Accrington Academy Sixth Form

What Accrington Academy Sixth Form does

Accrington Academy is a state-funded secondary school and sixth form located in Accrington, Lancashire, England, operating as part of the United Learning Trust — a national group of more than 90 schools across England spanning both the state and independent sectors. The school delivers education to students aged 11–18 across Years 7–13, enrolling approximately 200 students per year group (~1,400 pupils total) through Lancashire County Council's centralized admissions process for Year 7 and direct academy-managed in-year transfers for other cohorts. Its academic programme covers 19 curriculum subjects spanning the National Curriculum core, humanities, languages, arts, and vocational areas, supported by enrichment through the proprietary Education with Character programme built on the TEAM values framework and the Duke of Edinburgh's Award at Bronze, Silver, and Gold levels. Outcomes for the 2024/2025 cohort show 97% of students staying in education, employment, or training post-KS4, 50.53% achieving five or more GCSE grades 9–4 including English and Mathematics, and an Attainment 8 score of 39.47.

The school's technology infrastructure is assembled from third-party educational platforms: Microsoft Teams serves as the central homework-delivery channel; Bedrock Learning handles vocabulary development; Hegarty Maths supports mathematics instruction; Unifrog and START Profile provide careers guidance; and the Arbor app manages parent communications, cashless payments, and attendance notifications. Pedagogical methodology is anchored in Barak Rosenshine's Principles of Instruction, with small-step explanation, guided practice, and independent practice reinforced through regular questioning and feedback cycles.

Revenue is derived primarily from government education funding routed through the Education and Skills Funding Agency under the academy's funding agreement with United Learning, supplemented by Pupil Premium grants (£985 per Ever 6 FSM pupil, £2,410 per looked-after child, £320 per service child), school meal transactions via Taylor Shaw (with a £6.00 daily cap and £2.40 free-school-meal allowance), and fees for trips and equipment processed through Arbor. Tuition is free for all enrolled students; the business model is non-commercial, with no tuition revenue, no B2B customer base, and growth measured through attainment improvement rather than revenue scaling. The school is governed by a Local Governing Body operating under United Learning's Scheme of Delegation, with trustees holding ultimate responsibility.

Name

Accrington Academy Sixth Form

Legal name

Accrington Academy

Website

https://accrington-academy.org

Company type

Private

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

1–10 employees

Short description

Accrington Academy is a state-funded secondary school and sixth form in Lancashire, England, part of the United Learning Trust. It serves approximately 1,400 students aged 11–18 across 19 curriculum subjects, funded primarily through the ESFA, with no tuition fees.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Headquarters

HQ city

Accrington, Lancashire

HQ country

United Kingdom

HQ region

Europe

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Infrastructure, Technology or R&D, Supply Chain

Revenue model

1. Government Education Funding: Funded by the Education and Skills Funding Agency (ESFA) through the academy's funding agreement with United Learning. Core funding covers educational delivery for students in Years 7-13.
2. Pupil Premium Grant: Additional government funding for disadvantaged pupils: £985 per Ever 6 FSM pupil, £2,410 per looked-after child, £320 per service child. Used to support attainment and educational outcomes for eligible students.
3. School Meals: Catering services provided through Taylor Shaw. Students have a £6.00 maximum daily spend allowance. Free School Meals (FSM) allowance of £2.40 provided at lunchtime for eligible pupils.
4. Supplementary Services: Revenue from optional services including school trips, equipment purchases, and enrichment activities processed through the Arbor app.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels2 records

Marketing channels6 records

Core offering

Accrington Academy Sixth Form is a state-funded secondary school and sixth form providing full-time education for students aged 11-18 (Years 7-13) in Accrington, Lancashire. It delivers a comprehensive curriculum across 19 subject areas preparing students for GCSEs and A-Levels, integrated with the "Education with Character" enrichment programme, character development, careers guidance, SEND support, and transition support. The school is part of the United Learning group and operates as a non-profit academy funded by the Education and Skills Funding Agency.

