Educational Diversity

What Educational Diversity does

Educational Diversity is an Alternative Provision (AP) and Pupil Referral Unit (PRU) based in Blackpool, England, serving students aged 6 to 16 (KS1 through KS4) who are unable to access mainstream schooling due to social, emotional, behavioural, or medical needs. The school operates two distinct sites: Pegasus (Bathurst Avenue), which delivers the Pupil Referral pathway for permanently excluded or at-risk students and runs the short-term LINK reintegration programme, and Athena (Whitegate Drive), which provides Alternative Provision for students with medical or emotional needs supported through CAMHS, Youth Therapy, and other medical practitioners. An Atlas provision at the Athena site delivers alternative programmes in collaboration with external providers. The educational product is highly relational and pastoral, with explicit emphasis on nurturing pedagogy and reintegration to mainstream schooling where possible. Supporting technology is minimal and third-party: the Accelerated Reader Programme for literacy, an online absence reporting form, and a Schudio-hosted website. There is no proprietary technology stack.

The business model is fully publicly funded. As an Alternative Provision commissioned by Blackpool Local Authority and operating under Synergy Education Trust (following DfE-approved academy conversion in February 2025), Educational Diversity does not charge fees to students or referring schools. Revenue is derived from Local Authority per-pupil funding, Pupil Premium, PE & Sports Premium, and SEN funding. The go-to-market is referral-based rather than commercial: placements originate from Blackpool Local Authority, mainstream schools, CAMHS, and medical practitioners. The sole commissioning buyer is effectively Blackpool LA, making the revenue base single-counterparty. Leadership is led by Headteacher Victoria O'Farrell, with Simon Coulter as permanent Lead Teacher for Athena, Louise Bamforth as School Business Manager, and Kathryn Bastow serving as Deputy Headteacher on secondment. Credentials include a 'Good' Ofsted rating (September 2023) and a National Nurture Schools Award (2021).

Name

Educational Diversity

Legal name

Synergy Education Trust

Website

https://eddiversity.com

Company type

Private

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

Educational Diversity is a publicly funded Alternative Provision and Pupil Referral Unit in Blackpool, UK, serving students aged 6-16 who cannot access mainstream schooling due to behavioural, medical, or emotional needs, commissioned by Blackpool Local Authority and operating under Synergy Education Trust.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Alternative Education / Pupil Referral Services

NAICS

Elementary and Secondary Schools (6111), Elementary and Secondary Schools (61111), Educational Support Services (611710)

SIC

Services-Educational Services (8200), Services-Social Services (8300)

akta.pro primary industry

Specialized Programs & Classrooms (Autism, Emotional/Behavioral, Intellectual/Developmental, Multi-Disability) (EDAJAKAH)

akta.pro secondary industries

Public Special Education Schools & Programs (EDAJAAAH), Special Education (SPED), IEP & Accessibility/Assistive Technology (EDAJAMAH)

Keywords

• Alternative education provision
• Pupil referral unit
• School reintegration support
• Alternative provision school
• Special educational needs

Headquarters

HQ city

Blackpool

HQ country

United Kingdom

HQ region

Europe

Offices2 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

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

Revenue model

1. Government Education Funding: Publicly funded alternative provision school receiving Local Authority funding based on pupil enrollment, including additional streams for Pupil Premium, PE & Sports Premium, and SEN funding.

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels3 records

Marketing channels3 records

Core offering

Educational Diversity is an Alternative Provision (AP) and Pupil Referral Unit (PRU) in Blackpool, England, delivering full-time education to young people aged 6 to 16 (KS1–KS4) who cannot access mainstream schooling due to social, emotional, behavioural, or medical needs. The school operates two distinct sites — Pegasus (Pupil Referral for excluded/at-risk students including the LINK short-term reintegration programme) and Athena (Alternative Provision for medical/emotional needs supported by CAMHS and Youth Therapy) — and additionally delivers the Atlas alternative programmes in partnership with external providers.

Product overview

Educational Diversity is an Alternative Provision and Pupil Referral Unit operating across multiple sites in Blackpool. The organization operates as a unified educational service with distinct programmes: Pegasus (Pupil Referral for excluded students), Athena (Alternative Provision for medical/emotional needs), LINK Provision (short-term reintegration), and Atlas Provision (external partnership programmes). The service includes a literacy programme built around the Accelerated Reading Programme, an absence reporting system, and a holistic approach combining academic and pastoral care. Students range from ages 6 to 16 across KS1 to KS4.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Pegasus (Pupil Referral Unit) The Pupil Referral element of Educational Diversity, situated on Bathurst Avenue in Blackpool. Supports young people from KS1 to KS4 who have either been permanently excluded from their mainstream school or are at risk of exclusion, providing specialist behavioural and educational support.
• Athena (Alternative Provision) The Alternative Provision site of Educational Diversity situated on Whitegate Drive in Blackpool. Supports young people with medical or emotional needs, who are supported through CAMHS, Youth Therapy and other medical practitioners. Also delivers the Atlas alternative programmes in collaboration with external providers.
• LINK Provision A short-term placement and reintegration programme delivered at the Pegasus site aimed at making positive behaviour change for young people at risk of exclusion and supporting reintegration back into mainstream schooling.
• Atlas Provision Alternative programmes delivered in collaboration with external providers at the Athena site, expanding the range of educational pathways available to students.
• Accelerated Reader Programme A computerised learning system used across the school to help teachers motivate, monitor and manage student reading practice. Students complete Star Reading Tests to establish reading ranges and choose books suited to their individual reading levels, with quizzes to confirm comprehension.

