Paignton Academy
Paignton Academy is a state-funded 11-16 secondary school in Devon, England, serving approximately 1,500 students across two campuses. It delivers a Thinking School cognitive-education curriculum under the Thinking Schools Academy Trust, funded principally by government per-pupil grants.
- Company typePrivate
- Founded-
- HeadquartersPaignton, United Kingdom
- Headcount51–100
- GTM typeB2C
- OfferingServices
What Paignton Academy does
Paignton Academy is a state-funded secondary school (academy) located in Paignton, Devon, England, serving approximately 1,500 students aged 11-16 across two campuses: Waterleat Road and Borough Road, each hosting roughly 750 pupils. The school is a member of the Thinking Schools Academy Trust (TSAT), a multi-academy trust headquartered in Chatham, Kent, and operates under the central "Thinking School" pedagogical framework, employing proprietary cognitive-education tools — Thinking Hats, Thinking Maps and Thinking Keys — alongside a CARE values system (Community, Ambition, Relationships, Excellence) that is reinforced through a points-based student rewards programme (The CARE Store). The core curriculum delivers knowledge-rich Key Stage 3 and Key Stage 4 provision across English, Maths, Science, humanities, languages, arts, technology and PE, supplemented by structured programmes including the Duke of Edinburgh's Award (Bronze and Silver), STEPS Provision (a capped 12-place environment for school-phobic learners), and a careers programme. Operational technology is commodity: Arbor serves as the Management Information System for parent communications and payments, with ProcessWire powering the school website.
The business model is principally a publicly-funded per-pupil grant from the Education and Skills Funding Agency (ESFA), routed through the Thinking Schools Academy Trust and supplemented by Pupil Premium, Free School Meals allocations (£935 per eligible pupil), SEND top-ups, and the PE/Sports Premium. There are no tuition fees for core education. Auxiliary revenue streams are immaterial relative to core funding and include catering services via Innovate IFG (IMPACT FOOD) with a £3.05 meal deal, Duke of Edinburgh enrollment fees of £32 per student covering access to the eDofE platform, and uniform commissions via ProServe Limited (ties purchasable through the Arbor parent app). Admissions are centrally administered by Torbay Council through a single-country, domestic distribution channel; Devon County Council processes cross-boundary Free School Meal applications. Marketing is conducted via the school website, Facebook and Instagram social channels, numbered newsletters, open evenings, and primary-school transition visits. Operational technology integrations include Google Analytics, YouTube embeds, and CookieHub consent management. There is no public-facing API, no proprietary software platform, and no disclosed AI/ML capability.
Paignton Academy firmographics
Firmographics- Name
- Paignton Academy
- Legal name
- Paignton Academy
- Website
- https://paigntonacademy.org
- Company type
- Private
- Operating status
- Operating
- Headcount range
- 51–100 employees
- Short description
- Paignton Academy is a state-funded 11-16 secondary school in Devon, England, serving approximately 1,500 students across two campuses. It delivers a Thinking School cognitive-education curriculum under the Thinking Schools Academy Trust, funded principally by government per-pupil grants.
- Ownership category
- akta.pro rank
Paignton Academy industry classification
Industry- Product category
- Secondary Education
- NAICS
- Elementary and Secondary Schools (6111), Educational Support Services (611710)
- SIC
- Services-Educational Services (8200)
- akta.pro primary industry
- Instructional Delivery & Pedagogy (School-Led) (EDAJAFAB)
- akta.pro secondary industries
- Curriculum Design & Scope/Sequence (School-Led) (EDAJAFAA), Title I & Compensatory Education Programs (EDAJAGAJ)
Keywords
Where Paignton Academy is headquartered
LocationHeadquarters
- HQ city
- Paignton
- HQ country
- United Kingdom
- HQ region
- Europe
Offices2 records
Markets served
Paignton Academy business model
Business model- GTM type
- B2C
- Offering type
- Services
- Cost components
- Personnel, Operations, Infrastructure, Marketing or Sales, Others
Revenue model
- Government Education Funding: State-funded secondary school receiving per-pupil funding from the government based on student enrollment and characteristics including Pupil Premium funding for eligible students.
- Catering Services: Food services provided through Innovate IFG - IMPACT FOOD. Meal deals available for £3.05. The school receives additional government funding (£935) for each registered Free School Meals eligible student.
- Duke of Edinburgh Enrollment: DofE enrollment fee of £32 per student providing access to the online eDofE platform. Payment installments available for expedition costs.
- Uniform Sales: Uniform sales through uniform provider ProServe Limited. Ties can be purchased via the Arbor parent app.
