The Portsmouth Academy

What The Portsmouth Academy does

The Portsmouth Academy is a state-funded secondary school (academy) serving students aged 11-16 across Years 7-11 in Fratton, Portsmouth, Hampshire. It operates within the Thinking Schools Academy Trust, a multi-academy trust comprising 26 schools headquartered in Chatham, Kent. The school delivers a broad secondary curriculum leading to GCSE qualifications, organised around a metacognition-based "Thinking School" pedagogy that aims to develop self-reflective learners.

Its core educational product is the standard secondary curriculum, augmented by a One:One laptop device programme (currently covering Year 7 and Year 8 with planned full roll-out) built on Microsoft 365 tools, which has earned the school Microsoft Showcase School status — the first in Portsmouth and one of 50 across England. Additional services include GCSEPod for exam preparation, The Bridge — a purpose-built inclusion centre supporting students with Education Health and Care Plans — and a careers and enrichment programme. Catering is outsourced to Innovate (Impact Food Group) via a cashless Arbor payment system.

The school's revenue model is fundamentally public-sector: it is funded primarily through government per-pupil grants administered via the Department for Education and Portsmouth City Council, with immaterial ancillary income from catering (a £2.90 meal deal) and minor grants (e.g., Royal Institution). The go-to-market is direct admissions via open evenings, school tours, and the local-authority admissions process, supplemented by community events, social media, and the school prospectus. There is no commercial pricing model for tuition; pupils attend free of charge as a state-funded academy.

Name

The Portsmouth Academy

Legal name

The Thinking Schools Academy Trust

Website

https://theportsmouthacademy.org.uk

Company type

Private

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

The Portsmouth Academy is a state-funded secondary school (Years 7-11) in Portsmouth, UK, operating within the Thinking Schools Academy Trust. It delivers GCSE-focused education using a metacognition pedagogy, a One:One Microsoft laptop programme, and a specialist EHCP inclusion centre.

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

Standards Alignment & Curriculum Mapping (State/National) (EDAJAFAD)

akta.pro secondary industry

Virtual Test Prep & Online Supplemental Instruction (K–12) (EDAJADAI)

Keywords

• Secondary education services
• State-funded academy
• Gcse curriculum programs
• Special educational needs
• Digital learning programs

Headquarters

HQ city

Portsmouth

HQ country

United Kingdom

HQ region

Europe

Offices2 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

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

Revenue model

1. State-Funded Education: The school operates as a state-funded academy within the Thinking Schools Academy Trust, providing free secondary education to students. Funding comes from government education grants and per-pupil funding.
2. Catering Services: The school partners with Innovate (member of Impact Food Group) for catering services. Students can purchase meals and snacks through the cashless Arbor payment system. Meal deals cost £2.90.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels3 records

Marketing channels6 records

Core offering

The Portsmouth Academy provides free state-funded secondary education to students aged 11–16 (Years 7–11) preparing them for GCSE examinations, delivered through a metacognition-based Thinking School methodology and supported by a One:One laptop device program using Microsoft tools. Specialist provision for students with Education Health and Care Plans is offered through The Bridge Inclusion Centre, and ancillary services include school catering delivered by Innovate (Impact Food Group).

Product overview

The Portsmouth Academy is a secondary school providing educational services to students, operating as part of the Thinking Schools Academy Trust. The school's core educational offering is supported by a 1:1 laptop device program (One:One), which provides each student with a personal laptop for learning. Additional services include GCSEPod for exam preparation, The Bridge Inclusion Centre for specialist SEND provision, and school meals catering through Innovate. The school employs a metacognition-based learning approach as its pedagogical methodology.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• The Bridge: A specialist purpose-built inclusion centre supporting children with complex learning difficulties who have an Education Health and Care Plan (EHCP).
• We Are TPA

Quantifiable outcome

• First school in Portsmouth to receive Microsoft Showcase School status
• +1 more outcomes

Named customers3 records

Segments3 records

Ideal customer profiles2 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature4 records

