St Piers School and College

What St Piers School and College does

St Piers School and College is a non-maintained specialist residential school and college operated by Young Epilepsy (registered charity 311877) on a 250-acre campus in Lingfield, Surrey. It delivers specialist education, residential care, and multi-disciplinary therapy for children and young people aged 4 to 25 with epilepsy, autism, and severe learning difficulties, alongside on-site clinical services through the Neville Childhood Epilepsy Centre (NCEC) and the world's first child-specific wearable OPM-MEG brain scanning system co-created in 2021. The educational model is built on a Total Communication Approach combining spoken and written language with augmentative and alternative communication methods, a three-tiered differentiated mathematics curriculum (Learning for Life, Skills for Life, Specialist Skills), the Twinkl Phonics programme adapted for SEND learners, and the Earwig Academic assessment platform for tracking EHCP outcomes.

The organisation operates a sales-led, institutional go-to-market motion in which placements are commissioned by UK local authorities through Education, Health and Care Plans (EHCPs), reaching prospective families via open days, virtual tours, transition events, and community engagement. Revenue is primarily fee-based from education and residential placements (day and 52-week boarding), supplemented by clinical and medical services revenue from NCEC, AET training programme delivery across West Sussex, Kent, and Surrey, the Adopt an Animal scheme at £30/year, and approximately £2m in annual fundraising and donations required to cover costs not met by fees. The leadership team includes CEO Jane Beaven (appointed November 2025), Interim Executive Principal Tanya Moran, and a multi-disciplinary group of Heads of School, College, Therapies, Health, Residential, and Safeguarding, supported by an Education Governing Body that meets six times per year under Non-Maintained Special Schools (England) Regulations 2015.

Name

St Piers School and College

Legal name

The National Centre for Young People with Epilepsy

Website

https://stpiers.org.uk

Company type

Private

Founded year

1897

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

St Piers School and College is a UK non-maintained specialist residential school and college in Lingfield, Surrey, providing education, therapy, and residential care for children and young people aged 4-25 with epilepsy, autism, and severe learning difficulties, funded primarily through local authority EHCP placements under parent charity Young Epilepsy.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Special Education

NAICS

Elementary and Secondary Schools (611110), Colleges, Universities, and Professional Schools (611310), Educational Support Services (611710)

SIC

Services-Educational Services (8200), Services-Social Services (8300)

akta.pro primary industry

Autism Classroom & School Program Support (Inclusion/Resource) (EDAKAKAC)

akta.pro secondary industries

Autism Teacher Training & Professional Development (EDAKAKAL), Autism Behavioral Support (School-Based ABA/PBIS) (EDAKAKAE), Behavioral & Social-Emotional Support (ABA, PBIS, Counseling) (EDAJAKAE)

Keywords

• Special education services
• Residential special school
• Epilepsy education
• Specialist college programs
• Learning difficulties support

Headquarters

HQ city

Lingfield

HQ country

United Kingdom

HQ region

Europe

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

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

Revenue model

1. Education and Residential Fees: St Piers is largely funded from fees for education and residential placements. As a non-maintained special school, placements are typically funded by local authorities through EHCPs (Education, Health and Care Plans). Both day and residential placements are available.
2. Health Services Revenue: Young Epilepsy's Health services generate revenue through clinical and medical services provided on campus, including the Neville Childhood Epilepsy Centre (NCEC).
3. Fundraising and Donations: Young Epilepsy needs to raise around £2m every year to cover costs of national work and elements of St Piers and Health budgets not covered by fees. Sources include individual donations, community fundraising events (StarRun, bake sales), corporate partnerships, and grant applications.
4. Animal Adoption Scheme: St Piers Farm offers an Adopt an Animal scheme at £30 per year, generating income while supporting animal care and student educational programmes.

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels2 records

Marketing channels8 records

Core offering

St Piers School and College is a non-maintained special school and specialist college providing education, residential care, and therapy for children and young people aged 4-25 with epilepsy, autism, and severe learning difficulties. The organisation operates both day and residential placements from a 250-acre campus in Lingfield, Surrey, delivered through a three-tiered curriculum framework covering academic learning, life skills, and independence preparation. Services are complemented by on-site multi-disciplinary therapy teams, the Neville Childhood Epilepsy Centre, and vocational learning through St Piers Farm.

