geography, age range, and non-selective admissions model.
• Burnage Academy for Boys: Secondary academy in Manchester also part of a multi-academy trust, serving a comparable Greater Manchester catchment with a similar non-selective intake model.
• Trinity Church of England High School: Non-selective Manchester secondary school with similar demographic mission and coeducational intake, comparable curriculum breadth and enrichment ethos.
• Wright Robinson College: Secondary school in Manchester serving a comparable urban community with a similar broad curriculum and enrichment programme focus.

Regional players

• Stretford Grammar School: Greater Manchester secondary school operating in a different borough (Trafford) with similar age range, GCSE curriculum, and enrichment approach though serving a more selective intake.

Broad incumbents

• Harris Federation: One of the largest multi-academy trusts in the UK operating many primary and secondary academies. Comparable to GMAT as a trust-level operating model for school networks.
• Ormiston Academies Trust: National multi-academy trust operating dozens of secondary and primary academies, comparable to GMAT in operating model and school-improvement focus.
• United Learning: Large non-profit MAT operating state and independent schools nationally. Comparable trust-level structure and shared services model to GMAT.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses4 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks4 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Xtwitter.com/ManComAcademy
• YouTubeyoutube.com/user/ManComAcademy
• Facebookfacebook.com/ManComAcademy
• Instagraminstagram.com/mancomacademy
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/manchester-communication-academy

Compliance4 records

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles16 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 Manchester Communication Academy