What Thomas Telford School does

Thomas Telford School is a City Technology College located in Telford, Shropshire, United Kingdom, founded in 1991 and sponsored by The Mercers' Company and Tarmac Holdings Limited. The school serves secondary school students across Years 7-13, offering GCSE education (Key Stages 3 and 4), Sixth Form programmes with A Levels and BTECs, and specialized academies in Performing Arts, Business, and Sport. Its core technology platform includes an Online Curriculum (OLC) system, Virtual Desktop Infrastructure (VDI), Microsoft Office 365 integration, Bromcom Cloud MIS for student records, and SharePoint-based Staff & Student Intranet. Careers exploration is supported through Unifrog and Xello platforms. The school's product surface extends beyond the classroom through the Session 3 enrichment programme (3:30pm-4:50pm Monday to Thursday), Duke of Edinburgh Award Scheme with over 100 participants, a 6-lane 25m swimming pool with Omega Electronic Timing, and a Technogym-equipped Fitness Centre refurbished in 2025.

The school's business model is based on UK government per-pupil funding as a state-funded City Technology College, meaning it charges no tuition fees. Revenue is supplemented by the Mercers' Company and Tarmac Holdings Limited sponsorship, ancillary income from extended services, Session 3 activities, facility hire, and community events such as the annual Golf Competition at £60 per person. Admissions are processed through formal published Rules of Admission for Year 7 and Sixth Form entry, supported by open events, taster days, and prospectuses. The school markets primarily through its website (ttsonline.net), weekly broadcast communications to parents, and an annual Careers Fair attended by over 45 universities, employers, and training providers. Operational metrics include a 92% Key Stage 4 completion rate with five or more GCSEs graded 9-4 including Mathematics and English (2025), near 100% positive destination rate (nil NEETs), and a formal taught week of 28 hours 45 minutes plus 6 additional hours per week for Session 3 activities. The institution holds an Ofsted 'Good' rating from December 2022 and received Secretary of State recognition in 2026 for work supporting disadvantaged pupils.

Name

Thomas Telford School

Legal name

Telford City Technology College Trust Ltd

Website

https://ttsonline.net

Company type

Private

Founded year

1991

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

51–100 employees

Short description

Thomas Telford School is a state-funded City Technology College in Telford, Shropshire, UK, serving secondary and sixth form students (Years 7-13) with GCSE, A-Level, and BTEC programmes. It offers specialized academies in Performing Arts, Business, and Sport, supported by sponsors The Mercers' Company and Tarmac Holdings Limited.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Secondary Education

NAICS

Elementary and Secondary Schools (611110), Technical and Trade Schools (6115)

SIC

Services-Educational Services (8200)

akta.pro primary industry

Public Career & Technical Education (CTE) Centers & Programs (EDAJAAAJ)

Keywords

• Secondary education services
• Sixth form education
• GCSE A-level tuition
• Performing arts academy
• Business academy education

Headquarters

HQ city

Telford

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: As a City Technology College, the school receives government funding for education services. This is supplemented by the sponsorship from The Mercers' Company and Tarmac Holdings Limited. Additional revenue may come from extended services, session 3 activities, and facility hire.

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels2 records

Marketing channels5 records

Core offering

Thomas Telford School is a City Technology College providing state-funded secondary and sixth-form education for students aged 11-18 in Telford, Shropshire. The school delivers GCSE, A-Level, and BTEC qualifications through a curriculum emphasising Science, Mathematics, Technology, and Business Education, supplemented by specialist academies in Performing Arts, Business, and Sport, an extended Session 3 programme, and a comprehensive careers service. Core offerings include online curriculum delivery, enrichment activities, and pastoral care.

