Thirsk School

What Thirsk School does

Thirsk School & Sixth Form College is a state-maintained secondary school located on Topcliffe Road in Sowerby, Thirsk, North Yorkshire, UK. The institution delivers education across Key Stage 3 (Years 7-9), Key Stage 4 (Years 10-11, GCSE and Cambridge National Level 2), and the Sixth Form (Years 12-13, A-Levels, BTECs, and Level 3 vocational courses), with a Published Admission Number of 195 for Year 7 intake. The curriculum is broad, covering sciences, humanities, modern foreign languages (French and German), mathematics, English, creative arts, technology, computing, business studies, health and social care, and vocational pathways, supplemented by a Gatsby-Benchmark-aligned CEIAG programme, a mental health Inclusion Unit (The Perch), a falcon-themed House System with rewards, and the Duke of Edinburgh Award scheme. Student outcomes include 95% of leavers securing a place at a university of their choice, including Russell Group and Oxbridge institutions.

The school is funded primarily through UK government education grants administered via North Yorkshire Council, with auxiliary revenue from the on-site canteen, paid school trips and residential experiences, and the 16-19 Bursary Fund for Sixth Form students from households earning under £30,000. Education is free at point of delivery; Year 7 and in-year admissions are managed by the Local Authority, while Sixth Form applications are handled directly by the school. There are no shareholders, no parent company, and no commercial revenue streams; ownership and control rest with the Governing Board and Headteacher.

The technology stack is conventional and entirely third-party: a Webflow-hosted public website, Microsoft 365 for administration, the MyChildAtSchool (MCAS) parent portal for attendance, behaviour, and consent management, and a Matterport-powered 3D virtual tour. The school operates a multi-channel community-led go-to-market through primary school liaison, open events, Bridging Week for Sixth Form applicants, virtual tours, and social media presence on YouTube, Facebook, and Instagram. The school's competitive position rests on its deep local ecosystem, including the 200+ employer Business Friends network, partnerships with NYBEP and external mental health providers (CAMHS, Wellbeing in Mind Team), and its integrated pastoral and careers infrastructure.

Name

Thirsk School

Legal name

Thirsk School

Website

https://thirskschool.org

Company type

Private

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

Thirsk School is a state-maintained secondary school and Sixth Form College in North Yorkshire, UK, delivering KS3, GCSE, and A-Level education to students aged 11-18, funded by government grants and supported by 200+ employer partners and a Gatsby-aligned careers programme.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Secondary Education

NAICS

Elementary and Secondary Schools (6111)

SIC

Services-Educational Services (8200)

akta.pro primary industry

Public High Schools (EDAJAAAD)

Keywords

• Secondary education
• Sixth form college
• GCSE qualifications
• Careers education
• Pastoral support

Headquarters

HQ city

Thirsk

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, Others

Revenue model

1. Government Funding (Education Funding): State-funded secondary school receiving government funding for student education. Education is free at point of delivery for all students.
2. 16-19 Bursary Fund: Financial support program for Sixth Form students from households with income under £30,000. Provides funds for trips, open days, stationery, courses, travel expenses, and educational materials.
3. Canteen Services: On-site canteen providing meals to students, generating auxiliary revenue.
4. School Trips and Activities: Optional paid educational trips, residential experiences (e.g., Berlin, Budapest, Barcelona, Paris tours), and extra-curricular activities.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion2 records

Distribution channels4 records

Marketing channels8 records

Core offering

Thirsk School is a coeducational state-maintained secondary school and sixth form in Thirsk, North Yorkshire, England, serving students aged 11–18. It delivers Key Stage 3 and Key Stage 4 (GCSE and BTEC) education as well as a sixth form offering A-Levels and BTEC qualifications, supplemented by careers education, pastoral support, enrichment activities, and on-site facilities such as a canteen, library, and sports facilities.

