The Cavendish School

What The Cavendish School does

The Cavendish School is a state-maintained special free school located in Impington, Cambridgeshire, providing education for autistic pupils aged 7 to 18 (Year 3 through Year 13). It is the world's first IB special autism World School, delivering the International Baccalaureate framework adapted for autistic learners, and operates within the Eastern Learning Alliance multi-academy trust. The school serves up to 124 pupils across Key Stages 2, 3, 4 and Post-16, with current allocation of 40 KS2, 41 KS3, 35 KS4 and 8 Post-16 places, and is reported to be operating at full capacity.

The school's core offer is specialist autism pedagogy built on the IB curriculum, supported by trained SEND teaching and therapy staff. Its operating model is state-funded: income is derived from per-pupil base funding and top-up payments from commissioning local authorities and the Department for Education, rather than from tuition fees. The IB World School accreditation for autism provision is the school's principal differentiating credential and supports inbound placements from authorities beyond its immediate catchment.

As a publicly funded institution within a multi-academy trust, the school has no commercial revenue mechanics, no external pricing model, and no profit motive. Its growth is bounded by physical capacity, capital approvals from the DfE, and the availability of specialist staff. The asset is a service-delivery institution with a regulatory mandate rather than a commercial enterprise.

Name

The Cavendish School

Legal name

The Cavendish School

Website

https://thecavendishschool.org.uk

Company type

Private

Founded year

2021

Operating status

Operating

Short description

The Cavendish School is a state-maintained special free school in Cambridgeshire, delivering the IB curriculum adapted for autistic pupils aged 7 to 18, operating at full 124-place capacity within the Eastern Learning Alliance multi-academy trust.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Special Education Services

NAICS

Elementary and Secondary Schools (61111), Educational Support Services (611710)

SIC

Services-Educational Services (8200)

akta.pro primary industry

Autism-Specific Schools & Programs (EDAKAAAA)

akta.pro secondary industry

Behavioral & Social-Emotional Support (ABA, PBIS, Counseling) (EDAJAKAE)

Keywords

• Special education services
• Autism specialist education
• Special free school
• Therapeutic education
• Inclusive education

Headquarters

HQ city

Cambridge

HQ country

United Kingdom

HQ region

Europe

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

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

Revenue model

1. State Education Funding: State-funded school through Department for Education (DfE) funding and Local Authority commissioning. Education is provided free at point of delivery to pupils with EHCPs.

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels1 record

Marketing channels8 records

Core offering

The Cavendish School is a state-maintained special free school providing specialist education for autistic pupils aged 7-18 (Year 3 to Post-16) holding Education, Health and Care Plans (EHCPs). The school delivers the International Baccalaureate Primary Years Programme (PYP) for Years 3-8, a Preparing for Adulthood programme in Year 9, GCSE and BTEC qualifications for Years 10-11, and Open University pathways for Post-16. Education is integrated with on-site therapeutic services including Occupational Therapy, Speech and Language Therapy, Educational Psychology, and Art Therapy, and is delivered free of charge through Department for Education and Local Authority commissioning.

Product overview

The Cavendish School is a specialist provision for autistic pupils offering a structured educational journey from Year 3 through Post-16. The school operates a tiered curriculum model: the International Baccalaureate Primary Years Programme (PYP) for Years 3-8, a hybrid Year 9 Preparing for Adulthood programme, GCSE and BTEC qualifications for Years 10-11, and Post-16 Open University pathways. The educational offering is underpinned by therapeutic services (OT, SaLT, EP, Art Therapy), the Enabling-the-Self personal development curriculum, and enrichment programmes including Forest School, E-Sports BTEC, and Duke of Edinburgh Award. Administrative services include ParentPay for payments and ePlatform for digital library access.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• International Baccalaureate Primary Years Programme (PYP) IB-authorized curriculum for Years 3-8 using inquiry-based learning and developing 10 IB learner profile attributes, balanced with holistic personal development. Designed specifically for autistic pupils as part of the world's first IB special autism World School.
• GCSE Qualifications Programme

Quantifiable outcome

• School operating at maximum capacity of 124 pupils as of September 2024, demonstrating high demand and trust from Local Authorities.
• +1 more outcomes

Named customers1 record

Segments2 records

Ideal customer profiles2 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature4 records

