Cardinal Wiseman School
Cardinal Wiseman Catholic School is a state-funded Catholic secondary school in Kingstanding, Birmingham, serving approximately 1,000–1,500 pupils across Years 7–11 with a CSI Outstanding rating and a distinctive Transformation Curriculum.
- Company typePrivate
- Founded-
- HeadquartersBirmingham, United Kingdom
- Headcount11–50
- GTM typeB2C
- OfferingServices
What Cardinal Wiseman School does
Cardinal Wiseman Catholic School is a state-funded Catholic secondary school in Kingstanding, Birmingham, founded in 1959 and operating under the Trust Deed of the Archdiocese of Birmingham. It serves approximately 1,000–1,500 pupils across Years 7–11 (no sixth form), with admissions prioritising Catholic applicants, siblings and staff children via an Aplicaa-powered portal and a documented oversubscription policy. The school's products are its KS3/GCSE curriculum, its distinctive Friday afternoon Transformation Curriculum (30+ enrichment activities including Duke of Edinburgh, LAMDA, Taekwondo, Debatemate and the Wiseman Radio podcasting platform), its SEND and pastoral services, and its Gatsby-compliant careers programme anchored on the Unifrog platform.
The technology stack is consumer-grade rather than proprietary: Sparx Maths (daily 30-minute adaptive practice), Century AI for personalised KS3/GCSE learning, Seneca, Brainscape, GCSEpod and Accelerated Reader sit on top of a Realsmart-hosted CMS, with YouTube used for curriculum video. AI capability is therefore sourced from third-party vendors and used for personalisation rather than built in-house. Operational and safeguarding integrations include Unifrog, Kooth, NSPCC, Birmingham Safeguarding Children Partnership and Operation Encompass, with employer engagement spanning MakeUK, BMW, Zurich, Vinci, Hilton and West Midlands Fire Service.
Revenue is non-commercial: education is free at point of use, funded through the Education and Skills Funding Agency on a per-pupil basis plus Pupil Premium and SEND grants. The go-to-market motion is community-led, relying on word-of-mouth, open evenings, the prospectus, and an active Twitter presence. External validation is strong — Ofsted Good, CSI Outstanding (February 2026), UNICEF Silver Rights Respecting, Skills Builder Silver, with Progress 8 of +0.27 and 85%+ post-16 destination rates as headline performance metrics.
Cardinal Wiseman School firmographics
Firmographics- Name
- Cardinal Wiseman School
- Legal name
- Cardinal Wiseman Catholic School
- Website
- https://cardinalwiseman.net
- Company type
- Private
- Operating status
- Operating
- Headcount range
- 11–50 employees
- Short description
- Cardinal Wiseman Catholic School is a state-funded Catholic secondary school in Kingstanding, Birmingham, serving approximately 1,000–1,500 pupils across Years 7–11 with a CSI Outstanding rating and a distinctive Transformation Curriculum.
- Ownership category
- akta.pro rank
Cardinal Wiseman School industry classification
Industry- Product category
- Catholic Secondary Education
- NAICS
- Elementary and Secondary Schools (6111), Elementary and Secondary Schools (61111)
- SIC
- Services-Educational Services (8200)
- akta.pro primary industry
- Faith-Based (Religious) K–12 Schools (EDAJABAC)
Keywords
Where Cardinal Wiseman School is headquartered
LocationHeadquarters
- HQ city
- Birmingham
- HQ country
- United Kingdom
- HQ region
- Europe
Offices1 record
Markets served
Cardinal Wiseman School business model
Business model- GTM type
- B2C
- Offering type
- Services
- Cost components
- Personnel, Operations, Infrastructure, Technology or R&D, Others
Revenue model
- State-Funded Education: The school operates as a state-funded Catholic secondary school receiving government funding through the local authority. Education is provided free at point of use for students. Revenue comes from the Education and Skills Funding Agency (ESFA) based on student numbers and specific grants (Pupil Premium, SEND funding).
Go-to-market motion1 record
Distribution channels3 records
Marketing channels6 records
Cardinal Wiseman School product offering
Product offeringCore offering
Cardinal Wiseman Catholic School is a state-funded Catholic secondary school in Kingstanding, Birmingham, delivering full-time education for pupils aged 11–16 across Key Stage 3 (Years 7–9) and Key Stage 4 (Years 10–11, GCSE). Its core offer combines the national curriculum with a distinctive Transformation Curriculum (enrichment), an in-house Wiseman Radio station, a Careers Education Programme, SEND support, an Independent Learning Platform, and a wide extra-curricular programme. Education is provided free at the point of use to students and their families, with funding received from the ESFA and oversight from the Archdiocese of Birmingham.
