Chessbrook Education Support Centre

What Chessbrook Education Support Centre does

Chessbrook Education Support Centre is a UK state-funded alternative education provision (AP) school established in 2010 and headquartered in Watford, Hertfordshire. It serves children and young people with Social, Emotional and Mental Health (SEMH) needs through a centre-based curriculum, the GADE Programme, primary and secondary extended roll provision, remote learning, and an integrated therapeutic approach. Annual reach is reported at 1,000-1,400 children, young people and families, delivered by a workforce of more than 50 teaching and support staff.

The centre has secured four consecutive OFSTED Outstanding ratings (2010, 2014, 2018, 2024) and was referenced in the UK Government's 2022 SEND Green Paper as a recognised AP model, with leadership invited to Westminster to brief policymakers. The 100% Gatsby Benchmark compliance evidences a regulated careers guidance offer for secondary-age learners.

Chessbrook operates as a publicly funded provider with no parent company or PE/VC ownership. Revenue mechanics are driven by per-pupil funding from local authorities (principally Hertfordshire), Pupil Premium grants, and commissioning income from statutory partners. Key external partners include Saracens Foundation, the National Lottery Community Fund, TUTE, Talaxy, Services for Young People, West Herts College and Wood Oaks Farm, which together supply therapeutic, post-16 and wraparound capacity the centre does not produce in-house. The model is characterised by long-tenured staff, specialisation in SEMH pedagogy, and low commercial content — its defensibility sits in regulatory validation and embedded commissioner relationships rather than technology or scale economics.

Name

Chessbrook Education Support Centre

Legal name

Chessbrook Education Support Centre

Website

https://chessbrook.herts.sch.uk

Company type

Private

Founded year

2010

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

1–10 employees

Short description

Chessbrook Education Support Centre is a UK state-funded alternative provision school in Watford, Hertfordshire, serving children and young people with Social, Emotional and Mental Health (SEMH) needs through centre-based, extended roll, and remote learning programmes, holding four consecutive OFSTED Outstanding ratings.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Alternative Education Provision

NAICS

Educational Support Services (611710), Educational Support Services (6117)

SIC

Services-Educational Services (8200)

akta.pro primary industry

Wraparound Student Support & Case Management Services (At-Risk K–12) (EDAJAEAJ)

akta.pro secondary industries

Mental Health Counseling & Therapy Services (K–12) (EDAJALAG), Behavioral Health & MTSS/RTI Tiered SEL Supports (EDAKAMAE)

Keywords

• Alternative education provision
• SEMH support services
• Therapeutic education programmes
• Pupil referral services
• School outreach intervention

Headquarters

HQ city

Watford, England

HQ country

United Kingdom

HQ region

Europe

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

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

Revenue model

1. State-Funded Education: Chessbrook operates as a state-funded education setting receiving funding from Hertfordshire Local Authority. Revenue comes from per-pupil funding allocations for students enrolled at the centre.
2. Pupil Premium Grant: Additional government funding allocated based on number of students eligible for free school meals or looked-after children. 2025-26: £2,150 total pupil premium funding. Previous years: £2,100 (2024-25), £1,035 (2023-24).
3. Alternative Provision Partnerships: Provides alternative provision courses to mainstream schools across South West Hertfordshire. Schools pay for access to accredited courses and support services helping KS4 students achieve and KS3 students re-engage through 10-11 week programmes.
4. Extended Roll Outreach Services: Tier 3 specialist outreach services for primary schools in DSPL9 area. Provides weekly outreach mentoring, counselling, Reflect & Relaunch programme, and transition support for Year 6 into Year 7.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion2 records

Distribution channels4 records

Marketing channels5 records

Core offering

Chessbrook Education Support Centre is a state-funded alternative provision school delivering a therapeutic, trauma-informed education programme for Key Stage 3 and Key Stage 4 students with Social, Emotional and Mental Health (SEMH) needs in South West Hertfordshire. It combines centre-based full-time education, accredited alternative provision courses for mainstream schools, and outreach (Extended Roll) services for primary and secondary schools to prevent exclusions and support reintegration. Each student is assigned a Personalised Learning Mentor (PLM) who maintains weekly contact with families and supports academic, vocational, and personal development pathways.

