Shaftesbury High SChool

What Shaftesbury High SChool does

Shaftesbury High School is a UK state-funded secondary special needs school located on Headstone Lane in the London Borough of Harrow, Middlesex. It educates students with special educational needs and disabilities (SEND) across Key Stages 3, 4, and Sixth Form (ages approximately 11-19), and operates three differentiated curriculum pathways — a Green curriculum for students with severe learning difficulties, a Turquoise curriculum for learners requiring focused EHCP outcome progress, and a Blue curriculum for knowledge and skills-rich subject-specific learning. The school delivers functional skills, ASDAN qualifications, vocational training, horticulture, retail, performing arts, food technology, and PSHE/RSE, and operates a Sixth Form that prepares students for further education, independent living, health and wellbeing, and community participation. Students are placed via the Harrow Local Authority EHCP process and the school charges no fees.

The school is staffed by approximately 50 employees under Headteacher Sage Ball, with a Senior Leadership Team comprising Assistant Headteachers for KS3, KS4, and KS5, plus dedicated roles including a Designated Safeguarding Lead, Family Liaison and Residential Coordinator, Community Engagement Manager, and Head of Computing and Digital. Curriculum enrichment is delivered through a broad external partnership network: work experience placements at Northwick Park Hospital and Growing Stars Nursery, horticulture projects at Headstone Manor Park, sports engagement via Watford FC Community Trust, transition support from Mencap, and recognition programmes with the Jack Petchey Foundation. The school holds UNICEF UK Rights Respecting Schools Silver Award, Family School Partnership Award (2022), and Transport for London Travel Training Gold Level Accreditation (2025), and was inspected by Ofsted in May 2025.

As a UK state-funded institution, Shaftesbury High School does not generate commercial revenue. It is funded through the Department for Education via the London Borough of Harrow under standard SEND commissioning arrangements, supplemented by charitable grants from organisations including Variety, the Children's Charity and Inflexion (for capital purchases such as a minibus) and the Jack Petchey Foundation. The school has no parent company, no venture or private equity backing, and no subsidiaries. Its addressable market is structurally bounded to SEND placements commissioned by a single local authority, and its distribution is via Harrow Local Authority referrals plus annual open days for prospective EHCP-holding families. Technology footprint is limited to a school website, parent email bulletins, social video content, and the Evidence for Learning (EfL) Family App for parent engagement with EHCP target tracking.

Name

Shaftesbury High SChool

Legal name

Shaftesbury High School

Website

https://shaftesbury.harrow.sch.uk

Company type

Private

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

Shaftesbury High School is a state-funded UK secondary special needs school in Harrow serving SEND students across Key Stages 3, 4, and Sixth Form. It delivers three differentiated curriculum pathways and is funded by Harrow Local Authority through the EHCP process with no fees charged to families.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Special Education Services

NAICS

Elementary and Secondary Schools (6111)

SIC

Services-Educational Services (8200)

akta.pro primary industry

Learning Disabilities & Dyslexia Schools & Programs (EDAKAAAB)

akta.pro secondary industry

Alternative Schools (Behavioral/Disciplinary & Nontraditional Settings) (EDAJAEAC)

Keywords

• Special education services
• SEND secondary school
• Life skills training
• Vocational SEND programs
• EHCP curriculum pathways

Headquarters

HQ city

Harrow

HQ country

United Kingdom

HQ region

Europe

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Others, Infrastructure

Distribution channels2 records

Marketing channels5 records

Core offering

Shaftesbury High School is a state-funded secondary special needs school in the London Borough of Harrow providing education across Key Stages 3, 4, and Sixth Form for students with special educational needs and disabilities (SEND). The school delivers three differentiated curriculum pathways (Green for severe learning difficulties, Turquoise for focused EHCP outcomes, Blue for knowledge-rich subject learning) alongside vocational training, work experience placements, Travel Training, financial education, and transition planning through age 25. Services are delivered free of charge via referral through the Harrow Local Authority EHCP process.

