LEARN SHEFFIELD

What LEARN SHEFFIELD does

Learn Sheffield is a not-for-profit company limited by guarantee, formed in August 2015 by transitioning out of Sheffield City Council's Children and Young People's portfolio. It is structured with a hybrid ownership model: 80% owned by Sheffield schools and colleges, and 20% by Sheffield City Council. Headquartered at Suite 6, Albion House, Savile Street, Sheffield, the organisation employs approximately 28 staff organised across three internal groups — a Leadership Team, an Improvement Partner Team of around 14 specialists (including former HMI inspectors and experienced headteachers), and a Projects & Operations Team of approximately 15 staff. Its mission is the delivery of school improvement services to Sheffield schools and external customers through subscription packages, bespoke commissions, and local authority-funded projects.

The company operates its commercial arm under the "LS Education" brand, offering subscription and bespoke packages spanning Consultancy, Training, Digital, Governance, and GDPR services. Underlying digital infrastructure includes the GovernorHub governance management platform, the NGA Learning Link suite of 60+ online training modules, an exclusive Board Effectiveness Tool, a Governor Visits Monitoring Tool, and the SenseMaker community-research instrument (developed in collaboration with The Cynevin Co. and Professor Dave Snowden). Beyond LS Education, the company coordinates city-wide education projects including Eat Smart Sheffield, the Inclusion Task Force, Sheffield SEND Strategy, the Race Equality Programme, the SAFE Taskforce, and the Computing & Digital Innovation Centre.

Revenue is generated through six primary streams: annual School Improvement Subscription Packages sold to Sheffield schools, Bespoke Packages sold to trusts and schools outside Sheffield (a geographic-expansion vehicle), Governance Services including the GovernorHub subscription, Clerking Services (6 hours/year base + extraordinary meeting rates), and Commissions from Sheffield City Council covering SEND, attendance, and alternative provision. Customer concentration is heavily skewed toward Sheffield-area primary, secondary, and special schools, with the Governance Service supporting approximately 140 schools across Sheffield and other local authority areas. The go-to-market is sales-led, delivered through direct relationship management and LA partnership, with channel support through LinkedIn, an Opportunities Bulletin newsletter, downloadable resource booklets, and sector events such as the Annual Governance Conference.

Name

LEARN SHEFFIELD

Legal name

Learn Sheffield

Website

https://learnsheffield.co.uk

Company type

Private

Founded year

2015

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

Learn Sheffield is a not-for-profit school improvement company, 80% owned by Sheffield schools and 20% by Sheffield City Council, delivering LS Education subscription and bespoke consultancy, training, digital, governance, and clerking services to schools and trusts in Sheffield and beyond.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Education Support Services

NAICS

Educational Support Services (611710), Educational Support Services (61171)

SIC

Services-Educational Services (8200)

akta.pro primary industry

K–12 Support & School Improvement Nonprofits (BPAGADAB)

Keywords

• School improvement services
• Education consultancy
• Governance training
• School leadership development
• Teacher training CPD

Headquarters

HQ city

Sheffield

HQ country

United Kingdom

HQ region

Europe

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Technology or R&D, Marketing or Sales, Infrastructure

Revenue model

1. School Improvement Subscription Packages: Annual subscription packages offering consultancy, training, digital services, and governance support bundled together for Sheffield schools and settings
2. Bespoke Packages: Customized consultancy, training, digital, and governance services available for settings and trusts, particularly those outside Sheffield
3. Governance Services: Governance improvement service including clerking, training, support and advice, and GovernorHub subscription management for governing boards
4. Clerking Service: Meeting support from trained governance professionals, with 6 hours of regular meeting support per year included; additional hours charged at hourly rate
5. Extraordinary Meeting Support: Experienced clerking for special meetings and panels such as Governor Disciplinary Panels and Complaint Hearings, charged at extraordinary meeting rates
6. Commissions from Local Authority: Funded projects commissioned by Sheffield City Council including SEND work, attendance initiatives, and alternative provision development

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels5 records

Marketing channels6 records

Core offering

Learn Sheffield is a not-for-profit school improvement company that delivers consultancy, training, digital, and governance services to schools, trusts, and governing boards. Its core commercial arm, LS Education Services, sells annual subscription packages and bespoke service bundles that combine school improvement consultancy, professional development training, digital support, governance clerking, and GDPR compliance services. The organization also operates special projects (e.g., Eat Smart Sheffield, SenseMaker, Inclusion Task Force) and the Insights Hub research platform.

