South Bank University Academy

What South Bank University Academy does

South Bank University Academy (SBUA) is a state-funded secondary school and sixth form located on Trafalgar Street in Southwark, London (SE17 2TP). The school serves approximately 400–600 pupils across Years 7–13 based on its disclosed headcount of 39 employees, delivering GCSEs at Key Stages 4 and A Levels, T Levels, and BTEC vocational qualifications at sixth form. SBUA operates as part of LSBU Group (London South Bank University Group), which also includes London South Bank University, South Bank Colleges, and South Bank Academies; this affiliation provides structured pathways into higher education, degree apprenticeships, and employment, plus a £1,000 bursary for sixth form leavers who progress to LSBU.

The school runs a Future Pathways Programme (careers exposure from Year 7 onward) and a TechStart Programme for Years 10–11 delivered in partnership with SBU Sixth Form in Brixton. Core technology stack comprises Google Workspace for Education (Chromebooks, Google Classroom) for learning delivery, SIMS as the school information management system, My School Portal as a parent-facing gateway, Unifrog for careers/destinations, Microsoft Sway for weekly newsletters, and SchoolHire for community facility lettings. A Digital Hub (VR teaching room, podcast studio, green-screen production room) is scheduled to open in September 2026 alongside three new T-Level programmes in Creative & Design, Digital Software Development, and Sales/Marketing & Procurement.

Revenue is derived primarily from UK Government pupil-led funding with no tuition fees. Supplementary income is generated through SchoolHire facility bookings for sports halls, classrooms, and meeting rooms, plus free adult evening English classes. Distribution is direct via the school's own admissions process (open events, bookable tours, applicaa.com portal), supported by LSBU Group cross-promotion and an extensive employer partnership network including Morgan Stanley, Guy's & St Thomas', Databricks, Sky Studios, King's College London, the Bank of England, Construction Youth Trust, and London Broncos. Leadership comprises Principal Annette Moses, Director of Sixth Form Nick Moore, and Executive Principal Dan Cundy, with governance under Ruth Spellman OBE as Chair of Governors and Paul Kett as Vice-Chancellor of LSBU Group from 2025.

Name

South Bank University Academy

Legal name

South Bank University Academy

Website

https://southbankua.org.uk

Company type

Private

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

South Bank University Academy is a state-funded secondary school and sixth form in Southwark, London, delivering GCSEs, A Levels, T Levels, and BTECs to pupils aged 11–18 as part of LSBU Group. It operates with 39 staff, Ofsted 'Good' status, and structured employer partnerships supporting university and apprenticeship progression.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Secondary Education

NAICS

Elementary and Secondary Schools (6111), Elementary and Secondary Schools (611110), Colleges, Universities, and Professional Schools (6113)

SIC

Services-Educational Services (8200)

akta.pro primary industry

International/Global Curriculum Schools (IB, Cambridge, etc.) (EDAJABAG)

akta.pro secondary industries

Public Alternative, Continuation & Credit-Recovery Schools (EDAJAAAG), Junior Colleges (Associate-Degree Granting) (EDAHADAC)

Keywords

• Secondary school education
• Sixth form education
• GCSE preparation programs
• A-Level qualifications
• Vocational education pathways

Headquarters

HQ city

London

HQ country

United Kingdom

HQ region

Europe

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

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

Revenue model

1. Government Education Funding: State-funded secondary school receiving pupil-led funding from the UK Government. Additional revenue generated through school hire of facilities, evening classes for adults, and community lettings.

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels1 record

Marketing channels4 records

Core offering

South Bank University Academy is a state-funded secondary school and sixth form in Southwark, London, delivering education to students aged 11-18. It offers GCSEs in Years 7-11 and A Levels, T Levels, and BTECs in Years 12-13, complemented by the Future Pathways Programme for careers education and the TechStart Programme for vocational pathways. The institution also provides evening English classes for adults and rents out school facilities to the community.

