The Polygon School

What The Polygon School does

The Polygon School is a state-funded UK secondary school located at Handel Terrace, Southampton (SO15 2FH), operating as an academy under the Southampton Co-operative Learning Trust multi-academy structure. It serves boys aged 11-16 (Years 7-11) whose educational experiences in mainstream settings have been disrupted, providing an inclusive, nurturing environment with small class sizes, personalized academic support, and flexible curriculum pathways designed to remove barriers to learning. The school's core offering spans Key Stage 3 and Key Stage 4 curricula including English, Maths, Science, and specialist subjects (Art, Design Technology, Food Studies, Computing, Citizenship, RE, PSHE, and PE), supplemented by alternative provision through the Engagement Pathways Programme and Stretch Programme based at Morris House.

The product portfolio is materially broader than a typical secondary school, comprising an extensive enrichment and alternative provision layer: Forest Schools at Itchen Valley Country Park, weekly swimming lessons at a Shirley family-run pool, a horticulture allotment program (Polygon Patch), an Oracy Programme delivered through the Voice 21 partnership, a reading intervention program targeting the Southampton Reading Charter, a Work Skills programme run with EBP South, after-school clubs (including Saints Foundation partnership activities), and a comprehensive PSHE curriculum drawing on NHS, St John Ambulance, Yellow Door, and No Limits. Qualifications offered range from Entry Level certificates and Functional Skills through to GCSEs and iGCSEs, with vocational awards including ASDAN, AQA Unit Awards, and NCFE Technical Awards. The technology stack is built on standard educational platforms - Microsoft Teams for remote learning, Pearson Active Learn for curriculum resources, Lexia Gold and Literacy Gold for literacy, Rapid Plus for phonics, and TT Rock Stars for numeracy - with internally developed features such as the Reward+ points system and an Oracy Framework Assessment.

Revenue is generated primarily through UK Department for Education funding administered via Southampton City Council on a per-pupil enrollment basis (subscription/recurring model), with supplementary income from paid school meals (£2.95 per meal, supplied by City Catering Southampton under a 20+ year relationship) and uniform sales (£10 per logo polo shirt). The school is a not-for-profit institution rather than a commercially owned entity; its headteacher is Mr B Penfold, and its Level 6 Careers Advisor is Peter Rooke. The school has been rated Good by Ofsted and holds multiple accreditations including British Council International School Award, Arts Mark Gold, Gold Healthy High Five Award, 100% Gatsby Benchmarks for careers education, and Eco Schools recognition.

Name

The Polygon School

Legal name

The Polygon School

Website

https://polygon.southampton.sch.uk

Company type

Private

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

The Polygon School is a state-funded UK secondary school in Southampton operating under the Southampton Co-operative Learning Trust, serving boys aged 11-16 who have experienced barriers in mainstream education through personalized curricula, alternative provision pathways, and extensive enrichment programs.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Secondary Education Services

NAICS

Elementary and Secondary Schools (6111), Elementary and Secondary Schools (611110), Educational Support Services (611710), Educational Support Services (61171)

SIC

Services-Educational Services (8200), Services-Social Services (8300)

akta.pro primary industry

Charter Career & Technical Education (CTE) Schools (EDAJACAK)

akta.pro secondary industries

Public Middle Schools (EDAJAAAC), Online Credit Recovery & Alternative Pathways (Virtual) (EDAJADAF)

Keywords

• Secondary education services
• Alternative provision schooling
• Personalised learning pathways
• Vocational qualifications training
• Special educational needs

Headquarters

HQ city

Southampton

HQ country

United Kingdom

HQ region

Europe

Offices4 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

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

Revenue model

1. Government-Funded Education: The school operates as a state-funded secondary school receiving government funding for pupil education. Revenue is derived from the Department for Education via local authority funding based on pupil enrollment numbers.
2. School Meals: The school provides paid school meals through City Catering Southampton at £2.95 per meal. Income support eligible families receive free school meals, with the school processing eligibility confirmations.
3. Uniform Sales: School logo polo shirts sold at £10 each. The school provides one free logo polo shirt per pupil annually. Additional uniform items are available from general retailers without requiring school purchase.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels1 record

Marketing channels5 records

Core offering

The Polygon School is a state-funded boys' secondary school in Southampton providing education for pupils aged 11-16 (Years 7-11). It delivers a broad curriculum across core and specialist subjects alongside alternative provision pathways (Engagement Pathways and Stretch Programme) for pupils requiring personalised support. The school supplements academic learning with enrichment programmes including Forest Schools, weekly swimming, horticulture, outdoor learning, an Oracy programme via Voice 21, and a Work Skills programme linked to EBP South, leading to qualifications from Entry Level through GCSE/iGCSE and vocational awards.

