The Forest School
The Forest School is a state-funded secondary academy in Horsham, West Sussex, serving roughly 1,100–1,400 pupils aged 11–18 across Key Stages 3–5. Since September 2025 it has operated under the Horsham Learning Alliance multi-academy trust, delivering GCSE/A-Level programmes, 30+ co-curricular activities, and a Gatsby-aligned careers service.
- Company typePrivate
- Founded1954
- HeadquartersHorsham, United Kingdom
- Headcount11–50
- GTM typeB2C
- OfferingServices
The Forest School firmographics
Firmographics- Name
- The Forest School
- Legal name
- The Forest School
- Website
- https://theforestschool.com
- Company type
- Private
- Founded year
- 1954
- Operating status
- Operating
- Headcount range
- 11–50 employees
- Short description
- The Forest School is a state-funded secondary academy in Horsham, West Sussex, serving roughly 1,100–1,400 pupils aged 11–18 across Key Stages 3–5. Since September 2025 it has operated under the Horsham Learning Alliance multi-academy trust, delivering GCSE/A-Level programmes, 30+ co-curricular activities, and a Gatsby-aligned careers service.
- Ownership category
- akta.pro rank
Where The Forest School is headquartered
LocationHeadquarters
- HQ city
- Horsham
- HQ country
- United Kingdom
- HQ region
- Europe
Offices1 record
Markets served
The Forest School business model
Business model- GTM type
- B2C
- Offering type
- Services
- Cost components
- Personnel, Operations, Infrastructure, Technology or R&D, Marketing or Sales
Revenue model
- UK State-Funded Education: The Forest School operates as a state-funded academy receiving government funding for education provision. On 1 September 2025, the school converted to an academy and formed the Horsham Learning Alliance multi-academy trust, with the Trust now serving as the admissions authority.
Distribution channels3 records
Marketing channels6 records
The Forest School product offering
Product offeringCore offering
The Forest School is a state-funded secondary academy school providing education for students aged 11-18 (Years 7-13), delivering GCSE and A-Level instruction across 15 subject areas alongside a comprehensive Careers Programme, work experience placements, an Extended Curriculum of 30+ co-curricular activities, and SCITT/PGCE teacher training programmes. Operating on a 20-acre campus in Horsham, West Sussex, the school converted to academy status on 1 September 2025 under the Horsham Learning Alliance multi-academy trust.
Product overview
The Forest School is a secondary academy school in Horsham, West Sussex, providing Key Stage 3 and Key Stage 4 education. The school operates a comprehensive digital platform comprising its main website for information delivery, a student Gmail communication system, and serves as part of the Horsham Learning Alliance multi-academy trust (converted to academy on 1 September 2025). Educational offerings include curriculum subjects across 15 subject areas (Art & Photography, Drama, English, GCSE Business, GCSE Computer Science, Geography, History, Mathematics, Media Studies, Modern Foreign Languages, Music, PE, Religion & Worldviews, Science, Technology), an Extended Curriculum with 30+ co-curricular activities, a GCSE Options process for Year 9 students, a comprehensive Careers Programme aligned with Gatsby Benchmarks, teacher training programmes through SCITT and university partnerships, and examination administration services. The school is located on a 20-acre campus and was established in 1954.
Differentiator
Problem solved
Functional benefit
Products and services
- Secondary Education Programme (Years 7-13) Comprehensive secondary education for students aged 11-18 across Key Stages 3 and 4, covering 15 subject areas (Art & Photography, Drama, English, GCSE Business, GCSE Computer Science, Geography, History, Mathematics, Media Studies, Modern Foreign Languages, Music, PE, Religion & Worldviews, Science, Technology) leading to GCSE and A-Level qualifications. Free at point of use for students, state-funded via the Education and Skills Funding Agency.
- Teacher Training Programme School-led initial teacher training (SCITT) and PGCE training programmes offered in partnership with i2i Partnership, Bohunt, University of Brighton, and University of Chichester, including Early Career Framework (ECF) induction support delivered via GLF Teaching School Hub with a structured two-year programme (10% timetable reduction in Year 1, 5% in Year 2). Designed for aspiring and Early Career Teachers.
- Careers Programme Comprehensive careers education programme aligned with Gatsby Benchmarks, including work experience placement for Year 10 students, career guidance, apprenticeships information, and employer engagement activities. Led by the Careers Leader with support from the Careers Education Assistant.
- Community Lettings Facility hire service providing the school's 20-acre campus facilities (including indoor and outdoor sports spaces) to community organisations and activity providers such as Albion in the Community, Blue Bells Baton Twirling, Boostfit, Boxing, Clubbercise, Horsham Shaolin Kungfu, Little Kickers Football, Rockchoir, and Sama Kickboxing.
- Extended Curriculum Over 30 co-curricular activities offered to students beyond the academic timetable, spanning sports, arts, music, drama, and enrichment programmes (e.g., school productions such as Grease, dance, football, and music activities). Designed to support personal development alongside academic study.
