Redborne Upper School & Community College

What Redborne Upper School & Community College does

Redborne Upper School & Community College is a state-funded Academy secondary school located on Flitwick Road in Ampthill, Bedfordshire, serving approximately 1,500-1,600 students aged 13-18 across Years 9-13, including a Sixth Form of around 450 students. The school delivers the UK National Curriculum at Key Stages 3-4 (GCSE) and Key Stage 5 (A Level and BTEC), structured through seven faculties — English, Mathematics, Science, Humanities, Technology, Performing Arts, and Languages — offering nearly 40 subjects. Distinctive facilities include the 400-seat Connolly Hall theatre, a 3G football pitch, fitness suite, dance studio, and a working School Farm that supports a unique Agriculture A Level.

The school's core technology stack is a conventional education-IT ecosystem: EduLink One for the parent/student portal, SIMS ID for the management information system, WisePay for online payments (uniform and trips), Google Workspace for productivity, and Unifrog for careers and university/apprenticeship application support. Video content is delivered via Vimeo and YouTube embeds. There is no proprietary software product and no AI/ML capability; technology is procured and operated as a utility.

Redborne has been an Academy since April 2011, when it converted from local-authority control to an independent but state-funded structure under its own Board of Governors. Revenue is derived almost entirely from government per-pupil funding channelled via Central Bedfordshire Council, with marginal ancillary income from catering, uniform sales, trips, and external facilities hire through a SchoolHire portal. The school is oversubscribed and reports strong academic outcomes: approximately 75% of students achieve Maths and English GCSE at grades 9-4, a 99.9% A Level pass rate with over half at A*/A/B, and over 80% of Sixth Form leavers progressing to university (including 14 Oxbridge acceptances over three years). The current Ofsted rating is 'Good with outstanding features' (November 2017).

Name

Redborne Upper School & Community College

Legal name

Redborne Upper School & Community College

Website

https://redborne.com

Company type

Private

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

Redborne Upper School & Community College is a state-funded Academy secondary school in Ampthill, Bedfordshire, serving around 1,500-1,600 students aged 13-18 across GCSE and Sixth Form, funded by Central Bedfordshire Council per-pupil allocations.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Headquarters

HQ city

Bedford, England

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, Supply Chain

Revenue model

1. State Education Funding: State-funded academy receiving government per-pupil funding for educational services. Operating as an independent but state-funded school since April 2011.

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels2 records

Marketing channels5 records

Core offering

Redborne Upper School & Community College is a UK state-funded Academy secondary school providing full-time education to over 1,500 students aged 13-18 across Years 9-13, including a large Sixth Form. Its core offering is academic education delivered through eight faculties — English, Mathematics, Science, Humanities, Technology, Performing Arts, Languages and cross-curricular subjects — covering Key Stage 3 and 4 leading to GCSE qualifications, and a Sixth Form offering A Levels, BTECs and vocational qualifications across nearly 40 subjects. The school also runs ancillary programmes including careers education, work experience, the Duke of Edinburgh's Award, School Farm, and a Graduate Tutor Programme that deploys tutors to other schools in Central Bedfordshire and Luton.

Product overview

Redborne Upper School & Community College is an Academy secondary school offering a comprehensive educational program across Key Stages 3, 4, and 5. The school's academic offering is structured through eight faculties: English, Mathematics, Science, Humanities, Technology, Performing Arts, and Languages. At Key Stage 4 (Years 10-11), students undertake GCSE qualifications in core subjects plus four optional subjects spanning Technology, Humanities, Languages, and Arts. The Sixth Form provides A Level and BTEC/vocational qualifications across nearly 40 subjects, structured through the 16-19 Study Programme combining qualifications with work experience and enrichment. Additional services include a Graduate Tutor Programme supporting disadvantaged students, Initial Teacher Training partnerships, and comprehensive careers guidance. The school operates on a split-site campus with facilities including a 400-seat theatre, computer suites, dance studio, and sports facilities.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Sixth Form 16-19 Study Programme (A Levels and BTECs)
• Key Stage 4 GCSE Programme (Years 9-11)
• Graduate Tutor Programme
• Initial Teacher Training / Dedicated Teaching Partnership
• Careers Information, Advice and Guidance (IAG) Service
• Apprenticeship Guidance Service

Quantifiable outcome

• 80% of Sixth Form students go on to university
• +3 more outcomes

Named customers3 records

Segments1 record

Ideal customer profiles3 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Integration7 records

