Towers School and Sixth Form Centre

What Towers School and Sixth Form Centre does

Towers School and Sixth Form Centre is a UK state secondary school and sixth form located in Faversham Road, Kennington, Ashford, Kent (TN24 9AL). It converted to academy status in April 2011 and operates under the Towers School Academy Trust, receiving core government funding from the Education and Skills Funding Agency (ESFA) and Kent County Council. The school serves approximately 38 staff supporting a pupil body spanning Years 7–13, including a sixth form cohort of over 200 students studying A Levels, BTECs, and vocational qualifications. Curriculum breadth spans traditional A Level subjects (Biology, Chemistry, Maths, English Literature, Geography, History, Physics, Psychology, Sociology) alongside vocational pathways including Cambridge Technical Performing Arts, RSL Music Practitioners, Applied Diploma in Criminology, NVQ Professional Cookery, and King's Trust.

The technology backbone is entirely third-party and consumer-facing: Google Classroom for homework management, Dr Frost Maths for Years 7–11 mathematics, Carousel for retrieval quizzes, ParentPay for cashless canteen, SCOPAY for trip payments, Arbor for parent communication, and Unifrog for destinations/UCAS progression. The school does not operate any proprietary technology, API, or developer-facing platform. Behaviour management is structured around centrally-run detentions, and pastoral support is delivered through The Rashford Centre alternative provision, which integrates Charlton Athletic Community Trust mentoring, Trail Blazers Education Forest School, and a fully-funded Rugby Football Union programme.

The revenue model is primarily government-funded per-pupil allocation, with ancillary transaction-fee streams from facility lettings (£30–£125/hour depending on space and day), Carters Restaurant (a student-run public restaurant), cashless canteen meals, and educational trip charges. Customer segments are exclusively enrolled students aged 11–18 and their parents/carers within the Ashford/Kent catchment; the sixth form actively recruits from other schools and colleges via Kent Choices. Strategic partnerships span the Royal Shakespeare Company (third year as Associate School, one of three in Kent), Jasmin Vardimon Dance Company (Lead Associate School), National Theatre, Marlowe Theatre, University for the Creative Arts, and three universities (Kent, Canterbury Christchurch, Portsmouth) for higher education progression support.

Name

Towers School and Sixth Form Centre

Legal name

Towers School and Sixth Form Centre

Website

https://towers.kent.sch.uk

Company type

Private

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

Towers School and Sixth Form Centre is a UK state-funded secondary school and sixth form in Ashford, Kent, serving students aged 11–18 through A Levels, BTECs, and vocational pathways under the Towers School Academy Trust, with revenue primarily from ESFA government funding and ancillary facility lettings.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Secondary and Post-16 Education

NAICS

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

SIC

Services-Educational Services (8200)

akta.pro primary industry

Public High Schools (EDAJAAAD)

akta.pro secondary industry

Online Credit Recovery & Alternative Pathways (Virtual) (EDAJADAF)

Keywords

• Secondary education
• Sixth form education
• GCSE courses
• A level courses
• Vocational qualifications

Headquarters

HQ city

Kennington, Ashford

HQ country

United Kingdom

HQ region

Europe

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Technology or R&D, Infrastructure, Supply Chain

Revenue model

1. Educational Provision (Government Funded): State-funded academy receiving government funding for educational provision to students aged 11-18. Core funding from Education Funding Agency.
2. Facility Lettings: School facilities rented to community and organisations. Hourly rates for Dining Hall, Gym, Sports Hall, Dance Studios, Drama Studio, and 3G pitch. Rates vary by area and day (Mon-Fri vs Sat-Sun).
3. Carters Restaurant (Student-Run Catering): Public restaurant open Tue-Wed-Thu lunchtimes run by catering students. Available for private hire. Provides real-world training environment for students.
4. Catering and Meals: Cashless canteen system via ParentPay. Breakfast and lunch services. Free school meals processed through same system.
5. Educational Trips and Visits: Charges for educational trips and visits managed through SCOPAY online payment system.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion2 records

Distribution channels4 records

Marketing channels6 records

Core offering

Towers School and Sixth Form Centre is a UK state-funded secondary school and sixth form in Ashford, Kent, delivering full-time education to students aged 11-18 across Years 7-13. The school offers GCSE, A Level, BTEC, and vocational qualifications alongside specialist alternative provision through The Rashford Centre, supported by partnerships with universities, employers, and arts organisations. The school also generates ancillary income through facility lettings, a student-run public restaurant (Carters), and catering services.

Product overview

Towers School and Sixth Form Centre is a secondary school offering a comprehensive educational programme from Year 7 through Sixth Form. The school provides GCSE qualifications in core subjects alongside an extensive A Level and BTEC portfolio including Drama (Cambridge Technical), Music (RSL), Criminology (Applied Diploma), and Professional Cookery (NVQ). The curriculum is delivered through digital learning platforms including Google Classroom for homework management, Dr Frost Maths for mathematical instruction, and Carousel for retrieval-based revision. For students requiring additional support, The Rashford Centre offers bespoke alternative provision with interventions including mentoring, forest school, and rugby-based programmes. The school operates a cashless payment system via ParentPay and SCOPAY, with student career progression supported through Unifrog and UCAS applications.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• A Level Courses

Quantifiable outcome

• 96% parent recommendation rate (July 2020)
• +4 more outcomes

Named customers2 records

Segments4 records

Ideal customer profiles3 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Integration8 records

Partnerships

13 partnerships are on record, tiered core, flagship and minor.

