Cambridge Academy for Science & Technology

What Cambridge Academy for Science & Technology does

Cambridge Academy for Science & Technology (CAST) is a state-funded University Technical College located on the Cambridge Biomedical Campus in Cambridge, UK, serving students aged 13–19. Founded in 2014, it operates as part of United Learning, a multi-academy trust with a network of more than 50 schools. The school delivers a STEM-focused curriculum comprising GCSEs, A Levels, and T Levels, and is co-located alongside Addenbrooke's Hospital, the Medical Research Council Laboratory of Molecular Biology (MRC LMB), and the Babraham Institute — institutions that anchor its employer-engagement programme.

The school's core product is its specialist STEM academic pathway combined with employer-led Challenge Projects delivered in partnership with the University of Cambridge, the University of Oxford, and co-located biomedical and technology employers. These projects function as the school's primary pedagogical differentiator, embedding industry-defined technical problems into the curriculum. T Level provision, including a new Health (Adult Nursing) pathway, extends the offer into vocational post-16 routes. Digital learning is supported through the Up Learn platform, an AI-powered personalised learning tool used as a third-party curriculum layer rather than an in-house product.

CAST generates no tuition or commercial fee revenue. All income is government grant funding routed through the Education and Skills Funding Agency (ESFA) on a per-pupil basis, with allocations determined by enrolment. The school charges no fees, serves families across the Cambridge region and beyond as a free specialist STEM option, and is governed by a board led by Chair of Governors Tim Thornton, with Danielle Pacey as Principal and Alistair Easterfield as Careers Lead. The institutional customer is therefore dispersed (families/students), but the institutional payer is a single counterparty (UK government), creating a structurally concentrated revenue base despite a diffuse end-user population.

Name

Cambridge Academy for Science & Technology

Legal name

Cambridge Academy for Science and Technology

Website

https://cambridgeast.org.uk

Company type

Private

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

CAST is a state-funded University Technical College in Cambridge, UK, serving students aged 13–19 with a STEM-focused curriculum of GCSEs, A Levels, and T Levels, operated by United Learning and located on the Cambridge Biomedical Campus.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Secondary Education (STEM-focused)

NAICS

Elementary and Secondary Schools (611110), Technical and Trade Schools (61151)

SIC

Services-Educational Services (8200)

akta.pro primary industry

Charter STEM/STEAM-Focused Schools (EDAJACAG)

Keywords

• Secondary education
• STEM education
• Sixth form college
• T Level programmes
• University technical college

Headquarters

HQ city

Cambridge

HQ country

United Kingdom

HQ region

Europe

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

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

Revenue model

1. Government-Funded Education: As a UTC within United Learning, CAST operates as a state-funded academy receiving government education funding for secondary and sixth form education. Revenue comes from the Education & Skills Funding Agency (ESFA) based on student enrollment numbers.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels1 record

Marketing channels5 records

Core offering

CAST provides free, state-funded STEM-focused secondary and sixth-form education to students aged 13-19, delivering GCSE, A Level and T Level qualifications supported by an industry-co-designed Challenge Projects programme. The school combines academic qualifications with practical STEM skills through university-level laboratories, a Medical Simulation Suite, work experience placements and partnerships with organisations on the Cambridge Biomedical Campus including Addenbrooke's Hospital, Cambridge University, MRC LMB and Babraham Institute.

Product overview

Cambridge Academy for Science & Technology is a University Technical College (UTC) providing specialist STEM education for students aged 13-19. The institution offers a unified educational programme combining A Level and T Level pathways supplemented by the Challenge Programme. The A Level Programme covers nine subjects (Biology, Chemistry, Computer Science, Environmental Science, Further Maths, Geography, Maths, Physics, Psychology) alongside Core Maths and the Extended Project Qualification. The T Level Programme offers career-focused qualifications in Laboratory Sciences and Health with mandatory industry placements. The Challenge Projects programme, developed with industry partners, provides practical STEM experience through projects such as Building Challenge, Chemistry Challenge, Dragster Challenge, Machine Learning Challenge, and Protein Challenge. Students also work towards the Baker Award for Technical Education. All programmes are delivered using university-level laboratory facilities and state-of-the-art equipment on the Cambridge Biomedical Campus.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• A Level Programme Two-year academic programme offering A Level qualifications in STEM and related subjects (Biology, Chemistry, Computer Science, Environmental Science, Further Maths, Geography, Maths, Physics, and Psychology); students typically study three A Levels alongside the Extended Project Qualification and Core Maths. For students aged 16-19 progressing from GCSEs.
• T Level Programme Career-focused technical qualifications equivalent to three A Levels in Laboratory Sciences and Health (Adult Nursing), combining classroom learning with a mandatory 3-month industry placement with local STEM employers and healthcare organisations such as MRC LMB, Sainsbury Laboratory and Abcam. For students aged 16-19 seeking technical career pathways.
• Core Maths (Level 3 Certificate in Mathematical Studies) Level 3 Certificate in Mathematical Studies taken alongside other A Levels or T Levels, consolidating mathematical understanding and building confidence in applying mathematical techniques to personal finance, statistics and real-life applications. For Sixth Form students.
• Years 9-11 GCSE Programme Secondary STEM-focused education for students aged 13-16, delivering GCSE qualifications with emphasis on science, technology, engineering and maths alongside the standard curriculum, supported by Challenge Projects with industrial partners. For Year 9-11 students.

