St Mary Magdalene Academy

What St Mary Magdalene Academy does

St Mary Magdalene Academy (SMMA) is a UK state-funded Christian academy school located at 475 Liverpool Road in the London Borough of Islington, N7 8PG. It operates a three-tier educational structure comprising Primary School (Reception through Year 6), Secondary School (Years 7-11), and Sixth Form (Years 12-13), serving approximately 700-1,100 pupils across all phases with a staff of 51-100. The institution is part of the Hive Education Trust multi-academy trust and is sponsored by the London Diocesan Board for Schools, which provides religious and ethical oversight reflecting its Christian foundation. SMMA is funded through UK government per-pupil allocations distributed via the local authority and Hive Education Trust, supplemented by Pupil Premium funding for eligible students; no tuition fees are charged.

The academy delivers a comprehensive curriculum covering core subjects, sciences, humanities, languages (including Mandarin via the Mandarin Excellence Programme with IOE UCL's Faculty of Education and Society), enrichment activities, Special Educational Needs support, careers guidance, and pastoral care. Academic outcomes are materially above national averages, with 45% of GCSE grades at 7 or above in 2025, 43% of A Level grades at A or A* in 2026, and Oxbridge progression (Oxford, Cambridge, Imperial, UCL) for high-attaining Sixth Form students. Operational technology is limited to standard administrative integrations: ParentPay for cashless payments and Eventbrite for ticketed admissions tours. The school holds Ofsted Outstanding status, the National Nurturing School Award (Nurture UK, December 2025), the International School Award (British Council), Quality in Careers Standard, and London Living Wage Employer accreditation.

SMMA's go-to-market is direct-to-consumer at the family level, with admissions managed through dedicated pages for each phase, prospectuses, annual Open Evening events, Morning Tours, and a Parent Ambassador referral programme. Marketing channels include the school website, weekly Thursday newsletters, Facebook/Twitter/Pinterest social profiles, and the active PTSA community forum. As a non-trading academy within the UK state education system, SMMA has no venture capital, external fundraising, or M&A activity; revenue is entirely government-derived and the school operates as a single-site institution.

Name

St Mary Magdalene Academy

Legal name

St Mary Magdalene Academy

Website

https://smmacademy.org

Company type

Private

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

51–100 employees

Short description

St Mary Magdalene Academy is a UK state-funded Christian academy school in Islington, London, offering Primary, Secondary, and Sixth Form education under Hive Education Trust and sponsored by the London Diocesan Board for Schools.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Primary and Secondary Education

NAICS

Elementary and Secondary Schools (6111)

SIC

Services-Educational Services (8200)

akta.pro primary industry

Faith-Based (Religious) K–12 Schools (EDAJABAC)

Keywords

• Primary education
• Secondary education
• GCSE preparation
• A Level courses
• Sixth Form education

Headquarters

HQ city

Lower Holloway, England

HQ country

United Kingdom

HQ region

Europe

Offices2 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

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

Revenue model

1. Government Per-Pupil Funding: As a state-funded academy within the UK education system, SMMA receives per-pupil funding from the government, allocated through the local authority and Hive Education Trust. Additional funding streams include Pupil Premium funding for eligible students.

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels3 records

Marketing channels7 records

Core offering

St Mary Magdalene Academy is a Christian community school that delivers primary, secondary, and sixth form education (Reception through Year 13) to students in Islington, London. It offers a full curriculum including English, Mathematics, Sciences, Languages (Mandarin, French, German, Italian), Humanities, Arts, PE, and PSHE, alongside Special Educational Needs support, enrichment programmes, careers guidance, and pastoral care funded through UK state per-pupil funding.

