The Abbey School, Farnham, Surrey

Name

The Abbey School, Farnham, Surrey

Legal name

The Abbey School

Website

https://abbey.surrey.sch.uk

Company type

Private

Founded year

1975

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Special Education Services

NAICS

Elementary and Secondary Schools (6111), Educational Services (61)

SIC

Services-Educational Services (8200)

akta.pro primary industry

Charter Special Education & Inclusive Programs (EDAJACAF)

Keywords

• Special education services
• Learning difficulties support
• Speech and language therapy
• Life skills education
• Special educational needs

Headquarters

HQ city

Farnham

HQ country

United Kingdom

HQ region

Europe

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

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

Revenue model

1. Government-Funded Education: The school operates as a state-funded special school within the Weydon Multi Academy Trust. Funding comes from Surrey County Council and government education budgets for students with Education, Health and Care Plans (EHCPs). The school also receives donations and contributions from charities such as Variety for capital items like minibuses.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels2 records

Marketing channels5 records

Core offering

The Abbey School is a state-funded special secondary school providing specialist education for approximately 170 students aged 11-16 with learning difficulties and additional needs. It delivers a tailored curriculum including GCSE, BTEC, and Entry Level qualifications, integrated speech and language therapy, an extensive life skills programme with weekly off-site activities, and structured transition pathways to further education providers such as Alton College and FCOT. The school also offers ancillary paid services such as Early Bird and After School supervised clubs.

Product overview

The Abbey School is a special school for children aged 11-16 years with learning difficulties and additional needs. Located in Farnham, Surrey, the school provides educational services for approximately 170 students. The institution operates as part of the Weydon Multi Academy Trust and offers a curriculum designed for students with special educational needs, including speech and language therapy, life skills programs, and preparation for further education. The school utilizes various digital platforms for parent communication (Arbor Parent Portal), student information management, and career guidance (START Careers Programme).

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Specialist Secondary Education Programme Full-time specialist secondary education for approximately 170 students aged 11-16 with learning difficulties and additional needs, delivered through a tailored curriculum leading to GCSE, BTEC, and Entry Level qualifications, with smaller class sizes and individualised support.
• Speech and Language Therapy Service Integrated speech and language therapy delivered as part of the school's educational provision, supporting students with communication needs associated with their learning difficulties.
• Life Skills Programme Weekly off-site life skills activities including swimming, cycling, shopping trips, voluntary work, photography, Duke of Edinburgh award activities, and educational visits, designed to prepare students for adulthood and independence.
• Early Bird Club (Before School Supervision) Paid before-school supervised session for students, priced at £3.00 per student per day or £15.00 per week, payable termly in advance, with drinks provided.
• After School Supervised Session Paid after-school supervised session running until 4 p.m. for students waiting to be collected, priced at £3.00 per student per day or £15.00 per week, payable termly in advance; no charge for students waiting under supervision until 3:30 p.m.
• Further Education Transition Programme Structured transition programme where all Year 10 students attend Alton College weekly and all Year 11 students attend FCOT, preparing them for further education in mainstream settings.

Quantifiable outcome

• Students successfully transition to further education at Alton College and FCOT
• +1 more outcomes

Named customers2 records

Segments1 record

Ideal customer profiles2 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Partnerships

Nine partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• Weydon Multi Academy Trust (WMAT)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerThe Abbey School is part of the Weydon Multi Academy Trust. The trust oversees the school's operations, governance, and integration with other schools in the network. In 2024-2025, WMAT completed integration with The Prospect Trust.
• i2i Partnership Teaching SchoolcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerThe i2i Partnership is an alliance of highly successful secondary schools in Surrey. The school participates in teacher training through this partnership and is part of a teaching school alliance that provides professional development and school-to-school support.
• Variety (Children's Charity)coreOthersVariety, a children's charity, donated a new minibus (Sunshine Minibus) to the school. This supports the extensive life skills programme that requires frequent off-site activities including swimming, cycling, shopping trips, and educational visits.
• The Hedgehogs (Local Charity)minorOthersLocal charity that provides annual support to help insure the school minibuses and vehicles. Also supports other opportunities for students such as residential trips and equipment.
• Alton CollegecoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerAll Year 10 students attend Alton College weekly to prepare them for Further Education in mainstream settings. This partnership provides transition support and mainstream educational exposure.
• FCOT (Farnham College of Training)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerAll Year 11 students attend FCOT to prepare them for Further Education. This transition programme helps students move from school to further education or training.
• Farnham Sports CentreminorOthersPE groups use Farnham Sports Centre for swimming lessons including for wheelchair users as part of the life skills programme.
• Alice Holt (Forestry)minorOthersPE groups use Alice Holt for cycling activities to help students develop gross motor skills as part of the life skills curriculum.
• O&D ConstructionminorImplementation/ SI/ Consulting PartnerConstruction company that completed the School Expansion Project 22, adding new facilities over 28 months with over 2000 pictures documenting the build process.

Scale indicators4 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights4 records

Direct peers

• Limpsfield Grange School: Surrey state-funded special school for girls aged 11-16 with mild to moderate learning difficulties. Directly comparable as a Surrey LA SEND secondary school with Ofsted Outstanding heritage and a focus on life-skills and further-education transition.
• Manor Mead School: Surrey special school in Walton-on-Thames for pupils with severe and profound learning difficulties. Comparable as a state SEND school operating within the same Surrey County Council EHCP commissioning model.
• Woodcote House School: Surrey special school for boys aged 11-16 with social, emotional and mental health needs. Comparable as a Surrey-based LA-funded secondary special school operating in the same EHCP placement framework and serving a similar age cohort.
• Hopescourt School: Surrey state-funded special school in Walton-on-Thames for pupils with complex learning needs including autism. Comparable as a county-maintained SEND school drawing EHCP-funded placements from the same Surrey commissioning system.
• Freemantles School: Surrey County Council-maintained special school in Woking for pupils aged 4-16 with autism and significant learning needs. Directly comparable as a state-funded Surrey special school serving EHCP-referred students in a similar age band and need profile.

Broad incumbents

• Witherslack Group: Major UK operator of independent specialist schools and children's homes for pupils with SEN, including EHCP-funded placements. Comparable as a broad incumbent in the SEND placement market reliant on the same local authority commissioning flow.
• National Autistic Society Schools: Largest UK provider of specialist education services for autistic children, operating multiple schools and colleges. Comparable as a broad incumbent in the SEND school sector that competes for the same local authority and parental placement demand.
• Weydon School: Mainstream secondary school in Farnham and lead school in Weydon Multi Academy Trust. Comparable as a fellow WMAT school sharing governance, back-office, and trust-level strategic direction with The Abbey.
• Priory Group Education Services: Large independent provider of specialist education and residential services for children with SEN, autism, and social, emotional and mental health needs. Comparable as an established commercial SEND education operator competing for LA-commissioned placements.
• Outcomes First Group: Large UK provider of specialist education, care, and therapeutic services for children and adults with complex needs. Comparable as a leading commercial SEND operator purchasing LA-commissioned placements in the same market.

Market position

Strengths4 records

Weaknesses4 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/the-abbey-school-farnham

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles1 record

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 Abbey School, Farnham, Surrey