Companies that use The Forest School
Customer profileSegments2 records
Ideal customer profiles3 records
The Forest School technology and API
TechnologyTechnology focussed No
API detail
- Has API
- No
- API docs
- API detail
Core technology
AI maturity
App detail
The Forest School partnerships and signals
Strategic signalPartnerships
Seven partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.
- West Sussex County CouncilcoreApplications for Year 7 admissions are administered through West Sussex County Council Admissions Team. School participates in local Fair Access Protocol for vulnerable children.
- Horsham Learning AlliancecoreOn 1 September 2025, The Forest School converted to an academy and formed the Horsham Learning Alliance multi-academy trust. The Trust is now the admissions authority for The Forest School.
- i2i & Tanbridge PartnershipcorePrimary SCITT (School-Centred Initial Teacher Training) partner offering school-led training based in Horsham, allowing trainees to learn on the job with immediate classroom impact.
- Bohunt PartnershipminorTeacher training partnership providing varied and rigorous training paths for aspiring teachers.
- University of BrightonminorUniversity partner providing PGCE routes for teacher training with prestigious academic backing.
- University of ChichesterminorUniversity partner renowned for high-quality secondary education training and exceptional subject-specific mentor support.
- GLF Teaching School HubcoreForest is a proud partner of GLF Teaching School Hub, providing the Early Career Framework (ECF) - a structured two-year induction programme for all Early Career Teachers with 10% timetable reduction in Year 1 and 5% in Year 2.
Scale indicators4 records
Recent moves7 records
Expansion highlights5 records
The Forest School competitors and assessment
Company assessmentDirect peers
- Academies Enterprise Trust: A large UK MAT operating a national network of primary and secondary academies. Comparable as a state-funded academy operator with a secondary school focus.
- Oasis Community Learning: A UK multi-academy trust operating secondary schools and academies with a strong community ethos. Comparable as a state-funded secondary school and academy operator with a similar community-engagement model.
- United Learning: A national UK multi-academy trust running primary and secondary schools across the country. Highly comparable as a state-funded MAT operating secondary schools of similar size and mission.
- GLF Schools: A UK multi-academy trust partner of The Forest School via the GLF Teaching School Hub. Operates primary and secondary schools across southern England with a comparable academy-conversion profile.
- Outwood Grange Academies Trust: A large UK MAT operating a network of secondary academies. Comparable as a UK state-funded secondary school operator with a similar educational mission and academy-conversion profile.
- Harris Federation: One of the largest UK multi-academy trusts, operating secondary schools and academies across London and the South East. Directly comparable as a state-funded secondary school and academy operator in the same regulatory framework.
- Bohunt Education Trust: A UK multi-academy trust partner of The Forest School for teacher training. Operates secondary schools and academies with a similar community-focused ethos and size.
Others
- Pearson: A global educational services and assessment company providing qualifications and curriculum. Tangentially comparable as a UK education sector participant supporting secondary schools through exam boards and educational content.
Broad incumbents
- Cognita: An international schools group operating K-12 schools across multiple geographies. Comparable as a multi-school operator in the K-12 secondary education space, though in the private/international segment rather than state-funded.
Regional players
- Brighton College: A leading UK independent school located in nearby East Sussex. Comparable as a secondary school in the same region, though operating under a fee-paying independent model rather than state-funded.
Market position
Strengths5 records
Weaknesses5 records
Competitive moat4 records
Key risks5 records
Key highlights7 records
Customer concentration
The Forest School social profiles
Digital presenceThe Forest School financial estimates
Financial estimateRevenue estimate
Valuation estimate
The Forest School leadership team
Management profileNumber of profiles
Profiles8 records
The Forest School funding detail
Funding detailFunding overview
Funding rounds
Investors
Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
The Forest School M&A and investment
M&A and investmentM&A
Investments
M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Frequently asked questions about The Forest School
What does The Forest School do?
The Forest School is a state-funded secondary academy school providing education for students aged 11-18 (Years 7-13), delivering GCSE and A-Level instruction across 15 subject areas alongside a comprehensive Careers Programme, work experience placements, an Extended Curriculum of 30+ co-curricular activities, and SCITT/PGCE teacher training programmes. Operating on a 20-acre campus in Horsham, West Sussex, the school converted to academy status on 1 September 2025 under the Horsham Learning Alliance multi-academy trust.
Is The Forest School a public or private company?
The Forest School is a private company. It is classified as nonprofit foundation owned and is currently operating.
When was The Forest School founded?
The Forest School was founded in 1954. It employs 11 to 50 people.
Where is The Forest School based?
The Forest School is headquartered in Horsham, United Kingdom, in the Europe region.
How does The Forest School make money?
One revenue line is on record: UK State-Funded Education.
Who are The Forest School's main competitors?
Direct peers on record are Academies Enterprise Trust, Oasis Community Learning, United Learning, GLF Schools, Outwood Grange Academies Trust, Harris Federation and Bohunt Education Trust. Pearson is listed as an others. Cognita is listed as a broad incumbent. Brighton College is listed as a regional player.
Does The Forest School have an API?
No public API is recorded for The Forest School.