English Martyrs School

What English Martyrs School does

English Martyrs' Catholic School is a state-funded Catholic secondary school located on Anstey Lane in Leicester, UK. Founded in 1964, the school serves approximately 1,200 students aged 11-19 drawn from nine parishes on the west side of Leicester, with 85% of students identifying as Roman Catholic. It operates as an academy within the St Thomas Aquinas Catholic Multi Academy Trust (CMAT), under the governance of the Diocese of Nottingham, with a Local Governing Body of eight governors including six Foundation Governors appointed by the Diocese.

The school delivers a three-phase curriculum covering Key Stage 3 (Years 7-8), Key Stage 4/GCSE (Years 9-11), and Sixth Form/A Level (Years 12-13), with Religious Education allocated 10% of curriculum time as the foundational subject. It holds a specialism in Music and Performing Arts anchored by the St Cecilia Performing Arts Centre, and supports extensive co-curricular music groups including a 100+ member school choir, Schola Cantorum, orchestra, and steel pans ensemble. Academic outcomes are solid: 73% of students achieved 4+ in English and Maths at GCSE (2024), and A Level results show 80% A*-C grades with 99.6% A*-E pass rate. A £15 million rebuilding programme completed in 2013-2015 delivered new classrooms, a sports centre with astro turf hockey pitch, a library, a sixth form block, and the performing arts facilities.

Revenue is generated primarily through per-pupil government funding, supplemented by parental contributions to trips (ranging from £6 day trips to £914 for the Paris residential), bus service fees via Orbit Coaches, individual music tuition taken by 12% of students, facilities hire for community events, and donations channelled through the English Martyrs Alumni and Friends (EMAF) charity and corporate donors including Wickes, Travis Perkins, and MusicFest. The school uses standard educational technology platforms including Office 365, Satchel One for homework management, Arbor for administration and payments, Sparx Maths for mathematics learning, Educake for science assessment, and Accessit for library management. The current Principal is M. Calen, appointed in 2022.

Name

English Martyrs School

Legal name

English Martyrs' Catholic School

Website

https://englishmartyrs.org

Company type

Private

Founded year

1964

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

English Martyrs' Catholic School is a state-funded Catholic secondary school in Leicester, UK, serving approximately 1,200 students aged 11-19 across nine parishes as an academy within the St Thomas Aquinas CMAT.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Secondary Catholic Education

NAICS

Elementary and Secondary Schools (61111), Elementary and Secondary Schools (611110)

SIC

Services-Educational Services (8200)

akta.pro primary industry

Faith-Based (Religious) K–12 Schools (EDAJABAC)

akta.pro secondary industries

Performing Arts Programs (Band, Choir, Orchestra, Theater) (EDAJAJAE), Faith-Based Education & Formation (Seminaries, Religious Schools, Catechesis) (BPAGAJAD)

Keywords

• Secondary education
• Catholic schooling
• Performing arts education
• Sixth Form programs
• GCSE preparation

Headquarters

HQ city

Leicester

HQ country

United Kingdom

HQ region

Europe

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

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

Revenue model

1. State Funding: As a Catholic school within the St Thomas Aquinas Catholic Multi Academy Trust, the school receives government funding for education services.
2. Donations and Fundraising: The English Martyrs Alumni and Friends (EMAF) charity accepts donations. The school also receives donations from local businesses including Wickes, Travis Perkins, Woodland Trust, MusicFest, and individual donors.
3. Trip and Activity Fees: Parents pay for educational trips including day trips (ranging from £6-£30), retreats (£240-£305), residential trips (Paris £914, Berlin £800), and the Year 11 Prom (approximately £60).
4. Bus Service: Orbit Bus Company provides school bus services with paid transport. Financial support may be available for eligible families through the Principal.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion2 records

Distribution channels3 records

Marketing channels6 records

Core offering

English Martyrs' Catholic School is a state-funded Catholic secondary school and Sixth Form serving approximately 1,200 students aged 11-19 across three phases: Key Stage 3 (Years 7-8), Key Stage 4 (Years 9-11) leading to GCSEs, and Sixth Form (Years 12-13) leading to A Levels. The school combines a broad academic curriculum with Religious Education as the first subject, a specialism in Music and Performing Arts anchored by the St Cecilia Performing Arts Centre, careers education meeting the Gatsby Benchmarks, SEND and inclusion support, and a co-curricular programme including the Duke of Edinburgh Award and an International School partnership. Paid add-on services include individual music tuition, residential and day trips, and a dedicated school bus service operated with Orbit Coaches.