Product overview

Shaftesbury High School is a secondary special needs school in the London Borough of Harrow, providing education across Key Stages 3, 4, and Sixth Form for students with special educational needs and disabilities (SEND). The school operates multiple curriculum pathways (Green, Turquoise, and Blue curricula) tailored to different learner needs, alongside supporting programs including Sixth Form provision, Travel Training, Financial Education, Career and Employability support, Rights Respecting Schools, PSHE/RSE, and safeguarding services. The school uses Evidence for Learning (EfL) Family App to enable parental engagement with student progress and EHCP target tracking.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Secondary SEND Education (Key Stages 3 and 4) State-funded secondary education for students with special educational needs and disabilities across Key Stages 3 and 4, delivered through three differentiated curriculum pathways (Green, Turquoise, Blue) tailored to learner needs including severe learning difficulties, autism, and complex needs. Subjects include functional skills (English, Maths, ICT), ASDAN qualifications, vocational training, horticulture, retail, performing arts, food technology, and PSHE/RSE.
• Sixth Form SEND Education Specialized Sixth Form provision for SEND students aged 16+ preparing for further education, independent living, health and wellbeing, and community participation. Includes preparation for adulthood, supported pre-internship work experience placements, and family transition advisory support through age 25.
• Travel Training Program Gold Level accredited independent travel training program supporting SEND students to travel independently to school, work, and community destinations. Awarded Travel Training Gold Level Accreditation in 2025.
• Work Experience and Pre-Internship Program Supported work experience placements across multiple settings including Northwick Park Hospital (healthcare), Growing Stars Nursery (early years education), and Headstone Manor Park (horticulture) for Sixth Form students as part of pre-internship programs.
• Financial Education Program Curriculum-based financial education equipping SEND students with practical money management, financial literacy, and independence skills as part of preparation for adulthood.
• Careers and Employability Support Careers guidance and employability support for SEND students, including transition planning from Year 11 through Sixth Form, college placement, and employment pathway advice, delivered in partnership with external agencies.
• EfL Family App Engagement Service Parental engagement service via the Evidence for Learning (EfL) Family mobile app, enabling parents and carers to track student progress against EHCP targets and view learning evidence.

Quantifiable outcome

• Students have achieved Gold Level accreditation in Travel Training, enabling independent travel
• +2 more outcomes

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

Nine partnerships are on record, tiered core and supportive.

• Jack Petchey FoundationcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerThe Jack Petchey Foundation enables the school to celebrate student and staff achievements through reward and recognition initiatives. The Foundation has invested £85 million since 1999 to support young people's development. The school also receives additional funding from the scheme for educational activities.
• Watford FC Community & Sports TrustsupportiveStrategic or Co-development PartnerThe Trust runs community sports and educational activities on behalf of Watford FC. Students participate in sporting activities at Cedars sports club and have opportunities to meet players.
• Timegivers CharitysupportiveStrategic or Co-development PartnerTimegivers provides volunteers for community engagement activities. The charity worked with the school on Community Day, supporting students in art projects, garden regeneration, and environmental activities.
• Harrow Virtual SchoolcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerHarrow Virtual School works with the school on various initiatives including the King's College Advocate Award partnership for Future Focus events and Special Equipment Grants coordination.
• Northwick Park HospitalsupportiveStrategic or Co-development PartnerSixth Form students undertake work experience placements at Northwick Park Hospital as part of supported pre-internship programs in the healthcare sector.
• Growing Stars NurserysupportiveStrategic or Co-development PartnerSixth Form students studying nursery and childcare complete work experience at Growing Stars Nursery in Harrow Weald, providing hands-on early years education exposure.
• Headstone Manor ParksupportiveStrategic or Co-development PartnerHorticulture project students visit Headstone Manor Park weekly to develop horticulture skills through heritage and community projects.
• MencapsupportiveStrategic or Co-development PartnerMencap attends annual reviews and transition meetings to preview and discuss next steps for students. The school also links with Harrow Mencap for skill development programs.
• Harrow CouncilcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerThe school works in partnership with Harrow Council, including the Wealdstone Youth Hub, Early Support team, and Harrow Litterpickers for community engagement activities.

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights4 records

Direct peers

• Nightingale Community School: Wandsworth specialist SEND school focused on autistic pupils and those with social communication needs. Provides tiered curriculum pathways and operates under LA-funded referral model analogous to Shaftesbury.
• Queensmill School: Hammersmith & Fulham specialist school for pupils with autism and complex needs across primary and secondary phases. Operates similar LA-funded specialist model with structured EHCP-led provision and post-16 pathways.
• James Elliman Academy: Slough-based specialist SEND school for pupils with severe learning difficulties and autism. Comparable LA-funded specialist model delivering differentiated curricula and transition-to-adulthood programs.
• Freemantles School: Surrey-based specialist SEND school for pupils on the autism spectrum across primary and secondary phases. Comparable LA-commissioned specialist model with curriculum differentiation and transition planning.
• Woodlane High School: Hammersmith & Fulham secondary specialist SEND school serving pupils with autism, learning difficulties, and complex needs. Operates LA-funded model with structured EHCP-led curriculum and post-16 transition pathways.
• Perseid School: Merton-based specialist SEND school for pupils with autism and complex learning needs across primary and secondary phases. Comparable LA-funded model delivering EHCP-led curriculum and post-16 transition planning.
• Linden Lodge School: Wandsworth-based specialist SEND secondary school serving pupils with complex needs including visual impairment and profound learning difficulties. Operates a similar LA-funded specialist model with tiered curriculum pathways and transition support to adulthood.

Broad incumbents

• Harrow Council SEND Services: Local authority commissioning body responsible for SEND placements, EHCP administration, and high-needs block funding within the London Borough of Harrow. Acts as the school's primary referral source and funding channel.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/shaftesbury-high-school

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 Shaftesbury High SChool