Sandfield Park School

What Sandfield Park School does

Sandfield Park School is a publicly funded UK special educational needs (SEND) school, established in 1961 in West Derby, Liverpool and operating as a single institution across three sites: the main Sandfield campus for pupils with learning difficulties, physical disabilities, and complex medical needs; Medical Needs Education at Alder Hey Children's Hospital for in-patient teaching including Sunflower House; and the Alder Centre for Education (ACE) and The Bridge for pupils in Years 1-11 unable to attend their own school due to medical reasons, plus home tuition. The school serves young people aged 4-19 with Education, Health and Care Plans, enrolling through Liverpool City Council's SEND placement process rather than direct application, with referrals determined by EHCPs and recommendations from educational psychologists. Pupils follow an adapted National Curriculum with pathways from Entry Level through Level 2 qualifications including ASDAN and AQA Unit Awards.

The school's underlying technology stack is deliberately utilitarian: AAC (Augmentative and Alternative Communication) devices for pupils with complex communication needs; Class Dojo for parent-school communication; the Evidence for Learning (EFL) app for progress tracking; and a proprietary-branded MyLogin QR-code system aggregating credentials for Mathletics, BKSB, Epic Books, Espresso, and BBC Bitesize. Specialised SEND programmes include timetabled AAC sessions, Attention Autism four-stage sessions, NHS Cadets, Duke of Edinburgh Award, and the Aim to Work employability strategy aligned to the eight Gatsby Benchmarks. There are no proprietary AI systems, APIs, or SDKs and no in-house data science capability.

Commercially, the school is funded principally through Liverpool City Council Local Authority top-ups tied to EHCPs, augmented by Pupil Premium Grants for eligible pupils, with no tuition fees charged. A not-for-profit secondary revenue stream exists via Sandy Park Café at 154 Derby Lane, opened February 2019 and operated by Student Futures Charitable Trust (Charity 1180845), which provides real hospitality work experience for SEND students Tuesday to Friday. Co-Executive Headteachers Mr Mark Hilton and Mrs Wendy Henshaw oversee operations alongside a Chair of Governors, School Business Manager, and a 60-70+ staff complement across teaching, learning-support assistant, therapy, catering, and site teams.

Name

Sandfield Park School

Legal name

Sandfield Park School

Website

https://sandfieldparkschool.com

Company type

Private

Founded year

1961

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

Sandfield Park School is a publicly funded Liverpool special school, established 1961, operating three SEND provisions across its main campus, Alder Hey Hospital, and the ACE Centre, serving pupils aged 4-19 with EHCPs and funded via Liverpool City Council.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Special Educational Needs (SEND) Education

NAICS

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

SIC

Services-Educational Services (8200)

akta.pro primary industry

Public Special Education Schools & Programs (EDAJAAAH)

akta.pro secondary industries

Intellectual & Developmental Disabilities (IDD) Schools & Life Skills Programs (EDAKAAAD), Youth-to-Adult Transition & Life Skills (Independent Living, Soft Skills) (EDAAAFAN)

Keywords

• Special education services
• SEND school education
• Medical needs education
• Hospital school provision
• Special educational needs

Headquarters

HQ city

Liverpool

HQ country

United Kingdom

HQ region

Europe

Offices4 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

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

Revenue model

1. Government-Funded Education: Core funding from Liverpool City Council Local Authority for educating students with Statements of Special Educational Needs or Education, Health and Care Plans (EHCPs). Revenue also includes Pupil Premium Grant funding for eligible students.
2. Sandy Park Café Community Enterprise: Not-for-profit community café operated by Student Futures Charitable Trust, providing work experience opportunities for students with SEND. Café opens to public Tuesday-Friday, closed Mondays for student cookery workshops.

Go-to-market motion2 records

Distribution channels1 record

Marketing channels5 records

Core offering

Sandfield Park School provides publicly funded special educational needs (SEND) education for pupils aged 4–19 with physical, medical, emotional and learning difficulties, operating three provisions: the main Sandfield campus for learning difficulties and physical disabilities, Medical Needs Education at Alder Hey Hospital for ward-based teaching, and ACE/The Bridge for medical-absence pupils in Years 1–11. The school offers an adapted National Curriculum, accredited qualifications from Entry Level to Level 2, and career/employability pathways including supported internships, NHS Cadets, and real-work experience at its Sandy Park Café.