Named customers10 records

Segments1 record

Ideal customer profiles2 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Integration3 records

Feature3 records

Partnerships

18 partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• Addenbrooke's HospitalcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerStrong ongoing partnership providing work experience placements for Year 12 students. Includes unique arrangement for 10 bespoke NHS work experience placements annually specifically for CAST students applying to study Medicine. Students complete a week of work experience at the hospital as part of their CEIAG programme.
• Cambridge UniversitycoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerMultiple collaboration points including Challenge Projects with the Department of Engineering (dragster challenge), extended STEM projects, and support for university applications including Oxbridge preparation through United Learning.
• Medical Research Council (MRC) Laboratory of Molecular BiologycoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerT Level work placement partner where students rotate through Core Facilities including microscopy, genotyping, biophysics, and flow cytometry. Students have secured degree-level apprenticeships at MRC LMB.
• Cambridge University Hospitals NHS TrustcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerFormal partnership providing 10 bespoke work experience placements each year specifically allocated for CAST MedSoc students planning to apply to study Medicine at university.
• ZeissminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerTechnology company providing work experience placement opportunities for CAST students interested in microscopy and research technology.
• Cancer Research UKminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerCharity providing work experience placements for students interested in biomedical research and cancer studies.
• Babraham InstitutecoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerProtein Challenge project partner where students genetically engineer bacteria to express the PTEN oncogene using molecular biology techniques. Students visit the Institute, attend ethics workshops, and present scientific posters to Babraham scientists.
• MacecoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerConstruction company partnering on Building Challenge where students design sustainable amenities building for Cambridge Biomedical Campus, working with engineers and building physicists.
• University of OxfordcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerMachine Learning Challenge partner where students work with Oxford to design, build and train AIs to analyse data from the ATLAS experiment at CERN.
• Morgan Sindall ConstructionminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerConstruction firm embedding employer engagement and applied learning as part of curriculum delivery. Opportunity to identify future talent pipeline for degree apprenticeships, summer placements, and graduate opportunities.
• AVEVE Group PLCminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerEngineering company partnering to provide STEM skills development and career insights for students.
• ZEISS Research Microscopy SolutionsminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerTechnology company providing insights into STEM careers, noting CAST students are 'switched on to the world of STEM' and engage effectively.
• Cambridge and Anglian WaterminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerWater company partnering on Water Challenge project where students survey local waterways as part of environmental science education.
• Hobson's Conduit TrustminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerWaterway conservation trust partnering on Water Challenge to characterise critically endangered chalk stream and produce management plan for protection.
• Sainsbury LaboratoryminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerUniversity of Cambridge research facility providing T Level work placements for Laboratory Science students (3-month placements).
• AbcamminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerBiotechnology company offering T Level work placements in laboratories for science students.
• Baker Dearing TrustcoreOthersEducational trust supporting University Technical Colleges (UTCs) that provides oversight, governance support, and advocacy for the UTC model. CAST is supported by Baker Dearing Trust as a University Technical College.
• United LearningcoreOthersNational education group comprising over 90 schools across England (state and independent sectors) that CAST is part of. Provides governance, shared resources, collaborative planning, teacher training (United Teaching), and group-wide activities.

Scale indicators9 records

Recent moves3 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Others

• Unifrog: A UK careers guidance and destinations platform integrated into CAST's careers programme, supporting university and apprenticeship applications. Relevant as an enabling technology/service peer rather than a competitor, since it underpins part of CAST's CEIAG delivery.

Direct peers

• SGS Berkeley Green UTC: A Gloucestershire UTC specialising in science, technology, and engineering for 14-19 year olds, with strong employer partnerships in the engineering and digital sectors. Comparable as a STEM-specialist UTC with industry-aligned project work.
• University Technical College Bolton: A Bolton-based UTC providing STEM and health-focused education with T Level pathways and employer placements. Comparable in UTC structure, T Level delivery, and employer-led work experience for STEM and healthcare learners.
• Aston University Engineering Academy: A UTC affiliated with Aston University in Birmingham, providing engineering-focused education for 14-19 year olds with university-partnered curriculum. Comparable in UTC structure, age range, and university-employer partnership model.
• Manchester UTC: A Manchester-based UTC delivering STEM-focused secondary and sixth-form education with strong employer engagement across the Northern Powerhouse. Comparable in UTC structure, STEM curriculum, and university/employer partnership emphasis.
• JCB Academy: A University Technical College in Rocester, Staffordshire, offering STEM-focused secondary and sixth-form education with strong employer engagement (JCB and partners). Directly comparable to CAST in UTC structure, STEM specialism, employer-led curriculum, and A Level/T Level pathways.
• UTC Reading: A Reading-based UTC specialising in computing and STEM for 14-19 year olds with employer-led projects. Comparable to CAST as a UTC serving the 13-19 age range with an emphasis on industry-partnered STEM project work.

Regional players

• Thomas Mills High School (Suffolk): A selective state grammar school in Framlingham, Suffolk, with strong STEM A Level results and Oxbridge progression. Comparable on outcomes-driven sixth form provision and STEM specialism, though grammar rather than UTC model.

Broad incumbents

• United Church Schools Trust (UCST): Parent charitable trust within the United Learning group, operating over 90 schools across state and independent sectors in England. Comparable as the broader organisational umbrella CAST operates within; relevant for understanding shared services, governance, and group-level strategic positioning.

Emerging players

• Harris Westminster Sixth Form: A selective STEM-focused sixth form in central London serving high-attaining 16-19 year olds, part of the Harris Federation multi-academy trust. Comparable on STEM focus and high university-progression outcomes, though broader in curriculum than CAST.

Market position

Strengths4 records

Weaknesses4 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Facebookfacebook.com/CAST.Education1
• Instagraminstagram.com/cast.education
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/school/cambridge-acadmey-for-science-and-technology

Compliance4 records

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles8 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 Cambridge Academy for Science & Technology