What Copleston High School does

Copleston High School is a state-maintained secondary school located in Ipswich, Suffolk, operating as part of the Oxlip Learning Partnership Multi-Academy Trust. The school serves students aged 11-18 across Years 7-13, delivering Key Stage 3 and Key Stage 4 (GCSE) provision, a Sixth Form offering approximately 28-30 A-level and BTEC courses, and a nationally recognised Copleston Basketball Academy ranked in the UK top three. The school's flagship differentiator is its bespoke APEX personal development and Enrichment programme, covering mental health, relationships, personal finance, careers, and global citizenship through structured weekly tutor time booklets. Academic outcomes sit above national averages, with 95% of Sixth Form students achieving two or more A-levels, 44% achieving A*-B grades, and 4 Oxbridge offers secured in 2024, positioning Copleston as the highest performing state Sixth Form in the Ipswich area.

The business model is a non-fee-paying state education model funded primarily through UK government revenue allocated via local authority funding formulae. Ancillary revenue streams include the Sixth Form Café (transaction-fee), Turing Scheme subsidised overseas trips, and Copleston Centre facility hire through the SportsKey portal. The technology stack is Microsoft-centric, using SharePoint for Virtual Learning Environment and Key Stage 3/4/Sixth Form resource portals, Microsoft Teams for communication, Go4Schools for parent reporting, and third-party platforms including Unifrog (careers), Sparxmaths and Uplearn (revision), and Applicaa (Sixth Form admissions). The website is built by Greenhouse School Websites with WCAG 2.2 partial compliance and a public sector accessibility commitment. Strategic partnerships span University of Suffolk, University of Essex, University of Nottingham, Chigwell School (Oxbridge aspiration programme), England Basketball, and Challenges Abroad for overseas trips.

Customer segments are primarily individual students and parents, with Year 7 admissions routed through Suffolk County Council and Sixth Form admissions managed through the Applicaa online platform. The basketball academy serves as a specialised segment drawing elite athletes from beyond the standard Suffolk catchment. Marketing channels combine traditional open evenings and personalised school tours booked via Eventbrite with a digital presence across Instagram, Twitter/X, Facebook, YouTube, and a digital prospectus. The school operates within a regulated UK education framework with Ofsted oversight, Inclusion Quality Mark recognition, and governance from the Oxlip Learning Partnership Trust Board.

Name

Copleston High School

Legal name

Copleston High School

Website

https://copleston.suffolk.sch.uk

Company type

Private

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

51–100 employees

Short description

Copleston High School is a UK state-maintained secondary school in Ipswich, Suffolk, serving students aged 11-18 across Years 7-13. It delivers GCSE and A-level programmes, a nationally top-3 ranked Basketball Academy, and a bespoke APEX personal development curriculum, funded primarily through government revenue.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Headquarters

HQ city

Ipswich

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, Others

Revenue model

1. Government Funding (Education Funded): As a state-maintained secondary school, Copleston receives core funding from the UK government through local authority funding formulae. This covers teaching staff, facilities, and standard educational delivery.
2. Sixth Form Bursary Funding: Government-funded 16-19 bursary scheme providing financial support to eligible students including vulnerable groups (up to £1,200/year) and discretionary bursaries for those meeting household income criteria.
3. Extended Project Qualification (EPQ): Additional qualification offered alongside A-levels, equivalent to approximately half an AS level. Students undertake independent research projects worth 28 UCAS points.
4. Catering and Hospitality: Sixth Form Cafe providing hot and cold drinks and snacks throughout the day. Coffee bar for additional refreshment options. These generate revenue while supporting student wellbeing.
5. Turing Scheme Subsidised Trips: Overseas educational visits partially funded through the Turing Scheme government programme. Students contribute part of the cost and undertake some fundraising.
6. Facility Hire (Copleston Centre): The Copleston Centre facilities are available for external bookings through SportsKey portal, generating revenue from community use of sports facilities.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels5 records

Marketing channels11 records

Core offering

Copleston High School delivers full-time secondary and post-16 education for students aged 11–18 (Years 7–13), including Key Stage 3/4 curriculum leading to GCSEs, a Sixth Form offering approximately 28–30 A Level and BTEC courses, and the bespoke THE APEX personal development and Enrichment programme. Specialised offerings include the nationally recognised Copleston Basketball Academy (top-3 in the UK, delivering the Diploma in Sporting Excellence), the Extended Project Qualification, Duke of Edinburgh's Award at all levels, Turing Scheme overseas trips, and an Oxbridge Aspiration Programme in partnership with Chigwell School.