Product overview

St Mary Magdalene Academy is a Christian community school operated by Hive Education Trust, offering a three-tier educational structure comprising Primary School (Early Years to Year 6), Secondary School (Years 7-11), and Sixth Form (Years 12-13). The institution delivers a comprehensive curriculum spanning core academic subjects, enrichment activities, SEN support, and career guidance. The Primary and Secondary schools form the foundation of the educational offering, with the Sixth Form providing A Level preparation and university progression pathways. Supporting services include ParentPay for cashless payments, an Online Safety Hub, and dedicated careers guidance.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Primary School Foundation stage through Year 6 education covering Early Years Foundation Stage, core subjects (English, Mathematics, Religious Education), and wider curriculum including The Arts, PE, PSHE, and enrichment activities. Aimed at children aged 4-11.
• Secondary School Years 7-11 secondary education with comprehensive GCSE curriculum, Special Educational Needs support, expectations and standards framework, clubs, and enrichment activities. Aimed at students aged 11-16.
• Sixth Form Post-16 education offering a full range of A Level subjects, enrichment programme, teaching and study support, with pathways to top university destinations including Oxford and Cambridge. Aimed at students aged 16-18.
• Special Educational Needs Support Dedicated SEN support services for both Primary and Secondary schools, providing tailored educational assistance for students with additional needs.
• Careers and Guidance Careers education, guidance, and support services to help students make informed decisions about their future education and career paths, accredited by the Quality in Careers Standard.
• Instrument Tuition Music instrument tuition programme with information and application form available for students interested in learning musical instruments.
• Facilities Hire Hiring of school facilities to external users.

Quantifiable outcome

• 45% of GCSE grades were 7 (old A grade) or above
• +4 more outcomes

Named customers7 records

Segments3 records

Ideal customer profiles1 record

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Integration11 records

Partnerships

Six partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• Hive Education TrustcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerSMMA is part of Hive Education Trust, which provides governance, leadership support, and shared best practices across its academy schools. The Trust supports school improvement, educational outcomes, and operational excellence.
• London Diocesan Board for SchoolscoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerSMMA is sponsored by the London Diocesan Board for Schools, which provides religious and ethical oversight as part of its Christian foundation. The sponsor supports the school's distinct Christian character and values-based education.
• Nurture UKminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerSMMA received the National Nurturing School Award from Nurture UK, recognizing excellence in creating a nurturing culture. The partnership involves assessment, training, and ongoing support for nurturing practices.
• TeachFirstminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerSMMA is a TeachFirst Partner School, participating in the charity's leadership development programme that places graduates in schools serving disadvantaged communities.
• EventbriteminorChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorSMMA uses Eventbrite for ticketed bookings of school tours and prospectus requests, enabling prospective families to reserve places at open events.
• IOE UCL's Faculty of Education and SocietyminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerSMMA participates in the Mandarin Excellence Programme run by IOE UCL's Faculty of Education and Society, providing intensive Mandarin language instruction.

Scale indicators10 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Broad incumbents

• Dulwich College: A high-performing independent school in south London with a deep Oxbridge pedigree. Comparable to SMMA on academic outcomes, university destinations, and London family demographic, though operating at a different scale and funding model.
• Forest School: A large independent school in Snaresbrook, east London, with a strong academic reputation and broad curriculum. A broader incumbent comparable to SMMA on academic outcomes and London family demographic, though it sits outside the state-funded model.

Direct peers

• The Cardinal Vaughan Memorial School: A Catholic faith-based secondary school in west London with a strong academic reputation and Oxbridge pipeline. Directly comparable to SMMA on faith-based ethos, academic outcomes, and university destination profile.
• Central Foundation Boys' School: A long-established London state secondary school with a strong academic record and university progression. Comparable to SMMA on inner-London state-funded model, curriculum, and value-added outcomes.
• Acland Burghley School: A state-funded coeducational secondary school in the neighbouring London Borough of Camden (Tufnell Park). Highly comparable on size, curriculum breadth, and inner-London state-funded operating model.
• Emanuel School: A Christian independent school in Battersea, south London, with a similar faith-based ethos and strong academic record. Comparable on values-led education, broad curriculum, and London family demographic.
• Elizabeth Garrett Anderson School: An Islington secondary school serving a similar inner-London cohort. Operates within the same local-authority catchment and competes directly for Year 7 applicants in the same borough.
• City of London Academy Islington: A state-funded secondary academy co-located in the London Borough of Islington, run by the City of London Corporation. Directly comparable as a London academy competing for the same Islington student pool with similar curriculum and funding model.
• Holland Park School: An outstanding London state-funded academy in west London. Like SMMA, it combines a state-funded model with strong academic outcomes and a university-progression focus, making it a direct comparator for performance.
• Highbury Fields School: A coeducational secondary school in Islington, London, with a similar intake geography and state-funded model. Directly comparable in scale, location, and curriculum (GCSE/A Level) to SMMA.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Facebookfacebook.com/sharer/sharer.php?u=https://www.smmacademy.org
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/st-mary-magdalene-academy

Compliance7 records

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles6 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 St Mary Magdalene Academy