Arden Academy

What Arden Academy does

Arden Academy is a state-funded secondary school located in Knowle, Solihull, in the West Midlands of England, serving students aged 11–18 across Key Stages 3, 4, and 5 (Years 7–13). It is part of the Arden Multi Academy Trust, a multi-academy trust structure that governs multiple schools in the West Midlands under UK Department for Education oversight. The school delivers a broad academic curriculum covering GCSEs and A Levels across humanities, sciences, languages, arts, and vocational subjects, supplemented by post-16 provision through Arden Sixth Form. Its primary customer segments are secondary-school students and their parents/carers, with a defined specialist segment for students with Special Educational Needs and Disabilities (SEND).

The school does not operate proprietary technology. Its digital stack consists of standard UK education-sector SaaS: Juniper Education (website platform), School Synergy (management information system), ParentPay (parental payments), Microsoft Office 365 (staff/student email), Kerboodle (Oxford University Press digital learning platform for languages), and CEOP reporting integration. The underlying 'product' is the curriculum and pastoral provision, delivered by 51–100 employees and a named senior leadership team spanning a Designated Safeguarding Lead, SENCO, Deputy SENDCo, Pupil Premium Coordinator, Librarian, and pastoral directors for KS3 and KS4.

Arden Academy's revenue model is predominantly state-funded through UK government per-pupil grants channelled via the Solihull Education Authority, with no tuition fees charged to parents. The school is not a commercial enterprise and does not pursue a conventional go-to-market motion; admissions are managed through the local authority's standard secondary-school placement process for the local catchment. Ancillary, non-grant income streams include school locker rental, catering, trip fees (via ParentPay), and a Facilities Hire offering that monetises spare capacity in physical assets. No revenue figures are publicly disclosed.

Name

Arden Academy

Legal name

Arden Academy

Website

https://arden.solihull.sch.uk

Company type

Private

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

51–100 employees

Short description

Arden Academy is a state-funded secondary school in Knowle, Solihull, England, serving students aged 11–18 with GCSE and A-Level programmes as part of the Arden Multi Academy Trust.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Headquarters

HQ city

Solihull, England

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, Marketing or Sales

Distribution channels1 record

Marketing channels4 records

Core offering

Arden Academy is a state-funded secondary school delivering comprehensive education to students aged 11-18 across Key Stages 3, 4, and 5 (Years 7-13). Its core offering is a broad academic curriculum covering GCSE, A-Level, and Level 3 vocational courses across subjects including sciences, humanities, languages, arts, and business, supplemented by Sixth Form post-16 education, SEND support, careers guidance, safeguarding services, and an extensive co-curricular enrichment programme.

Product overview

Arden Academy is a secondary school offering a comprehensive educational programme across Key Stages 3, 4, and 5 (Years 7-13). Its primary product offering is the academic curriculum, which includes GCSE and A Level subjects across humanities, sciences, languages, arts, and vocational areas. The school supplements its core academic provision with a range of support and enrichment modules including a Co-Curricular Activities Programme, Special Educational Needs and Disability (SEND) support services, Arden Library Services, Pupil Premium support, online safety education, safeguarding services, and a dedicated careers education programme. The school's web presence is powered by Juniper Education's website platform. The institution also provides post-16 education through Arden Sixth Form, offering A Level and Level 3 vocational qualifications. Arden Academy is part of the Arden Multi Academy Trust, which oversees governance across multiple schools in the West Midlands.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Curriculum (Key Stages 3, 4, and 5) The school's academic curriculum covering KS3 (Years 7-9), KS4 (Years 10-11) GCSE, and KS5 (Years 12-13) A Level and vocational courses across subjects including English, Mathematics, Science, Computing and IT, Design and Technology, Drama, Geography, History, Languages (French, German, Spanish), Media, Music, PE, PSHE, Psychology, and Religious Studies. For students aged 11-18.
• Arden Sixth Form Post-16 education provision offering A Level and Level 3 courses across multiple subjects including Psychology, Religious Studies, PE, Media, Music, Languages, History, Geography, and Business and Economics. For students aged 16-18.
• Special Educational Needs and Disability (SEND) Support Inclusive educational support services for students with special educational needs and disabilities, including Learning Support, pastoral care, external agency partnerships, and transition support across all key stages. Addresses four categories of need: communication and interaction, cognition and learning, social mental emotional health, and sensory/physical.
• Co-Curricular Activities Programme A broad range of enrichment activities including sports clubs, music, drama productions, chess club, school visits, and educational trips including foreign travel, complementing the academic curriculum.
• Arden Library Services Library provision including the Accelerated Reader programme for Years 7 and 8, reading clubs, creative writing groups, student librarian programme, Kidlit Quiz competitions, and recommended reading lists across year groups.
• Pupil Premium Programme Targeted support for students eligible for Free School Meals, including additional tuition, pastoral managers, counselling services, educational resources, uniform and trip funding, and attendance monitoring.
• Arden Careers Education, Information, Advice and Guidance Careers programme including individual advice sessions, apprenticeship support, university preparation, work experience placement coordination, and careers fair participation for students across key stages.
• Safeguarding Services Comprehensive safeguarding support including designated safeguarding leads, reporting mechanisms, online safety education, and partnerships with local authority children's services.

