ORCHARD TRAINING & EDUCATION LTD

What ORCHARD TRAINING & EDUCATION LTD does

ORCHARD TRAINING & EDUCATION LTD operates The Orchard School (branded as Orchard Humber), a specialist independent special educational needs (SEN) school for children aged 11-16 with additional needs. The company is registered as Orchard Education Ltd, a private limited company in England, and is a subsidiary within the Melrose Education group of specialist SEND schools. It operates across three sites in Grimsby, North East Lincolnshire (Sargon Way, Laceby Road, Roberts Street), providing daily transport for local learners.

The school's curriculum centres on a personalised learning approach offering English and Maths GCSE pathways, Functional Skills alternatives, BTEC vocational qualifications (Home Cooking Skills, Sport, Performing Arts, and Art, with a BTEC Level 1 in Work Skills being made compulsory from 2026), Duke of Edinburgh's Award participation, social skills development, careers education, and work experience. Educational visits, community partnerships, and an intergenerational care home partnership programme complement classroom learning. The school is governed under UK SEND frameworks with local authority funding via commissioning arrangements, achieving a 'Good' Ofsted rating in June 2024.

The business model is state-funded B2G/B2B2C: the school does not charge parents directly but receives per-learner funding from North East Lincolnshire local authority and other commissioning bodies for SEND placements. Revenue is therefore recurring in nature tied to enrolled learner numbers and commissioning rates. Marketing operates primarily through the Orchard Humber website, parent and learner testimonials, community events (including an annual Awards Ceremony of ~250 guests), and word-of-mouth referrals from local authorities and families, with no disclosed paid acquisition channel or external funding rounds.

Name

ORCHARD TRAINING & EDUCATION LTD

Legal name

Orchard Education Ltd

Website

https://orchardhumber.co.uk

Company type

Private

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

The Orchard School (Orchard Humber) is a specialist independent SEN school for children aged 11-16 in Grimsby, UK, operated by Orchard Education Ltd within the Melrose Education group and funded via North East Lincolnshire local authority commissioning arrangements.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Special Education Services

NAICS

Educational Services (61), Educational Support Services (611710)

SIC

Services-Educational Services (8200)

akta.pro primary industry

Professional Development for Educators (Dyslexia/LD Training) (EDAKAJAK)

akta.pro secondary industry

Communication, Collaboration & Conflict Resolution Skills (EDAMAIAF)

Keywords

• Special education services
• SEN school provision
• Vocational BTEC courses
• GCSE functional skills
• Personalised learning programmes

Headquarters

HQ city

Grimsby

HQ country

United Kingdom

HQ region

Europe

Offices3 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Infrastructure, Marketing or Sales

Revenue model

1. Education Services: State-funded special educational needs school providing education services to learners aged 11-16 with additional needs. Revenue comes through local authority funding for SEND placements.

Distribution channels1 record

Marketing channels3 records

Core offering

ORCHARD TRAINING & EDUCATION LTD operates The Orchard School, an independent special school in Grimsby providing full-time education for children and young people aged 11-16 with Special Educational Needs and Disabilities (SEND). The school delivers a personalised curriculum combining GCSE and Functional Skills qualifications, vocational BTEC pathways, social skills development, careers and work experience programmes, and enrichment activities across three sites in Grimsby, North East Lincolnshire.

Product overview

The Orchard School is a specialist independent SEN (Special Educational Needs) school for children aged 11-16, providing a single integrated educational programme through a personalised approach. The offering centres on an ambitious, individually tailored curriculum that includes GCSE/Functional Skills qualifications, vocational BTEC pathways (Home Cooking Skills, Sport, Performing Arts, Art), a Social Skills Development Programme, and a comprehensive Careers & Work Experience Programme. From 2026, all learners will complete a BTEC Level 1 in Work Skills. Educational visits, trips, and community-based activities complement classroom learning, creating a holistic educational experience that prepares learners for their next steps in life.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Special Educational Needs (SEN) Education Full-time independent special school education for students aged 11-16 with Special Educational Needs and Disabilities (SEND), delivered across three sites in Grimsby. Commissioned by local authorities via SEND placements.
• GCSE and Functional Skills Qualifications

Quantifiable outcome

• 81% of learners improved reading scores through intergenerational care home partnership
• +3 more outcomes

Named customers1 record

Segments1 record

Ideal customer profiles2 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Partnerships

Ten partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• Royal Court Care HomecoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerInnovative intergenerational partnership creating inclusive, reciprocal experiences between learners and care home residents. Learners read to residents, share sensory tools, collaborate on arts and crafts. Programme resulted in 81% improved reading scores and 71% improved social communication for learners.
• Grimsby Institute for Higher EducationcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerVocational training partnership providing learners with hands-on experience at the Institute's Graduate Salon. Staff share knowledge in hair styling, face painting, and nail art techniques. Partnership supports work experience and skills development.
• Compass GOminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerLocal mental health support service delivering exam stress workshops to GCSE learners, focusing on revision strategies and mental wellbeing during exam season. Partnership has operated for three years supporting both learners and staff.
• Gallagher's CaféminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartnership with café in Cleethorpes to host Macmillan coffee morning fundraising event. Café provided venue and support for learner-led charity initiative.
• Grimsby Magistrates' CourtminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerEducational visit partnership providing learners insight into the justice system as part of their studies and careers education programme.
• Grimsby Food KitchenminorOthersLocal charity benefiting from school fundraising events including Enterprise Day. School has raised significant funds and food donations for the charity.
• National Railway MuseumminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerEducational trip partnership providing learners in-depth look at role of railways in the Industrial Revolution as part of curriculum enrichment.
• Lincoln CastleminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerEducational visit partnership helping learners understand the Normans and legacy of William the Conqueror through hands-on historical learning.
• Eden Camp Modern History MuseumminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerEducational visit partnership providing immersive World War II history experience at original prisoner of war camp museum.
• Grimsby Town FCminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerSports partnership providing competitive fixtures and sporting opportunities for learners as part of PE and enrichment programme.

Scale indicators6 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Direct peers

• Outcomes First Group: National provider of specialist education, care and therapeutic services for children and adults with SEND and social care needs. Operates a large portfolio of SEN schools across England with a state-funded commissioning model similar to The Orchard.
• Polaris Community: Operates a network of specialist day schools and children's homes across the UK for pupils with SEMH, autism and complex needs. Small-scale independent operator similar in service model to The Orchard.
• Witherslack Group: One of the UK's largest operators of specialist residential and day schools for children with SEN, including autism, ADHD and social, emotional and mental health needs. Closely comparable business model and learner cohort to The Orchard.
• Cambian Group: Specialist provider of education and residential care for children and adults with learning disabilities, autism and other complex needs. Runs a network of specialist schools funded via local authority placements.
• Priory Group: Operates Priory Education and Children's Services, running independent specialist schools and residential homes for children with complex needs. Directly comparable SEN school operator with both day and residential provisions.
• Aspris Children's Services: Independent sector provider of specialist education, care and therapy for children and young people with SEND, including day schools and residential services. Comparable state-funded SEN offering and learner age range.

Broad incumbents

• National Autistic Society: Largest UK charity for autistic people, providing specialist education services including schools and post-16 provision. Serves a substantially overlapping SEND learner base, though broader in scope and primarily a charity/advocate rather than commercial operator.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/dkm-training-ltd

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles7 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 ORCHARD TRAINING & EDUCATION LTD