Sutherland House School
Sutherland House School is a UK specialist independent school, operated by Autism East Midlands, providing person-centred education for autistic children and young people aged 5–19 across two campuses in Nottingham and Braithwell, funded mainly via local authority EHCP placements.
- Company typePrivate
- Founded1968
- HeadquartersNottingham, United Kingdom
- Headcount1–10
- GTM typeB2C
- OfferingServices
What Sutherland House School does
Sutherland House School is a specialist independent school for autistic children and young people aged 5–19, operated by Autism East Midlands, a registered UK charity (Charity Number 517954) founded in 1968. The school operates two campuses — an established site in Nottingham and a second site at Braithwell, Doncaster that opened on 23 February 2026 after the property was purchased in 2024 and internally renovated. Both campuses deliver a person-centred curriculum with small class groups, favourable staffing ratios, sensory rooms and tranquil environments designed to reduce sensory triggers for autistic learners.
The educational product is built around individualised learning plans, structured transition support into adulthood, and an extensive co-curricular programme that includes 18 offsite sports tournaments, weekly swimming sessions for around 40 students, Duke of Edinburgh expeditions, and a School Games Gold Level Mark Award for 2024/25. Complementary services sit under the same charity umbrella and include ACE Popcorn, a social enterprise producing popcorn at events across Nottinghamshire and Derbyshire to create employment opportunities for autistic individuals, and structured employment placements via a partnership with East Midlands Railways (EMR).
Revenue is generated primarily through Education, Health and Care Plan (EHCP) placements funded by local authorities and personal care budgets, rather than direct tuition fees. GTM is sales-led and relationship-driven, combining local authority commissioning, Family Support Hubs, Neurohubs, the parent charity's website and social channels, and earned-media success stories. Customer segments are autistic pupils and their families (primary), plus local authority commissioners, NHS bodies and corporate placement partners (secondary). The school sits within a broader 18-site Autism East Midlands network covering accommodation, day services, respite and adult employment support.
Sutherland House School firmographics
Firmographics- Name
- Sutherland House School
- Legal name
- Autism East Midlands
- Website
- https://autismeastmidlands.org.uk
- Company type
- Private
- Founded year
- 1968
- Operating status
- Operating
- Headcount range
- 1–10 employees
- Short description
- Sutherland House School is a UK specialist independent school, operated by Autism East Midlands, providing person-centred education for autistic children and young people aged 5–19 across two campuses in Nottingham and Braithwell, funded mainly via local authority EHCP placements.
- Ownership category
- akta.pro rank
Sutherland House School industry classification
Industry- Product category
- Special Education Services
- NAICS
- Elementary and Secondary Schools (6111), Child Care Services (62441), Educational Support Services (611710)
- SIC
- Services-Educational Services (8200), Services-Social Services (8300)
- akta.pro primary industry
- Nonsectarian Independent Day Schools (EDAJABAA)
- akta.pro secondary industry
- Charter Special Education & Inclusive Programs (EDAJACAF)
Keywords
Where Sutherland House School is headquartered
LocationHeadquarters
- HQ city
- Nottingham
- HQ country
- United Kingdom
- HQ region
- Europe
Offices1 record
Markets served
Sutherland House School business model
Business model- GTM type
- B2C
- Offering type
- Services
- Cost components
- Personnel, Operations, Infrastructure, Marketing or Sales, Others
Revenue model
- Educational Services Funding: Specialist independent school funded primarily through local authority education funding and personal budgets for autistic children and young people aged 5-19.
- Social Enterprise Revenue: ACE Popcorn social enterprise creates employment opportunities for autistic individuals, generating revenue through popcorn production and sales at events across Nottinghamshire and Derbyshire.
Go-to-market motion1 record
Distribution channels3 records
Marketing channels5 records
Sutherland House School product offering
Product offeringCore offering
Sutherland House School provides specialist independent education for autistic children and young people aged 5-19, delivered through two campuses (Nottingham and Braithwell). The schools deliver person-centred curricula, small class groups, favourable staffing ratios, sensory-controlled environments, and comprehensive transition support into adulthood. Placements are funded through local authority Education, Health and Care Plan (EHCP) budgets and personal care packages.
Product overview
Sutherland House School operates as a portfolio of specialist independent schools for autistic children and young people aged 5-19 years, under Autism East Midlands. The school comprises two campus locations: Sutherland House School Nottingham and Sutherland House School Braithwell (opened February 2026). Both schools provide specialist autism-focused education with small class groups, favourable staffing ratios, person-centred curricula, and facilities including sensory rooms. The schools focus on reaching potential for each individual pupil through personalized learning opportunities.
Differentiator
Problem solved
Functional benefit
Products and services
- Sutherland House School Nottingham A non-maintained specialist school for autistic children and young people aged 5-19 years, providing education and support services with small class groups, favourable staffing levels, and a person-centred curriculum. Located in Nottingham and serving the East Midlands region.
- Sutherland House School Braithwell An independent specialist school for autistic children and young people aged 5-19 years, providing personalised learning through a person-centred curriculum. Located in the village of Braithwell, Doncaster, with classrooms for upper and lower school students, a sensory room, sprawling courtyard, greenhouse and garden. Holds an Ofsted Good rating.