Product overview

English Martyrs' Catholic School offers a comprehensive educational programme spanning Years 7-13, comprising three main phases: Key Stage 3 (Years 7-8), Key Stage 4 (Years 9-11 leading to GCSEs), and Sixth Form (Years 12-13 leading to A Levels). The school provides a broad and balanced curriculum with particular specialism in Music and Performing Arts, centered around its dedicated St Cecilia Performing Arts Centre. Supporting the core academic programme are numerous add-on services including Religious Education (the first subject at 10% of curriculum time), a rich co-curricular music programme with over 100 students in choir groups, a comprehensive Careers and Enterprise programme meeting Gatsby Benchmarks, Pupil Premium support with fully-funded music lessons, Self-Regulated Learning development, SEND & Inclusion services, an extensive library with online catalog, Duke of Edinburgh's Award scheme, International School partnerships, and school facilities hire for community use.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• KS3 Curriculum (Years 7-8) Key Stage 3 broad and balanced curriculum for Years 7 and 8 with 10% devoted to Religious Education, covering core subjects (English, Maths, Science), humanities, modern languages (French), the arts (Art, Dance, Drama, Music), design and technology, and PE; delivered to students aged 11-13.
• KS4 Curriculum (Years 9-11) Key Stage 4 curriculum for Years 9 to 11 leading to GCSE and Level 2 qualifications, including mandatory subjects (Religious Education, English, Mathematics, Science, PE) plus extensive option choices for specialised study, preparing students for GCSE examinations.
• Sixth Form (Years 12-13) Post-16 A Level and Level 3 qualification programme for Years 12 and 13, preparing students for university entry, higher apprenticeships and a wide range of careers, with 80% A*-C at A Level in 2024.
• Individual Music Tuition Fee-paying individual instrumental and vocal lessons for students, taken by 12% of the student body, with fully funded tuition for students studying GCSE or A Level Music on one instrument or voice, and for Pupil Premium students.
• EM2 School Bus Service Paid dedicated school bus service operated in partnership with Orbit Bus Company for eligible students, requiring a non-refundable deposit and full academic year commitment, with potential financial support from the Principal for eligible families.
• School Facilities Hire Hire of school facilities including the St Cecilia Auditorium for community events, performances and activities, used annually by Leicester Music Fest and as an examination centre for Trinity College of Music.

Quantifiable outcome

• 73% of students achieved 4+ in English and Mathematics (GCSE 2024)
• +2 more outcomes

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

Integration11 records

Partnerships

Twelve partnerships are on record, tiered minor and core.

• NHS Vaccination TeamminorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 13 August 2026English Martyrs works in partnership with the NHS vaccination team, facilitating vaccination programmes for students at the school.
• NeighbourlyminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartnership with Neighbourly, an organization dedicated to reducing local food waste and supporting community projects. Neighbourly organizes volunteer days through local companies who donate their time to improve school grounds and the local area.
• Orbit Bus CompanycoreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorThe school partners with Orbit Bus Company based in Desford to provide school bus services. Route information and payment arrangements are managed through the bus company.
• WickesminorOthersLocal business that has donated supplies to improve working areas in the school.
• Travis PerkinsminorOthersLocal business that has donated wood offcuts for student projects.
• The Woodland TrustminorOthersDonated trees that students have planted during science lessons as part of environmental education.
• MusicFestminorOthersProvides financial support for school trips and visits related to music education.
• Leicester Music FestminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerThe school facilities, particularly St Cecilia Auditorium, are enjoyed annually by participants of Leicester Music Fest held each February.
• Trinity College of MusicminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerThe school serves as an examination centre for Trinity College of Music examinations.
• Royal Birmingham Conservatoire of MusicminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerThe school undertakes performances with students from the Royal Birmingham Conservatoire through the Resonations project.
• Leicester Schools' Music ServicecoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerThe school works closely with the Leicester Schools' Music Service and has recently become the Lead School in the Education Improvement Partnership Music Hub of all secondary and special schools.
• St Thomas Aquinas Catholic Multi Academy Trust (CMAT)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerEnglish Martyrs is a member of the St Thomas Aquinas Catholic Multi Academy Trust, a company limited by guarantee registered in England and Wales (company number: 08090890). The Trust provides governance, admissions policies, and shared services for member schools.

Scale indicators7 records

Recent moves7 records

Expansion highlights4 records

Regional players

• Beauchamp City Sixth Form: Leicester sixth form college offering post-16 education that competes directly with English Martyrs' Sixth Form for Year 11 leavers; comparable on A Level delivery, destination outcomes, and sixth-form funding model.
• De Lisle College: Catholic secondary school in Loughborough, Leicestershire, also part of the Diocese of Nottingham catchment; competes for Catholic families in the wider county and shares the multi-academy trust/faith-based operating model.
• City of Leicester School: Leicester state secondary school serving the same city demographic; useful local comparable for Progress 8, GCSE outcomes, and parental choice dynamics in the west-Leicester admissions catchment.
• Bosworth Academy: Large non-faith secondary school in Leicester that competes for the same west-Leicester student pool; useful benchmark for non-Catholic state secondary provision and overall local market dynamics in the Leicester area.

Broad incumbents

• Cardinal Wiseman Catholic School: Larger Catholic secondary school in Coventry serving a multi-parish community with faith-based ethos and broad curriculum; provides a useful comparable for scale, governance model, and faith-based identity positioning across the Midlands Catholic school landscape.

Emerging players

• St Bede's Catholic High School: Catholic secondary school with a performing arts focus comparable to English Martyrs' music specialism; provides a UK-wide benchmark for how faith-based schools leverage performing arts facilities to differentiate and drive enrolment.

Others

• St Thomas Aquinas Catholic Multi Academy Trust: The parent multi-academy trust of which English Martyrs is a member; provides governance, shared services, and a network of peer Catholic schools (sister academies) that share resources and admissions policy, making it the most directly comparable operating umbrella.

Direct peers

• St Paul's Catholic School: Nearby Catholic secondary school in Leicester serving a similar Catholic community and competing for the same Year 6 transition families; operates under the same Diocese of Nottingham and offers comparable faith-based secondary education with similar curriculum breadth.

Market position

Strengths4 records

Weaknesses4 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• Instagraminstagram.com/emsmusicdpt
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/english-martyrs-school

Compliance4 records

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles15 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 English Martyrs School