Product overview

Learn Sheffield is a not-for-profit school improvement company owned 80% by Sheffield schools/colleges and 20% by Sheffield City Council. The organization operates LS Education Services as its core commercial offering, comprising subscription packages (Consultancy, Training, Digital, Governance, and GDPR services) available as individual modules or combined packages, plus bespoke custom packages for external settings. The Insights Hub provides research and publications on educational priorities. Additional offerings include governance clerking services, governor training, and various special projects including Eat Smart Sheffield (food and nutrition), SenseMaker (youth experience research), Emergency Response Toolkit (trauma support), SAFE Taskforce, Inclusion Task Force, and the Computing & Digital Innovation Centre.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• LS Education School Improvement Subscription Packages 2026/27 Annual subscription packages for 2026/27 that bundle consultancy, training, digital services, governance support, and GDPR services for Sheffield schools and settings, available as combined subscriptions or as individual service purchases.
• LS Education Bespoke Packages Customized packages combining consultancy, training, digital, and governance services for individual settings and groups of schools, especially for schools and trusts outside Sheffield.
• LS Education Consultancy

Quantifiable outcome

• Support for approximately 140 schools across Sheffield and other Local Authority areas for governance services
• +2 more outcomes

Named customers5 records

Segments6 records

Ideal customer profiles6 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Integration3 records

Feature5 records

Partnerships

34 partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• Sheffield City CouncilcoreStrategic or Co-development Partner20% ownership stake in Learn Sheffield. Collaborative commissioning of education projects including SEND strategy, attendance initiatives, and alternative provision development. Data protection and governance support services.
• Create SheffieldcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerCreative and cultural education partner supporting arts and creativity in Sheffield schools
• SACRE (Standing Advisory Council for Religious Education)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerLearn Sheffield works closely with Sheffield SACRE to ensure RE professional development is available to Sheffield practitioners and supports SACRE's development as an education forum
• Forge CPDminorGTM or Marketing PartnerContinuing professional development partner for Sheffield educators
• Sheffield Safeguarding Children PartnershipcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerCommission from safeguarding partnership to support schools in keeping children safe online, working with Sheffield Safeguarding Education advisors
• St Wilfrid's English HubcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerEnglish hub partner supporting primary literacy development in Sheffield
• Inclusion Task ForcecoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerKey part of SEND governance framework in Sheffield. Cross-sector, school-led group with membership including headteachers, parent/carer representatives, health, care, education services and LA officers. Learn Sheffield coordinates guidance, resources and training for the city.
• Healthy MindscoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerMental health support partner for Sheffield schools
• South Yorkshire School Business Leaders (SYSBL)minorChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorNetwork for school business professionals in South Yorkshire
• Sheffield Schools' Data HubcoreTechnology or IntegrationData analytics and reporting hub providing insights for Sheffield schools
• PESSPA AlliancecoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerPhysical Education, School Sport and Physical Activity partnership supporting PE and sports in Sheffield schools
• Early Years PartnershipcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartnership supporting early years development and transition
• AEPA (Achievement for All / Alternative Education Provision)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerAlternative provision support partnership with published AEPA reports
• South Yorkshire Maths HubcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerMaths teaching and learning support hub for South Yorkshire schools
• South Yorkshire Teaching HubcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerTeaching hub supporting teacher development and retention across South Yorkshire
• Eat Smart SheffieldcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerWhole school approach to food and nutrition programme managed by Learn Sheffield Programme Manager Lisa Aldwin
• The Cynefin Co.coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerCollaboration on SenseMaker project to trial new ways of collecting data about growing up in Sheffield. Working with Professor Dave Snowden on this approach.
• GovernorHubcoreTechnology or IntegrationSoftware platform for governors provided as part of governance subscription service
• National Governance Association (NGA)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerStandard membership of NGA included in governance subscription, providing access to NGA resources, Learning Link (60+ training modules), and expert advice
• AEC Trust (Association of Education Committees)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerSponsor of LocalEd 2025 pilot 'Developing New Locality Models for English Schools' in which Learn Sheffield participates
• BELMAS (British Educational Leadership, Management and Administration Society)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerCo-sponsor of LocalEd 2025 pilot exploring locality-based governance and partnership working
• Children North EastcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartnership for poverty proofing pilot following Sheffield Poverty Truth Commission, designed to help schools identify structural inequalities
• #DiverseEd Sheffield HubcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerDiversity and inclusion education initiative in Sheffield
• Race Equality ProgrammecoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerProgramme working with Sheffield City Council's Race Equality Working Group following the 2022 Race Equality Commission findings
• Climate and SustainabilitycoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerClimate emergency response including Learning in Warm and Hot Weather Toolkit for schools
• Sheffield SAFE TaskforcecoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerSafety and wellbeing taskforce including Emergency Response Toolkit development
• Developing Healthy AttitudescoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerHealth education project via South Yorkshire Violence Reduction Unit
• Young Carers ProjectcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerSupport project for young carers in Sheffield schools
• Computing & Digital Innovation CentrecoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerComputing curriculum, AI, and educational technology support managed by Catherine Moore
• Sheffield SEND StrategycoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerCity-wide SEND strategy development and implementation
• Integrated Resources (Sheffield Schools)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerQuality standards development and enquiry visits for resourced provision supporting children with additional needs
• Healthy Child DevelopmentcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerMulti-disciplinary model development for healthy child development from perinatal to teenage years
• Poverty Truth CommissioncoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerCommunity-led initiative to address root causes of poverty with published report 'Finding the Root Cause' (October 2025)
• Alternative Provision ProjectcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerCity-wide strategy and operational plan for alternative provision developed with sector partners and SCC

