The Cooper School

What The Cooper School does

The Cooper School is a state-funded secondary school and sixth form located on Churchill Road in Bicester, Oxfordshire, England. It is operated as an academy under the Acer Trust, a multi-academy trust that oversees governance, shared services, and the booking infrastructure used for community facility hire. The school serves students across three Key Stages: Key Stage 3 (Years 7-9), Key Stage 4 (Years 10-11) leading to GCSE qualifications, and Key Stage 5 (Years 12-13) offering A-Level and BTEC courses across 23 subjects. Approximately 72 staff support the operation.

Its core educational product is the GCSE Options programme (core subjects plus four additional subject choices from a broad range) and the Sixth Form A-Level programme, supplemented by differentiated offerings including the ACE Centre for SEND students embedded at the heart of the school, the More Able Provision, the Aspirers Programme for Russell Group and Oxbridge preparation, and a careers programme built on the Unifrog platform. Technology infrastructure is non-proprietary and consists of standard Google-based platforms (Sites, Docs, Forms, Analytics) alongside Unifrog for careers delivery. No AI, machine learning, or proprietary technology systems are described.

The school operates a hybrid revenue model anchored on per-pupil DfE grant funding with a secondary income stream from facilities hire (sports halls, gymnasiums, outdoor pitches, meeting rooms) rented to local clubs, community groups, and businesses via the Acer Trust booking platform during evenings and weekends. There are no tuition fees; admissions are managed via the standard Oxfordshire local authority process for Years 7-11, with a separate internal application for the sixth form. The school motto is 'Dream Big, Work Hard, Be Kind,' and recent publicly reported outcomes include an Attainment 8 score of 45, 24% A/A* at A Level, and 79% of Year 13 students securing their first-choice university place in 2024.

Name

The Cooper School

Legal name

The Cooper School

Website

https://thecooperschool.co.uk

Company type

Private

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

51–100 employees

Short description

The Cooper School is a UK state-funded secondary school and sixth form in Bicester, Oxfordshire, operated under the Acer Trust multi-academy trust, serving students aged 11-18 with GCSE, A-Level, SEND, and university-preparation programmes funded by DfE per-pupil grants.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Secondary Education

NAICS

Elementary and Secondary Schools (6111), Educational Support Services (611710)

SIC

Services-Educational Services (8200)

akta.pro primary industry

College Readiness & Admissions Prep Centers (Small-Group Workshops) (EDANAHAI)

akta.pro secondary industries

After-School Academic Support Programs (Centers & Clubs) (EDAJALAM), Academic Support & Learning Assistance (Tutoring Centers) (EDALABAF)

Keywords

• Secondary school education
• Sixth form provision
• GCSE curriculum
• A-Level programs
• SEND specialist support

Headquarters

HQ city

Bicester

HQ country

United Kingdom

HQ region

Europe

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

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

Revenue model

1. State-Funded Education: The Cooper School is a state-funded secondary school providing free education to students. Revenue is derived from government funding via the DfE based on student enrollment and educational programs.
2. Facilities Hire: The school generates revenue by hiring out its facilities (sports halls, gymnasiums, outdoor pitches, meeting rooms) to the local community, local clubs, and businesses during evenings and weekends.

Distribution channels3 records

Marketing channels6 records

Core offering

The Cooper School delivers state-funded secondary education to students aged 11-18, including Key Stage 3, GCSE (Key Stage 4), and a sixth form offering A-Levels and vocational pathways. It operates the ACE Centre, a specialist SEND provision, alongside an Aspirers Programme and More Able Provision for high-attaining learners, and a structured Careers and Futures programme. The school also hires out its facilities (e.g., Main Hall, Drama Studio, Astroturf, 3G pitch, tennis/netball courts, The Pod) to community groups and external organisations.

Product overview

The Cooper School is a secondary school providing educational services across three key stages (Key Stage 3, Key Stage 4, and Key Stage 5/Sixth Form). The core educational products include the GCSE Options Programme with core subjects plus four additional choices, and the comprehensive Sixth Form A-Level Programme offering 23 subjects across sciences, humanities, languages, and arts disciplines. The school supplements its academic curriculum with dedicated support services including the ACE Centre for SEND students, the More Able Provision programme, the Aspirers Programme for Russell Group university preparation, and a comprehensive Careers and Futures Programme integrated with the Unifrog platform. Additional offerings include Sixth Form Enrichment Activities, STEM Enrichment, Duke of Edinburgh Award, Extended Project Qualification (EPQ), and community Facilities for Hire. The school operates within the Acer Trust educational network.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Secondary Education (Key Stage 3 and GCSE) State-funded mainstream secondary education for pupils aged 11-16, covering Key Stage 3, GCSE options and More Able Provision across all subject areas. Designed for local families with secondary-age children in the Bicester / Cherwell catchment.
• Sixth Form (A-Levels and Vocational Pathways)
• ACE Centre SEND Provision
• Aspirers Programme and More Able Provision
• Careers and Futures Programme
• Facilities Hire (Sport and Performance Venues)
• Extra-Curricular and Enrichment Programme

Quantifiable outcome

• 79% of Year 13 students secured first choice university place in 2024
• +2 more outcomes

Named customers3 records

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

Partnerships

One partnership is on record.

• Acer TrustcoreOthersThe Cooper School is part of the Acer Trust, a multi-academy trust committed to continual improvement, growth, and support. The trust oversees the school's operations, governance, and booking systems for facility hire.

Scale indicators5 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Direct peers

• Oxford Spires Academy: State secondary school in Oxford serving a comparable urban catchment. Comparable size and curriculum breadth with KS3-5 provision and similar post-16 destinations focus.
• Wood Green School: State secondary school with sixth form in Witney, Oxfordshire. Another West Oxfordshire comprehensive directly comparable in size, curriculum and university destinations mix.
• Didcot Girls' School: Oxfordshire state secondary school with sixth form in Didcot, serving a similar suburban catchment. Comparable curriculum breadth and post-16 destinations profile.
• Wheatley Park School: Oxfordshire state secondary school with sixth form located near Oxford, serving a similar semi-rural/suburban Oxfordshire demographic. Comparable size profile, curriculum breadth, and post-16 progression mix.
• Lord Williams's School: State secondary school with sixth form in Thame, Oxfordshire. Similar profile as an Oxfordshire comprehensive serving a mix of urban and rural families, competing for the same regional talent pool.
• The Bicester School: The other state secondary school in Bicester, Oxfordshire, serving the same local catchment. It is the most direct geographic and demographic peer to The Cooper School for admissions and per-pupil funding dynamics.
• King Alfred's Academy: State secondary school with sixth form in Wantage, Oxfordshire. Comparable comprehensive-plus-sixth-form model serving a similar Oxfordshire semi-rural/suburban demographic.
• Cheney School: Large state-funded secondary school in Oxford serving a comparable urban-suburban Oxfordshire catchment. Operates a similar model (comprehensive KS3-4 with sixth form) and competes for the same regional student pool.
• The Henry Box School: State secondary school with sixth form in Witney, Oxfordshire. Similar comprehensive model and catchment profile, competing for the same West Oxfordshire talent pool.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/TCSCooperSchool
• Facebookfacebook.com/577717271188776
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/the-cooper-school-bicester

Compliance1 record

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles8 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 The Cooper School