Product overview

South Bank University Academy offers secondary and sixth form education as a single integrated institution. The core educational products span Years 7-11 (Secondary School with GCSEs) and Years 12-13 (Sixth Form with A Levels, T Levels, and BTECs). The Future Pathways Programme provides careers education across all year groups, while the TechStart Programme offers vocational pathways for KS4 students. Supporting infrastructure includes My School Portal for parental engagement and the Digital Hub (launching September 2026) for digital skills. Evening English classes serve the adult community. The school operates as part of LSBU Group, providing progression pathways to higher education, apprenticeships, and employment with a £1,000 bursary for LSBU progression.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• Future Pathways Programme: A careers and progression programme embedded into life at SBUA, designed to inspire ambition and give students confidence, skills and knowledge for their future paths.
• TechStart Programme

Products and services

• Secondary School Education Comprehensive secondary education for Years 7-11 in Southwark, London. Curriculum includes GCSEs in core subjects (Maths, English, Science) plus humanities, languages, arts, and technology. Values-led with focus on social justice, endeavour, kindness, empathy, and community.
• Sixth Form Post-16 education offering A Levels, T Levels, and BTEC vocational qualifications. Part of LSBU Group providing pathways into higher education, apprenticeships, and employment with a £1,000 bursary for students progressing to LSBU.
• A Level Courses Traditional A-Level qualifications across multiple subjects enabling progression to top universities including Oxford, Cambridge, Durham, LSE, King's College London, and Bath.
• T Level Programmes Technical qualifications equivalent to three A-Levels with substantial industry placements. New programmes launching September 2026 in Creative & Design, Digital, and Sales/Marketing & Procurement.
• BTEC Vocational Courses Vocational BTEC qualifications providing practical, work-focused education across various disciplines with pathways to university or employment.
• Future Pathways Programme Careers and progression programme for all students from Years 7-13. Combines career guidance, employer partnerships, and structured progression support embedded across the curriculum.
• TechStart Programme Vocational programme for Years 10-11 students delivered in partnership with SBU Sixth Form in Brixton. Students spend one day per week studying Cambridge Technical qualifications in Business, Engineering, or Health at Level 1 or Level 2.
• Digital Hub New facility launching September 2026 featuring immersive Virtual Reality teaching room, dedicated podcast studio, and green-screen production room for hands-on digital media learning.
• Evening Classes in English for Adults English language classes for adults running Tuesdays 5pm-7pm. Open to non-parents of SBUA students. Focus on speaking and writing confidence for work or life, and supporting children with homework.
• My School Portal Parent portal platform integrated with SIMS for accessing student timetables, homework assignments, school reports, sports fixtures, absence reporting, appointment alerts, and parental consent forms for school trips.
• School Hire Facilities Community facility hiring including Sports Halls, Multi Use Games Areas, Classrooms, Performance Areas, and Meeting/Conference Rooms available through SchoolHire platform.

Quantifiable outcome

• First-ever Oxbridge placement achieved - student Ying-Han secured three A* grades for Physics at Oxford
• +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

