Grace Academy Solihull

What Grace Academy Solihull does

Grace Academy Solihull is a state-funded secondary academy located in Solihull, West Midlands, England, operating within the Tove Learning Trust multi-academy trust structure since April 2019. The academy delivers secondary education to students aged 11-18 across Key Stage 3 (Years 7-9), Key Stage 4 (Years 10-11), and a Post-16 Sixth Form, with a Published Admission Number of 180 students per year group. Its curriculum spans GCSEs, A-levels, vocational Level 3 qualifications, and an enhanced programme covering PSHE, RSHE, RE, Citizenship, and British Values, supplemented by extensive extracurricular sport, performing arts, free music tuition, and educational visits.

The academy's core infrastructure includes industry-standard learning spaces, two ICT suites, a FIFA-approved astro turf pitch, a multi-gym, sports hall, dance studios, a 150-seat lecture theatre, and a 200-seat assembly hall. Specialist provision is anchored by the Da Vinci Centre, a dedicated SEND hub delivering a graduated Wave 1-3 approach with literacy/numeracy interventions, key worker support, physiotherapy, and mental health first aid. Career guidance is aligned with the Gatsby Benchmarks via Unifrog, Career Ready, Brilliant Club, IntoUniversity, and other widening-participation partnerships. Pastoral and inclusion functions are supported by an Ethos Team (Ethos Lead, Youth Worker, Family Support Worker) and partnerships with Place2Be for mental health and The Diana Award for anti-bullying.

Grace Academy Solihull is government-funded via UK education grants (per-pupil, Pupil Premium, LAC, and 16-19 Bursary) with no tuition fees charged to families. Revenue mechanics are therefore entirely grant-driven, with supplementary facility hire income via a community lettings channel. Governance sits with a Local Governing Body under Tove Learning Trust oversight (Trust registered number 07525820), and the academy is led by Executive Principal Darren Gelder and Principal Matthew Godwin. Student recruitment is conducted through the Solihull Local Authority coordinated admission scheme, with the Post-16 Sixth Form additionally drawing applicants from the wider community.

Name

Grace Academy Solihull

Legal name

Grace Academy Solihull

Website

https://solihull.graceacademy.org.uk

Company type

Private

Founded year

2010

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

Grace Academy Solihull is a state-funded secondary academy and sixth form in Solihull, West Midlands, serving approximately 1,050-1,260 students aged 11-18 under Tove Learning Trust governance, funded by UK government per-pupil grants with no tuition fees.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Headquarters

HQ city

Birmingham

HQ country

United Kingdom

HQ region

Europe

Offices2 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

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

Revenue model

1. Government Education Funding: As a state-funded academy within Tove Learning Trust, Grace Academy Solihull receives revenue through UK government education grants. Funding is allocated based on student numbers and specific educational needs, including Pupil Premium for disadvantaged students, LAC funding, and 16-19 Bursary Fund for Post-16 students.

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels2 records

Marketing channels6 records

Core offering

Grace Academy Solihull is a state-funded secondary school academy delivering free education to students aged 11-18 (Years 7-13). It provides a broad Key Stage 3 and Key Stage 4 curriculum leading to GCSEs, a Post-16 Sixth Form offering A-levels and vocational courses, and a dedicated SEND inclusion service through the Da Vinci Centre. The academy also runs career guidance, sporting, and performing arts programmes under the governance of Tove Learning Trust.

Product overview

Grace Academy Solihull is a secondary school and sixth form offering a unified educational service through its core secondary education programme (Years 7-11) and Post 16 sixth form provision. The academy provides academic GCSE qualifications and vocational BTEC courses alongside an enhanced curriculum including PSHE, RE, and RSHE. Support services include dedicated SEND provision through the Da Vinci Centre, career guidance aligned with Gatsby Benchmarks, and pastoral support teams. Facilities include state-of-the-art sports amenities and performing arts spaces. The academy's enriched offering includes extracurricular clubs, music tuition, educational trips, and community facility hire, all coordinated under the Tove Learning Trust governance structure.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Quantifiable outcome

• One of the most improved and highest performing academies in the region
• +3 more outcomes

Named customers2 records

Segments3 records

Ideal customer profiles3 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature4 records

Partnerships

19 partnerships are on record, tiered core, major and minor.

