Aquinas College (Stockport)

What Aquinas College (Stockport) does

Aquinas College is a Catholic state-funded sixth form college located on Nangreave Road in Stockport, Cheshire, England, operating in the United Kingdom since 1980. It delivers post-16 education primarily to students aged 16-19, offering more than 50 A Level and Level 3 vocational qualifications (including BTEC, Cambridge Technicals, and Applied pathways), alongside Level 2 GCSE resit courses, a specialist Pathways programme for students with Special Educational Needs and Disabilities (SEND), and adult education courses via a separate Adult Education division. The college reports a 99% overall qualification pass rate, 60% of A level results at A*-B, and 72% of vocational grades at Distinction*/Distinction, supporting positioning as a high-performing regional sixth form with a Catholic ethos and structured pastoral care.

The college operates a direct-to-consumer admissions model: applications are submitted online via the MyAquinas portal, supported by course consultations, interviews, and phone-based enrollment, with prospective students recruited through open events, school partnerships, a virtual tour, a downloadable prospectus, and Instagram and Bluesky social channels. It maintains Category 1A priority admissions partnerships with four named Catholic feeder schools — Harrytown Catholic High School, St. Anne's RC Voluntary Academy, St. James' Catholic High School, and St. Thomas More Catholic Voluntary Academy — providing a structural pipeline of in-segment applicants. The underlying technology stack is limited to the aquinas.ac.uk website, the MyAquinas student/staff portal, and the tour.aquinas.ac.uk virtual tour; the site was redeveloped in 2024 to meet WCAG 2.2 AA accessibility standards.

As a UK state-funded sixth form college, Aquinas does not publicly disclose revenue. Government per-student funding for 16-19 provision is the primary income stream; the college is explicitly not a licensed student sponsor, restricting international fee income. Paid adult education courses provide ancillary revenue. The institution employs 137 staff and is led by Principal Jo Dommett, with governance via a Governing Body. There is no parent company, no subsidiaries, and no disclosed funding rounds, M&A, or capital structure.

Name

Aquinas College (Stockport)

Legal name

Aquinas College

Website

https://aquinas.ac.uk

Company type

Private

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

101–250 employees

Short description

Aquinas College is a Catholic state-funded sixth form college in Stockport, UK, delivering A Level, vocational, GCSE resit, SEND Pathways, and adult education programmes to regional learners via direct admissions and four Catholic feeder-school partnerships.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Sixth Form / Further Education

NAICS

Colleges, Universities, and Professional Schools (61131), Technical and Trade Schools (6115), Educational Services (61)

SIC

Services-Educational Services (8200)

akta.pro primary industry

Comprehensive Community Colleges (Transfer + Workforce) (EDAHADAE)

Keywords

• Sixth form education
• A Level courses
• Vocational qualifications
• Further education
• Adult education

Headquarters

HQ city

Stockport

HQ country

United Kingdom

HQ region

Europe

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

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

Revenue model

1. State Education Funding: As a state-funded sixth form college, Aquinas College receives government funding for educating students aged 16-19. The college is described as a 'state funded Sixth Form College' and is 'not a licensed student sponsor'. Overseas applicants who have not lived in the UK for three years may need to pay tuition fees.

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels3 records

Marketing channels6 records

Core offering

Aquinas College is a state-funded Catholic sixth form college providing advanced secondary education for students aged 16-19, delivering over 50 A Level and Level 3 vocational courses (BTECs, Cambridge Technicals, Applied qualifications) along with Level 2 GCSE resits, specialist Pathways SEND provision, and adult education courses. It supplements its academic curriculum with enrichment activities, university preparation programmes, and pastoral support in a Catholic ethos environment.

Product overview

Aquinas College offers a comprehensive sixth form education programme comprising over 50 A Level and Level 3 vocational courses (including BTEC, Cambridge Technicals, and Applied qualifications) for students aged 16-18, alongside Level 2 GCSE resit courses, specialist Pathways SEND provision, and adult education programmes. The college operates a modular structure where core A Level and vocational programmes form the primary offerings, supplemented by enrichment activities, the High Achievers (Triple A) Programme for ambitious students targeting top universities, and the Aspire Programme for career planning. The MyAquinas portal provides digital access to student services.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• Aquinas Catholic Sixth Form College: The primary educational brand under which the college operates, reflecting its Catholic ethos and sixth form focus.
• Adult Education at Aquinas