Integration6 records

AI capability3 records

Feature3 records

Partnerships

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

• London South Bank University (LSBU)flagshipStrategic or Co-development PartnerLSBU is the parent organization of South Bank University Academy. The school is part of LSBU Group which includes London South Bank University, South Bank Colleges, and South Bank Academies. Students benefit from pathways into higher education, apprenticeships, and employment. Sixth Form students can claim a £1000 bursary if they progress to study at LSBU.
• Morgan StanleycoreGTM or Marketing PartnerAdded to Morgan Stanley's list of target schools. Global investment bank with London Canary Wharf HQ. Provides school outreach programmes, mentoring, and career guidance support. Includes dedicated team with Managing Director of UK Tax division.
• Guy's & St Thomas' NHS Foundation TrustcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerLocal NHS Trust running engagement project for Year 10 students. Provides access to unique content, experiences, and activities supporting career aspirations in healthcare. Representatives participate in school Skills Awards ceremonies.
• Omnicom Media GroupcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerDigital and creative employer partner for T Level provision. Bringing recruitment team to provide advice and guidance to Year 12 and 13 students on careers in the Digital field.
• WYKDigitalcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerOrganization supporting underrepresented young people to build careers in digital sector. Working with SBUA to develop framework for partnership, citing SBUA as example for future projects strategy.
• Creative Digital LabcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerProviding access to state-of-the-art 'extended reality production' facilities. Hosting digital media teacher sessions and providing T Level placements in range of roles.
• London South Bank Technical College (LSBTC)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerTechnical college providing subject taster sessions for Years 9, 10, and 11 including Film, Health and Social Care, Construction, Esports, Plumbing, and Bricklaying.
• King's College LondoncoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerHosting SBUA robotics competition for students. Delivering STEM workshops through university ambassadors including CAD, 3D modelling, and app design sessions.
• DatabricksminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerTechnology company hosting Cyber Girls First workshop for Year 8 and 9 girls. Providing hands-on cybersecurity learning and inspiring women in tech careers.
• Sky StudioscoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerMedia company hosting Digital Media and Year 10 students for film industry experience. Students create short films in professional studio environment.
• The Guardian FoundationminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerDelivering Future of News workshop for Sixth Form learners exploring how news is created and designing news apps.
• Construction Youth TrustcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerCharity providing work experience placements and career guidance supporting students like Shamira in securing degree apprenticeships.
• Bank of EnglandminorGTM or Marketing PartnerEmployer representative presenting Skills Awards at Student of the Year ceremony. Engages with students on career pathways.
• Orange BallminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerDelivering employability, aspiration, and career planning workshop to Year 10 students during Future Pathways Day.
• Imperial War MuseumminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerYear 8 students participate in Documentary Challenge workshop exploring historic artefacts and learning about museum education careers.
• Worshipful Company of GardenersminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerJonathan Matheson (Head of Education and Spadebearer) delivers careers presentation in horticulture and environmental industries to Year 12 students.
• John O'Conner Grounds Maintenance LtdminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerMatt O'Connor (Managing Director and Co-Chair of Schools Outreach) delivers horticulture industry presentation. Partnership providing mentoring and industry insight.
• London BroncoscoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerProfessional rugby league club. Colin Baker (Women's Head Coach) leading Getting Match Fit training. Lynsey Coleman providing mock interview experience. Students attending London Trials Day.
• British ArmyminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerDelivering Elite Skills workshop to Year 10 students including physical and problem-solving challenges for team-building, leadership, and communication skills.
• South Bank SharksminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerSchool rugby league team programme providing representative pathways and connection to London Broncos for talented players.
• South Bank Sixth FormcoreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorRelated sixth form within SBA Trust. Students jointly celebrated at SBA Trust Awards. Cross-school participation in Skills Awards.

Scale indicators3 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Broad incumbents

• Dulwich College: Leading London independent school in the same South London geography as SBUA. Comparable as a benchmark for academic outcomes, university destinations (including Oxbridge), and facilities, but operates on a fee-paying model with a very different funding base.

Direct peers

• Oasis Academy South Bank: Academy in the South Bank catchment area operating under the Oasis Community Learning multi-academy trust. Direct peer in terms of location, age range, and state-funded mainstream secondary provision.
• City of London Academy, Southwark: State secondary school in Southwark sponsored by the City of London Corporation. Comparable to SBUA in terms of borough catchment, GCSE/A-Level provision, and values-led ethos with employer engagement.
• London Academy of Excellence: High-performing sixth-form college in East London focused on A-Level provision and Russell Group progression. Comparable to SBUA's Sixth Form in mission, academic rigour, and emphasis on top-university destinations.
• Ark Academy: London academy in the Ark multi-academy trust network offering mainstream secondary education with strong employer and university partnerships. Comparable to SBUA in operating model, governance structure, and curriculum breadth.
• BRIT School: Free state-funded specialist secondary/sixth-form in Croydon renowned for employer partnerships (creative industries) and high progression rates to top universities and apprenticeships. Comparable to SBUA in its employer-led, outcomes-focused positioning.
• Kingsdale Foundation School: High-performing state secondary school in South Dulwich serving a similar South London demographic. Comparable in offering a full secondary-plus-sixth-form pathway with strong university progression outcomes.
• South Bank Sixth Form: Sibling institution within the South Bank Academies Trust and LSBU Group, sharing governance, employer partnership pipelines, and a campus network. Direct peer because it offers post-16 pathways (A Levels, BTECs) under the same trust structure as SBUA's Sixth Form.
• Harris Academy Bermondsey: State-funded secondary academy in the same Southwark/Bermondsey catchment as SBUA. Operates within the Harris Federation multi-academy trust and offers mainstream GCSE/A-Level pathways, making it the closest geographic and demographic peer.
• Elizabeth Garrett Anderson School: London state secondary school with a strong values-driven ethos, comprehensive secondary-plus-sixth-form offering, and similar focus on academic outcomes for a diverse urban intake. Comparable to SBUA in ethos, scale, and curriculum.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/south-bank-university-academy

Compliance1 record

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 South Bank University Academy