Everton Free School

What Everton Free School does

Everton Free School is an Alternative Provision (AP) Free School located at 42-44 Spellow Lane, Liverpool (L4 4DF), serving students aged 13-19 who have experienced barriers to success in mainstream education, including SEMH needs and disengagement risk. Founded in 2012 and sponsored by Everton in the Community (the charitable arm of Everton Football Club), it is the UK's first AP free school linked to a professional football club, using sport-themed motivation alongside individually tailored learning programmes. Core delivery comprises GCSEs in Sport, English, Maths, and Science, complemented by the G.O.A.L.S (Growth Opportunities and Life Skills) programme offering six hours per week across options such as Engineering, Construction, Performing Arts, Health & Social Care, E-Sports, and Animal Management, with additional provision in PSHE, Forest School outdoor learning, Restorative Justice, and pastoral care.

The school operates a referral-based GTM model: students are placed by commissioning schools, academies, and local authorities across Merseyside, following a six-week trial and a longer-term placement decision overseen by the Deputy Principal. There is no proprietary technology platform; teaching, safeguarding, and behaviour management use standard systems (e.g., SIMS for tracking). Revenue is entirely public-sector: per-pupil funding from the Education Funding Agency plus 'top-up' funding from commissioners for high-needs placements, with capital and start-up costs agreed with the Department for Education. Significant non-cash support is received in kind from Everton Football Club (player access, facilities, resources) and from charitable partners such as Magic Breakfast, the Steve Morgan Foundation, and the Royal Society (via a £3,000 Partnership Grant). In April 2024, the school was judged Outstanding by Ofsted across all five categories, and the same month Claire Lamontagne was appointed Principal; that same month also saw the establishment of The People's Learning Trust, a multi-academy trust that has since grown to include primary, secondary, and post-16 schools across Liverpool, Wirral, Sefton, and Cheshire West and Chester, and was named TES Trust of the Year 2026.

Name

Everton Free School

Legal name

Everton Free School

Website

https://evertonfreeschool.com

Company type

Private

Founded year

2012

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

Everton Free School is an Alternative Provision Free School in Liverpool, serving around 120-200 students aged 13-19 with sport-themed GCSE and vocational programmes; government-funded, Everton FC-sponsored, and part of The People's Learning Trust, rated Outstanding by Ofsted.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Alternative Provision Education

NAICS

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

akta.pro primary industry

Alternative Schools (Behavioral/Disciplinary & Nontraditional Settings) (EDAJAEAC)

akta.pro secondary industry

Inclusive Education (Disability, Gender Equity, Marginalized Learners) (BPADAKAI)

Keywords

• Alternative provision schools
• Specialist secondary education
• Vocational training programmes
• Post-16 further education
• Social emotional support

Headquarters

HQ city

Liverpool

HQ country

United Kingdom

HQ region

Europe

Offices1 record

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 Per-Pupil Funding: The cost of each student place is funded by the Education Funding Agency (EFA). In some cases, 'top-up' funding is provided by a 'commissioner' — the organisation that needs the place for a student, such as a school, academy, or local authority. The set-up of the Free School, including capital and start-up costs, was agreed with the Department for Education.
2. Everton Football Club In-Kind Investment: Everton Football Club supports the Free School with generous 'in kind' investments, including access to first-team players, club resources, and facilities, as well as support from club professionals. These contributions are non-monetary and support the school's operations and curriculum delivery.

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels1 record

Marketing channels3 records

Core offering

Everton Free School is a government-funded Alternative Provision Free School serving students aged 13-19 who have disengaged from mainstream education, primarily across Merseyside. It delivers individually tailored learning programmes combining GCSEs in Sport, English, Maths and Science with the G.O.A.L.S vocational and personal development programme, pastoral and SEMH support, and wraparound community services, all anchored to the Everton Football Club brand and ethos.

Product overview

Everton Free School operates as an alternative provision free school for students aged 13-19, offering a single unified educational programme that combines core GCSE qualifications (Sport, English, Maths, Science) with the G.O.A.L.S (Growth Opportunities and Life Skills) programme providing vocational options (Engineering, Construction, Performing Arts, Health & Social Care, E-Sports, Art, Music, Sport, Animal Management, Food Technology, Hair & Beauty) alongside personal development through Free to Choose activities. The school provides PSHE curriculum, pastoral care, safeguarding support, Restorative Justice Programme, Forest School outdoor learning, Magic Breakfast partnership, and community support services including Blue Base Pantry and BEAT Breathlessness health service. Students follow individually tailored learning programmes, with the school recognised as Outstanding by Ofsted across all five categories in April 2024.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Alternative Provision Education (KS3-KS4)
• Everton Football College (Post-16 Provision)
• Blue Base Pantry
• BEAT Breathlessness Service

Quantifiable outcome

• 100% of students achieved one or more passes in any subject (2022/23 KS4 data)
• +4 more outcomes