Products and services

• A Level Courses Two-year advanced secondary education courses assessed primarily by examination, covering subjects including Sciences, Humanities, Languages, Arts, and Business disciplines. These are the college's primary academic offerings for students aged 16-18.
• Vocational/BTEC Courses Level 3 vocational qualifications equivalent to A Levels, including BTEC Extended Certificates, Cambridge Technicals, and Applied qualifications. These courses combine coursework and examination assessment for students preferring applied learning.
• Level 2 Courses Foundational courses for students who have not achieved GCSE grade 4 in English Language and/or Mathematics, providing resit opportunities alongside other Level 2 qualifications.
• Pathways (SEND) Programme Two-year specialist educational programme for students with Special Educational Needs and Disabilities working towards Entry Level and Level 1 qualifications, focusing on developing independence and life skills.
• High Achievers Programme (Triple A) Tailored pathway for highest-achieving students targeting Oxford, Cambridge, or Russell Group universities, providing additional academic support and enrichment opportunities.
• Aspire Programme Bespoke programme designed to empower students to reach their potential by better understanding themselves and their future options, with input from universities and employers.
• Adult Education Further education courses for adults aged 19 and over, offering opportunities for retraining, skill development, and academic progression.
• Enrichment Activities Extra-curricular programme including academic activities, sports, creative arts, and spiritual development opportunities such as Duke of Edinburgh Award, Arts Award Gold, LAMDA Acting Qualification, and various clubs and societies.
• Extended Project (EPQ) Level 3 qualification allowing students to expand on a particular area of study, sharpening research and independent learning skills valued by universities.
• MyAquinas Portal Student and staff portal providing access to academic records, timetable information, examination results, and college communication systems.

Quantifiable outcome

• 99% overall pass rate
• +2 more outcomes

Segments3 records

Ideal customer profiles3 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Partnerships

Four partnerships are on record, tiered core.

• Harrytown Catholic High SchoolcoreOthersPartner school with priority admissions status for Aquinas College sixth form. Students from this school receive priority consideration under Category 1A admissions.
• St. Anne's RC Voluntary AcademycoreOthersPartner school with priority admissions status for Aquinas College sixth form. Students from this school receive priority consideration under Category 1A admissions.
• St. James' Catholic High SchoolcoreOthersPartner school with priority admissions status for Aquinas College sixth form. Students from this school receive priority consideration under Category 1A admissions.
• St. Thomas More Catholic Voluntary AcademycoreOthersPartner school with priority admissions status for Aquinas College sixth form. Students from this school receive priority consideration under Category 1A admissions.

Scale indicators5 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Direct peers

• Xaverian College: Catholic sixth form college in Manchester serving 16-19 students with a broad A Level/BTEC portfolio. Closest direct comparator for Aquinas on faith-based identity, curriculum breadth, and geographic catchment overlap.
• Cheadle & Marple Sixth Form College: State-funded sixth form college in Stockport borough with overlapping catchment. Directly comparable on curriculum model, funding basis, and target student persona.
• Loreto College Manchester: Largest Catholic sixth form college in the UK, also in Greater Manchester. Directly comparable to Aquinas on Catholic ethos, A Level/vocational mix, Ofsted profile, and 16-19 student target segment.
• St Bede's College Manchester: Catholic independent school with a large sixth form in Manchester. Comparable on Catholic ethos and A Level outcomes, though operating under an independent school funding model rather than state-grant.
• Trafford College Group: General further education college neighbouring Stockport, offering A Level and vocational pathways to 16-19 and adult learners. Comparable on post-16 curriculum and state-funded model, though broader and less faith-focused than Aquinas.

Broad incumbents

• The Manchester College: Large general FE college in Greater Manchester offering a broad A Level and vocational portfolio plus adult education. Wider scope than Aquinas but shares the state-funded, multi-pathway post-16 model.

Regional players

• Stockport Grammar School: Independent school in Stockport with a sizeable sixth form. Comparable on A Level outcomes and regional catchment but operates on fee-paying model rather than state grant.
• Cheadle Hulme School: Independent school in Stockport area with a strong sixth form offering A Levels. Comparable on regional catchment and academic outcomes positioning, but independent sector rather than state-funded.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Instagraminstagram.com/p/ClgbHMYoYGH/?igshid=YmMyMTA2M2Y
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/school/aquinas-college-stockport-

Compliance1 record

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 Aquinas College (Stockport)