Pricing tiers
| Model | Billing | Price |
|---|---|---|
| Unit Pricing | Pay-as-you-go | School meal deal for all students |
| One time/ perpetual license | One time/ perpetual license | Duke of Edinburgh's Award enrollment |
Go-to-market motion2 records
Distribution channels2 records
Marketing channels5 records
Paignton Academy product offering
Product offeringCore offering
Paignton Academy is a state-funded 11-16 secondary school delivering a knowledge-rich curriculum across English, Maths, Science, humanities, languages, arts, technology, and PE on two sites to over 1,500 students. It applies the Thinking Schools Academy Trust's cognitive education framework (Thinking Hats, Maps, and Keys) throughout its curriculum and provides supporting programmes including STEPS Provision for school-phobic students, the CARE Store rewards system, Duke of Edinburgh's Award, and careers guidance. Operational logistics are managed through the Arbor management information system.
Product overview
Paignton Academy is a heavily oversubscribed 11-16 secondary school with over 1,500 students across two sites (Waterleat Road and Borough Road). As a member of the Thinking Schools Academy Trust, the academy's core offering is its knowledge-rich secondary curriculum spanning Years 7-11 across subjects including English, Maths, Science, humanities, languages, arts, technology, and PE. The school supplements its core curriculum with specialized programmes including the STEPS Provision (a small-group environment for students needing additional transition support), the CARE Store rewards system (where students redeem points for demonstrating the academy's CARE values), and the Duke of Edinburgh's Award. Additional student support services include careers guidance, safeguarding, SEND support, attendance monitoring, and catering provided by Innovate IFG. The academy's Thinking School approach employs cognitive education tools including Thinking Hats, Maps, and Keys throughout the curriculum.
Differentiator
Problem solved
Functional benefit
Products and services
- Paignton Academy Main Curriculum Knowledge-rich secondary curriculum for Years 7-11 covering English, Maths, Science, humanities, languages, arts, technology, and PE, structured around the academy's seven core values and Thinking School cognitive education approach. Targeted at students aged 11-16.
- STEPS Provision Specialised supportive environment for school-phobic students transitioning to secondary school, located at Borough Road site and limited to 12 students across Years 7-9 with separate entrance and adapted uniform. Intended for students needing smaller, more supported transition.
- CARE Store Student rewards programme where students earn CARE points by demonstrating CARE values (Community, Ambition, Relationships, Excellence), redeemable for items from The CARE Store catalogue. Targeted at enrolled Paignton Academy students.
- Duke of Edinburgh's Award Structured award programme offering Bronze and Silver levels with physical, skills, volunteering, and expedition sections, available to students via a £32 enrolment that includes access to the eDofE platform. Expedition services are provided by Haven Banks.
- Careers Programme Comprehensive careers guidance and support programme led by experienced staff, including careers research resources, work experience placements, and employer engagement activities for Paignton Academy students.
- School Catering Service Food services delivered through catering partner Innovate IFG - IMPACT FOOD, offering a 3-week rotating menu of freshly made food, snacks, sandwiches, healthy salads, and fruit with meal deals priced at £3.05 from September 2026. Targeted at students and staff at both Paignton Academy sites.
Quantifiable outcome
- 94% of pupils stay in education or employment after KS4 (2024 results)
- +2 more outcomes
Companies that use Paignton Academy
Customer profileNamed customers1 record
Segments3 records
Ideal customer profiles2 records
Paignton Academy technology and API
TechnologyTechnology focussed No
API detail
- Has API
- No
- API docs
- API detail
Core technology
AI maturity
App detail
Integration4 records
Feature2 records
Paignton Academy partnerships and signals
Strategic signalPartnerships
Seven partnerships are on record, tiered core, support and minor.
- Thinking Schools Academy Trust (TSAT)corePaignton Academy is a proud member of the Thinking Schools Academy Trust, a family of schools united to improve life chances for children and young people. The trust provides shared vision, policies, professional development through Thinking Horizons, and central services including HR, finance, and governance support.
- Innovate IFG - IMPACT FOODsupportCatering provider supplying the academy's canteen with freshly made food, snacks, sandwiches, healthy salads, and fruit. Operates a 3-week rotating menu and provides meal deals.
- The Big StepsupportExternal provider delivering the optional Summer School transition program for incoming Year 7 students. Program runs 10th-14th August 2026. Survey data shows 99% of parents agreed their child felt more confident after attending.
- Torbay CouncilcoreLocal authority managing school admissions for Torbay area. Handles all applications for school places and manages in-year admissions process. Paignton Academy follows Torbay Council's admissions policies and procedures.
- ProServe LimitedsupportUniform provider for Paignton Academy. Supplies school uniform items including adapted uniform for STEPS Provision students. Ties can be purchased via the Arbor parent app.
