Sunny Bank Primary School

What Sunny Bank Primary School does

Sunny Bank Primary School is a state-funded primary academy located in Murston, Sittingbourne, Kent, England, serving children from Nursery (age 3–4) through Year 6 (age 11). The school is operated under The Island Learning Trust (TILT), a Multi-Academy Trust that also governs Minster-in-Sheppey and Halfway Houses Primary Schools, with Debbie Wheeler serving as CEO of the Trust and the school led by its Head of School. Its curriculum covers the Early Years Foundation Stage through Key Stages 1 and 2, supplemented by distinctive programs including the Monster Phonics systematic synthetic phonics scheme, Accelerated Reader for reading management, a 6-week Forest School outdoor learning program delivered by Level 3 trained leaders, and a SEND support pathway led by an in-house SENDCo.

The school's commercial model is that of a UK state academy: it does not charge tuition and is funded primarily through government per-pupil grants channelled via TILT, with marginal revenue from school meals and voluntary contributions. Distribution is governed by Kent local authority admissions policy, with demand evidenced by a growing waiting list. The school differentiates on literacy outcomes — 80% of pupils met the expected standard in Reading, Writing and Maths versus a 61% national average, and 100% met the expected standard in reading — and holds an Ofsted 'Good' rating across all categories. Marketing is community-led, relying on Facebook, Instagram, YouTube, parent open afternoons, and school tours, with brand positioning centred on its 'Reading School' distinction and Six Principles of Nurture approach.

Operationally, the school occupies a new building opened in November 2022 and is supported by a leadership team that includes safeguarding leads, a Family Liaison Officer, and pastoral support staff. Strategic partnerships extend reach beyond the classroom into community organisations (Murston Church, Murston Heart, Demelza Hospice) and educational outreach (Canterbury Cathedral Education Centre, Young Voices at the O2), reinforcing its integrated role in the local Murston community.

Name

Sunny Bank Primary School

Legal name

Sunny Bank Primary School

Website

https://sunnybank.kent.sch.uk

Company type

Private

Founded year

2020

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

Sunny Bank Primary School is a UK state-funded primary academy in Murston, Sittingbourne, Kent, serving Nursery through Year 6 pupils under The Island Learning Trust. It differentiates on literacy outcomes, Forest School, and nurture-based SEND support within a regulated, government-funded admissions model.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Primary Education

NAICS

Elementary and Secondary Schools (6111)

SIC

Services-Educational Services (8200), Services-Child Day Care Services (8351)

akta.pro primary industry

Public Elementary Schools (EDAJAAAB)

akta.pro secondary industry

Full-Day Nursery Programs (EDACACAD)

Keywords

• Primary education services
• Early years learning
• Phonics instruction
• Forest school program
• Special educational needs

Headquarters

HQ city

Sittingbourne

HQ country

United Kingdom

HQ region

Europe

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Infrastructure, Others

Distribution channels1 record

Marketing channels7 records

Core offering

Sunny Bank Primary School is a UK state primary academy that delivers primary education from Nursery (age 3-4) through Year 6 (age 11), operating as part of The Island Learning Trust (TILT). It provides a full national curriculum (Literacy, Numeracy, Science, and foundation subjects), phonics instruction via the Monster Phonics scheme, reading development through the Accelerated Reader program, Forest School outdoor learning, SEND support, before/after-school clubs, holiday clubs, and family support services for pupils in the Murston area of Sittingbourne, Kent.

Product overview

Sunny Bank Primary School is a primary education institution offering educational services from Early Years Foundation Stage (EYFS) through Key Stages 1 and 2 (Years 3-6). The school provides a comprehensive curriculum including core subjects (Literacy, Numeracy, Science), foundation subjects (Art, DT, French, Geography, History, Music, PE, PHSE/SRE, RE, Computing, GPS), and specialized programs such as Forest School, Phonics (Monster Phonics), and Accelerated Reader for reading development. The school also offers before/after-school clubs, music programs including choir, and various community engagement activities.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Primary Education (Nursery to Year 6)
• Before and After School Clubs
• Holiday Clubs

Quantifiable outcome

• 80% of students achieved expected standard in Reading, Writing and Maths (vs 61% National Average)
• +1 more outcomes

