Amherst School

What Amherst School does

Amherst School is a state-funded junior academy located in Riverhead, Sevenoaks, Kent, operating under the Amherst School (Academy) Trust — a company limited by guarantee and exempt charity established in 2011 when the school converted to academy status. The school delivers primary education to 384 pupils across Years 3-6 (ages 7-11) at full capacity, with class sizes of 32 and no plans to expand. Its curriculum follows the National Curriculum supplemented by bespoke subject curricula (notably a values-driven PSHE programme built around Trust, Kindness, Determination, Politeness, Fairness, and Cooperation) and twice-yearly whole-school book projects. The school is rated 'Good' by Ofsted (May 2022).

The school's offering extends well beyond core academics into a substantial ancillary services portfolio. These include over 120 weekly peripatetic instrumental music lessons across 11+ instruments taught by professional musicians with London Symphony Orchestra and Hong Kong Philharmonic pedigrees; approximately 35-40 extracurricular clubs per week; in-house catering through the ASK Kitchen (operating since 2001) with 5 daily meal options at £2.95 per meal; wraparound childcare via Breakfast Club (£7.25/day) and After School Club (£16.50/day) operating from the Jubilee Building opened in September 2022; and a Year 6 residential outdoor education programme at Hilltop. Technology platforms include White Rose Maths, Twinkl Phonics, Kapow, Get Set 4 PE, Language Angels, Developing Experts, and Project Evolve — all off-the-shelf educational schemes rather than proprietary systems.

The revenue model is dominated by government per-pupil funding from Kent County Council, augmented by Pupil Premium, Sports Premium (£19,780 in 2025/26), parent fees for wraparound care and meals, PTA fundraising (a registered charity), and voluntary donations via School Gateway. Admissions are processed through Kent County Council with priority criteria favoring Looked After Children, Riverhead Infants' School feeders, family association, and proximity. The school is frequently over-subscribed, particularly at Year 3 entry. Governance is provided by a Board of Trustees chaired by Emily Grier, with Andrew Reid serving as Headteacher and Designated Safeguarding Lead.

Name

Amherst School

Legal name

Amherst School (Academy) Trust

Website

https://amherst.kent.sch.uk

Company type

Private

Founded year

2011

Operating status

Operating

Short description

Amherst School is a state-funded junior academy in Sevenoaks, Kent, serving 384 pupils aged 7-11 across Years 3-6. It delivers National Curriculum education with bespoke curricula and values-based PSHE, plus ancillary services including wraparound childcare, in-house catering, and instrumental music tuition.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Primary Education

NAICS

Elementary and Secondary Schools (6111), Elementary and Secondary Schools (611110), Sports and Recreation Instruction (611620)

SIC

Services-Educational Services (8200), Services-Child Day Care Services (8351)

akta.pro primary industry

Public Elementary Schools (EDAJAAAB)

Keywords

• Primary education
• Junior school
• Before and after school care
• Extracurricular clubs
• Instrumental music tuition

Headquarters

HQ city

Riverhead, Sevenoaks

HQ country

United Kingdom

HQ region

Europe

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Infrastructure, Others

Revenue model

1. Government Funding (Per Pupil Funding): As a state-funded academy, Amherst School receives per-pupil funding from the government based on pupil census figures. Additional funding includes Pupil Premium for eligible students and Sports Premium for physical education.
2. Breakfast and After School Club Fees: The school operates Breakfast Club (7.30am-8.30am) and After School Club (3.30pm-6.00pm) in the Jubilee Building. Parents pay daily fees for childcare services.
3. School Meals: The school operates its own ASK Kitchen catering service. Meals are priced at £2.95 daily or £14.75 weekly from September 2026. Payment is made in advance via School Gateway.
4. PTA Fundraising and Donations: The Parent Teacher Association raises funds through events and activities. The PTA operates as a registered charity and has previously funded interactive whiteboards, iPads, computers, maths equipment, and the new Jubilee Building.
5. Voluntary Contributions and Donations: The school accepts voluntary donations via School Gateway including School Enrichment Fund donations, Pool Fund donations (£25 per child for swimming pool maintenance), and capital donations for building development. Payroll giving options and Gift Aid are available for UK taxpayers.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels4 records

Marketing channels7 records

Core offering

Amherst School is a state-funded academy junior school (Years 3-6, ages 7-11) operating under the Amherst School (Academy) Trust. It delivers the National Curriculum enhanced with bespoke curricula in PSHE, Art, DT, Geography, and History, alongside an extensive co-curricular programme of approximately 35-40 weekly clubs and over 120 weekly instrumental music lessons. Supplementary paid services include Breakfast Club, After School Club, in-house school meals via ASK Kitchen, and a Year 6 Hilltop residential.