Product overview

Sandfield Park School is a single school with three educational provisions operating across multiple sites in Liverpool: Sandfield (main site for pupils with learning difficulties and physical disabilities), Medical Needs Education at Alder Hey Hospital (ward-based teaching), and the Alder Centre for Education/ACE (for pupils unable to attend mainstream school due to medical reasons). The school offers a broad, adapted National Curriculum spanning core subjects (English, Mathematics, Science, ICT) and foundation subjects (Art, Design & Technology, Humanities, Music, PE, RE, MFL, PSHE). Supplementary programs include the Aim to Work employability strategy, the Sixth Form with qualifications from Pre-entry to Level 2, and the community-based Sandy Park Café providing real-world work experience for students with SEND.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• Sandfield: Main site catering for pupils with learning difficulties, a range of physical disabilities and complex medical needs.
• Medical Needs Education (MNE) at Alder Hey Hospital
• Alder Centre for Education (ACE)
• The Bridge

Products and services

• Sandfield (Main Provision) Main school site provision catering for pupils with learning difficulties, a range of physical disabilities and complex medical needs. Delivers an adapted National Curriculum with focus on life skills and employability, taught in small class groups with dedicated classroom assistants. Intended for Liverpool pupils with EHCPs placed via the local authority.
• Medical Needs Education at Alder Hey Hospital Hospital-based education service teaching children who are patients on the wards of Alder Hey Children's Hospital, including Sunflower House. Maintains educational continuity during medical treatment for paediatric in-patients who cannot attend their own school.
• Alder Centre for Education (ACE) Education provision for students in Years 9 to 11 who live in Liverpool and cannot attend their own school for medical reasons. Also provides home tuition for housebound pupils, ensuring continuous education for medically-absent learners.
• The Bridge Educational provision for pupils in Years 1 to 8 in Liverpool who cannot attend their own school for medical reasons, delivered as the younger-years arm of the ACE service.
• Sandy Park Café Not-for-profit community café operated by Student Futures Charitable Trust at 154 Derby Lane, Liverpool, providing work experience opportunities for SEND students in a real catering business. Open to the public Tuesday-Friday 10:00am-2:00pm, with Mondays reserved for student cookery workshops. Features culinary contributions from Moor Hall Restaurant (3 Michelin stars) and supports 16 students gaining work experience.
• Aim to Work Employability Programme Whole-school employability strategy providing careers activities, work experience opportunities including supported internships with Marriott Hotel, Delta Marriott Hotel and Liverpool Museums, and preparation for adult life. Delivered as part of Liverpool Careers Hub, working towards the 8 Gatsby Benchmarks of Good Careers Guidance.
• Sixth Form Post-14 education provision with life skills-based curriculum offering qualifications from Pre-entry level to Level 2, including Duke of Edinburgh Awards, NHS Cadets programme, and government-funded NHS-supported internships for Year 14 leavers preparing for adulthood.

Quantifiable outcome

• 5% national employment rate for SEND students improved through school's Aim to Work programme and supported internships
• +2 more outcomes

Named customers4 records

Segments4 records

Ideal customer profiles2 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature4 records

Partnerships

18 partnerships are on record, tiered core, flagship and minor.