Product overview

Thirsk School is a secondary school and Sixth Form College in North Yorkshire offering a comprehensive educational programme from Year 7 through Sixth Form. The institution provides a broad Key Stage 3 foundation curriculum followed by GCSE and vocational qualifications at Key Stage 4, and A-Level and Level 3 courses in the Sixth Form College. Core academic offerings span Sciences, Humanities, Languages (French and German), Mathematics, English, Creative Arts (Music, Drama, Art), Technology, Computing, Business Studies, and Health and Social Care. The school supplements its academic curriculum with integrated careers guidance (CEIAG) aligned to Gatsby Benchmarks, a mental health Inclusion Unit ('The Perch'), a house system with reward programmes, and extra-curricular activities including the Duke of Edinburgh Award and Music programme with performance opportunities. Digital services include a parent portal (MyChildAtSchool) and a 3D Matterport-powered virtual tour.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Quantifiable outcome

• 95% of students achieve a place at a University of their choice including Russell Group universities and Oxford/Cambridge
• +3 more outcomes

Segments4 records

Ideal customer profiles1 record

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Integration2 records

Feature1 record

Partnerships

Eight partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• North Yorkshire Business Education Partnership (NYBEP)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartnership with NYBEP to support and facilitate work experience placements for students in Years 10 and 12. NYBEP helps coordinate quality placements and provides support throughout the work experience process.
• Business Friends of Thirsk SchoolcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerNetwork of over 200 local employers who engage with the school for career talks, mock interviews, apprenticeships, and work experience placements. This network supports the school's CEIAG programme and helps students build relationships with potential employers.
• CAMHS (Child and Adolescent Mental Health Services)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerExternal agency collaborating with the school's Inclusion Unit (The Perch) to provide mental health support and wellbeing services to students. Part of the holistic approach to student mental health.
• Wellbeing in Mind TeamcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerExternal wellbeing team providing workshops and small group work in partnership with the school's Inclusion Unit. Supports students facing emotional wellbeing challenges.
• COMPASS PHOENIXminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerExternal agency providing additional support services to the Inclusion Unit for student mental health and wellbeing programs.
• Just Be Grief CounsellingminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerBereavement counselling service collaborating with the school's Inclusion Unit to support students dealing with grief and loss.
• Gatsby FoundationcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerThe school benchmarks its CEIAG provision against the eight Gatsby Benchmarks - the national framework for excellent careers provision in schools. This framework guides the school's career education program structure.
• North Yorkshire CouncilcoreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorLocal Authority managing school admissions for Year 7 and in-year applications. The school works within the council's admission framework for student enrollment.

Scale indicators4 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Direct peers

• Ripon Grammar School: State-funded selective secondary school located in Ripon, North Yorkshire. Comparable as another North Yorkshire secondary within the same local authority catchment, competing for similar Year 7 applicants.
• Bedale High School: State secondary school in Bedale, North Yorkshire. Comparable as a similarly sized community secondary within the same North Yorkshire Council area, with a comparable KS3-KS4 curriculum and sixth-form pathway.
• Outwood Academy Ripon: Academy secondary school in Ripon, North Yorkshire. Comparable as an alternative North Yorkshire secondary within the same admissions geography, providing direct competition for in-area families.
• Scalby School: State secondary school with sixth form in Scalby, near Scarborough, North Yorkshire. Comparable as another North Yorkshire community secondary providing KS3-KS5 education and competing in the broader regional market.
• Selby High School: State secondary school with sixth form in Selby, North Yorkshire. Comparable as a similar North Yorkshire community secondary under the same local authority, serving a mixed academic and vocational cohort.
• Stokesley School: State secondary school in Stokesley, North Yorkshire, with its own sixth form. Comparable as another rural North Yorkshire secondary in the same local authority area, with overlapping catchment and curriculum.
• Richmond School: State secondary school with sixth form in Richmond, North Yorkshire. Comparable as a community secondary in the same region serving KS3-KS5 students, competing for the same North Yorkshire applicant pool.
• Tadcaster Grammar School: Community secondary school with sixth form in Tadcaster, North Yorkshire. Comparable as another North Yorkshire state secondary with a similar profile, drawing from a comparable rural/semi-rural catchment.
• Northallerton School: State secondary school with sixth form in Northallerton, North Yorkshire. Comparable as a like-for-like North Yorkshire community secondary serving similar age range, with a comparable curriculum and sixth-form offering.

Regional players

• Skipton Girls' High School: Selective state girls' secondary school in Skipton, North Yorkshire. Comparable as a regional North Yorkshire secondary competing for high-attaining students in the wider area, though with a different admissions model (selective rather than comprehensive).

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• YouTubeyoutube.com/@thirskschoolsixthformcolle77/videos
• Facebookfacebook.com/thirskschool
• Instagraminstagram.com/bemorethirsk/?hl=en
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/thirsk-school

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles4 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 Thirsk School