• Royal Shakespeare Company (RSC)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerAssociate School status for three years; six productions performed at RSC affiliated venues including Marlowe Theatre and Royal Shakespeare Theatre; five live broadcasts screened in school; RSC club runs during enrichment for Years 7-11 (no audition required); one of only three schools in Kent to host RSC's Comedy of Errors production
• Charlton Athletic Community Trust (CACT)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerNon-profit organisation operating in South East London and Kent delivering projects for social change; works with students in Rashford Centre one-on-one supporting physical and mental health, building confidence and resilience; focuses on health, crime, education, and employment outcomes
• Trail Blazers EducationcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerOffsite Forest School provision; students work on social skills through team building activities; access Maths and English sessions in small groups; focus on Social Emotional Mental Health with daily diary logs
• University of KentflagshipStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartnership for higher education support, advice and guidance for apprenticeships and world of work; provides two scholarships of £1000 per year for students entering degree programmes
• Canterbury Christchurch UniversitycoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartnership for higher education support, advice and guidance for apprenticeships and world of work
• Portsmouth UniversitycoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartnership for higher education support, advice and guidance for apprenticeships and world of work
• Careers and Enterprise CompanycoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerAssigned two Enterprise Advisors to Towers School; Compass+ tool used for careers programme evaluation; supports alignment with Gatsby Benchmarks
• Jasmin Vardimon Dance CompanycoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerLead Associate School status; dance curriculum enriched through partnership; students access professional dance experiences
• National TheatrecoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerConnections Programme participant; students engage with National Theatre productions and professionals
• Marlowe TheatrecoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerPerformance venue for RSC and school productions; students perform at Marlowe Theatre as part of Associate Schools programme
• University for the Creative Arts (UCA)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartnership for arts education and student opportunities; collaboration on Folkestone Triennial and local gallery exhibitions
• Rugby Football UnionminorOthersFully funds rugby intervention programme; supported by Wooden Spoon charity; external coach Darren Reeves delivers sessions focusing on Confidence, Competence, Connection, Creativity, Character
• Various Employers (Army, NHS, Kent Police, etc.)coreGTM or Marketing PartnerOver 30 employers listed as university and career partners including Army, NHS, Kent Police, Kent Fire Brigade, local businesses; provide employer talks, work experience, mock interviews, workplace visits

Scale indicators7 records

Recent moves7 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Direct peers

• The Folkestone School for Girls: Kent non-selective secondary school and sixth form. Comparable comprehensive model and age range to Towers, competing for similar demographics in East Kent and providing a benchmark for non-selective secondary outcomes.
• The Skinners' School: Kent grammar school for boys with a sixth form, serving a comparable age range to Towers but drawing from across Kent. Operates in the same secondary/post-16 competitive set and is a benchmark for outcomes Towers competes against in league tables.
• Invicta Grammar School: Kent grammar school for girls in Maidstone offering secondary and sixth form provision. Operates in the same selective vs. non-selective competitive dynamic as Towers and competes for the same talent pool of ambitious Kent families.
• Highworth Grammar School: Kent grammar school for girls based in Ashford, offering A Level sixth form provision. Direct competitor for the same Ashford families and sixth form applicants that Towers targets, with selective intake skewing its outcomes higher.
• The John Wallis Church of England Academy: State secondary school and sixth form also located in Ashford, Kent, directly competing with Towers for the same Year 7 and Sixth Form intake from the Ashford catchment. Comparable non-selective comprehensive model with similar student demographics and post-16 provision.
• Weald of Kent Grammar School: Kent selective grammar school for girls with sixth form provision. Comparable age range and post-16 offer; a competitor for Kent families prioritising grammar pathways and a benchmark for upper-attainment outcomes.
• The Norton Knatchbull School: Kent grammar school for boys in Ashford operating secondary and sixth form provision. Competes with Towers for high-attaining Ashford families at Year 7 entry and for sixth form retention, while serving a much higher prior-atainment cohort.

Others

• Benenden School: Highly selective independent boarding school in Kent covering ages 11-18. Operates in the same Kent post-16 competitive geography as Towers Sixth Form for fee-paying families, but with a wholly different admissions and funding model.

Regional players

• Ashford School: Independent school in Ashford covering nursery through sixth form, including boarding. Same-town geographic competitor for fee-paying Ashford families; different funding model but identical age range and curriculum portfolio.
• Duke of York's Royal Military School: Kent-based state-funded boarding secondary school for children of service personnel, covering Year 7 to sixth form. Comparable age range and curriculum portfolio but distinct funding model and admissions base; competes for a niche set of Kent families.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/PerformingArtsF
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/towers-school-and-sixth-form-centre

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles11 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 Towers School and Sixth Form Centre