Product overview

Copleston High School is a secondary school in Ipswich, Suffolk offering a comprehensive educational programme from Years 7-13. The school's main product is its Sixth Form programme, providing approximately 28-30 A Level and BTEC courses with options for 3 or 4 A Level study. The offering is structured around the core Sixth Form Programme, which combines academic courses with THE APEX (a bespoke personal development and careers programme) and Enrichment lessons. Key specialised offerings include the nationally recognised Copleston Basketball Academy (ranked in the UK's top three, delivering the DiSE programme), the Extended Project Qualification (EPQ), and the Duke of Edinburgh's Award Scheme at all levels. Supporting resources include a Study and Revision Hub with subject-specific materials, a Learning Resource Centre, and Sixth Form Café. The school also provides extensive university liaison services through partnerships with University of Suffolk, University of Essex, and University of Nottingham, plus overseas opportunities through the Turing Scheme and the Chigwell School Aspiration Programme for Oxbridge candidates.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• Copleston Basketball Academy: Nationally renowned basketball academy recognized by England Basketball, one of only 12 institutions delivering the Diploma in Sporting Excellence (DiSE) programme. Run by specialist coaches with success in regional and national sporting tournaments.
• THE APEX
• The Copleston Centre

Products and services

• Sixth Form Programme A comprehensive post-16 educational programme offering A Level and BTEC courses with options to study 3 or 4 A levels, plus enrichment activities and the APEX personal development programme for students aged 16–18.

Quantifiable outcome

• 95% of students achieve 2 or more A-levels
• +7 more outcomes

Named customers3 records

Segments5 records

Ideal customer profiles5 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature4 records

Partnerships

22 partnerships are on record, tiered core, major and supporting.

• Oxlip Learning PartnershipcoreOthersMulti-academy trust that governs Copleston High School. The trust board sets strategic direction while the school maintains operational autonomy. The trust deplores abuse of school leaders and is committed to staff protection.
• University of SuffolkmajorStrategic or Co-development PartnerHosts the annual UCAS Conference at the university where students meet representatives from almost every UK university. Strong local partnership supporting university transition and aspirations.
• University of NottinghammajorStrategic or Co-development PartnerDelegates visit Copleston annually to deliver talks on personal statements, applying to university, and student finance beginning in Year 12 and continuing into Year 13 application process.
• University of EssexmajorStrategic or Co-development PartnerSchool Membership Partner providing a fund for departments to travel and visit the university for subject-specific events. Notable events for Economics, Politics, Theology, RE, and Business/Marketing students.
• Chigwell SchoolmajorStrategic or Co-development PartnerCo-educational independent boarding and day school in Essex. Joint Aspiration Programme for Sixth Form students applying to Oxbridge and top Russell Group universities, including a 3-day residential summer school with visits to Cambridge.
• England BasketballcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerNational governing body recognition of Copleston Basketball Academy as one of the top academies in the country and one of only 12 institutions delivering the DiSE programme nationally.
• Ipswich Basketball Academy (IBA)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartnership delivering the Copleston Basketball Academy with international coach Nick Drane. Competes in EABL and WEABL competitions. Academy website provides information and application details.
• Challenges AbroadmajorStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartnership for Turing Scheme subsidised overseas educational visits to Tanzania, Thailand, Peru, Panama, and Nepal involving community action and ecological projects.
• BT and OPENREACHsupportingGTM or Marketing PartnerPartnership providing information about Graduate and Advanced and Degree Apprentice Schemes for students considering apprenticeship pathways over university.
• Screen SuffolksupportingGTM or Marketing PartnerRegional screen industry partnership providing opportunities for students to engage with global film companies and creative industry career pathways.
• Fashion CandysupportingGTM or Marketing PartnerPartnership mentioned as part of school's work with leading companies providing guest speakers, webinars, and career insights.
• Scrutton BlandsupportingGTM or Marketing PartnerLeading regional accountancy firm partnership providing career insights and opportunities for students interested in finance careers.
• Various Law FirmssupportingGTM or Marketing PartnerRange of law firms engaged with the school providing guest speakers, online webinars, and direct information about careers in law.
• The Hold (Ipswich)supportingStrategic or Co-development PartnerRegional centre for historical research in Ipswich. Students have opportunities to curate and digitise local records including the Copleston Collection, gaining valuable work experience in historical research.
• SparxmathssupportingTechnology or IntegrationOnline mathematics platform subscription providing revision videos and practice questions. Students log in with school email to access Independent Learning section.
• UplearnmajorTechnology or IntegrationOnline revision platform used by many top-performing schools. Provides guided study and revision activities for many subjects offered at Copleston. School provides all students with access.
• UnifrogmajorTechnology or IntegrationComprehensive online platform supporting students with career choices, skill development, and applications for courses and careers. Provides personality quizzes, vacancy searches, and application tools.
• Exam Study ExpertsupportingStrategic or Co-development PartnerExternal provider invited to work with both staff and students at Copleston, providing information, podcasts, and resources about the science behind studying and effective revision techniques.
• MaximiseYPsupportingStrategic or Co-development PartnerExternal provider delivering motivational study skills sessions to students, complementing internal study skills training within the APEX Enrichment programme.
• The Learning ScientistssupportingStrategic or Co-development PartnerResearch-based learning organisation whose resources on how we learn are used to support students and parents with revision and study techniques.
• Inner DrivesupportingStrategic or Co-development PartnerEducational resource provider producing blogs, resources, and books about studying, revision, and motivation based on latest research, summarised in accessible formats.
• Greenhouse School WebsitessupportingTechnology or IntegrationWebsite design provider responsible for Copleston's school website platform with responsive design, accessibility features, and content management system.

