Five Acre Wood School
Five Acre Wood School is a state-funded Foundation District Special School in Kent, England, commissioned by Kent County Council to deliver all-age (4-19) education for pupils with profound, severe, and complex learning difficulties, including autism, across three Maidstone/Snodland sites with 500+ staff.
- Company typePrivate
- Founded2026
- HeadquartersMaidstone, United Kingdom
- Headcount51–100
- GTM typeB2C
- OfferingServices
What Five Acre Wood School does
Five Acre Wood School is an all-age (4-19) state-funded Foundation District Special School headquartered at Boughton Lane, Maidstone, Kent, with additional sites in Snodland and Oxford Road, Maidstone. The school is commissioned by Kent County Council to serve children and young people with Profound, Severe and Complex Learning Difficulties, including Autistic Spectrum Disorder, delivering education through multiple specialized learning approaches (Structured/ASD, Sensory/PMLD, Practical/SLD, Formal, and Functional), evidence-based frameworks (SCERTS, TEACCH, MOVE), and a Total Communication approach using Makaton signing. It employs over 500 staff across its three Kent sites and is led by Principal Peggy Murphy, with Tim Williams serving as Headteacher of the Loose site.
The school operates a distinctive portfolio of innovative, real-world learning environments beyond standard SEN pedagogy, including the FAWrient Express (a functioning train carriage café for hospitality training), Radio FAW All (a community radio station), the 7FAW7 (a library inside an Airbus 319 fuselage), FAWtilus (a counselling space in a former lifeboat), FAWbulous Bus (a converted double-decker for sensory play and travel training), Platform FAW (a coffee roastery), Peggy's FAWtique (a retail training shop), and FAW Records (a music label releasing singles performed by the signing choir). A dedicated charity, FAWfilling Futures, was refreshed in January 2026 to fund non-statutorily funded pupil resources through corporate sponsorships, grants, and community fundraising events.
The school's business model is government-funded with no tuition fees: Kent County Council commissions placements for pupils with Education, Health and Care Plans, supplemented by ancillary revenue from the FAWrient Express café and charitable donations to FAWfilling Futures. The school has gained international recognition, including shortlisting in the Top 10 for the World's Best School Prize 2026 (Innovation category), four consecutive Gold School Games Mark awards, Silver Artsmark, and Leading Parent Partnership Award reaccreditation.
Five Acre Wood School firmographics
Firmographics- Name
- Five Acre Wood School
- Legal name
- Five Acre Wood School
- Website
- https://fiveacrewood.co.uk
- Company type
- Private
- Founded year
- 2026
- Operating status
- Operating
- Headcount range
- 51–100 employees
- Short description
- Five Acre Wood School is a state-funded Foundation District Special School in Kent, England, commissioned by Kent County Council to deliver all-age (4-19) education for pupils with profound, severe, and complex learning difficulties, including autism, across three Maidstone/Snodland sites with 500+ staff.
- Ownership category
- akta.pro rank
Five Acre Wood School industry classification
Industry- Product category
- Special Education Services
- NAICS
- Elementary and Secondary Schools (611110), Educational Support Services (61171), Educational Support Services (6117)
- SIC
- Services-Educational Services (8200)
- akta.pro primary industry
- Multisensory Learning Programs & Curriculum for Dyslexia/LD (EDAKAJAL)
- akta.pro secondary industries
- Public Virtual & Blended Learning Programs (District-Run) (EDAJAAAI), Autism Parent/Caregiver Education & Training (School-Linked) (EDAKAKAJ)
Keywords
Where Five Acre Wood School is headquartered
LocationHeadquarters
- HQ city
- Maidstone
- HQ country
- United Kingdom
- HQ region
- Europe
Offices3 records
Markets served
Five Acre Wood School business model
Business model- GTM type
- B2C
- Offering type
- Services
- Cost components
- Personnel, Operations, Infrastructure, Technology or R&D
Revenue model
- Government Funding (Kent County Council): State-funded special school receiving funding from Kent County Council for pupils with Education, Health and Care Plans. Admission is coordinated through the Local Authority.
- FAWfilling Futures Charity: School charity that raises funds through events, grant applications, and donations to provide non-statutorily funded resources and experiences for pupils. Guided by trustees including Headteacher Tim Williams.
- FAWrient Express Café Revenue: The train carriage café generates revenue through serving drinks and food to parents, visitors and the local community while providing hospitality training for pupils.