Product overview
Cardinal Wiseman Catholic School provides a comprehensive educational programme spanning Key Stage 3 and 4, with a distinctive Transformation Curriculum as a weekly Friday afternoon enrichment programme. The school offers GCSE qualifications and vocational courses including VCERT Health and Fitness, BTEC Performing Arts, NCFE Health and Fitness, and WJEC Hospitality and Catering. Core subjects include Maths, English, Science, Religious Education, History, Geography, Computing, Art, Music, Drama, Food, and Spanish. The school integrates digital learning platforms (Sparx Maths, Century, Seneca, Brainscape, GCSEpod) alongside traditional teaching methods. Additional offerings include Wiseman Radio (student podcasting), comprehensive careers guidance, extra-curricular activities, and SEND support services.
Differentiator
Problem solved
Functional benefit
Products and services
- Key Stage 3 Curriculum (Years 7–9)
Quantifiable outcome
- Progress 8 score of +0.27 (above average)
- +4 more outcomes
Companies that use Cardinal Wiseman School
Customer profileNamed customers2 records
Segments2 records
Ideal customer profiles2 records
Cardinal Wiseman School technology and API
TechnologyTechnology focussed No
API detail
- Has API
- No
- API docs
- API detail
Core technology
AI maturity
App detail
Integration8 records
Feature5 records
Cardinal Wiseman School partnerships and signals
Strategic signalPartnerships
Eleven partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.
- UnifrogcoreUnifrog is the school's careers platform used by all pupils, parents, and staff. The platform allows students to search for apprenticeships and courses, explore careers pathways, track activities and skills, and prepare for post-16 transitions. Parents receive their own login to support career discussions at home.
- Birmingham Careers ServicecoreFree support service for young people aged 16-19 not in education, employment, or training (NEET). Provides careers information, advice, and guidance to Cardinal Wiseman students.
- AimHigher West MidlandsminorSupports the school's careers provision with information about higher education pathways and opportunities for widening participation.
- Birmingham Safeguarding Children PartnershipcoreMulti-agency partnership working to safeguard children in Birmingham. School works in partnership with BSCP, police, school nurse, and other external agencies.
- Careers & Enterprise CompanyminorNational body supporting schools with careers education. School works closely with CEC and West Midlands Combined Authority for termly review and enhancement of careers provision.
- West Midlands Combined AuthorityminorRegional authority collaborating with school on careers provision development and Labour Market Information.
- NSPCCminorChild protection charity providing resources and support for safeguarding. School utilizes NSPCC materials and services for child protection education.
- KoothminorFree, safe, anonymous online mental health support service recommended by the school for students.
- MakeUKminorManufacturing industry organization. 60 Year 8 students visited MakeUK to learn about careers in manufacturing, engineering, and apprenticeships as part of breaking STEM stereotypes.
- Local Universities (Oxford and Birmingham)minorSchool maintains strong links with prestigious universities including trips to Oxford and Birmingham institutions to broaden students' awareness of higher education pathways.
- Post-16 Providers (South and City College, BMET, Apprenticeship Providers)corePartnership with further education colleges and apprenticeship providers for student transitions. Featured at careers speed dating events alongside employers like Hilton Birmingham Metropole, Vinci Construction, Zurich Insurance, BMW, West Midlands Fire Service.
Scale indicators9 records
Recent moves6 records
Expansion highlights5 records
Cardinal Wiseman School competitors and assessment
Company assessmentDirect peers
- Holy Trinity Catholic School: Catholic school in the Birmingham Archdiocese with similar faith-based admissions and KS3/KS4 delivery. Comparable in target demographic and curriculum breadth.
- Archbishop Ilsley Catholic School: Catholic secondary school in Acocks Green, Birmingham, also under the Archdiocese of Birmingham. Overlaps on faith-based admissions, GCSE curriculum structure, and extracurricular enrichment programmes.