• Student Futures Charitable TrustcoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 February 2019Student Futures is a Charitable Trust (Charity Number 1180845) that runs Sandy Park Café as a not-for-profit CIO. The trust supports students with SEND to gain meaningful work experience and supportive internships leading to employment opportunities.
• Food for ThoughtflagshipStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 February 2019School caterer and founding supporter of Sandy Park Café. Mr M Hilton, Executive Headteacher, is a Partner with Food for Thought. The organization supports the school's catering operations.
• Moor Hall Restaurant with RoomsflagshipStrategic or Co-development PartnerThree Michelin Star and five AA Rosette restaurant whose Chef Patron Mark Birchall makes regular contributions to Sandy Park Café and creates dishes served at the café. A prestigious collaboration providing culinary mentorship and recognition.
• Marriott HotelcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerGovernment funded Supported Internship programme placement partner. Students on internships are supported by a Job Coach while gaining hospitality industry experience.
• Liverpool MuseumscoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerGovernment funded Supported Internship programme placement partner. Students on internships are supported by a Job Coach while gaining museum sector experience.
• Delta Marriott HotelcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerSupported Internship placement venue for students from SF3 class, providing work experience with job coach support in the hospitality sector.
• Lister StepsminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerSupported Internship placement partner providing work experience opportunities for students from SF3 class.
• Liverpool Careers HubcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerThe school is an active member of the Liverpool City Region Careers Hub, working towards the 8 Gatsby Benchmarks of Good Careers Guidance. They complete 3 Compass returns per year and work with Enterprise Co-ordinator.
• Growth PlatformcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerLiverpool City Region's growth and business support organization. Provides careers resources and Labour Market Information (LMI) to help students understand career pathways and employment opportunities.
• Knowsley Community CollegeminorChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorLocal further education college that receives students from Sandfield Park School. Previously invited to speak to pupils about education and training options.
• City of Liverpool CollegeminorChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorLocal further education college that receives students from Sandfield Park School. Previously invited to speak to pupils about technical education qualifications and apprenticeships.
• Greenbank CollegeminorChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorLocal specialist college receiving year 14 students from Sandfield Park School. Students have successfully transitioned to this college for post-16 education.
• Activate CollegeminorChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorLocal further education college receiving students from Sandfield Park School including year 11 and year 14 leavers.
• Petty Pool CollegeminorChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorSEND-focused further education college that has received year 14 students from Sandfield Park School.
• Myerscough CollegeminorChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorLand-based further education college that has received year 14 students from Sandfield Park School for agriculture and animal care programmes.
• Wirral Narrow Boat TrustminorOthersCharitable trust providing days out for disadvantaged and disabled people. School Council has raised money to support the trust as a thank you for years of providing trips for students.
• Alder Hey Children's HospitalcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerOne of Europe's leading children's hospitals located in close proximity to Sandfield Park School. Since September 2003, Alder Hey Hospital School became part of Sandfield Park School, with the school providing education to patients on hospital wards including Sunflower House.
• Liverpool CAMHScoreOthersChildren and Adolescent Mental Health Services providing crisis support line and mental health resources for students and families. School website provides direct links to Liverpool CAMHS services.

Scale indicators4 records

Recent moves7 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Others

• Scope: National disability equality charity. Adjacent to Sandfield's SEND life-skills and employability mission, providing complementary policy, advice, and transition services rather than direct school delivery.
• Sense: UK charity supporting people with complex disabilities including deafblindness. Adjacent peer addressing overlapping SEND cohorts and life-skills/employability outcomes that Sandfield's programmes serve.

Emerging players

• Livability: UK disability charity running schools, supported living, and employment programmes for people with complex needs. Comparable as a smaller specialist SEND provider combining education with transition-to-adulthood services.

Direct peers

• Great Ormond Street Hospital School: Hospital school providing education to long-term inpatients at Great Ormond Street. Most directly comparable peer to Sandfield's ward-based Alder Hey provision in terms of setting and patient cohort.
• Ambitious about Autism: UK charity operating TreeHouse School and Ambitious College, providing specialist SEND education for autistic students across London. Directly comparable as a SEND school operator combining specialised teaching with post-16 pathways.
• Royal Manchester Children's Hospital School: Hospital-based teaching service inside one of the UK's largest paediatric hospitals, delivering education to inpatients — directly analogous to Sandfield's Alder Hey ward-based provision.

Broad incumbents

• Hft: UK charity supporting people with learning disabilities across education, housing, and employment pathways. Comparable as a SEND life-skills and supported-employment provider, though broader and less school-anchored than Sandfield.
• Witherslack Group: Largest UK operator of specialist SEND schools and alternative provision, running multiple residential and day schools. Comparable as a multi-site SEND education provider at greater scale and geographic breadth than Sandfield.
• National Autistic Society: UK-wide autism charity running schools, adult services, and employment programmes. Comparable as a SEND-focused organisation delivering education plus post-school life-skills and employability support.
• Mencap: UK's leading learning disability charity providing education, supported employment, and adult services. Comparable in mission around SEND life outcomes and the Aim to Work-style transition-to-employment problem Sandfield targets.

Market position

Strengths4 records

Weaknesses4 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/sandfieldschool
• Facebookfacebook.com/SandfieldParkSchool
• Instagraminstagram.com/sandfieldparkschool
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/sandfield-park-school

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles8 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 Sandfield Park School