Forge Valley School

What Forge Valley School does

Forge Valley School & Sixth Form is a state-funded secondary school and sixth form located on Wood Lane in Sheffield, United Kingdom (S6 5HG), serving approximately 1,505 pupils aged 11-18 across Years 7-13, supported by 196 professional teaching and support staff. The school is a member of INOVA Multi-Academy Trust, a Sheffield-based cross-phase trust of nine schools (five primary and four secondary) that was rebranded from the former Tapton School Academy Trust in April 2025. Core academic delivery spans the National Curriculum at secondary level (Years 7-11) across subjects including English, Mathematics, Science, Languages, Humanities, Arts, and Technology, followed by a Sixth Form offering 24 A Level and BTEC qualifications with specialist facilities including Cafe Six, a dedicated common room, study room, and Learning Resource Centre.

The school's technology stack is built on standard UK educational administration platforms: ParentPay for school meal and fee payments, My Child at School (MCAS) for parent access to pupil data and tracking reports, School Cloud for parents' evening booking, and UniFrog for university and apprenticeship research. Internal communications operate through a trust-wide INOVA SharePoint instance. A wholly-owned adjacent operating subsidiary, Forge Valley Sports Centre, offers community access to a gym suite, sports hall, dance studio, 1km cycle track, and synthetic pitches, providing a small commercial revenue stream alongside core operations.

Revenue is derived almost entirely from UK Government funding via the Education and Skills Funding Agency (ESFA), allocated on a per-pupil basis through the INOVA Multi-Academy Trust, supplemented by Sports Centre income (gym sessions at £4/adult, monthly subscriptions, facility hire) and administration of the 16-19 Bursary Fund for eligible Sixth Form students. The school markets to prospective families through open evenings, the school website, the Sheffield Progress admissions system, and engagement with feeder primary schools, positioning itself on values of Ambition, Endeavour, and Success, with an Ofsted inspection in May 2024 affirming an inclusive culture and high expectations.

Name

Forge Valley School

Legal name

Forge Valley School & Sixth Form

Website

https://forgevalley.school

Company type

Private

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

Forge Valley School is a state-funded secondary school and sixth form in Sheffield, UK, serving 1,505 pupils aged 11-18 across Years 7-13, operating as a member of INOVA Multi-Academy Trust and funded primarily by UK Government ESFA per-pupil grants.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Secondary Education

NAICS

Elementary and Secondary Schools (6111), Colleges, Universities, and Professional Schools (61131)

SIC

Services-Educational Services (8200)

akta.pro primary industry

Public Middle Schools (EDAJAAAC)

Keywords

• Secondary education
• Sixth form provision
• GCSE preparation
• A level courses
• Pastoral care

Headquarters

HQ city

Sheffield

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. State-Funded Education (UK Government): Forge Valley School operates as a state-funded secondary school and sixth form receiving core educational funding from the UK Government through the INOVA Multi-Academy Trust. Revenue is derived from the Education and Skills Funding Agency (ESFA) based on pupil enrollment numbers. Additional revenue is generated through the Forge Valley Sports Centre which offers paid fitness classes, gym sessions, and facility hire to the community. The 16-19 Bursary Fund provides financial support to eligible Sixth Form students from government funding.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels2 records

Marketing channels5 records

Core offering

Forge Valley School is a state-funded secondary school and Sixth Form in Sheffield delivering comprehensive education for pupils aged 11 to 18 (Years 7 through 13). The school provides the National Curriculum across core and foundation subjects at GCSE level and 24 A Level and BTEC qualifications at post-16, complemented by an extra-curricular programme of 20+ activities and a Gatsby-Benchmarks-aligned careers programme. It also operates Forge Valley Sports Centre as a community sports facility.

Product overview

Forge Valley School & Sixth Form operates as a secondary educational institution offering a unified educational service spanning Years 7-13. The core offering consists of secondary school education (Years 7-11) with a broad curriculum of academic and vocational subjects, progressing to Sixth Form (Years 12-13) with 24 A Level and BTEC qualification options. The institution also maintains the Forge Valley Sports Centre as a community facility. A comprehensive extra-curricular programme of 20+ activities and a structured careers programme complement the academic offerings. The school is part of INOVA Multi-Academy Trust.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Secondary School Education (Years 7-11)

Quantifiable outcome

• 100% of students pass A Level Geography, with an average of 40% achieving A*–B grades
• +5 more outcomes

Named customers1 record

Segments4 records

Ideal customer profiles3 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature3 records