- John Henry Newman Catholic College: Catholic secondary school in Birmingham, sharing the same Archdiocese governance and Catholic-faith admissions criteria. Comparable in size, KS3/KS4 offer, and post-16 destination focus.
- St Edmund Campion Catholic School: Catholic secondary school in Erdington, North Birmingham, serving the same Archdiocese of Birmingham catchment. Directly comparable in faith-based admissions criteria, KS3/KS4 GCSE delivery model, and student demographic.
- St Thomas Aquinas Catholic School: Catholic secondary school in Birmingham operating under the Archdiocese with comparable faith-priority admissions, GCSE programme structure, and pastoral/SEND emphasis.
- Bishop Challoner Catholic College: Catholic secondary school in Kings Heath, Birmingham, serving a similar catchment of Catholic families and competing directly with Cardinal Wiseman for faith-priority admissions. Most direct geographic and demographic peer in Birmingham.
Regional players
- Kingsbury School & Sports College: State secondary school in North Birmingham serving overlapping catchment families. Comparable in size, KS3/KS4 structure, and community-facing admissions model though not faith-based.
- Shireland Collegiate Academy: Multi-academy secondary school in Sandwell/North Birmingham with similar urban demographic, KS3/KS4 curriculum, and edtech-enabled learning model. Comparable on scale and student outcomes focus.
- King Edward VI Aston School: Birmingham-based secondary school serving a similar North Birmingham demographic but as a non-faith grammar school. Comparable on curriculum structure, GCSE outcomes, and catchment but differentiates on selection model.
Broad incumbents
- Archdiocese of Birmingham Multi-Academy Trust: Diocesan body that ultimately governs Cardinal Wiseman and other Catholic schools across the region. Relevant as a structural incumbent shaping Catholic education policy, funding flows, and the school's broader operating context.
Market position
Strengths5 records
Weaknesses5 records
Competitive moat5 records
Key risks6 records
Key highlights7 records
Customer concentration
Cardinal Wiseman School social profiles
Digital presenceCardinal Wiseman School compliance and trust
Trust signalCompliance6 records
Cardinal Wiseman School financial estimates
Financial estimateRevenue estimate
Valuation estimate
Cardinal Wiseman School leadership team
Management profileNumber of profiles
Profiles16 records
Cardinal Wiseman School funding detail
Funding detailFunding overview
Funding rounds
Investors
Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Cardinal Wiseman 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 Cardinal Wiseman School
What does Cardinal Wiseman School do?
Cardinal Wiseman Catholic School is a state-funded Catholic secondary school in Kingstanding, Birmingham, delivering full-time education for pupils aged 11–16 across Key Stage 3 (Years 7–9) and Key Stage 4 (Years 10–11, GCSE). Its core offer combines the national curriculum with a distinctive Transformation Curriculum (enrichment), an in-house Wiseman Radio station, a Careers Education Programme, SEND support, an Independent Learning Platform, and a wide extra-curricular programme. Education is provided free at the point of use to students and their families, with funding received from the ESFA and oversight from the Archdiocese of Birmingham.
Is Cardinal Wiseman School a public or private company?
Cardinal Wiseman School is a private company. It is classified as nonprofit foundation owned and is currently operating.
When was Cardinal Wiseman School founded?
Cardinal Wiseman School was founded in -1. It employs 11 to 50 people.
Where is Cardinal Wiseman School based?
Cardinal Wiseman School is headquartered in Birmingham, United Kingdom, in the Europe region.
How does Cardinal Wiseman School make money?
One revenue line is on record: state-Funded Education.
Who are Cardinal Wiseman School's main competitors?
Direct peers on record are Holy Trinity Catholic School, Archbishop Ilsley Catholic School, John Henry Newman Catholic College, St Edmund Campion Catholic School, St Thomas Aquinas Catholic School and Bishop Challoner Catholic College. Regional players are Kingsbury School & Sports College, Shireland Collegiate Academy and King Edward VI Aston School. Archdiocese of Birmingham Multi-Academy Trust is listed as a broad incumbent.
Does Cardinal Wiseman School have an API?
No public API is recorded for Cardinal Wiseman School.
What industry is Cardinal Wiseman School in?
Cardinal Wiseman School's product category is Catholic Secondary Education. Its primary akta.pro industry code is EDAJABAC, Faith-Based (Religious) K–12 Schools. Its NAICS code is 6111 and its SIC code is 8200.