Partnerships

13 partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• University of BedfordshirecoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerRedborne works in partnership with the University of Bedfordshire as a teacher training provider, with a colleague seconded to the university two days per week as School Partnership Advisor.
• Chiltern Teaching School HubminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerRedborne Upper School delivers the BEST Practice Network Early Careers Development Programme to schools, working with the Chiltern Teaching School Hub as an ECF Delivery Hub.
• South Midlands Careers HubcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerRedborne works with the South Midlands Careers Hub in partnership with the Careers and Enterprise Company, with a dedicated Enterprise Advisor supporting the development of Careers and Enterprise provision.
• Lockheed MartinminorGTM or Marketing PartnerGlobal security and aerospace company (approximately 105,000 employees worldwide) with a 64-acre site in Ampthill, Bedfordshire. Their outreach team works with local schools including Redborne to inspire the next generation of STEM talent.
• Kier Group plcminorGTM or Marketing PartnerLeading infrastructure services, buildings and developments and housing group that supports Redborne's careers programme through employer engagement activities.
• Machins Solicitors LLPminorGTM or Marketing PartnerLocal law firm engaged with Redborne's careers programme, offering talks, interviews, and workplace insights to students.
• Central Bedfordshire CouncilminorGTM or Marketing PartnerLocal authority that partners with Redborne for careers education and engagement activities.
• Department for Work and Pensions (Jobcentre Plus)minorGTM or Marketing PartnerJobcentre Plus Support for Schools delivers to students from school years 8-13, facilitating effective transition from school into work, training or further study.
• Foxley Kingham Chartered AccountantsminorGTM or Marketing PartnerChartered accountants and business advisors engaged with Redborne's careers programme providing industry insights.
• Saint-Gobain WeberminorGTM or Marketing PartnerManufacturer of high-performance construction products based in Flitwick, engaged in Redborne's employer engagement activities.
• The Automated Technology GroupminorGTM or Marketing PartnerTechnology company engaged with Redborne's careers programme for STEM-related activities.
• Bedford CollegeminorChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorRedborne works closely with Bedford College to ensure students are aware of college and apprenticeship opportunities post-16.
• Barnfield CollegeminorChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorRedborne works closely with Barnfield College to ensure students are aware of college and apprenticeship opportunities post-16.

Scale indicators7 records

Recent moves7 records

Expansion highlights4 records

Broad incumbents

• Ark Schools: UK multi-academy trust running a network of primary and secondary academies. Comparable as a larger academy operator with similar operational focus on outcomes and partnerships.
• Harris Federation: Large UK multi-academy trust operating multiple secondary academies across London and the South East. Comparable as an academy operator with scale advantages in shared services and teacher training.
• Star Academies: UK multi-academy trust operating a network of state-funded secondary schools. Comparable as a scaled academy operator with similar focus on disadvantaged student outcomes.
• Outwood Grange Academies Trust: One of the largest UK multi-academy trusts running a broad portfolio of secondary schools. Comparable as an academy network with similar state-funded operating model.
• Wellington College: Prestigious UK independent secondary school. Comparable as a high-achieving UK secondary, though operating on a fee-based independent model rather than state-funded.

Regional players

• Bedford School: Long-established independent boys' school in Bedford with similar regional catchment to Redborne. Comparable as a regional UK secondary with strong academic outcomes, though operating independently rather than as a state-funded academy.

Direct peers

• Sharnbrook Academy: A nearby secondary school in Bedfordshire that competes for the same Central Bedfordshire student catchment. Direct local competitor with comparable academy status and curriculum breadth.
• Bohunt School: A UK state-funded secondary school/academy known for strong oversubscription and academic outcomes. Highly comparable to Redborne in operating model (state-funded secondary academy) and student outcomes.
• Dr Challoner's High School: A well-regarded UK secondary school with strong academic outcomes and oversubscription. Comparable in operating model (state-funded secondary) and emphasis on university progression.
• Wixams Academy: A newer Bedfordshire secondary school/academy targeting overlapping Central Bedfordshire families. Local direct competitor drawing from similar catchment demographics.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Facebookfacebook.com/redborneupperschool
• Instagraminstagram.com/redborneupperschool
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/redborne-upper-school-&-community-college

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles10 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 Redborne Upper School & Community College