Product overview

Chessbrook Education Support Centre operates as a unified educational support organisation offering centre-based education alongside outreach services. The core offering consists of a bespoke curriculum delivered at the centre for Key Stage 3 and Key Stage 4 students combined with Extended Roll services (Primary and Secondary outreach) that support mainstream schools. Key products include the GADE assessment programme, Alternative Provision partnerships, Remote Learning via Google Classroom and TUTE, Therapeutic Approach with Personalised Learning Mentors, and enrichment programmes such as Saracens Project Breakthrough and Learning Outside the Classroom. The centre provides comprehensive support including SEND services, careers guidance achieving Gatsby Benchmark 100%, and personal development including Duke of Edinburgh Award. All components are unified through a whole-school therapeutic approach prioritising mental health and wellbeing.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Centre-Based Curriculum

Quantifiable outcome

• Students achieve 16+ qualifications
• +4 more outcomes

Named customers3 records

Segments3 records

Ideal customer profiles4 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Integration5 records

Feature4 records

Partnerships

Seven partnerships are on record, tiered core, supporting and minor.

• Saracens FoundationcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerWeekly sports mentoring programme (Project Breakthrough) for Chessbrook students, funded by National Lottery's Community Fund. Emily leads small group or 1:1 sports-focused sessions integrated into PE curriculum. Individual outcomes include improved self-confidence, attendance, attitude to learning, and employability. Community outcomes include reduction in youth crime and improved parent relationships. Includes enrichment trips to Stone X stadium and student podcast recordings.
• TUTEcoreTechnology or IntegrationOnline virtual curriculum platform providing live lessons taught by teachers virtually. Used for students requiring remote learning or as part of alternative provision. Students access via login credentials on their timetable.
• TalaxysupportingTechnology or IntegrationAlternative Provision Management Information System (MIS) providing 24/7 real-time data on attendance, achievements, behaviour, and student timetables. Partner schools access live data to track student progress in provision.
• Mainstream Schools in South West HertfordshirecoreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorPartnership network of primary and secondary schools commissioning Extended Roll and alternative provision services. Schools refer students and access Talaxy platform for progress monitoring. Includes GADE programme for KS3 reintegration support.
• Services for Young PeoplecoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerAdvisor Matt Penn based at Chessbrook one day per week providing students with careers education and guidance on routes to employability and post-16 opportunities. Supports students in accessing apprenticeships, work experience, and locally run projects. Continues post-16 support including monthly drop-in sessions at West Herts College.
• West Herts CollegesupportingChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorMonthly planned drop-in sessions held at West Herts College for Chessbrook post-16 students to access Services for Young People advice and guidance. Part of transition support for students moving to further education.
• Wood Oaks FarmminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerExternal site for Learning Outside the Classroom programme. Students plant and nurture trees at the farm, learning about sustainability and giving back to the local community.

Scale indicators5 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Direct peers

• Progress Schools: Multi-academy trust running alternative provision schools and outreach programmes for students at risk of exclusion across the North and Midlands of England. Comparable AP specialist operating on a regional, partnership-based model.
• River Tees Academy (River Tees Multi-Academy Trust): MAT operating alternative provision academies in the Tees Valley, with SEMH-focused curriculum and reintegration support. Comparable UK AP MAT with a similar therapeutic, partnership-driven approach.
• Academy21: UK online alternative provision provider offering full-time and part-time education for KS3/KS4 students referred by mainstream schools. Comparable as an AP partner for mainstream schools serving SEMH and excluded students, with both offline and online delivery models.
• Discovery Schools Academy Trust: A Leicestershire-based MAT offering alternative provision and SEMH-focused education. Comparable as a UK AP MAT providing centre-based and outreach services to mainstream schools.
• TBAP Multi-Academy Trust (The TBAP Trust): A multi-academy trust specialising in alternative provision across London and the South East, operating AP academies and outreach for students at risk of exclusion. Most directly comparable UK AP specialist by mission, model, and customer base.
• Compass Schools: UK provider of alternative education through registered day schools and bespoke outreach packages for local authorities and schools. Closely comparable as a registered independent AP provider serving KS3/KS4 SEMH students.
• Nacro Education: Operates alternative provision academies across England for students disengaged from mainstream education, including SEMH support and reintegration pathways. Direct UK AP peer with similar at-risk student focus.

Regional players

• Wandsworth Alternative Provision Service: Local authority-run alternative provision service in Wandsworth, London, delivering outreach and centre-based support for KS3/KS4 students at risk of exclusion. Comparable regionally focused AP service but LA-run rather than independent.

Broad incumbents

• West Herts College: Local further education college that hosts Chessbrook's post-16 drop-in transition sessions. Comparable as a broader post-16 destination partner that absorbs Chessbrook alumni, with overlapping student cohort in the South West Hertfordshire region.

Others

• E-People (Education Personnel): Education staffing and SEND recruitment specialist supporting AP and SEMH provisions across the UK. Adjacent, not competing, but relevant as an enabling services peer given Chessbrook's reliance on specialist therapeutically trained staff.

Market position

Strengths4 records

Weaknesses4 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• Instagraminstagram.com/chessbrookesc
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/chessbrook-education-support-centre

Compliance3 records

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles10 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 Chessbrook Education Support Centre