Segments2 records

Ideal customer profiles2 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature3 records

Partnerships

Eight partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• The Island Learning Trust (TILT)coreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2020Sunny Bank became part of The Island Learning Trust in 2020 alongside Minster and Halfway Houses Primary Schools. The Trust has provided transformation of the school with high aspirations and expectations. TILT is committed to achieving high quality educational outcomes through meaningful curricula with strong emphasis on arts and sport, developing a love of learning and motivation to succeed.
• Murston HeartminorOthersCommunity organization in Murston. Sunny Bank pupils visited the Lost Landscapes exhibition by Sioux Peto and participated in Community Spirit Week activities including planting bulbs and clearing litter at the site. The school created Medieval Graffiti Tiles displayed at the Chancel Exhibition Space.
• Murston ChurchminorOthersLocal church partnership during Community Spirit Week where pupils engaged in gardening, litter picking, leaf collection, and polishing pews and tables at the church.
• Demelza Hospice Care for ChildrenminorOthersCharitable partnership where Sunny Bank Year 6 students crafted homemade cards donated to the Demelza charity shop in Sittingbourne, supporting the organization's fundraising efforts for children and families facing serious illnesses.
• Canterbury Cathedral Education CentreminorOthersEducational partner for RE curriculum providing outreach visits and learning experiences that bring religious education alive for students.
• Family TrustminorOthersLocal faith community organization with close links to the school for religious education and community engagement activities.
• Young VoicesminorOthersAnnual massed choir event at O2 Arena where Sunny Bank pupils participated in Young Voices 2024, performing alongside thousands of other children in a major music event.
• OfstedcoreOthersUK Government education regulator that judged Sunny Bank Primary School as 'Good' in all areas. The Ofsted report highlights high expectations, care for pupils, focus on reading, and support for SEND pupils.

Scale indicators4 records

Recent moves5 records

Expansion highlights4 records

Broad incumbents

• Oasis Community Learning: Large UK multi-academy trust running primary and secondary academies nationwide. Comparable as a state-funded MAT operator with similar governance, safeguarding and curriculum oversight structures.
• Harris Federation: Large UK multi-academy trust with a substantial primary and secondary portfolio. Comparable as a scaled state-school MAT focused on high academic outcomes, similar in outcomes ambition to Sunny Bank.
• Northern Education Trust: UK multi-academy trust running primary and secondary academies. Comparable as a state-funded MAT operator with similar central governance and curriculum standardisation approach.
• REAch2 Academy Trust: The UK's largest primary-focused multi-academy trust, operating dozens of state primary schools across England. Comparable as a scaled UK primary MAT with similar funding model and curriculum standardisation.
• ARK (Absolute Return for Kids): UK multi-academy trust operating primary and secondary academies with a focus on educational disadvantage. Comparable as a state-school operator pursuing high academic outcomes in challenging catchments, mirroring Sunny Bank's outcomes focus.
• Greenwood Academies Trust: UK multi-academy trust operating a portfolio of primary and secondary academies. Comparable as a non-profit state school operator with shared central services and curriculum design akin to TILT.

Others

• Renaissance Learning (Accelerated Reader provider): Provider of the Accelerated Reader programme used by Sunny Bank. Comparable as an ecosystem enabler whose product underpins Sunny Bank's reading outcomes; not a direct competitor but a closely linked operating dependency.

Direct peers

• Halfway Houses Primary School: Sister primary school within The Island Learning Trust (TILT) alongside Sunny Bank. Same governance, funding model, curriculum philosophy and Kent catchment make it the most directly comparable peer.
• Minster-in-Sheppey Primary School: Third member of The Island Learning Trust alongside Sunny Bank and Halfway Houses. Operates as a UK state primary under the same MAT governance and shared curriculum strategy, making it a direct operational peer.

Regional players

• Borden Church of England Primary School: Local Kent state primary school near Sittingbourne. Comparable as a regional peer competing for the same parental catchment and operating under the same Kent local authority admissions framework.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• YouTubeyoutube.com/@sunnybankprimaryschool3543
• Facebookfacebook.com/sunnybankprimaryinfo
• Instagraminstagram.com/sunnybankprimaryinfo
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/sunny-bank-primary-school

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles9 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 Sunny Bank Primary School