• Tove Learning TrustcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerGrace Academy Solihull became part of Tove Learning Trust in April 2019. The trust is committed to ensuring all students achieve highly and provides inspiring educational experiences leading to outstanding outcomes. The trust has a small central team and committed Board of Trustees.
• Gatsby FoundationcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerGatsby Foundation partnership through achieving Gatsby Benchmarks for career education. The academy's careers programme meets the required standards for career guidance.
• Skills BuildermajorStrategic or Co-development PartnerSkills Builder Essential Skills programme partnership developing eight essential skills: Listening, Speaking, Problem Solving, Creativity, Staying Positive, Aiming High, Leadership, and Teamwork.
• UnifrogmajorGTM or Marketing PartnerUnifrog platform partnership providing comprehensive career planning tools, allowing students to explore careers, apprenticeships, and higher education options, track destinations, and record activities.
• Career ReadymajorStrategic or Co-development PartnerCareer Ready programme providing employer engagement, mentoring, internships, and workplace visits to prepare students for future careers.
• The Brilliant ClubmajorStrategic or Co-development PartnerThe Brilliant Club partnership working with university students and academics to increase the number of students from underrepresented backgrounds progressing to highly selective universities.
• IntoUniversitymajorStrategic or Co-development PartnerIntoUniversity partnership providing university campus visits and exposure to higher education for students, including dedicated Into Uni trips to universities like Warwick.
• Place2BemajorStrategic or Co-development PartnerPlace2Be partnership providing mental health support and counselling services for students, with trained mental health professionals working in the school.
• Duke of Edinburgh's AwardminorOthersDofE expedition programme offering Bronze, Silver, and Gold awards throughvolunteering, physical, and skills activities.
• Grace FoundationmajorOthersThe Academy Foundation provides additional external funding to help the Ethos Team embed vision and values through additional resources and experiences for students.
• The Diana AwardminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerAnti-bullying ambassador programme partnership through The Diana Award, training students as anti-bullying ambassadors.
• FareShareminorOthersCommunity food bank partnership supporting families in need within the academy community.
• Rigby FoundationminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerInspiring Futures Rigby Foundation programme partnership for careers and aspirations support.
• Swan Teaching SchoolminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerAssociate site relationship through Swan Teaching School within the trust network.
• West Midlands PoliceminorOthersCommunity safety partnership providing support for online safety, safeguarding, and knife crime prevention workshops.
• Action TutoringminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerAcademic tutoring partnership providing additional support for students in literacy and numeracy.
• John Taylor HospiceminorOthersCommunity partnership with local hospice for enrichment activities and community engagement.
• Ordinary MagicminorOthersCharitable partnership supporting youth development and enrichment activities.
• A2B ProgrammeminorOthersA2B programme partnership supporting student transition and transport needs.

Scale indicators6 records

Recent moves7 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Broad incumbents

• Star Academies: Large multi-academy trust operating multiple secondary schools across England. Comparable only at the trust governance and operating model level rather than as a direct local competitor.
• Dixons Kings Academy: Secondary academy within the Dixons Academies Trust, a larger and well-regarded multi-academy trust. Comparable in operating model (academy with sixth form) but part of a broader trust portfolio with different scale and governance dynamics.

Regional players

• John Henry Newman Catholic College: Secondary school in the wider Solihull/Birmingham border area with sixth form. Competes for families in the same admissions geography, particularly in the post-primary transition market.
• Heart of England School: Solihull-region secondary school with sixth form provision. Operates in the same local authority admissions footprint and competes for the same Year 7 and Post-16 cohorts.
• Tudor Grange Academy Solihull: Solihull-area secondary academy serving the same local authority coordinated admissions scheme. Operates as the principal local competitor for Year 7 places and Post-16 recruitment within the same catchment.
• Arden Academy: Secondary academy in the Solihull region with sixth form provision. Competes directly for in-catchment Year 7 admissions and for the same pool of families choosing sixth form destinations.
• Light Hall School: Secondary school serving the Solihull area with sixth form. Comparable on intake geography, curriculum breadth, and Post-16 provision, and a direct alternative for local families.

Direct peers

• Sponne School: Tove Learning Trust secondary school and the trust's associate teaching school hub. Closest operating peer in terms of trust governance, age range, and curriculum model, providing a direct like-for-like benchmark within the same MAT.
• Northampton School for Boys: Tove Learning Trust secondary school with sixth form, sharing the same central team and Board of Trustees. Comparable in size, age range, and Post-16 offer, making it a structural peer within the trust network.
• Grace Academy Coventry: Sister academy within the same Grace family of schools that joined Tove Learning Trust in April 2019. Operates the same secondary plus Post-16 model under shared governance, with directly comparable admissions, curriculum, and SEND structures.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/grace-academy-solihull

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles11 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 Grace Academy Solihull