Longsands Academy

What Longsands Academy does

Longsands Academy is a fully-inclusive, state-funded secondary school and sixth form located on Longsands Road in St Neots, Cambridgeshire (PE19 1LQ), serving approximately 1,379 students aged 11–16 in Years 7–11 and a further 215 students in its Sixth Form. The school is part of Astrea Academy Trust, a multi-academy trust overseeing 26 primary and secondary schools across South Yorkshire and Cambridgeshire and approximately 14,000 students in total. Longsands offers a breadth of academic provision including 27 A Level subjects, BTEC Level 3 vocational qualifications in Health and Social Care and Sport, and an on-site performing-arts sub-brand (Stageworks College). It is governed by a Published Admission Number of 290 students per year group, with admissions for Years 7–11 routed through Cambridgeshire County Council and Sixth Form applications via MyChoice16.

The school's technology stack is built on standard third-party educational platforms rather than proprietary systems: Sparx Learning and Haldo Redu for online homework and revision, Microsoft Teams for home learning and communication, and ParentPay/MCAS for cashless catering and trip payments. The core product has no patented or proprietary technology, and the school does not disclose any AI/ML capabilities. Supporting services include a SEND programme with Catch-Up, Lexonic literacy, numeracy, sensory, and social-skills interventions. The school maintains a Good Ofsted rating (consistent with all 26 Astrea schools), and the trust won nEdEx Trust of the Year 2026 and Most Improved Trust of the Year 2026, with GCSE achievement rising from 60.9% to 65% Grades 9–4 in English and Maths.

Commercially, Longsands operates as a publicly-funded institution with no tuition fees; revenue is constituted primarily by per-pupil government funding channeled through the trust, supplemented by ancillary income from facility hire and lettings to community groups. Customer segments are local families within a defined 3-mile catchment and post-16 applicants, with no enterprise or B2B sales motion. The school's senior leadership was refreshed in 2025–2026 with the appointment of Executive Principal Francis Bray (ex-UTCN) and Principal Umara Qureshi (effective 1 June 2026, ex-Cedars Upper School), supported by a £1m capital programme including a £700,000 Sixth Form refurbishment. Internationalisation is limited to a minor German partner-school programme in Aachen, and the school depends on Astrea Trust governance for strategic direction rather than operating as an independent commercial entity.

Name

Longsands Academy

Legal name

Longsands Academy

Website

https://astrea-longsands.org

Company type

Private

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

Longsands Academy is a state-funded secondary school and sixth form in St Neots, Cambridgeshire, serving approximately 1,594 students aged 11–18 within Astrea Academy Trust. It delivers 27 A Level subjects, BTECs, and Stageworks performing-arts provision, funded by government per-pupil grants and facility lettings.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Headquarters

HQ city

St Neots

HQ country

United Kingdom

HQ region

Europe

Offices2 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

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

Revenue model

1. State Education Funding: Longsands Academy operates as a state-funded academy within Astrea Academy Trust. The school receives government funding for educational provision, with additional revenue generated through facility hire and lettings to the community.

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels4 records

Marketing channels6 records

Core offering

Longsands Academy is a state-funded secondary school and Sixth Form in St Neots, Cambridgeshire, operated by Astrea Academy Trust. It provides comprehensive education for students aged 11-18, including Key Stage 3 and Key Stage 4 (GCSE), post-16 A Level and BTEC Level 3 courses, and a performing arts sub-brand (Stageworks College) located on site. It serves approximately 1,379 students in Years 7-11 and 215 students in the Sixth Form.

Product overview

Longsands Academy is a fully-inclusive secondary school offering comprehensive education from Key Stage 3 through to post-16 provision. The core educational products include A Level Courses across 27 subjects taught by specialist teachers, BTEC Level 3 vocational qualifications in Health and Social Care and Sport, and Stageworks College performing arts programmes. The school operates a dedicated Sixth Form with approximately 215 scholars, housed in a purpose-built facility. Supporting services include a cashless catering system (ParentPay/MCAS), online homework platforms (Sparx Learning, Haldo Redu, Microsoft Teams), and a comprehensive SEND support programme. The school is part of Astrea Academy Trust which operates 26 schools across South Yorkshire and Cambridgeshire.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• Stageworks College: Full-time professional performing arts training college for students aged 16-21, located on the Longsands Academy site. Offers Pearson BTEC Level 3 National Diplomas in Performing Arts (Dance), Acting, and Musical Theatre.