Go-to-market motion2 records
Distribution channels3 records
Marketing channels8 records
Five Acre Wood School product offering
Product offeringCore offering
Five Acre Wood School is a state-funded Foundation District Special School providing all-age education (4-19 years) for pupils with Profound, Severe and Complex Learning Difficulties (PMLD/SLD) and Autistic Spectrum Disorder. It delivers individualized learning programmes using SCERTS, TEACCH, MOVE and Total Communication frameworks, alongside in-house multidisciplinary therapy services (SALT, OT, physiotherapy, hippotherapy, rebound therapy) and themed immersive learning environments such as FAWrient Express, Radio FAW All, FAWtilus, 7FAW7 Library, Platform FAW, Peggy's FAWtique, and the FAWbulous Bus.
Product overview
Five Acre Wood School is an all-age (4-19) Foundation District Special School for children with Profound, Severe and Complex Learning Difficulties, including Autistic Spectrum Disorder. The school operates a multi-site structure across Maidstone and Snodland in Kent, England. Its educational offering is organized into specialized learning approaches (Early Years, Structured/ASD, Sensory/PMLD, Practical/SLD, Formal, and Functional) delivered through tailored curriculum and therapy services. Beyond traditional education, the school has developed an extensive portfolio of innovative facilities and programmes including FAW Records (music label and signing choir producing singles), the FAWrient Express (train carriage café for hospitality training), Radio FAW All (community radio station), the 7FAW7 (aircraft fuselage library), FAWtilus (lifeboat counselling space), FAWbulous Bus (double-decker soft play), Platform FAW (coffee roastery), and Peggy's FAWtique (school shop). The school also operates FAWfilling Futures as its dedicated charity supporting pupil experiences beyond standard funding. This innovative approach has earned the school recognition including World Best School Prize 2026 Innovation shortlisting and multiple awards.
Differentiator
Problem solved
Functional benefit
Brands
- FAWrient Express: A unique train carriage café providing hospitality training for pupils, offering hands-on experience in customer service, food preparation, and hospitality management.
- Radio FAW All
- 7FAW7
- FAWtilus
- FAWbulous Bus
- Platform FAW
- Peggy's FAWtique
- FAWfilling Futures
- FAW Records
- FAWorient Express Training Academy Café
Products and services
- All-Age Special Educational Provision
Quantifiable outcome
- Fourth consecutive Gold School Games Mark for high-quality physical education and inclusive school sport
- +2 more outcomes
Companies that use Five Acre Wood School
Customer profileNamed customers4 records
Segments4 records
Ideal customer profiles2 records
Five Acre Wood School technology and API
TechnologyTechnology focussed No
API detail
- Has API
- No
- API docs
- API detail
Core technology
AI maturity
App detail
Integration3 records
Feature5 records
Five Acre Wood School partnerships and signals
Strategic signalPartnerships
Eleven partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.
- Costa FoundationcorePartnership with Costa Foundation for the 'Made FAW You' project which transformed an existing teaching kitchen into a commercial-standard training space. The Costa Foundation provided funding to support pupils with real-world catering and employability experiences.
- KMTVminorLocal television station producing a documentary following the West Highland Way Challenge team and providing ongoing promotional support.
- HobartminorEquipment supplier for the Made FAW You project, contributing commercial-standard kitchen equipment to the training space.
- SynecoreminorContributor to the Made FAW You kitchen training space project.
- VisionminorContributor to the Made FAW You kitchen training space project.
- WilliamsminorContributor to the Made FAW You kitchen training space project.
- Stones in the CommunitycoreCharitable arm of Maidstone United FC delivering weekly football sessions tailored for all Five Acre Wood pupils to develop teamwork, communication, motor skills, and confidence.
- The Education People (Kent and Medway Careers Hub)coreEnterprise Coordinator Louise Rochford works with the school on CEIAG programme, supporting career education and guidance for students with diverse needs.
- Ainscough CranesminorProvided crane services for installation of the plane fuselage (7FAW7 library) and the freefall lifeboat (FAWtilus counselling space).
- BAM (Building Company)coreMain building company for the new school building project. Represented at ground-breaking ceremony alongside KCC representatives.
- LEAF Training PartnershipminorLinked on school website, providing training partnership services.
Scale indicators6 records
Recent moves6 records
Expansion highlights4 records
Five Acre Wood School competitors and assessment
Company assessmentDirect peers
- Sybil Elgar School (National Autistic Society): One of the UK's longest-established autism special schools, offering day and residential provision. Comparable in ASD-specific pedagogy and reputation as a national centre of excellence.