Partnerships

Ten partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• International Baccalaureate (IB)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerThe Cavendish School is working with IB as one of three global specialists on a project to bring the IB curriculum to special schools worldwide. The school is the world's first IB special autism World School and strategic partner in making this prestigious curriculum accessible to special education settings.
• Cambridge United Football ClubminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartnership providing Football Club extra-curricular activity for pupils, with professional coaching from Cambridge United offered to students.
• Cambridge United Community TrustminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartnership with Form the Future for careers programme delivery and employer engagement activities.
• National Autistic SocietycoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerSchool plans to work with National Autistic Society to gain Autism Accreditation, demonstrating commitment to best practice standards in autism education. School website links to NAS resources for parent information.
• Open UniversitycoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerPost-16 curriculum partnership allowing pupils to work towards Open University Certificates of Higher Education or Year 1 Open Degrees. Open University has collaborated with school on webinar explaining sixth form provision.
• Eastern Learning AlliancecoreOthersThe Cavendish School is part of Eastern Learning Alliance, a multi-academy trust formed in 2020 through merger of Cambridgeshire Educational Trust (CET) and Morris Education Trust (MET). Trust provides governance, financial management, HR, and strategic oversight while school maintains operational autonomy.
• Impington Village CollegecoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerCo-located on same site, providing opportunities for students to forge lasting relationships with mainstream peers. School shares site with Impington Village College and Impington International College, enabling social integration and shared facilities.
• Autism Education TrustminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerSchool participates in Autism Education Network and references AET resources for parents on admissions page.
• Cambridgeshire County CouncilcoreOthersLocal Authority partner for commissioning places, managing EHCP consultation process, and safeguarding oversight. School works with Education Safeguarding Team for Operation Encompass domestic abuse notifications.
• Cambridgeshire PoliceminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartnership working with Cambridgeshire Police and Cambridgeshire County Council on Operation Encompass, identifying and providing support to pupils who have experienced domestic abuse.

Scale indicators5 records

Recent moves5 records

Expansion highlights3 records

Others

• National Autistic Society (EarlyBird / NAS accreditation programme): Although not a direct competitor, the NAS is the accreditor and standards-setter in the UK autism education space and a key sector partner for Cavendish — relevant ecosystem player shaping commissioning and accreditation.

Direct peers

• Swiss Cottage School, Development & Research Centre: London-based maintained special school for pupils with autism and complex needs. Comparable as a state-funded specialist autism school with integrated therapy, research, and inclusion focus.
• Ambitious about Autism (TreeHouse School, Ambitious College): UK charity operating specialist autism schools (TreeHouse School for children, Ambitious College for 16–25s). Closest comparable in mission, autism-specific focus, and multi-stage pupil journey — Cavendish's Post-16 OU pathway mirrors Ambitious College's model.
• Hesley Group: Operates specialist autism schools and residential services across the UK (e.g., Fullerton House, Wilsic Hall). Comparable as a multi-site specialist autism provider with integrated therapy teams.
• Sunfield School: Clent-based specialist school for children and young people with autism and complex needs. Comparable in target population (autistic pupils with EHCPs), therapeutic model, and small-class specialist delivery.
• National Autistic Society (NAS) Schools: Operates specialist autism schools (e.g., Radlett Lodge School) and is the awarding body for the Autism Accreditation Cavendish is pursuing. Directly comparable specialist autism provider and sector standards-setter.
• Loddon School: Hampshire-based specialist residential and day school for pupils with severe autism and complex needs. Closely comparable in specialist SEND residential/day provision and high-staff-ratio operating model.

Broad incumbents

• Priory Education and Children's Services: Large private operator of specialist schools and residential services for autistic children and those with SEMH needs. Comparable in specialist SEND delivery but operates as a broad incumbent portfolio rather than a single-site specialist.
• CareTech (formerly Cambian Group): Large UK provider of specialist education and residential services for children with autism, learning disabilities, and complex needs. Comparable operating model but at significant scale advantage.

Regional players

• Heathfield Special School: Birmingham-based maintained special school for pupils with severe and complex learning difficulties including autism. Comparable in state-funded specialist SEND delivery model but serves a different geography (West Midlands vs. East of England).

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat3 records

Key risks7 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• YouTubeyoutube.com/playlist?list=PL9Y3X4n1hJW5iuQR6aohoO452jhGVHTKc

Compliance1 record

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 The Cavendish School