The Hemel Hempstead School

What The Hemel Hempstead School does

The Hemel Hempstead School is a mixed, non-selective state-funded academy serving over 1,200 students aged 11-18 in Hemel Hempstead, Hertfordshire, UK. Founded circa 1930 and operating for nearly ninety years, the school is part of the Scholars' Education Trust, a multi-academy trust overseeing approximately 6,000 students across Hertfordshire, Essex and Bedfordshire. The institution delivers GCSE-level secondary education through Year 11 plus a large Sixth Form offering 26 A-Level courses alongside EPQ and Communication Skills. Primary revenue is per-pupil UK government education funding routed through the trust, with a secondary revenue stream from community facility lettings (hall, sports, dance/drama studios, classrooms, kitchen) priced at £22-£75 per hour.

The school's core educational product is built around three proprietary frameworks: The HHEx (Hemel Hempstead Experience) curriculum combining academics with enrichment and character development; the ASPIRE pedagogy focused on Ambition, Self-belief, Perseverance, Independence, Reflection and Effort; and the NexusOne iPads-for-All Programme providing digital devices to every student and teacher, integrated with Google Classroom for learning management. Supporting integrations include ParentPay, Bromcom, School Cloud, and GCSEPod. Disclosed Sixth Form outcomes include 72% of grades at A*-C (a 9% year-over-year improvement) and 20% at A*-A. The school operates on a 19-acre campus currently undergoing capital expansion via the UK Government's School Rebuilding Programme (SRP 1092), constructing a new net-zero carbon East Block.

Go-to-market is structurally passive rather than sales-driven: admissions are coordinated entirely by Hertfordshire County Council, removing a commercial sales cycle. Marketing consists of open mornings, open evenings, an active organic social media presence (Instagram, Twitter/X, LinkedIn), and community events targeting prospective Year 7 and Sixth Form families. A secondary commercial channel markets facility hire to community groups, sports clubs, and film production companies via the Dacorum Film Office partnership (including Amazon's Project Hail Mary in 2024).

Name

The Hemel Hempstead School

Legal name

The Hemel Hempstead School

Website

https://hhs.herts.sch.uk

Company type

Private

Founded year

1930

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

51–100 employees

Short description

The Hemel Hempstead School is a mixed, non-selective state-funded academy in Hertfordshire, UK, serving over 1,200 students aged 11-18 within the Scholars' Education Trust. It offers GCSE and 26 A-Level courses built around its proprietary HHEx curriculum, ASPIRE pedagogy, and NexusOne iPad programme, funded primarily by per-pupil government grants.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Headquarters

HQ city

Hemel Hempstead

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

Revenue model

1. Government Education Funding: State-funded academy receiving per-pupil government funding through the Scholars' Education Trust for educating students ages 11-18
2. Facility Lettings: The school generates revenue by renting out facilities including halls, sports facilities, classrooms, and specialist rooms to community groups and organizations during evenings and weekends

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion2 records

Distribution channels3 records

Marketing channels7 records

Core offering

The Hemel Hempstead School delivers free, state-funded secondary and post-16 education to over 1,200 students aged 11-18, including GCSE preparation in Years 7-11 and a large Sixth Form offering 26 A-Level courses plus EPQ and Communication Skills. Its educational offer is built around the proprietary HHEx (Hemel Hempstead Experience) curriculum and ASPIRE pedagogy, supported by a one-iPad-per-student (NexusOne) technology programme. The school also generates ancillary income by hiring out its halls, sports facilities, studios, classrooms, and pitches to community groups and organisations.

Product overview

The Hemel Hempstead School is a mixed, non-selective academy serving over 1200 students aged 11-18, offering a unified educational programme built around its distinctive HHEx (Hemel Hempstead Experience) curriculum. The school provides academic education from Year 7 through Sixth Form (with 26 A-Level courses), supplemented by technology-enhanced learning through its NexusOne iPad programme, and character development via the ASPIRE pedagogy and diverse extracurricular clubs. The institution also generates revenue through community facility hire services.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• The HHEx (The Hemel Hempstead Experience): The school's unique curriculum combining academics with wider experiences to develop students' character and skills, including life-enhancing opportunities for students.
• HHEx

Products and services

• The HHEx (Hemel Hempstead Experience) Curriculum A proprietary supra-curricular framework for students aged 11-18 that combines academic study with wider life experiences, character development, leadership opportunities, trips, and enrichment activities.
• NexusOne iPads for All Programme One-iPad-per-student digital learning programme integrated with Google Classroom, supporting teaching, learning, and collaboration for all students and teachers.
• Sixth Form (Post-16 Education) Post-16 education for students aged 16-18 offering 26 A-Level courses plus EPQ and Communication Skills, with dedicated facilities, university application support, and progression to higher education.
• Clubs and Activities (Extracurricular Programme) Extracurricular programme including PE and sport, the Duke of Edinburgh's Award, and a wide range of clubs, designed to extend learning beyond the classroom.
• School Facilities Hire (Lettings) Hire of school halls, sporting facilities, dance and drama studios, classrooms, sports hall, rugby and cricket pitches, external basketball court, and main kitchen to community groups, sports clubs, event organisers, and film production companies.