- Prior's Court School: Autism-specialist residential and day school for children and young people with complex needs. Comparable in 5-19 age range, ASD focus, and applied real-world learning environments.
- St Piers School (Young Epilepsy): Residential and day special school for pupils with epilepsy and complex needs. Comparable in-depth specialization, multi-site operation, and therapy-integrated education.
- Meadowfield School: Kent-based special school for pupils with profound, severe and complex learning difficulties including ASD. Direct geographic and demographic peer, also commissioned by Kent County Council.
- TreeHouse School (Ambitious about Autism): Autism-specific special school operated by the national charity Ambitious about Autism, serving pupils with ASD in London. Highly comparable in mission, ASD-specific pedagogy, and charitable governance model.
- Bradfields Academy: Kent special school providing education for pupils with complex needs including ASD. Comparable in catchment, commissioning customer (KCC), and learner profile.
- Helen Allison School (National Autistic Society): NAS-operated special school in Kent for children with autism. Compares directly on geography, ASD specialization, and multi-method approach (TEACCH, SCERTS).
Others
- LEAF Training Partnership: School-centred initial teacher training partnership linked to Five Acre Wood on its website. Comparable as an enabler for SEN teacher pipeline and workforce development.
Regional players
- Stevenage Solaris Centre: Regional SEN provision in Hertfordshire serving pupils with similar PMLD/SLD profiles. Comparable in curriculum specialization but operates in a different local authority area.
Broad incumbents
- Ambitious about Autism (Charity): National autism education charity operating multiple schools and services. Comparable in mission and ASD focus, but at a much larger national scale and with broader service portfolio.
Market position
Strengths5 records
Weaknesses5 records
Competitive moat4 records
Key risks6 records
Key highlights7 records
Customer concentration
Five Acre Wood School social profiles
Digital presenceFive Acre Wood School compliance and trust
Trust signalCompliance5 records
Five Acre Wood School financial estimates
Financial estimateRevenue estimate
Valuation estimate
Five Acre Wood School leadership team
Management profileNumber of profiles
Profiles5 records
Five Acre Wood School funding detail
Funding detailFunding overview
Funding rounds
Investors
Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Five Acre Wood School M&A and investment
M&A and investmentM&A
Investments
M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Frequently asked questions about Five Acre Wood School
What does Five Acre Wood School do?
Five Acre Wood School is a state-funded Foundation District Special School providing all-age education (4-19 years) for pupils with Profound, Severe and Complex Learning Difficulties (PMLD/SLD) and Autistic Spectrum Disorder. It delivers individualized learning programmes using SCERTS, TEACCH, MOVE and Total Communication frameworks, alongside in-house multidisciplinary therapy services (SALT, OT, physiotherapy, hippotherapy, rebound therapy) and themed immersive learning environments such as FAWrient Express, Radio FAW All, FAWtilus, 7FAW7 Library, Platform FAW, Peggy's FAWtique, and the FAWbulous Bus.
Is Five Acre Wood School a public or private company?
Five Acre Wood School is a private company. It is classified as state government owned and is currently operating.
When was Five Acre Wood School founded?
Five Acre Wood School was founded in 2026. It employs 51 to 100 people.
Where is Five Acre Wood School based?
Five Acre Wood School is headquartered in Maidstone, United Kingdom, in the Europe region.
How does Five Acre Wood School make money?
Three revenue lines are on record. Government Funding (Kent County Council) is the primary driver. The others are FAWfilling Futures Charity and FAWrient Express Café Revenue.
Who are Five Acre Wood School's main competitors?
Direct peers on record are Sybil Elgar School (National Autistic Society), Prior's Court School, St Piers School (Young Epilepsy), Meadowfield School, TreeHouse School (Ambitious about Autism), Bradfields Academy and Helen Allison School (National Autistic Society). LEAF Training Partnership is listed as an others. Stevenage Solaris Centre is listed as a regional player. Ambitious about Autism (Charity) is listed as a broad incumbent.
Does Five Acre Wood School have an API?
No public API is recorded for Five Acre Wood School.
What industry is Five Acre Wood School in?
Five Acre Wood School's product category is Special Education Services. Its primary akta.pro industry code is EDAKAJAL, Multisensory Learning Programs & Curriculum for Dyslexia/LD, with a secondary code of EDAJAAAI, Public Virtual & Blended Learning Programs (District-Run). Its NAICS code is 611110 and its SIC code is 8200.