Product overview

Amherst School is a junior school (Years 3-6) offering a comprehensive educational programme. The core offering is primary education following the National Curriculum with bespoke enhancements including whole school book projects and approximately 40 extracurricular clubs. Additional services include before/after school childcare in the Jubilee Building (opened 2022), over 120 weekly instrumental music lessons taught by professional musicians, and in-house school meals through ASK Kitchen. The school also provides a Hilltop residential outdoor education programme for Year 6 pupils.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Primary Education (Years 3-6) Junior school education for Years 3-6 delivered through the National Curriculum with bespoke enhancements including whole school book projects, approximately 40 extracurricular clubs per week, and enrichment through visits and workshops. Prepared pupils transfer to grammar schools, academies, and independent schools.
• Breakfast Club Morning childcare provision running 7:30am-8:30am in the Jubilee Building, priced at £7.25 per day from September 2026 for working parents requiring supervision before school.
• After School Club Afternoon childcare provision running 3:30pm-6:00pm in the Jubilee Building, priced at £16.50 per day from September 2026 for working parents requiring after school supervision.
• Extra-Curricular Clubs Approximately 35-40 clubs offered weekly covering sports, arts, music, and academic enrichment activities for enrolled pupils.
• Instrumental Music Tuition Over 120 weekly instrumental lessons offered in clarinet, oboe, brass, piano, flute, recorder, violin, cello, guitar, drums, and singing, taught by professional musicians including performers with the London Symphony Orchestra and Hong Kong Philharmonic Orchestra.
• School Meals (ASK Kitchen) In-house catering since 2001 offering 5 meal options daily including vegetarian options, at £2.95 per meal from September 2026, ordered via School Gateway.
• Hilltop Residential Year 6 residential outdoor adventure programme at Hilltop outdoor education centre in Whitstable, offering beach hikes and adventure activities.

Quantifiable outcome

• Amherst has supported the British Heart Foundation for 38 years raising £162,836.55, with annual sponsored swims raising £5,000-£10,000 each year
• +1 more outcomes

Named customers5 records

Segments3 records

Ideal customer profiles3 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature3 records

Partnerships

Seven partnerships are on record, tiered minor, core and flagship.

• Horncastles (Uniform Supplier)minorChannel Partner/ Reseller/ Distributor · 1 September 2022Official uniform supplier providing school uniform online and from their shop in Sevenoaks Town. All uniform items are available from Horncastles with logo items required for certain items.
• Kent County Council (KCC) AdmissionscoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerKent County Council handles admissions for Year 3 entry and in-year casual admissions. The school works within KCC's admission framework for prioritizing applications based on looked after children, Riverhead Infants' School attendance, family association, and distance criteria.
• World-Class Music Teachers (Individual Peripatetic Teachers)flagshipStrategic or Co-development PartnerThe school has recruited world-class music teachers including Andrew Harper (clarinet), Sarah Harper (piano and oboe), and Ian Fasham (brass) who have performed with the London Symphony Orchestra and Hong Kong Philharmonic Orchestra.
• Riverhead Infants' SchoolcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerStrong feeder school relationship with Riverhead Infants' School. Year 2 children attending Riverhead Infants' School receive priority in admissions. The school uses the same wristband system for school lunches as Riverhead Infants. Year 2 children can join waiting lists for Breakfast and After School Club when Junior School applications close.
• Fegans (Parenting Support Charity)minorStrategic or Co-development PartnerFegans is a 146-year-old Christian charity providing counselling for children and parent support, intervention and training. They work with families holistically to provide support for parenting and therapeutic needs.
• Hilltop Outdoor CentreflagshipStrategic or Co-development PartnerYear 6 residential trips to Hilltop Outdoor Centre in Whitstable provide outdoor adventure activities, beach hikes, and memorable experiences for pupils.
• ASK Kitchen (In-house Catering)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerSince 2001, the school has run its own in-house school kitchen, providing better meals with higher quality ingredients, more fruit and vegetables, and greater choice compared to external catering providers.

Scale indicators5 records

Recent moves8 records

Expansion highlights4 records

Direct peers

• Riverhead Infants' School: The school's primary feeder school in Riverhead, Sevenoaks, sharing the same wristband lunch system and providing priority admissions at Year 3. Operates as a comparable state-funded primary school in the same catchment area.
• Reach Academy Feltham: A small, values-driven primary academy trust in Greater London with a comparable single-school model, high extracurricular intensity, and wraparound services. Often cited as a benchmark for community-anchored, mission-led primary schools.

Regional players

• Seal Church of England Primary School: A nearby Church of England primary school in Sevenoaks, Kent, competing for the same over-subscribed demographic and operating as a Kent-admissions primary within the same recruiting geography.

Others

• Knole Academy: A secondary destination school for Amherst Year 6 leavers (22 pupils in 2025). Comparable local Kent secondary but not a direct competitor; relevant as a downstream partner that signals academic outcomes and onward placement.
• The Judd School: A selective Kent grammar school that serves as a downstream destination for Amherst Year 6 leavers (10 pupils in 2025). Not a competitor but a key signal of academic outcomes and parental choice.
• Weald of Kent Grammar School: A selective Kent grammar school receiving 15 Amherst Year 6 leavers in 2025. Functions as a secondary destination and a marker of academic progression within the same local grammar-school ecology.

Broad incumbents

• Harris Federation: One of the largest UK multi-academy trusts operating primary and secondary academies. Provides a broader-incumbent benchmark for academy trust operations, governance, and scale economics in the state-funded primary segment.
• United Learning: A large UK multi-academy trust with a substantial primary school portfolio. Comparable as a broader incumbent in the state-funded primary market, though operating at significantly greater scale than Amherst.
• Ark Schools: A national multi-academy trust running primary and secondary academies across England. Relevant as a broader incumbent in the same UK primary education segment, with more extensive curriculum and enrichment programmes.
• Oasis Community Learning: A national multi-academy trust running Oasis-branded primary and secondary academies. Comparable wider UK primary incumbent that operates schools with extended services and community programming.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

Compliance3 records

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles20 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 Amherst School