Named customers3 records

Segments1 record

Ideal customer profiles1 record

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Partnerships

13 partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• The People's Learning TrustcoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2012Everton Free School is a founding member of The People's Learning Trust, a multi-academy trust established in April 2024. The Trust grew from Everton Free School's success and now includes multiple primary schools, alternative provision, secondary education, and post-16 colleges across Liverpool, Wirral, Sefton, and Cheshire West and Chester. The Trust was named TES Trust of the Year 2026. It is believed to be the only multi-academy trust directly founded and supported by a Premier League football club.
• Everton Football ClubcoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2012Everton Football Club is the primary sponsor of Everton Free School. The Club provides generous 'in kind' investments including access to first-team players, resources, and facilities, as well as support from club professionals. The ethos and philosophy of the Club (teamwork, dedication, commitment) inform the school's core values. The Club supports the school with signed merchandise donations and venue access.
• Everton in the CommunitycoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerEverton in the Community (EitC) is the charitable arm of Everton Football Club and the founding organisation behind Everton Free School. EitC provides outstanding community provision dealing with more than 30,000 participants a year and has a strong track record in education. The CEO of Everton in the Community (Sue Gregory) also serves as Vice Chair of Governors at the school.
• The Royal SocietyminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerThe Royal Society awarded Everton Free School a £3,000 Partnership Grant to support a biodiversity project in the school garden. The Royal Society also invited the school to present at its Young Researcher Event in London — the first Alternative Provision school ever to participate in this national event.
• Dr Monica McCard — Liverpool John Moores UniversityminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerDr Monica McCard, an ecologist from Liverpool John Moores University, served as the school's STEM Partner for the Royal Society-funded biodiversity project. She provided expert guidance, helped develop the research plan, supplied specialist equipment and brown trout alevins, and co-led river release activities with the Mersey Rivers Trust.
• Knowsley Safari ParkminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerSophie Purcella from Knowsley Safari Park served as the school's second STEM Partner for the biodiversity project, helping students design the school garden and delivering sessions about biodiversity, conservation, and environmental sector careers.
• Fans Supporting FoodbanksminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerFans Supporting Foodbanks is a partner in the Blue Base Pantry initiative — a community food support programme delivered at Everton Free School's Blue Base. The pantry is a community-focused food support initiative established in response to food insecurity following COVID-19 and cost-of-living pressures.
• Blue Base Pantry Partners (St. Andrew's Community Network, Your Local Pantry)minorStrategic or Co-development PartnerBlue Base Pantry is delivered in partnership with St. Andrew's Community Network and Your Local Pantry, providing affordable food access to residents in Liverpool 4. It has been recognised as one of the largest 'Your Local Pantry' schemes in the UK.
• Magic BreakfastminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerEverton Free School is in partnership with Magic Breakfast, a charity providing healthy breakfasts to pupils so they are settled and ready to learn. The school canteen is open from 8.00am to 9.30am providing cereal, fruit, bagels, beans, and flapjacks at no cost to students.
• Liverpool John Moores University (LJMU)minorStrategic or Co-development PartnerEverton Football College offers progression routes from Level 2 programmes through to honours degree courses in partnership with Liverpool John Moores University, providing post-16 students with clear pathways to higher education.
• Mersey Care NHS TrustminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerMersey Care offers a Healthy Child Programme Universal Core Service to all secondary school-aged children. Everton Free School also benefits from a full-time Mental Health Practitioner seconded from Mersey Care (via Alder Hey Children's Hospital) who is based in school Monday to Friday, offering targeted mental health interventions.
• National Careers ServiceminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerThe school integrates National Careers Service resources and Labour Market Information (LMI) to help students and families explore future job opportunities, understand required skills, and identify areas of employment demand locally, nationally, and internationally.
• Character FirstminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerCharacter First delivers bespoke character development programmes at Everton Free School, including workshops on Leadership, Resilience, Aspirations, and Media Influencers. The programme aims to foster student character development through integrated affordable trips and enrichment activities.

Scale indicators5 records

Recent moves8 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Broad incumbents

• Academy Transformation Trust: Multi-academy trust including alternative provision and SEMH settings. Comparable as a Trust-level operator of AP schools funded via similar commissioner and DfE channels.
• Harris Federation: Large multi-academy trust running primary, secondary and AP settings across England. Comparable as a Trust structure above Everton Free School, though much broader and mainstream-focused.
• Oasis Community Learning: National multi-academy trust with an explicit inclusion and community-hub model. Comparable as a Trust wrapping multiple school types around a community mission, similar to The People's Learning Trust.

Direct peers

• TBAP Multi-Academy Trust: Multi-academy trust specialising in Alternative Provision across London and the South East. Comparable as an AP-focused multi-academy trust serving pupils excluded from or struggling in mainstream schools.
• Catch22: National charity operating alternative provision, SEMH support and post-16 re-engagement programmes across England. Directly comparable as a UK alternative-provision provider serving disengaged 13–19-year-olds referred by local authorities and schools.
• Nacro: Charity providing education, training and resettlement programmes for young people at risk of NEET or offending. Comparable alternative-provision education and training provider with similar commissioner-funded model.
• SCL Education Group: Education provider combining sport with academic and vocational pathways for disengaged young people. Closely comparable to Everton Free School's sport-themed AP curriculum and Football College model.

Others

• Liverpool FC Foundation: Charitable arm of Liverpool FC delivering education, employability and inclusion programmes across Merseyside. Comparable as the closest same-city football-club community/education counterpart and a potential ecosystem peer.
• Premier League Charitable Fund: Umbrella funder for Premier League clubs' community education programmes. Relevant ecosystem peer because it both funds and shapes the football-club community education model in which Everton Free School operates.

Emerging players

• MacIntyre Academies: Charitable trust running specialist SEMH and inclusive academies. Comparable as a smaller specialist-academy operator serving high-need pupils, though its specialism leans more toward learning disabilities.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/Evertonschool
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/everton-free-school

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles17 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 Everton Free School