- Haven BanksminorExternal provider offering Duke of Edinburgh's Award expedition services and activities for participants.
- Devon County CouncilsupportFor families residing in Devon County Council areas, FSM applications are processed through Devon. New eligibility criteria expanding to all Universal Credit recipients from 2026/27 academic year.
Scale indicators6 records
Recent moves6 records
Expansion highlights5 records
Paignton Academy competitors and assessment
Company assessmentDirect peers
- Torquay Academy: Local co-educational secondary school serving the Torbay area with a similar non-selective intake and curriculum. Directly comparable as the principal alternative secondary destination for families in Paignton and Torbay.
- The Castle School: Secondary school in Tiverton, Devon with a comparable non-selective, mid-sized comprehensive profile. Useful comparator for Devon-area secondary operating models and outcomes.
- Holcombe Grammar School: Member school of the Thinking Schools Academy Trust offering secondary education. Direct peer for trust-shared pedagogy (Thinking School approach), shared professional development via Thinking Horizons, and central services.
- Churston Ferrers Grammar School: Selective grammar school in the Torbay area, also part of the Thinking Schools Academy Trust. Direct peer given shared trust affiliation and overlapping catchment, contrasting as a selective vs. non-selective model.
- Kingsbridge Academy: Secondary school in the South Devon area. Direct peer for Devon secondary operations, admissions frameworks, and demographic mix.
- Brixham College: Secondary school in Brixham, Torbay. Direct local peer competing for the same Torbay student catchment under the same Torbay Council admissions framework.
Emerging players
- Reach Academy Feltham: Small-by-design UK secondary school emphasizing values-driven, character-focused education. Useful peer for benchmarking Paignton's CARE values system and dual-site pastoral model at smaller scale.
- Academy21: Alternative provision online school serving students who cannot access mainstream secondary education. Comparable as a peer addressing the school-refusal/transition-failure niche that Paignton's STEPS Provision targets in a physical setting.
Broad incumbents
- Thinking Schools Academy Trust: Multi-academy trust governing Paignton Academy and a portfolio of other schools. Comparable as the strategic parent/operator delivering shared services, governance, and the Thinking School pedagogy framework.
Regional players
- Forest Gate Community School: Large secondary school operating in a different English region. Comparable as a UK state secondary at similar scale (~1,500 pupils) for benchmarking dual-site or single-site comprehensive models and outcomes.
Market position
Strengths5 records
Weaknesses5 records
Competitive moat5 records
Key risks5 records
Key highlights7 records
Customer concentration
Paignton Academy social profiles
Digital presencePaignton Academy financial estimates
Financial estimateRevenue estimate
Valuation estimate
Paignton Academy leadership team
Management profileNumber of profiles
Profiles5 records
Paignton Academy funding detail
Funding detailFunding overview
Funding rounds
Investors
Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Paignton Academy 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 Paignton Academy
What does Paignton Academy do?
Paignton Academy is a state-funded 11-16 secondary school delivering a knowledge-rich curriculum across English, Maths, Science, humanities, languages, arts, technology, and PE on two sites to over 1,500 students. It applies the Thinking Schools Academy Trust's cognitive education framework (Thinking Hats, Maps, and Keys) throughout its curriculum and provides supporting programmes including STEPS Provision for school-phobic students, the CARE Store rewards system, Duke of Edinburgh's Award, and careers guidance. Operational logistics are managed through the Arbor management information system.
Is Paignton Academy a public or private company?
Paignton Academy is a private company. It is classified as nonprofit foundation owned and is currently operating.
When was Paignton Academy founded?
Paignton Academy was founded in -1. It employs 51 to 100 people.
Where is Paignton Academy based?
Paignton Academy is headquartered in Paignton, United Kingdom, in the Europe region.
How does Paignton Academy make money?
Four revenue lines are on record. Government Education Funding is the primary driver. The others are catering Services, duke of Edinburgh Enrollment and uniform Sales.
Who are Paignton Academy's main competitors?
Direct peers on record are Torquay Academy, The Castle School, Holcombe Grammar School, Churston Ferrers Grammar School, Kingsbridge Academy and Brixham College. Emerging players are Reach Academy Feltham and Academy21. Thinking Schools Academy Trust is listed as a broad incumbent. Forest Gate Community School is listed as a regional player.
Does Paignton Academy have an API?
No public API is recorded for Paignton Academy.
What industry is Paignton Academy in?
Paignton Academy's product category is Secondary Education. Its primary akta.pro industry code is EDAJAFAB, Instructional Delivery & Pedagogy (School-Led), with a secondary code of EDAJAFAA, Curriculum Design & Scope/Sequence (School-Led). Its NAICS code is 6111 and its SIC code is 8200.