Segments3 records

Ideal customer profiles2 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Integration6 records

Partnerships

Six partnerships are on record, tiered supporting and core.

• Solihull SISS Autism Support ServicesupportingOthersExternal specialist service providing support for students with autism spectrum needs and speech/language therapy services.
• Children's Mental Health Services (Solar and Forward Thinking Birmingham)supportingOthersExternal agency providing mental health support services for students.
• MalachisupportingOthersFamily liaison service providing support to families experiencing difficulties, with the aim of supporting family relationships and improving emotional resilience.
• Dare to DreamsupportingOthersExternal service offering bespoke programmes to improve students' emotional wellbeing and mental health.
• Solihull SENDIASsupportingOthersSpecial Educational Needs and Disability Information, Advice and Support Service providing guidance to parents and carers.
• Arden Multi Academy TrustcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerMulti-academy trust network of schools providing excellent education to children and young people across the West Midlands. Arden Academy is a part of this trust.

Scale indicators1 record

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Broad incumbents

• Star Academies: Multi-academy trust running a portfolio of state secondary schools across the UK. Comparable on the academy model, central governance overlay, and shared-services approach, but operates at significantly greater scale than a single-trust school.
• United Learning: Large multi-academy trust running both state and independent schools nationally. Comparable on academy trust governance structure and shared back-office services, though at much greater scale and with a wider portfolio mix.
• ARK (Academies Enterprise Trust): Large multi-academy trust operating multiple state secondary schools across England, comparable on the academy trust governance and funding structure under which Arden operates, though at materially greater scale and geographic reach.

Direct peers

• Tudor Grange Academy: State-funded secondary school serving the Solihull/West Midlands catchment, directly comparable on geography, age range, and state-school admissions model. Operates a similar 11-18 curriculum with sixth form provision.
• Ninestiles School: Birmingham-based state secondary school (part of an academy trust) serving a similar West Midlands catchment, with comparable size, curriculum breadth, and SEND provision focus.
• Alderbrook School: State-funded 11-18 secondary school in the Solihull borough offering GCSE and A Level pathways, directly comparable on catchment, age range, governance model (part of a multi-academy trust), and curriculum breadth.
• Light Hall School: Solihull-based state secondary school serving Years 7-13, comparable on geography, free state-funded delivery, and full secondary-through-sixth-form academic offer.
• Yardleys School: State secondary school in Birmingham with a similar 11-18 age range and comprehensive curriculum model, comparable on operating geography within the West Midlands and state-funded admissions process.
• King Edward VI Aston School: Birmingham-based state-funded grammar-style secondary school in the King Edward VI Foundation network, comparable on full secondary-through-sixth-form delivery and strong academic reputation within the West Midlands.

Regional players

• Solihull School: Independent co-educational school located in Solihull. Geographically adjacent and serving a similar age range, but operates a fee-paying independent model rather than state-funded admissions — comparable for parent-choice dynamics, not business model.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses4 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• LinkedInlinkedin.com/school/ardenacademy

Compliance1 record

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles13 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 Arden Academy