Product overview

Thomas Telford School is a City Technology College offering a comprehensive educational programme across Key Stages 3 and 4 and Sixth Form. The school's product portfolio centres on its Online Curriculum and School Portal for digital learning, supplemented by specialised academies including the Performing Arts Academy (with over 100 alumni in professional theatre), the Business Academy (with employer-endorsed employability programmes), and extensive Sport & Physical Education programmes. The Session 3 extra-curricular programme provides academic, performing arts, and sports activities, while the Careers Programme provides guidance from Year 7 through Sixth Form using Unifrog and Xello platforms. Additional services include Swimming, Fitness Centre, Duke of Edinburgh Award Scheme, and Library Services. The school also provides Virtual Desktop Infrastructure for remote access to computing resources.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• Business Academy: A centre of excellence offering business-related curriculum with employer engagement and employability skills development.
• Performing Arts Academy
• Teaching School

Products and services

• Online Curriculum & School Portal Digital learning platform providing students access to curriculum materials, course content, and academic resources. Includes Online Learning Curriculum (OLC) at olc.ttsonline.net and the main School Portal at portal.ttsonline.net for academic study and independent learning.
• Session 3 Extended Programme Extra-curricular programme offering academic, performing arts, and sport activities from 3:30pm until 4:50pm Monday to Thursday. Almost 100% of students participate in at least one Session 3 per week, with many attending multiple sessions weekly.
• Performing Arts Academy Specialist programme for developing professional actors and musical theatre performers. Over 100 alumni have secured professional contracts in acting and musical theatre, with performances in West End productions including Hamilton, Mean Girls, Wicked, and many others. Includes technical theatre training and performance opportunities.
• Business Academy Centre of excellence for business education offering A Levels and BTEC qualifications. Features the TTS Employability Passport, employer engagement programmes, and overseas trips to New York. Students progress to business degrees, apprenticeships, and employment with firms including Cap Gemini, Deloitte, KPMG, and Grant Thornton.
• Sport & Physical Education Programme Comprehensive sports programme with three pathways: Participation, Competition, and Performance. State-of-the-art facilities include swimming pool, sports hall, astro-turf pitches, netball courts, and fitness centre. Extensive Session 3 sports programme and competitive team sports.
• Duke of Edinburgh Award Scheme DofE programme open to students from Year 10 with over 100 students participating at Bronze, Silver, or Gold levels. Four sections include learning a new skill, service to others, physical recreation, and expeditions.
• Swimming Programme Full swimming programme from Learn to Swim through to National standard, including Water Polo and Fun Swim. 6-lane 25m deck level pool with Omega Electronic Timing. Regular qualification for ESSA National Schools Relay Championship at the Olympic Pool in London.
• Fitness Centre State-of-the-art fitness facility opened in 2007 and fully refurbished in 2025 with Technogym equipment. Features Wellness System for tracking fitness progression. Open to students from Year 7 through Sixth Form and staff, with exclusive Sixth Form sessions on Wednesdays.
• Careers Programme Comprehensive careers education from Year 7 through Sixth Form including Careers Insight sessions, work experience, university preparation, apprenticeships guidance, and employer engagement. Uses Unifrog and Xello platforms for career exploration. Annual Careers Fair with over 45 universities and employers.
• Virtual Desktop Infrastructure (VDI) Remote desktop access enabling staff and students to access virtual desktop environments via web browser at vdi.ttsonline.net/portal/webclient/. Provides flexible access to computing resources from any location.
• Library Services School library with online catalogue accessible via Oliver ASP system. Resources support curriculum across all subjects with study areas and research facilities.
• Sixth Form Programme Post-16 education offering A Levels, BTECs, and Cambridge Technical qualifications. Includes preparation for university, apprenticeships, employment, and gap years. Oxbridge Preparation Programme and support for medical/veterinary careers.

