Farney Educational Trust

What Farney Educational Trust does

Farney Educational Trust (registered charity No. 307024) operates Farney Close School, a non-profit special educational needs (SEN) school founded in 1946 by Reverend Percy Wallbridge and his wife Vera, currently located on a 32-acre site in Bolney, Haywards Heath, West Sussex. The school delivers education, care, social development and therapeutic support to children and young people aged 5 to 19+ who hold an Education Health and Care Plan (EHCP), with conditions including social, emotional and mental health needs (SEMH), ADHD, autism spectrum conditions, conduct disorder, dyslexia, OCD, ODD, and speech and language difficulties. Provision spans KS2 (primary), KS3/KS4 (secondary), and KS5 (post-16 independent living and learning), delivered through both day placements and Monday-to-Friday term-time residential placements, with an additional on-site Inclusion Unit for higher-acuity pupils.

The operating model is provision-led rather than technology-led: there is no proprietary platform, software product, or technology stack disclosed. The school's competitive surface is its people and estate, including an in-house multidisciplinary therapy team (counselling, art therapy, speech and language therapy, occupational therapy, drama therapy), a Hush sensory room, vocational and careers programmes, Duke of Edinburgh Award delivery, and enrichment activities such as forest schools and the Buzz Club conservation programme. Residential and day capacity was increased from 72 to 100 pupils following an Ofsted material change inspection in 2023, supported by physical expansion (second primary classroom in Burts, Inclusion Unit, Bomberg House therapy unit opening 2026).

Revenue is generated almost exclusively through local-authority-commissioned EHCP placements, with no publicly disclosed pricing and no commercial fee structure visible. The trust has 34 employees and is governed by a Board of Trustees and Governors, currently led by Principal Sara Hack (since summer 2019), with the Senior Leadership Team recently expanded to five members. Recent governance changes include new Chairs of Trustees and Governors in early 2026. The trust holds multiple accolades including consecutive Ofsted Social Care 'Outstanding' ratings (2023 and 2024), Ofsted Education 'Good' (2022 and 2025), the IQM Inclusive School Award and Centre of Excellence (2026), the Rainbow Flag Award (2022), and the Bronze Bumblebee-Friendly Schools Award (2026).

Name

Farney Educational Trust

Legal name

Farney Educational Trust

Website

https://farneyclose.co.uk

Company type

Private

Founded year

1946

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

Farney Educational Trust is a UK non-profit charity operating Farney Close School, a 100-pupil specialist SEN school and residential provider in West Sussex that delivers EHCP-commissioned education, care, and therapeutic support for young people with SEMH, autism, ADHD, and related conditions.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Special Education and Residential Care Services

NAICS

Elementary and Secondary Schools (611110), Educational Support Services (611710)

SIC

Services-Educational Services (8200)

akta.pro primary industry

Specialized Residential Special Education Programs (EDAKAAAH)

akta.pro secondary industry

Special Education Alternative / Nonpublic Schools (NPS) & Placements (EDAKAAAF)

Keywords

• Special education services
• Residential care school
• Therapeutic support services
• SEN school placements
• Social development programs

Headquarters

HQ city

Bolney, Haywards Heath

HQ country

United Kingdom

HQ region

Europe

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Infrastructure, Others

Revenue model

1. Education and Care Services: As a special school providing EHCP-placed education and residential care, Farney Close receives funding from local authorities for each pupil's placement. Both day and residential (Monday-Friday, term-time) placements are offered.

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels1 record

Marketing channels3 records

Core offering

Farney Educational Trust operates Farney Close School, a non-profit special educational needs (SEN) school delivering day and residential placements (Monday-Friday, term-time) for young people with Education Health and Care plans (EHCPs). Provision spans KS2 primary, KS3/KS4 secondary, and Post-16/KS5 independent living and learning, and is supported by an in-house therapy team (counselling, art therapy, speech and language, occupational therapy), vocational and careers programmes, enrichment activities, and residential care. Placements are commissioned and funded by UK local authorities under the EHCP framework.