Product overview

Accrington Academy is a secondary school offering a comprehensive educational programme structured around 19 curriculum subjects, supported by enrichment through the Education with Character programme. The school operates a modular service model combining core academic delivery with specialist support services. Key products include the curriculum programme covering all National Curriculum subjects, the Reading Programme with Form Tutor Reading and Bedrock Vocabulary, the Duke of Edinburgh's Award at Bronze/Silver/Gold levels, the Homework Hub delivered via Microsoft Teams, and Accrington Extra enrichment activities. Support services encompass SEND provision, careers guidance (CIAEG), transition support, and school meals. The school maintains digital integration with platforms including Microsoft Teams, Bedrock Learning, Hegarty Maths, Arbor App, Unifrog, and START Profile for educational delivery and school operations.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Curriculum Subjects A comprehensive curriculum delivered across 19 subject areas including Art, Business Studies, Computer Science, Creative Design and Technology, Dance, Drama, English, Geography, Hospitality and Catering, History, Mathematics, Media, Modern Foreign Languages, Music, PSHE, RE and Ethics, Science, Sport and Physical Education, and Health and Social Care. Designed for students aged 11-18 preparing for GCSE and A-Level examinations.
• Education with Character Programme An enrichment programme offering students opportunities to develop character attributes through guest speakers, assemblies, enrichment clubs, excursions, and tutor time activities aligned with the school's TEAM values (Truth, Effort, Ambition, Manners, Resilience, Forgiveness, Motivation, Respect). Available to all enrolled students.
• Duke of Edinburgh's Award DofE programme offering Bronze, Silver, and Gold awards with sections covering Volunteering, Physical, Skills, Expedition, and Residential (Gold) components. Available to enrolled students as part of the school's enrichment offering.
• Reading Programme Comprehensive reading programme including Form Tutor Reading for Years 7-9, a well-stocked library, and the Bedrock Vocabulary Curriculum for vocabulary development and reading age improvement.
• Homework Hub Centralised homework management system delivered through Microsoft Teams, providing students with assignments, resources, and deadlines with minimum one-week completion windows.
• Special Educational Needs and Disabilities (SEND) Support Inclusive educational support service for students with learning, social, emotional, behavioural, or medical needs, providing individual, small group, and classroom support with intervention strategies. Led by the SENDCo Sarah Lawson.
• Careers, Information, Advice and Guidance (CIAEG) Careers education programme for Years 7-13 providing career roadmaps, employer talks, work experience, mentoring, enterprise activities, and partnerships with universities and employers. Powered by the Unifrog and START Profile platforms.
• Transition Programme Support programme for Year 6 students transitioning to secondary school, including induction days, parental meet and greet, and SEND-specific transition support to ease the move from primary to secondary education.
• Accrington Extra (Enrichment Programme) Comprehensive extra-curricular enrichment programme with termly activities and clubs running from 3:15-4:00pm, offering students new and exciting opportunities each term.
• Academy School Meals School meal service provided by Taylor Shaw, with a maximum daily spend allowance of £6.00 and free school meals eligibility of £2.40 per day at lunchtime for qualifying families.
• Sports Academy Sports Academy partnership with Hyndburn Leisure providing students with enhanced sports education, physical development opportunities, and access to additional sports facilities and programmes.

Quantifiable outcome

• 97% of students staying in education, employment or training after KS4
• +3 more outcomes

Named customers5 records

Segments3 records

Ideal customer profiles2 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Integration9 records

Feature3 records

Partnerships

21 partnerships are on record, tiered core, major and minor.