Scale indicators4 records

Recent moves8 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Broad incumbents

• Education Development Trust: Large UK-based education organisation providing school improvement, professional development, and policy services globally. Comparable to Learn Sheffield in school improvement focus but with broader international reach and a wider portfolio.
• National Governance Association (NGA): UK membership organisation for school governors and trustees providing training, advice, and resources. Comparable to Learn Sheffield's governance improvement service and an existing partner via bundled membership.
• CfE/Centre for Education (CFE) (formerly CfBT Schools Trust): UK education provider offering school improvement and training services. Comparable to Learn Sheffield in school improvement consultancy, though operating at broader scale and as a private entity.

Direct peers

• Whole Education: UK network focused on developing a broader, more demanding curriculum and school improvement approaches. Comparable to Learn Sheffield in CPD and curriculum support services, with a national member network of schools.
• Teacher Development Trust: UK charity focused on evidence-based teacher and CPD programme design. Comparable to Learn Sheffield in providing CPD and training services to schools, though with a national rather than regional focus.
• Ambition Institute: UK charity focused on teacher and school leadership development, delivering training, CPD, and school improvement programmes. Comparable to Learn Sheffield as a direct provider of improvement services to schools, though operating at much larger national scale.
• Best Practice Network: UK provider of training, CPD, and school improvement programmes for teachers and school leaders. Comparable to Learn Sheffield in training and CPD delivery, with national reach across multiple specialisms.
• Challenge Partners: UK school improvement network of schools and trusts that broker peer-to-peer school improvement and leadership development. Comparable to Learn Sheffield as a school improvement intermediary with Ofsted-experienced programme leads.

Regional players

• Schools North East: Northern England regional school improvement network. Comparable to Learn Sheffield as a regional school improvement intermediary, though focused on the North East rather than Yorkshire.
• London Leadership Strategy: London-focused school improvement organisation providing SEND and leadership support. Comparable to Learn Sheffield in serving as a city-wide school improvement intermediary with specialist SEND expertise, but geographically distinct.

Market position

Strengths4 records

Weaknesses4 records

Competitive moat6 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/learn-sheffield

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles28 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 LEARN SHEFFIELD