Product overview

Farney Close School, part of Farney Educational Trust, is a non-profit special educational needs school providing a comprehensive educational ecosystem. The school offers a multi-tiered structure comprising: Primary/KS2 Provision, Secondary School (KS3/KS4), and Post-16/Independent Living (KS5). These core educational products are delivered through flexible provision models including Day Provision and Residential Provision (Monday-Friday during term time). Supporting the academic core, the school offers therapeutic services (counselling, art therapy, speech & language therapy, occupational therapy), the Hush sensory room, enrichment programs including Forest Schools and vocational education, and specialized units such as the Inclusion Unit for students requiring focused support. The school supports students with EHCPs who have conditions including SEMH, ADHD, ADD, Asperger's Syndrome, autism, Conduct Disorder, Dyslexia, OCD, ODD, and Speech and Language Difficulties.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• KS2 Primary Provision Primary school education for Key Stage 2 (Years 5-6) providing specialised academic and pastoral support for young people with special educational needs within a dedicated primary unit.
• Secondary School Provision (KS3/KS4) Secondary education from Years 7 to 11 providing academic, social and therapeutic support for pupils with SEMH, ADHD, autism and other special educational needs, including GCSE preparation.
• Post-16 / Independent Living & Learning (KS5) Vocational and independent living programmes for students aged 16+ supporting transition to further education, employment and adulthood, including life-skills components.
• Residential Provision Weekday residential placements (Monday to Friday during term time) providing 24-hour care and support in dedicated residential bungalows for students with complex SEN needs, with capacity expansion from 72 to 100 pupils approved.
• Day Provision Day-only educational placements for students who attend school during the day and return home in the evenings.
• Vocational Education & Work Experience Vocational programmes including work experience placements, careers advice and option choices supporting student transition into post-school education, training or employment.
• Therapeutic Support Services Multi-disciplinary therapeutic services delivered through on-site therapy suites (Archway Cottage, Bomberg House) including counselling, art therapy, drama therapy, speech and language therapy, and occupational therapy.

Quantifiable outcome

• Ofsted rated 'Outstanding' in all areas for Social Care (December 2024, second consecutive year)
• +3 more outcomes

Named customers1 record

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

Four partnerships are on record, tiered minor.

• ANKOMA Outreach (Ghana)minorOthersCharitable partnership supporting a small village in Ghana experiencing poverty. Farney Close has been fundraising for Ankoma for over 10 years. Students engage in letter exchanges, donations, and host visits from Ghanaian children (The Dreamers). One young person from the village who was a Dreamer in 2018 became the first from the village to attend university.
• Pets As TherapyminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerNational charity providing therapy animals. Farney Close runs a reading program where selected pupils read aloud to dogs, enhancing confidence and reading skills. Currently piloted with volunteer Maddy and dog Rosie.
• Bumblebee Conservation TrustminorOthersPartnership enabling Farney Close's Buzz Club - a student-led gardening group focused on protecting bumblebees and supporting pollinators. School achieved Bronze Bumblebee-Friendly Schools Award.
• The Ankoma DreamminorOthersCharity facilitating cultural exchange between Farney Close students and children from Ankoma village, Ghana. Has hosted three exchanges, building bridges between communities and cultures.

Scale indicators5 records

Recent moves12 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Broad incumbents

• Priory Group: Large UK healthcare and education provider operating schools and residential care for young people with SEN and mental health needs. Overlaps in residential SEN provision but is a much broader, diversified incumbent including adult healthcare services.

Direct peers

• Hesley Group: UK specialist provider of residential care and education for young people with SEMH, autism, and learning disabilities, including Ofsted-registered schools. Closely comparable SEMH focus and LA-commissioned residential placements.
• Outcomes First Group: UK provider of specialist education and care for children and young people with SEN, including residential and day schools and specialist services. Directly comparable EHCP-funded operating model, multi-site footprint, and target population.
• Witherslack Group: One of the UK's largest independent specialist providers of education and care for children and young people with SEN, including SEMH, autism, and complex needs, operating multiple residential and day schools across England. Closely comparable in commissioning model (LA-funded EHCP placements) and pupil profile.
• Sunfield School: UK specialist residential school for children and young people with autism, complex needs, and learning disabilities. Comparable small-scale residential SEN model with Ofsted-registered school.
• St Piers School (Young Epilepsy): Specialist residential and day school for children and young people with epilepsy and complex needs, operated by Young Epilepsy charity. Comparable specialist residential SEN model and EHCP-funded placements.
• Kisimul Group: Provider of specialist residential education and care for children and young people with autism, learning disabilities, and complex needs across the UK. Directly comparable in small-site residential SEN model and Ofsted-registered school provision.
• Cambian Group (CareTech): UK provider (now part of CareTech) of specialist residential education, mental health services, and fostering for children with complex needs including SEMH. Comparable LA-commissioned residential SEN/mental health model.
• National Autistic Society (schools): Operates a small number of specialist residential and day schools for autistic children and young people in England. Comparable in pupil population (ASC), EHCP-funded model, and residential SEN provision.
• Chailey Heritage Foundation: UK charity providing specialist education, residential care, and therapy for children and young people with complex physical and learning disabilities. Comparable charitable SEN residential school with integrated therapy offer.

Market position

Strengths4 records

Weaknesses4 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/farney-close-school

Compliance7 records

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles8 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

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M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Farney Educational Trust