Product overview

The Polygon School is a secondary school in Southampton providing a comprehensive educational programme for Years 7-11 pupils. The offering consists of a Core Curriculum spanning core academic subjects (English, Maths, Science) and specialist subjects (Art, Design Technology, Food Studies, Computing, Citizenship, RE, PSHE, PE), supplemented by the Engagement Pathways and Stretch Programme for pupils requiring alternative learning approaches. The school provides extensive enrichment including Swimming, Forest Schools, Horticulture, Outdoor Learning, After School Clubs, and the Oracy Programme (Voice 21). Remote learning is delivered via Microsoft Teams. The school offers a wide qualifications portfolio including GCSEs, Entry Levels, Functional Skills, and vocational awards. The school operates from 08:40-14:30 (29hrs 10mins weekly) with additional after-school clubs extending to 15:15.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• Morris House: The base for The Polygon School's Engagement Pathways program, situated at the top of the school drive. Morris House provides a personalized curriculum for pupils who find it difficult to engage with the main Class Based Pathway.
• Engagement Pathways
• Stretch Pathway

Products and services

• Core Curriculum (Years 7-11) A broad secondary school curriculum covering Key Stage 3 (Years 7-9) and Key Stage 4 (Years 10-11), including core subjects such as English, Maths, Science, and specialist subjects like Art, Design Technology, Food Studies, Computing, Citizenship, RE, PSHE, and PE, for boys aged 11-16.
• Engagement Pathways Programme Personalised curriculum pathway at Morris House for pupils who find it difficult to engage with the class-based approach. Includes the Stretch Pathway and Engagement Pathway, offering tailored academic support, off-site activities, and community-based learning experiences for pupils with barriers to mainstream classroom learning.
• Stretch Programme Alternative provision within Engagement Pathways for pupils requiring a highly personalised approach. Includes 1:1 academic work, vocational skills (fishing, boxing, bushcraft, mechanical skills), ASDAN awards, and placement at alternative providers.
• Forest Schools Outdoor learning programme at Itchen Valley Country Park for all Year 7 pupils, offering regular woodland experiences to build confidence, self-esteem, and develop positive relationships with the natural world, with further opportunities sometimes offered to older pupils.
• Swimming Programme Weekly swimming lessons at a family-run pool in Shirley for all students, focusing on water confidence, swimming technique, and ASA Swimming Awards. Hour-long sessions every Thursday with half-term blocks for each class, fully funded by the school as part of the curriculum.
• Horticulture and Allotment (Polygon Patch) Practical horticulture taught using school grounds and allotment, enabling pupils to grow produce, develop their environment, and gain work experience in horticultural settings. Produce harvested is donated to local charity The Society of St. James for use in their kitchen.
• Work Skills Programme KS4 curriculum programme covering developing aspirations, post-16 pathways, financial capability, workplace relationships, career planning, CV writing, application forms, and practice interviews. Includes access to an independent Careers Advisor via EBP South and at least seven meaningful employer encounters.
• Qualifications Portfolio Range of academic and vocational qualifications including GCSEs, Entry Level certificates, Functional Skills, Arts Awards, ASDAN, NCFE Technical Awards in Health and Fitness, Food and Cookery, and Creative Design and Production. Includes work experience placements for all KS4 pupils.
• After School Clubs Extra-curricular activities including indoor sports, football, cooking, box fitness, chess, film club, creative writing, and GCSE revision clubs. Partnership with Saints Foundation provides additional PE sessions and opportunities to play at St Mary's Stadium.
• School Meals Service Paid school meals provided through City Catering Southampton at £2.95 per meal (as of April 2023), with free school meals available for families receiving Income Support. Meals are School Food Plan and Food for Life compliant and served to small groups under staff supervision.
• Logo Polo Shirt Sales School logo polo shirts sold at £10 each at cost price. One free logo polo shirt is provided to each pupil annually. Additional uniform items (plain navy tops, bottoms, jumpers) can be purchased from supermarkets and clothing stores.