Scale indicators15 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Direct peers

• Northgate High School: State secondary school in Ipswich offering a full Years 7-13 provision including a Sixth Form. Directly comparable local peer competing for the same Ipswich applicant pool via the same Suffolk County Council admissions process.
• Hills Road Sixth Form College: Large, high-performing state sixth form college in Cambridge serving 16-19 year-olds across a wide catchment. Directly comparable to Copleston as a state-funded post-16 provider competing on academic results, university progression, and breadth of A-level/BTEC offer.
• Kesgrave High School: State secondary school located in Kesgrave on the eastern edge of Ipswich, with a Sixth Form and a comparable curriculum breadth. Closest geographic peer competing for the same Suffolk feeder students and parental choices.
• Brampton Manor Academy: Outstanding state secondary school in East Ham, London, with an exceptional Sixth Form known for sending large numbers of students to Oxbridge and Russell Group universities. Comparable to Copleston in its state-funded model, focus on university outcomes, and use of partnerships with independent schools to widen aspiration.

Regional players

• Colchester Royal Grammar School: Selective grammar school in Colchester, Essex, with a long-standing Sixth Form and strong Oxbridge record. Comparable as a high-performing regional post-16 provider drawing students from north Essex and Suffolk, and a benchmark for academic stretch and Oxbridge progression.
• Framlingham College: Independent co-educational boarding and day school in Suffolk with a Sixth Form. Comparable as a regional post-16 provider competing for Suffolk families, with overlapping curricular breadth, university preparation focus, and enrichment offering.

Broad incumbents

• Ipswich School: Long-established independent school in central Ipswich offering a full secondary education with a Sixth Form. Comparable in subject breadth, university outcomes, and aspirational positioning, and competes head-on with Copleston for the same Suffolk families choosing between state and independent pathways.
• Chigwell School: Co-educational independent boarding and day school in Essex that runs the joint Aspiration Programme with Copleston for Oxbridge candidates. Comparable as a wider-curriculum secondary with strong Oxbridge and Russell Group outcomes, operating as an incumbent independent provider overlapping Copleston's aspirational segment.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/coplestonschool
• Facebookfacebook.com/CoplestonSchool
• Instagraminstagram.com/coplestonschool
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/school/copleston-high-school

Compliance2 records

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles3 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 Copleston High School