Quantifiable outcome

• 72% of Sixth Form grades are A* to C
• +3 more outcomes

Named customers2 records

Segments3 records

Ideal customer profiles3 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Integration5 records

AI capability2 records

Feature4 records

Partnerships

Eight partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• Scholars' Education Trust (SET)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerThe school is part of the Scholars' Education Trust, a multi-academy trust operating schools across Hertfordshire, Essex, and Bedfordshire. SET provides governance, financial management, and strategic direction. The trust serves nearly 6,000 students and supports staff development through NPQ courses and leadership programs.
• Alban TSH Teaching School HubcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerThe school partners with Alban TSH Teaching School Hub for teacher professional development and training programs, enhancing educational quality across the region.
• Destiny Grace Academy (Sierra Leone)minorStrategic or Co-development PartnerInternational partner school in Sierra Leone. The partnership includes curriculum links in Geography and Citizenship, pen pal programs, language exchange, fundraising activities, and photo gallery documentation. This provides students with global awareness and cultural exchange opportunities.
• Gade Schools Family SupportminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerLocal family support organization providing mental health and wellbeing resources for students, including links to anxiety and depression support, eating disorder organizations, and general mental health support services.
• Home LeoneminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerCharity partnership supporting Sierra Leone, connected to the school's international partner school program. Students participate in fundraising activities.
• Dacorum Film OfficeminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerThe school is listed on the Dacorum Film Location database for film production companies. The facilities have been used for major productions including Amazon's Project Hail Mary (filmed in 2024).
• Wise Up TeamminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerExternal provider delivering bushcraft and survival skills workshops during Character Week, providing students with experiential learning opportunities.
• Tilbury DouglascoreImplementation/ SI/ Consulting PartnerConstruction contractor for the School Rebuilding Programme (SRP 1092), building the new East Block. Tilbury Douglas produces regular newsletters to keep stakeholders updated on construction progress.

Scale indicators7 records

Recent moves7 records

Expansion highlights4 records

Regional players

• Berkhamsted School: Independent school in Berkhamsted, Hertfordshire offering 11-18 education including a large Sixth Form. Comparable in age range and curriculum but operates under independent fee-paying model rather than state-funded — useful as a benchmark for facility, results, and family choice dynamics in the catchment.
• St Albans School: Independent secondary school and Sixth Form in Hertfordshire. Comparable in age range and curriculum breadth but fee-paying, providing a benchmark for parental choice, outcomes, and competitive positioning within the broader Hertfordshire school market.
• The Astley Cooper School (former): Former secondary school in Hemel Hempstead; previously served the same 11-18 age group in the immediate local area. Relevant for understanding the local competitive landscape and catchment dynamics HHS operates within.

Direct peers

• John F Kennedy Catholic School: Hemel Hempstead-based secondary school serving 11-18 students with a Sixth Form. Competes for the same local catchment under a faith-based ethos, making it the closest geographic peer for admissions competition and curriculum comparison.
• Longdean School: Mixed secondary school and Sixth Form in Hemel Hempstead, serving the same 11-18 age range. Directly comparable in funding model, intake profile, and curriculum breadth within the local Hertfordshire market.
• Tring School: Secondary school located in Tring, Hertfordshire, serving a similar 11-18 age range in the same county. Operates as a state-funded secondary with Sixth Form, providing directly comparable curriculum, outcomes, and funding model within the Hertfordshire school market.
• Adeyfield School: Secondary school located in Hemel Hempstead, serving overlapping local catchment. Comparable state-funded secondary offering with Sixth Form provision, competing directly for the same Year 7 admissions pool.
• Westfield Academy: Secondary school in Watford, Hertfordshire, operating under a similar state-funded academy model with Sixth Form. Comparable in funding structure, age range, and curriculum breadth, competing for cross-catchment applications in the wider Hertfordshire market.
• Hemel Hempstead School (HHS) Sixth Form: Included for context: the school's own Sixth Form operates within the same Hemel Hempstead market and competes for post-16 applicants alongside other local Sixth Forms — itself a meaningful intra-school peer for progression analytics.

Others

• Scholars' Education Trust Central Team: Multi-academy trust operating HHS and other schools across Hertfordshire, Essex and Bedfordshire serving ~6,000 pupils. The trust is the strategic governing entity for HHS, providing back-office scale, governance, and curriculum framework relevant to understanding HHS's operating context.

Market position

Strengths4 records

Weaknesses4 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• Xtwitter.com/hemelhempsteadschool
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/the-hemel-hempstead-school
• Instagraminstagram.com/hemelhempsteadschool

Compliance5 records

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles1 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 The Hemel Hempstead School