What Step Academy Trust does

Step Academy Trust is a UK Multi-Academy Trust (MAT) operating 20 primary academies — 12 in South London and 8 in East Sussex — serving approximately 3,847 pupils (with possible higher counts from regional data) across more than 47 languages. Incorporated in 2011 as a charitable company limited by guarantee (Company # 7612865), the trust provides free state-funded primary education to children aged 3–11, with admissions coordinated through the Pan London and East Sussex County Council systems. The trust has publicly stated intent to evolve into a mixed MAT serving ages 3–18 under a hub model of growth.

The trust's product surface centers on standardized educational delivery frameworks: STEP Compass (strategic mission/vision framework), STEP Way (consistency framework across all academies), and STEP Up (centralized SEND and inclusion support framework). Operational technology consists of standard educational administration systems, with payment integrations via ParentPay and WisePay. STEP Institute of Education and STEP Ahead Teaching School Hub extend the trust's reach into teacher training, Early Career Framework (ECF), and National Professional Qualifications (NPQs). All 20 academies are rated Good or Better by Ofsted, with La Fontaine Academy and Benedict Academy achieving Outstanding; Key Stage 2 outcomes materially exceed national averages (e.g., 80% combined RWM vs 62% national).

Revenue is generated exclusively through UK government education funding — per-pupil allocations, capital grants, and DfE Funding Agreements — with no commercial pricing. The go-to-market is direct-to-consumer (families), coordinated via Local Authority admissions. The trust is governed by a Board of Trustees with an Executive Team and academy-level leadership, and operates a community engagement model including Pupil Parliament, the annual STEP Debating Championship (hosted by RBC London Office), and Culture Day programmes.

Name

Step Academy Trust

Legal name

STEP Academy Trust

Website

https://stepacademytrust.org

Company type

Private

Founded year

2011

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

251–500 employees

Short description

Step Academy Trust is a UK Multi-Academy Trust operating 20 state-funded primary academies across South London and East Sussex, serving approximately 3,847 pupils aged 3–11 under standardized STEP Way, STEP Compass, and STEP Up operational frameworks, with 100% Ofsted Good or Better ratings.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Primary Education Services

NAICS

Elementary and Secondary Schools (6111), Elementary and Secondary Schools (611110), Educational Support Services (611710)

SIC

Services-Educational Services (8200)

akta.pro primary industry

International/Global Curriculum Schools (IB, Cambridge, etc.) (EDAJABAG)

akta.pro secondary industry

Special Needs-Inclusive Early Learning Academies (EDACADAI)

Keywords

• Primary education
• Multi-academy trust
• Teacher training
• School improvement
• SEND education

Headquarters

HQ city

Thornton Heath

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, Others

Revenue model

1. Government Education Funding: STEP Academy Trust receives state funding through Funding Agreements with the Department for Education. The trust operates as a charitable company limited by guarantee, with revenue derived from per-pupil funding allocations, capital grants, and other government education funding mechanisms.

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels3 records

Marketing channels7 records

Core offering

Step Academy Trust is a UK-based charitable Multi-Academy Trust operating 20 primary academies across East Sussex (8 schools) and South London (12 schools), delivering free state-funded primary education to over 3,800 pupils aged 3-11. The trust operates under a unified STEP Compass framework (Mission, Vision, Values) with standardized methodologies (STEP Way for consistency, STEP Up for support), and extends its reach through the STEP Institute of Education and STEP Ahead Teaching School Hub for teacher training and professional development.

Product overview

STEP Academy Trust operates as a unified multi-academy trust with a portfolio of educational products and services. The core offering consists of 20 primary schools across East Sussex and South London, supported by internal frameworks (STEP Compass, STEP Way, STEP Up). The trust extends its reach through educational products: STEP Institute of Education for teacher training, and STEP Ahead Teaching School Hub for CPD programmes (ECF, NPQs). The STEP Debating Championship represents a signature inter-academy programme. The trust's architecture combines a central unified approach with academy-level autonomy, operating through two regional clusters (East Sussex 8 schools, South London 12 schools).

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• STEP Institute of Education: STEP Institute of Education provides professional development and teacher training programs including Early Career Framework (ECF) and National Professional Qualifications (NPQs).

Products and services

• STEP Primary Academy Education Free state-funded primary education delivered across 20 academies (8 in East Sussex, 12 in South London) for children aged 3-11 (Reception through Year 6), with a vision to expand to ages 3-18. Education is funded through Department for Education per-pupil allocations and coordinated through Local Authority admissions systems.
• STEP Institute of Education Professional development and teacher training arm of the trust, providing educational leadership support and training programmes for teachers within and outside the STEP Academy Trust network.
• STEP Ahead Teaching School Hub

Quantifiable outcome

• 80% Combined attainment (Reading, Writing, Maths) at Key Stage 2 vs 62% National average
• +4 more outcomes

Named customers5 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

Integration2 records

Feature4 records

Partnerships

One partnership is on record.

• RBC London Office TeamcoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2025RBC London Office Team hosts the annual STEP Debating Championship, supporting oracy and debate skills development for Year 5 students across all STEP academies. The partnership has been ongoing for multiple years, hosting semi-finals, quarter-finals, and final competitions.

Scale indicators10 records

Recent moves7 records

Expansion highlights4 records

Direct peers

• Ark Schools: National UK MAT running a network of primary and secondary academies with a strong focus on educational outcomes for disadvantaged pupils. Comparable in scale, central operating model, and inclusion-driven mission to STEP.
• Harris Federation: One of the largest UK Multi-Academy Trusts, operating a mixed portfolio of primary and secondary academies predominantly in and around London. Highly comparable as a London-anchored MAT with a strong school-improvement function and similar GTM via direct admissions.
• Oasis Community Learning: Large UK MAT operating primary, secondary and all-through academies nationwide with a strong community-inclusion ethos. STEP's anti-racism, diversity and inclusion framing is closely aligned with Oasis's mission.
• Academies Enterprise Trust (AET): Large national MAT running primary, secondary and special academies across England. Comparable in scale and diversity of portfolio, and useful as a benchmark for STEP's planned mixed-MAT expansion.
• GLF Schools: Multi-academy trust operating a mixed primary and secondary portfolio across the South of England, including Sussex and Surrey. Geographic overlap with STEP's East Sussex and South London footprint makes it a highly relevant regional peer.
• United Learning: One of the UK's largest mixed MATs, running both state-funded academies and independent schools. Relevant peer because United Learning has executed the primary-to-mixed-MAT journey STEP is now pursuing, providing a roadmap and benchmark.
• REAch2 Academy Trust: National primary-focused MAT with a large portfolio of primary academies and a strong school-improvement infrastructure. One of the most directly comparable pure-primary MATs in the UK market to STEP.
• Greenshaw Learning Trust: South of England-focused MAT with a growing portfolio of primary and secondary schools, including in Surrey and Sussex. Direct regional peer to STEP, with similar mixed-phase ambitions.

Broad incumbents

• GEMS Education: Global K-12 schools group operating premium private and international schools worldwide. Relevant as a broader incumbent demonstrating scaled, branded school-group economics — though GEMS is fee-based and international, unlike STEP's state-funded UK model.
• Cognita: International K-12 schools group with owned and partnered schools across multiple continents. A broad incumbent comparable on multi-site operating model and centralised quality framework, but with a private-fee model rather than state funding.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/thesteptrust
• YouTubeyoutube.com/watch?v=kAr9qbsmp6k
• Facebookfacebook.com/sharer/sharer.php?u=https://www.stepacademytrust.org
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/step-academy-trust

Compliance1 record

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Subsidiaries19 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 Step Academy Trust