Partnerships

17 partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• INOVA Multi-Academy TrustcoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 April 2025Forge Valley School is a member of INOVA Multi-Academy Trust (formerly Tapton School Academy Trust, rebranded in April 2025). The trust is a Sheffield-based cross-phase MAT of nine schools (five primary, four secondary). The trust provides shared expertise, leadership, educational networks, professional development, and a shared vision for improving outcomes and broadening opportunities for all learners. The trust board is responsible for mission, vision, and improvement strategy, with Local Governing Boards providing local context.
• NuffieldminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerNuffield is listed as a partner organisation in Forge Valley's Raising Aspirations Programme, which is part of the super and extra-curricular activities offered to Sixth Form students.
• Social Mobility FoundationminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerThe Social Mobility Foundation is listed as a partner in the Raising Aspirations Programme, providing support for students from disadvantaged backgrounds to access opportunities and career pathways.
• National Citizenship Service (NCS)minorStrategic or Co-development PartnerThe National Citizenship Service is listed as a partner in the Raising Aspirations Programme, offering young people opportunities for personal development and community engagement.
• Duke of Edinburgh AwardminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerThe Duke of Edinburgh Award is listed as a partner in the Raising Aspirations Programme, providing a nationally recognised award scheme for young people involving volunteering, physical, and skills activities.
• National Health Service (NHS) Work ExperienceminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerThe NHS is listed as a partner providing work experience placement opportunities for Sixth Form students interested in healthcare careers.
• Realising OpportunitiesminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerRealising Opportunities is listed as a partner programme designed to support access to top universities for students from underrepresented backgrounds, providing enrichment and guidance.
• Sheffield University Discover ProgrammeminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerThe Sheffield University Discover Programme is listed as a super-curricular partner offering Sixth Form students exposure to university-level study and university life.
• Brightside Journalism MentoringminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerBrightside Journalism Mentoring is listed as a partner providing online mentoring for students interested in journalism and media careers.
• UptreeminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerUptree is listed as a partner providing work experience opportunities with competitive law, financial, and IT firms for Sixth Form students.
• Camp InternationalminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerCamp International is listed as a partner offering international camp and educational travel experiences for students.
• Sheffield Hallam UniversityminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerSheffield Hallam University is referenced as a partner offering masterclasses for IT BTEC students and as a destination for university visits and taster sessions. The university is also listed as a local employer for students exploring career options.
• University of SheffieldminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerThe University of Sheffield is referenced as a local employer and as a destination university for Forge Valley Sixth Form students. The Sheffield University Discover Programme is also listed as a super-curricular partner.
• Sheffield Futures (Door 43)minorStrategic or Co-development PartnerSheffield Futures Door 43 service offers mental health and emotional wellbeing support to young people aged 13–25, referenced in the school's mental health support resources for Sixth Form students.
• Golddigger TrustminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerGolddigger Trust is a Sheffield-based charity working with young people aged 11–18 to build confidence, skills, and positive mental health. Multiple resources from the Golddigger Trust are referenced in the school's mental health support section.
• Sheffield Young CarersminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerSheffield Young Carers is partnered with Forge Valley Sixth Form's Young Carers support programme, providing additional resources and care for students with caring responsibilities.
• AMRC TrainingminorChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorAMRC Training (Advanced Manufacturing Research Centre Training) is listed as a resource for exploring technical apprenticeships in engineering and manufacturing, recommended for students considering apprenticeship pathways.

Scale indicators5 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Broad incumbents

• INOVA Multi-Academy Trust: Parent multi-academy trust operating nine schools across primary and secondary phases in Sheffield. Broader incumbent governing Forge Valley's strategic direction, funding flows, and shared services; comparable as a portfolio operator of state-funded schools.
• Outwood Grange Academies Trust: Large national multi-academy trust operating numerous secondary schools including those in Yorkshire. Comparable as a scaled MAT operator with shared curriculum, professional development, and post-16 pathways.
• Astrea Academy Trust: Multi-academy trust operating multiple secondary schools across Yorkshire and the East Midlands. Comparable as a regional MAT providing centralised services to state-funded secondary schools, including post-16.

Direct peers

• Tapton School: Another secondary school within INOVA Multi-Academy Trust in Sheffield. Directly comparable as a fellow INOVA MAT secondary serving the same Sheffield community, with shared governance, central services, and competitive Sixth Form overlap.
• King Edward VII School: Sheffield-based secondary school competing directly for Year 7 admissions and Sixth Form applicants from the same South Yorkshire catchment. Comparable size, comprehensive curriculum, and post-16 offering.
• High Storrs School: Large Sheffield secondary school with Sixth Form competing for the same local cohort. Comparable comprehensive curriculum, GCSE and A Level pathways, and state-funded operating model.
• Sheffield Park Academy: Sheffield secondary academy with Sixth Form, serving a similar state-funded cohort. Comparable curriculum and post-16 pathways, and a direct competitor for admissions within the city.
• Silverdale School: Sheffield comprehensive secondary school with Sixth Form. Comparable academic and vocational offering, state-funded operating model, and direct admissions competition in the same city.
• Notre Dame High School, Sheffield: Sheffield Catholic voluntary aided secondary school with Sixth Form serving the same city. Comparable secondary and post-16 provision, competes for both Year 7 admissions and Sixth Form applicants.

Emerging players

• Sheffield College: Large Sheffield-based further education college offering post-16 academic and vocational pathways. Comparable in Sixth Form-style provision (A Levels, BTECs) but as an FE college rather than a school-based sixth form; competes for the same post-16 cohort in Sheffield.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/forge-valley-school

Compliance1 record

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles9 records

Subsidiaries1 record

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 Forge Valley School