Quantifiable outcome

• 92% of Year 11 students achieved 5+ GCSEs graded 9-4 including Maths and English (2025)
• +4 more outcomes

Named customers2 records

Segments3 records

Ideal customer profiles3 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Integration9 records

Feature3 records

Partnerships

Six partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• Over 45 Universities, Employers and Training ProviderscoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerAnnual Careers and Higher Education Fair attended by over 45 organisations including universities, local and regional employers, and training providers. These partnerships support student career guidance, university applications, apprenticeships, and work experience placements.
• Cap Gemini, Howdens Management Scheme, Deloitte, KPMG, Grant ThorntoncoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerBusiness Academy students have progressed onto business related degrees and degree apprenticeships in areas such as finance, administration and management with these major employers.
• UnifrogcoreTechnology or IntegrationThomas Telford uses Unifrog, a comprehensive digital platform that engages every student in building skills, knowledge, and plans for future success. All students have access to the platform for career exploration and planning.
• NHS Young Volunteers SchememinorStrategic or Co-development PartnerSixth Form students have the unique opportunity to volunteer at Princess Royal Hospital Telford or Royal Shrewsbury Hospital as part of the NHS Young Volunteers Scheme.
• Collins AerospaceminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerYear 10 engineering project in partnership with UTC Collins Aerospace includes a visit to University of Wolverhampton's engineering department at Priorslee campus.
• Wrekin Golf CourseminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerVenue for annual Thomas Telford School Golf Competition, a community event supporting school fundraising.

Scale indicators9 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Direct peers

• Graveney School: Graveney School is a high-performing non-selective comprehensive secondary in Wandsworth, consistently in the UK top 20 for GCSE outcomes. Most directly comparable to Thomas Telford among peers as a high-achieving UK non-selective state comprehensive rather than a grammar school, mirroring TTS's comprehensive intake model.
• King Edward VI Grammar School, Chelmsford: King Edward VI Grammar School is a selective boys' grammar school in Chelmsford with a strong historic foundation (similar long-established heritage to Thomas Telford's 1991 founding). Comparable as a top-tier UK state selective secondary with sustained academic outcomes over multiple decades.
• Chelmsford County High School for Girls: Chelmsford County High School for Girls is a selective girls' grammar school in Essex, consistently ranked in the UK top 10 for GCSE outcomes. Comparable to Thomas Telford as a high-performing selective state secondary operating under a similar league-table competitive dynamic.
• Wilson's School: Wilson's School is a boys' state grammar school in Sutton, regularly ranked in the UK top 10 for GCSE results. Closely comparable to Thomas Telford on academic outcomes, state-funded model, and competitive positioning for high-attainment pupils in a defined regional catchment.
• St Olave's Grammar School: St Olave's Grammar School is a selective boys' grammar school in Orpington, Kent, consistently among the UK's top-performing state secondaries. Comparable to Thomas Telford on academic league-table positioning and selective state-funded operating model.
• Queen Elizabeth's School (Barnet): Queen Elizabeth's School is a boys' selective grammar school in Barnet, consistently ranked as one of the UK's top state secondaries by A-Level and GCSE outcomes. Comparable to Thomas Telford in operating as a high-performing UK state secondary competing for academically able cohorts in a defined region.
• Henrietta Barnett School: Henrietta Barnett School is a girls' grammar school in Hampstead Garden Suburb, frequently the top-performing UK state school by GCSE results. Directly comparable to Thomas Telford as a state-funded selective secondary with leading league-table outcomes.
• Altrincham Grammar School for Boys: Altrincham Grammar School for Boys is a selective boys' grammar school in Greater Manchester, ranked among the UK's highest-performing state secondaries. Comparable to Thomas Telford in serving as a high-attainment selective state school within a defined regional catchment.
• Pates Grammar School: Pates Grammar School is a mixed selective grammar school in Cheltenham, consistently ranked among the top UK state secondaries by GCSE outcomes. Comparable to Thomas Telford as a high-performing selective UK state school competing for high-attainment cohorts in a defined regional catchment.
• Tiffin School: Tiffin School is a boys' state-funded grammar school in Kingston upon Thames, consistently ranked among the top-performing UK secondary schools by GCSE and A-Level results. Directly comparable to Thomas Telford as a high-achieving UK state secondary with selective intake and a strong record on league-table academic outcomes.

Market position

Strengths4 records

Weaknesses4 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• LinkedInlinkedin.com/school/thomas-telford-school-qtc

Compliance1 record

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 Thomas Telford School