Named customers1 record

Segments3 records

Ideal customer profiles3 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Partnerships

Eight partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• Synergy Education TrustcoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 25 February 2025Academy trust under which Educational Diversity operates following DfE-approved conversion. Trust provides governance, Data Controller functions, and alignment with other Blackpool schools. Data Controller: Synergy Education Trust, Address: c/o Stanley Primary School, Wordsworth Avenue, Blackpool. FY3 9UT
• Blackpool and The Fylde CollegecoreStrategic or Co-development Partner人才网合作伙伴 providing college courses and open events for students, particularly Year 11 students exploring post-16 options. Students access construction and motor vehicle courses at the college.
• Right to Succeed / Connected Futures PartnershipminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerCareers support initiative working in partnership with Blackpool Football Club Community Trust as part of Connected Futures Partnership (funded by Youth Futures Foundation). £2 million proposal for careers support provision across Blackpool schools.
• Blackpool Football Club Community TrustminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerCommunity partner providing sporting activities and workshops, including boxing workshops (Brian Rose) and involvement in Connected Futures careers partnership.
• NRG Outdoor EducationminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerOutdoor education specialists providing weekly activities for students from Athena and Pegasus including mountain biking, boating, archery and bush craft to develop teamwork and resilience.
• KoothminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerAnonymous mental health support site providing online resources for students struggling with mental well-being. Referenced during Anti-Bullying Week activities.
• Armfield AcademyminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartnership to access specialist science laboratories allowing pupils to participate in practical science activities including heart and kidney dissection, microbiology, and CREST awards.
• Nathan Parker (Local Author)minorStrategic or Co-development PartnerLocal author who visits school for World Book Day and has worked alongside students to create an anthology of poems for publication.

Scale indicators3 records

Recent moves8 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Direct peers

• Catch22: Charity delivering alternative provision, pupil referral units, and SEMH support across England. Directly comparable to Educational Diversity's PRU/AP model, with comparable LA commissioning, reintegration ethos, and parallel KS1–KS4 coverage.
• Progress Schools: Multi-site UK provider of alternative provision for KS3–KS4 pupils at risk of exclusion or SEMH. Comparable in LA commissioned AP model, reintegration focus, and small-site pedagogy, though geographically broader.

Emerging players

• National Autistic Society (NAS Schools): Operates specialist schools and post-16 provision for autistic students across England. Comparable in SEN-focused, LA-commissioned specialist education, though cohort is autism-specific rather than mixed SEMH.
• Aspire People: Alternative provision and SEMH support provider working with LAs and schools across the UK. Comparable in LA-commissioned AP delivery and pupil reintegration, but portfolio-focused rather than site-based schooling.

Broad incumbents

• Acorn Care and Education: National operator of specialist schools, alternative provision, and SEMH-focused 16+ provision. Comparable in delivering LA-commissioned specialist education, though broader in geography and scope.
• Priory Education Services: Operates specialist schools and colleges for students with SEMH, autism, and learning difficulties across the UK. Comparable in catering to LA-commissioned specialist cohorts, but part of a much larger healthcare and education group.
• Outcomes First Group: Major UK provider of specialist education and care, including alternative provision and SEMH schools. Comparable in serving LA-commissioned students with behavioural and emotional needs, but operates nationally across registered schools and residential care.
• Witherslack Group: One of the UK's largest specialist education providers, operating schools and homes for children with SEN and social, emotional, and mental health needs. Directly comparable as a specialist provision competitor serving similar LA-commissioned cohorts, though at significantly greater scale.
• Hesley Group: Specialist education provider offering full-time schooling and residential care for young people with autism, SEMH, and complex needs. Similar SEMH-focused alternative provision orientation with LA commissioning, but with residential wraparound.

Regional players

• Wickersley Partnership Trust: Multi-academy trust operating alternative provision and specialist SEMH bases in the North of England. Comparable as a regional MAT provider of LA-commissioned AP for excluded/at-risk cohorts, though geographically positioned in Yorkshire rather than the North West.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat3 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Facebookfacebook.com/EducationalDiversityPRU
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/educational-diversity

Compliance2 records

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles4 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 Educational Diversity