Quantifiable outcome

• Above national average attendance for similar type provisions - 5% greater attendance equates to two weeks additional education per year
• +3 more outcomes

Named customers1 record

Segments3 records

Ideal customer profiles1 record

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature3 records

Partnerships

14 partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• Southampton Co-operative Learning TrustcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerThe Polygon School is part of the Southampton Co-operative Learning Trust, a multi-academy trust. The trust provides governance, support, and shared resources across member schools, operating on cooperative principles with emphasis on community and collaboration.
• City Catering SouthamptoncoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerLocal school caterer providing school meals for 20+ years. Serves School Food Plan and Food for Life compliant meals across Southampton schools. The Polygon School meals are served to small groups under staff supervision with emphasis on good table manners.
• Saints FoundationminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartnership with Southampton FC's official charity providing extra PE and sport sessions for pupils. Also offers opportunities to play on St Mary's Stadium pitch and watch Premier League games for free, enhancing personal development and engagement.
• EBP SouthcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerEducation Business Partnership South helps source Employer Encounters for the school's careers program. Supports delivery of at least seven meaningful employer encounters through workplace visits, employer talks, work experience placements, and careers events with cross-curricular links.
• Itchen Valley Country ParkminorOthersForest School sessions held at Itchen Valley Country Park where all Year 7 pupils attend for regular outdoor learning experiences in a woodland environment. Further opportunities sometimes offered to older pupils.
• Family-run Swimming Pool (Shirley)minorOthersWeekly swimming lessons held at a small, family-run pool in Shirley, Southampton. Hour-long sessions every Thursday with half-term blocks for each class. School fully funds swimming as part of curriculum.
• Southampton Psychology ServiceminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerProvides telephone consultation service for parents and carers of children and young people with social communication difficulties. Part of the school's support network for students with additional needs.
• Voice 21coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerCharity which aims to improve the teaching of oracy in schools. The Polygon School has joined the Voice 21 project to ensure oracy skills are taught across the curriculum, equipping teachers and leaders with skills to develop oracy for teaching and learning.
• The Society of St. JamesminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerLocal charity that receives produce harvested from the school allotment. Produce grown by pupils during horticulture sessions is donated for use in the charity's kitchen.
• Life Lab (Southampton General Hospital)minorStrategic or Co-development PartnerEducational service at Southampton General Hospital helping educate young people about lifelong health. Part of the Healthy High Five Award program, teaching pupils about healthy lifestyles and personal wellbeing.
• NHS Sexual Health and Dental PractitionersminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerExternal expert visitors contributing to PSHE curriculum, providing education on sexual health and dental health topics as part of the school's comprehensive personal development program.
• Yellow Door - Star ProjectminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerExternal partnership for PSHE curriculum delivery, providing support and education on relationship and personal safety topics.
• No LimitsminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerFree and confidential service for young people providing quick access to specialist help through a drop-in service in Southampton, backed by specialist support network. Referenced in school's Help and Advice section.
• St John AmbulanceminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerExternal partner providing first aid training and education as part of PSHE curriculum, supporting pupils in developing lifesaving skills including CPR.

Scale indicators5 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Direct peers

• Education and Youth Services Ltd: UK alternative provision provider delivering education for KS3/KS4 students outside mainstream settings. Comparable model of personalized curriculum, small groups, and re-engagement-focused teaching for SEMH learners.
• Progress Schools: UK alternative provision provider operating multiple secondary AP schools for students excluded from or struggling in mainstream education. Directly comparable as both organizations serve KS3/KS4 pupils with social, emotional, and behavioral needs through personalized curriculum and small-class approaches.
• Nisai Group: Online alternative provision provider serving UK students disengaged from mainstream education through virtual learning and blended approaches. Comparable alternative provision model serving similar pupil demographic with focus on re-engagement and qualification achievement.
• Southampton Co-operative Learning Trust: Multi-academy trust governing Polygon School alongside other member schools in Southampton. Comparable governance structure, shared curriculum resources, and aligned alternative provision mission for students with additional needs.
• Academy 21: UK alternative provision provider delivering full-time and part-time education for KS3/KS4 students who cannot access mainstream schooling. Comparable model focused on removing barriers to learning through flexible curriculum pathways and personalized support for SEMH needs.

Broad incumbents

• Outcomes First Group: UK specialist education provider operating schools and residential care for children with SEMH, autism, and complex learning needs. Broader incumbent with comparable target demographic and personalized education approach, though larger scale and broader service portfolio.
• Witherslack Group: Major UK specialist education provider operating residential and day schools for students with SEMH needs, autism, and other complex needs. Broader incumbent serving overlapping pupil demographic but at larger scale across multiple specialist settings.
• Cambian Group: UK specialist education provider offering independent schools, residential care, and fostering services for children with SEMH needs and learning disabilities. Larger incumbent serving adjacent pupil population with broader service portfolio.

Regional players

• Cantell School: Southampton-based secondary school serving similar pupil demographic in the same local authority area. Regional peer providing comparable KS3/KS4 education in the same Southampton catchment and facing similar local authority funding dynamics.

Emerging players

• Springboard Opportunity Group: UK specialist education provider working with children and young people with SEND and SEMH needs. Comparable focus on personalized learning pathways and barrier removal for students struggling in mainstream education.

Market position

Strengths4 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/the-polygon-school

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles2 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 The Polygon School