Products and services

• A Level Courses Traditional A Level subjects taught by specialist teachers across 27 subject areas including Accounting, Biology, Business, Chemistry, Classical Civilisation, Computer Science, Economics, English Language and Literature, English Literature, Film Studies, Fine Art, French, Further Mathematics, Geography, German, History, Law, Mathematics, Media Studies, Music Technology, Photography, Physical Education, Physics, Politics, Psychology, and Sociology. Targeted at Sixth Form students aged 16-18 preparing for higher education.
• BTEC Level 3 Courses Vocational Level 3 qualifications equivalent to A-Levels, offered in Health and Social Care and Sport, providing practical options for students who may not thrive in traditional classroom settings. Targeted at Sixth Form students seeking vocational pathways.
• Stageworks College Full-time professional performing arts training for students aged 16-21 located on the Longsands Academy site. Offers Pearson BTEC Level 3 Diplomas in Performing Arts (Dance), Acting, and Musical Theatre, with graduates progressing to top performing arts schools including Mountview, Italia Conti, and West End productions.
• Sixth Form Provision Post-16 education for approximately 215 scholars offering a purpose-built Sixth Form building with dedicated study spaces, social areas, and a café. Includes enrichment activities, leadership opportunities, careers support, and UCAS preparation. Targeted at students aged 16-18.
• SEND Support Programme Special Educational Needs and Disabilities provision including Catch-Up and Lexonic literacy programmes, numeracy programmes, sensory exercise programs, communication programmes, and social skills groups. Targeted at students with additional learning needs and their families.

Quantifiable outcome

• 65% of students achieve Grades 9 to 4 in English and Maths GCSEs (up from 60.9%)
• +2 more outcomes

Named customers9 records

Segments4 records

Ideal customer profiles3 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Integration5 records

Partnerships

Eight partnerships are on record, tiered minor and moderate.

• Rotary Clubs of St NeotsminorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 15 December 2025Rotary Clubs of St Neots provide mock interview sessions for all Year 13 Sixth Form students, offering feedback on interview skills, CVs, and career guidance covering university options, apprenticeships, and employment.
• Imperial College LondonmoderateStrategic or Co-development Partner · 31 July 2025Imperial College London's UK Outreach Ambassador, astronaut Helen Sharman CMG OBE, visited Longsands Academy to speak about her space experience, STEM careers, and university life. The school benefits from university outreach programmes and students receive guidance on STEM subjects and university funding options.
• Form the FutureminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerQualified careers advisers from Form the Future provide one-to-one guidance interviews with Sixth Form students to support post-18 progression decisions.
• Growth WorksminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerLocal and national employer partnerships through Growth Works provide students with links to employers and career opportunities.
• NeacominorStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartnership with Neaco provides expert advice and guidance on university fees, loans, and finance options for students planning higher education.
• Local Businesses (Work Experience)minorStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartnership with local employers including AAB Automation Technology, Altair Media, Cambridge Magistrates Court, Ian Sollom MP, MASS Technology, MBDA Systems, Royal Papworth Hospital, Shelley & Co Solicitors, Whitings LLP Accountants, and others for Year 12 work experience placements.
• Stageworks CollegemoderateStrategic or Co-development PartnerStageworks College offers full-time performing arts training (Dance, Acting, Musical Theatre BTECs) for students aged 16-21 on the Longsands Academy site. Alumni have progressed to top performing arts schools including Mountview, Italia Conti, and West End productions.
• Aachen Partner School (Germany)minorStrategic or Co-development PartnerInternational partnership with a German school in Aachen for language learning and cultural exchange, supporting German A Level students.

Scale indicators7 records

Recent moves7 records

Expansion highlights7 records

Direct peers

• Hinchingbrooke School: Secondary school and sixth form in Huntingdon, Cambridgeshire, serving a similar demographic within the local Cambridgeshire secondary market. Operates as a comparable comprehensive secondary with overlapping admissions geography and similar curriculum scope.
• Comberton Village College: Village college and sixth form in Comberton, south Cambridgeshire serving students from a similar semi-rural catchment. Comparable secondary school with similar curriculum and post-16 provision.
• Sawtry Village Academy: Secondary school in Sawtry, Cambridgeshire, also part of Astrea Academy Trust. Operates within the same multi-academy trust governance and shares curriculum and resource infrastructure, making it the closest intra-trust peer.
• Astrea Academy Dearne: Secondary school within Astrea Academy Trust operating in South Yorkshire. Most directly comparable in governance, curriculum framework and improvement trajectory as a same-trust secondary peer.
• Gamlingay Village College: Secondary school in Gamlingay, south Cambridgeshire. Smaller alternative secondary operating in a similar rural market catchment area as Longsands with comparable student demographics.
• Cambourne Village College: Secondary school in the Cambourne area of Cambridgeshire serving a comparable student demographic. Competes in the broader Cambridgeshire secondary school admissions market.
• St Peter's School, Huntingdon: Secondary school in Huntingdon serving students from the Cambridgeshire area. Competes directly with Longsands for student enrolment within the overlapping regional catchment.
• Abbey College, Ramsey: Secondary school serving Ramsey and the surrounding Cambridgeshire area. Competes for student enrolment within the local secondary market and serves a similar demographic.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/longsands-academy

Compliance1 record

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles4 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 Longsands Academy