Partnerships

Ten partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• Thinking Schools Academy TrustcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerThe Portsmouth Academy is part of the Thinking Schools Academy Trust, a network of 26 schools. The Trust provides professional development provisions, collaboration between schools, and access to central services. The Trust is headquartered at Park Crescent, Chatham, Kent, ME4 6NR (Company Number: 7359755).
• Innovate (Impact Food Group)coreImplementation/ SI/ Consulting PartnerCatering specialist partner providing quality food choices, flexibility and speed. Operates cashless catering system. Food inspired by high street concepts with quick service style.
• Royal InstitutionminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerIndependent charity bringing public and scientists together. Provided interactive STEM shows for Year 7 and Year 8 students and local community. School received a grant from Royal Institution for these events.
• MicrosoftcoreTechnology or IntegrationMicrosoft Showcase School partner. First school in Portsmouth to achieve Showcase School status. One:One device program uses Microsoft tools including Reading Progress app. School has Microsoft Incubator status and access to global network of schools for digital transformation.
• University of PortsmouthminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerUniversity partnership for student taster days. Year 8 pupils attended 'Behind Closed Doors' taster sessions exploring academic disciplines including fashion and textiles, and forensic linguistics.
• Orwell FoundationminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartnership for Orwell Youth Prize competition at University of Portsmouth. Students create podcasts on themes like 'Home' with Q&A with George Orwell's son.
• Apprenticeship Bus InitiativeminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerCitywide initiative by Shaping Portsmouth bringing together NHS, Portsmouth City Council, Royal Army, Royal Navy, BAE Systems, and South Western Rail to inspire students about apprenticeships.
• St Mary's Church, FrattonminorOthersCommunity partnership for Christmas Carols event. School held first community Christmas Carols service at St Mary's Church with over 100 students and families attending.
• LandsecminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerMade in Portsmouth competition funder. Cross-school competition held at Gunwharf Quays shopping centre where students pitch ideas in Dragons Den style.
• The Bridge Inclusion Centre PartnerscoreOthersPurpose-built specialist centre for children with EHCPs. Partners with Portsmouth City Council's Special Educational Needs team for Inclusion Support Panel. Plans trips to citizenship offices and Parliament.

Scale indicators4 records

Recent moves5 records

Expansion highlights4 records

Broad incumbents

• United Learning: Large UK multi-academy trust running state-funded and independent schools nationally. Comparable as a state-secondary operator with shared CPD, curriculum frameworks and a trust-wide digital strategy across multiple academies.
• Ark Schools: UK charity running a network of academies with a strong focus on curriculum design, teacher development and enrichment programmes. Comparable as a MAT operator delivering structured secondary education with central academic and pastoral support.
• Harris Federation: One of the largest UK multi-academy trusts operating primary and secondary academies across London and southern England. Comparable as a MAT-run secondary education operator with shared central services, professional development and digital learning programmes.
• Oasis Community Learning: UK multi-academy trust operating academies with an embedded community-hub model and inclusion focus. Comparable as a state-secondary operator with strong community engagement and inclusion/SEND provision across its network.
• Ormiston Academies Trust: UK multi-academy trust operating secondary and primary academies nationally with a focus on character education and enrichment. Comparable as a MAT secondary operator delivering structured curricula with shared trust-level support.
• Greenwood Academies Trust: UK multi-academy trust running academies across the Midlands and East of England. Comparable as a MAT secondary operator with shared services, professional development and inclusion provision.
• E-ACT: UK multi-academy trust running a portfolio of state-funded primary and secondary academies across multiple regions. Comparable as a MAT-structured secondary operator with shared services and standardised improvement frameworks.
• Academies Enterprise Trust: UK multi-academy trust operating a national portfolio of primary and secondary academies. Comparable as a state-secondary operator with trust-level CPD, curriculum frameworks and inclusion services.
• Outwood Grange Academies Trust: One of the largest UK MATs by school count, operating secondary academies with a strong centralised improvement and curriculum model. Comparable as a high-growth MAT secondary operator with shared central services and a performance-driven culture.

Direct peers

• Reach Academy Feltham: Small UK all-through free school with a strong digital-learning and inclusion focus. Comparable to TPA as a single-site UK state secondary with specialist SEND provision, a 1:1 device ethos and a community-embedded identity.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/the-portsmouth-academy

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles10 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 Portsmouth Academy