• Future UcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerGovernment-funded program by the Office for Students (OfS) promoting widening participation in higher education. Partnership provides Accrington Academy students with information about higher education options and university pathways through joint activities with multiple universities.
• UnifrogcoreTechnology or IntegrationAll-in-one career and university guidance platform providing students with impartial information to make informed decisions about futures. Platform helps students make best choices and submit strongest applications.
• Edge Hill UniversitymajorStrategic or Co-development PartnerHigher education partnership through Future U widening participation program, providing university insight and guidance to Accrington Academy students.
• Lancaster UniversitymajorStrategic or Co-development PartnerHigher education partnership through Future U widening participation program, providing university insight and guidance to Accrington Academy students.
• Burnley CollegemajorStrategic or Co-development PartnerFurther education pathway partnership providing students with information about vocational and technical education options post-GCSE.
• Accrington and Rossendale CollegemajorStrategic or Co-development PartnerFurther education pathway partnership providing students with information about college-based vocational and academic options.
• Myerscough CollegeminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerLand-based education pathway partnership for students interested in agriculture, animal management, and related vocational areas.
• EBP NWcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerEducation Business Partnership Northwest providing work experience placements, enterprise activities, and employer engagement programs.
• Lancashire ConstabularyminorGTM or Marketing PartnerCareer talks and engagement activities providing students with insights into policing careers and public service roles.
• Royal Air ForceminorGTM or Marketing PartnerEmployer partnership providing career presentations, mentoring opportunities, and insights into military careers.
• Hyndburn Borough CouncilminorGTM or Marketing PartnerLocal authority partnership supporting community engagement and providing students with insights into local government careers.
• Hyndburn Leisure TrustcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerSports Academy partnership providing enhanced sports facilities and programs. Joint initiative for school sports partnership program.
• Disney Theatrical GroupminorGTM or Marketing PartnerPartnership providing students with theatrical and performing arts enrichment opportunities and experiences.
• Fort ValeminorGTM or Marketing PartnerLocal employer partnership providing work experience placements, employer talks, and career insights.
• Senator GroupminorGTM or Marketing PartnerLocal employer partnership providing work experience placements and career engagement activities.
• North Lancs Training GroupminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerTraining provider partnership offering vocational training insights and apprenticeship pathway information.
• Onward HomesminorGTM or Marketing PartnerHousing association partnership providing career talks and insights into housing sector careers.
• RLC EngineeringminorGTM or Marketing PartnerEngineering employer partnership providing work experience placements and industry insights.
• Saxon FurnitureminorGTM or Marketing PartnerLocal employer partnership providing work experience placements and career engagement activities.
• Margins InsuranceminorGTM or Marketing PartnerLocal employer partnership providing work experience placements and career insights.
• United LearningcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerParent organization: group of over 90 schools across England providing curriculum resources, subject adviser support, teacher training (United Teaching), and governance. United Learning comprises United Learning Ltd, UCST, and ULT charities.

Scale indicators7 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights4 records

Broad incumbents

• Harris Federation: Large multi-academy trust running secondary academies across England with comparable curriculum breadth, character education programmes, and disadvantaged-pupil intake — broader and more established than Accrington Academy.
• Oasis Community Learning: National multi-academy trust operating secondary academies with similar community-embedded ethos and inclusion focus — directly comparable operating model to Accrington Academy.
• Greenwood Academies Trust: Multi-academy trust operating secondary academies across the Midlands and East of England — comparable state-funded secondary academy model with similar disadvantaged-pupil intake.
• Ark Schools: Multi-academy trust running secondary schools focused on disadvantaged pupils — comparable mission, intake, and university pathways work, but operating in different geographies.
• Dixons Academies Trust: Multi-academy trust with a network of secondary academies known for strong academic outcomes and character education — comparable pedagogical approach and academy model.
• Outwood Grange Academies Trust: Major multi-academy trust running a network of secondary academies including several in Lancashire/North — comparable model of government-funded secondary education with similar pupil demographics.

Others

• EBP NW (Education Business Partnership Northwest): Regional employer-engagement intermediary providing work experience and enterprise programmes to schools — adjacent enabler of Accrington Academy's CIAEG programme rather than a direct competitor.

Direct peers

• United Learning Trust (other academies): Sister schools within the same trust operating as state-funded secondary academies under the same United Learning curriculum, governance, and funding model — closest direct comparables for operational benchmarking.

Regional players

• Burnley College: Local further education provider in East Lancashire that is both a competitor for post-16 students and an Accrington Academy pathway partner — comparable regional post-16 education offering.
• Accrington and Rossendale College: Local further education college offering post-16 vocational and academic pathways in the same catchment — relevant peer for Sixth Form competitive positioning.

Market position

Strengths4 records

Weaknesses4 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• LinkedInlinkedin.com/school/accrington-academy-sixth-form

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles14 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 Accrington Academy Sixth Form