Quantifiable outcome
- Students successfully completing Silver Duke of Edinburgh Award
- +3 more outcomes
Companies that use Sutherland House School
Customer profileNamed customers3 records
Segments3 records
Ideal customer profiles3 records
Sutherland House School technology and API
TechnologyTechnology focussed No
API detail
- Has API
- No
- API docs
- API detail
Core technology
AI maturity
App detail
Feature3 records
Sutherland House School partnerships and signals
Strategic signalPartnerships
Three partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.
- EMR (East Midlands Railways)coreEMR Supported Insight Scheme partnership providing students with 6-week placement programme including driver training simulator, station induction, pictorial SEND aids development, trolley hosting, and confidence-building train travel exercises. Programme supports students in developing employment skills and independence with public transport.
- Dan from The Big IdeaminorCreative partner assisting with student workshop for ACE Popcorn visual design, helping bring student designs to life.
- Direct Education Business PartnershipminorEducation-business partnership organisation facilitating connections between schools and employers for student development opportunities.
Scale indicators7 records
Recent moves7 records
Expansion highlights5 records
Sutherland House School competitors and assessment
Company assessmentDirect peers
- Hesley Group: Specialist education and residential provider for autistic children and adults across multiple UK sites, with full-life pathway services mirroring Autism East Midlands' integrated model.
- Prior's Court School: Non-maintained specialist school for autistic children in Berkshire with residential provision, providing a closely comparable operating model of a dedicated autism specialist school with person-centred curriculum.
- Sunfield School: Specialist independent school in Worcestershire for children with autism and complex needs using a Steiner-inspired approach, comparable in non-maintained specialist status and small-scale independent operation.
- Ambitious about Autism (TreeHouse School and Ambitious College): UK charity running specialist schools and colleges for autistic pupils, most directly comparable to Sutherland House as a non-maintained specialist autism school. Operates TreeHouse School in London with similar person-centred and sensory-aware approaches.
Broad incumbents
- Witherslack Group: Major specialist education provider operating schools and residential homes for children with SEN including autism, with similar EHCP-funded commissioning model but at significantly larger scale and broader SEND focus.
- Outcomes First Group: One of the largest UK specialist education and care providers, operating a portfolio of schools and homes for children with complex needs including autism. Comparable in funding model (LA/ EHCP) but with broader SEND specialism.
- Priory Education Services: Operates specialist education and residential services for children with SEN including autism across the UK. Larger, multi-site, for-profit operator in a comparable specialist education market.
- Cambian Group: UK specialist education and behavioural health provider offering schools and residential services for children with autism and complex needs. Similar EHCP-funded commissioning model at larger scale.
- National Autistic Society (NAS): Largest UK autism charity running schools (e.g., Sybil Elgar School, Radlett Lodge), residential services, and advocacy. A broader incumbent offering comparable specialist education alongside wider information and campaigning services.
Emerging players
- Standon Farm Education: Smaller specialist provision offering outdoor and farm-based learning for autistic and SEND pupils, comparable in specialist autism focus and outdoor learning elements (e.g., DofE and Duke of Edinburgh expeditions at Sutherland House).
Market position
Strengths4 records
Weaknesses4 records
Competitive moat4 records
Key risks6 records
Key highlights7 records
Customer concentration
Sutherland House School social profiles
Digital presenceSutherland House School compliance and trust
Trust signalCompliance2 records
Sutherland House School financial estimates
Financial estimateRevenue estimate
Valuation estimate
Sutherland House School leadership team
Management profileNumber of profiles
Profiles3 records
Sutherland House School subsidiaries and ownership
Company hierarchySubsidiaries7 records
Sutherland House School funding detail
Funding detailFunding overview
Funding rounds
Investors
Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Sutherland House School M&A and investment
M&A and investmentM&A
Investments
M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Frequently asked questions about Sutherland House School
What does Sutherland House School do?
Sutherland House School provides specialist independent education for autistic children and young people aged 5-19, delivered through two campuses (Nottingham and Braithwell). The schools deliver person-centred curricula, small class groups, favourable staffing ratios, sensory-controlled environments, and comprehensive transition support into adulthood. Placements are funded through local authority Education, Health and Care Plan (EHCP) budgets and personal care packages.
Is Sutherland House School a public or private company?
Sutherland House School is a private company. It is classified as nonprofit foundation owned and is currently operating.
When was Sutherland House School founded?
Sutherland House School was founded in 1968. It employs 1 to 10 people.
Where is Sutherland House School based?
Sutherland House School is headquartered in Nottingham, United Kingdom, in the Europe region.
How does Sutherland House School make money?
Two revenue lines are on record. Educational Services Funding is the primary driver. The others are social Enterprise Revenue.
Who are Sutherland House School's main competitors?
Direct peers on record are Hesley Group, Prior's Court School, Sunfield School and Ambitious about Autism (TreeHouse School and Ambitious College). Broad incumbents are Witherslack Group, Outcomes First Group, Priory Education Services, Cambian Group and National Autistic Society (NAS). Standon Farm Education is listed as an emerging player.
Does Sutherland House School have an API?
No public API is recorded for Sutherland House School.
What industry is Sutherland House School in?
Sutherland House School's product category is Special Education Services. Its primary akta.pro industry code is EDAJABAA, Nonsectarian Independent Day Schools, with a secondary code of EDAJACAF, Charter Special Education & Inclusive Programs. Its NAICS code is 6111 and its SIC code is 8200.