Product overview

St Piers School and College operates as an integrated educational institution providing specialist services for children and young people with epilepsy, autism, and severe learning difficulties. The organisation comprises St Piers School (for pupils aged 4-19), St Piers College (for students aged 16-25), and Residential Services, all working together within a three-tiered curriculum framework (Learning for Life, Skills for Life, and Specialist Skills). Additional offerings include St Piers Farm for vocational learning, the Adopt an Animal scheme, AET Training programmes, the Supported Internship Programme, and subsidised staff housing.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• St Piers Farm: A 250-acre working farm providing vocational learning opportunities including animal care, horticulture, and the 'Fleece to Fibre' project.
• Neville Childhood Epilepsy Centre (NCEC)
• OPM-MEG

Products and services

• St Piers School
• St Piers College
• Residential Services
• St Piers Farm
• St Piers Farm Experience
• Adopt an Animal Scheme
• AET Training Programmes
• Supported Internship Programme
• Subsidised Staff Housing

Quantifiable outcome

• Ofsted Outstanding rating for residential provision (March 2025)
• +2 more outcomes

Named customers1 record

Segments4 records

Ideal customer profiles2 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Integration5 records

Feature4 records

Partnerships

Six partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• Autism Education Trust (AET)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerSt Piers School and College collaborates with the Autism Education Trust (AET) to deliver the AET Post-16 Programme in West Sussex and Kent. The organisation also delivers the Early Years Programme. AET is supported by the Department for Education and provides training and resources for parents/carers and professionals working with autistic students. This partnership positions St Piers as a regional centre of excellence for autism education.
• Surrey School GamesminorOthersSt Piers participates in intra- and inter-school sports events through the Surrey School Games programme, providing enrichment and competitive sporting opportunities for students.
• Young Epilepsy (Parent Charity)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerSt Piers School and College is operated by Young Epilepsy, the trading name of The National Centre for Young People with Epilepsy (NCYPE), registered charity number 311877. Young Epilepsy provides strategic direction, governance, and centralised support services including research, health services, and fundraising.
• NatspecminorOthersSt Piers College is a member of Natspec, the membership association for specialist colleges in the UK. College staff attended the annual Natspec conference in 2024, sharing ideas with other specialist colleges.
• Local Mainstream CollegesminorChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorLocal mainstream colleges provide external LINK courses for transferable work skills, and where appropriate, credited courses including GCSE Maths and English for St Piers students.
• Local EmployersminorOthersWork experience and supported employment partnerships with local employers, providing real-world employment experience opportunities for students preparing for adulthood.

Scale indicators5 records

Recent moves5 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Direct peers

• Sunfield School: Steiner-based residential special school in Clent, Worcestershire, for children and young people with complex autism and learning difficulties. Comparable as a small specialist residential SEND school with on-site therapy and vocational facilities.
• Ambitious about Autism: National charity operating TreeHouse School (ages 4–19) and Ambitious College (post-16) for autistic learners with complex needs, including on-site residential and therapy services. Directly comparable to St Piers on integrated autism-specialist school/college/residential pathway.
• Portland College: Specialist further education college in Mansfield, Nottinghamshire, for young people with disabilities including complex learning difficulties, autism, and physical/sensory impairments, with on-site residential. Comparable on post-16 specialist college and residential SEND model.
• St Elizabeth's Centre: Catholic charitable residential special school and college in Much Hadham, Hertfordshire, supporting children and young people with epilepsy and other complex neurological conditions. The closest UK peer to St Piers on condition specialism (epilepsy) and on residential SEND model.
• Hesley Group: Operates specialist residential schools and colleges (including Wilsic Hall, Fullerton House) for children and adults with autism and complex needs. Directly comparable on residential SEND specialist education model and on 52-week placement structure.
• Nash College: Specialist post-16 college in Broadwater, West Sussex, for young people aged 16–25 with learning difficulties and autism, offering residential and day placements. Comparable on the post-16 specialist college provision and on its proximity to St Piers' West Sussex/Surrey catchment.

Broad incumbents

• Priory Group: Major UK provider of specialist education, residential care, and mental health services for children and adults, including specialist SEND schools and colleges. Comparable on specialist SEND education and residential services but operates across a much wider service portfolio.
• National Autistic Society: UK-wide charity running specialist schools, residential services, and adult services for autistic people. Comparable on autism-specific educational methodology, AET-aligned training delivery, and residential SEND model, but at significantly broader scale.
• Witherslack Group: One of the largest UK operators of specialist schools and residential homes for children and young people with SEND, including autism, SEMH, and complex learning difficulties. A multi-site incumbent whose scale and breadth contrasts with St Piers' single-site specialist model.

Others

• Mencap: UK-wide learning disability charity providing services, advocacy, and education support for people with learning disabilities. Adjacent peer given overlap in learning disability/SEND population served by St Piers College, although Mencap does not operate a comparable single-site specialist school.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/stpiers
• YouTubeyoutube.com/@stpiersschoolandcollege
• Facebookfacebook.com/StPiers
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/st-piers
• Instagraminstagram.com/stpiersschoolandcollege
• TikToktiktok.com/@stpiersschoolandcollege

Compliance10 records

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles19 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 Piers School and College