Ark Evelyn Grace Academy

What Ark Evelyn Grace Academy does

Ark Evelyn Grace Academy is a mixed state-funded secondary school located at 255 Shakespeare Road, Brixton, South London (SE24 0QN), serving students aged 11–16 across Key Stages 3 and 4. It is operated by Ark Schools, a UK multi-academy trust, and offers a comprehensive National Curriculum education including GCSE subjects and the English Baccalaureate, alongside SEND provision, a Careers and Destinations programme (featuring Unifrog and IntoUniversity partnerships), and an extended curriculum covering sport, performing arts, and enrichment clubs. The school building was designed by Zaha Hadid Architects and completed in 2010; it is the only school building ever to have won the RIBA Stirling Prize for Architecture, and houses facilities including a 5-lane running track, an FA-approved 3G pitch, a dance studio, and a sensory garden.

The school has been rated 'Good' by Ofsted in all areas and reports an 8 percentage-point year-on-year increase in English Baccalaureate completion. It is led by Principal Una Sookun, with David Boothe serving as Designated Safeguarding Lead and SEND Coordinator, and Mr Blair as Assistant Principal and Head of Music.

The business model is that of a state-funded academy: revenue is derived from per-pupil grant funding from the Education and Skills Funding Agency (ESFA) — no tuition fees are charged. Admissions are coordinated via Lambeth Local Authority for Year 7 entry, with in-year admissions handled directly by the school. Supplementary, non-core resources include charitable grants (e.g., a £20,000 Restore the Music grant in 2025), and a nascent facility-hire channel via Schools Plus. Customer segments are student enrollees (Years 7–11) and their parents/carers — both served without fee. As a non-profit academy within the Ark Schools trust, the institution has no equity holders and no commercial monetisation beyond statutory funding and ancillary facility rental.

Name

Ark Evelyn Grace Academy

Legal name

Ark Evelyn Grace Academy

Website

https://evelyngraceacademy.org

Company type

Private

Founded year

2010

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

Ark Evelyn Grace Academy is a state-funded, mixed secondary school in Brixton, South London, serving students aged 11–16. Operated by Ark Schools multi-academy trust, it offers a full National Curriculum including GCSEs and the English Baccalaureate, free of tuition charges.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Headquarters

HQ city

London

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, Supply Chain

Revenue model

1. State-Funded Education: Ark Evelyn Grace Academy is a state-funded secondary school operated by Ark Schools, a multi-academy trust. It receives government funding through the Education and Skills Funding Agency (ESFA) based on pupil enrollment. No tuition fees are charged to students.

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels2 records

Marketing channels5 records

Core offering

Ark Evelyn Grace Academy is a state-funded mixed secondary school for students aged 11-16 in Brixton, South London, operated by Ark Schools. It delivers the National Curriculum with English Baccalaureate focus across Years 7-11, complemented by extended programmes in Performing Arts and Sport, SEND support, a Careers and Destinations programme, and a Parent Hub for family engagement. The school is housed in an iconic Zaha Hadid Architects-designed building that won the RIBA Stirling Prize.

Product overview

Ark Evelyn Grace Academy offers a unified educational programme as a mixed 11-16 secondary school in Brixton, South London. The core offering is a comprehensive academic curriculum aligned with the National Curriculum, including English Baccalaureate subjects, enhanced by dedicated Digital and Reading curriculum modules. The extended curriculum complements core learning through Performing Arts (including music programmes), Sport (with facilities including a 5-lane running track and 3G pitch), and Enrichment Clubs. Specialised support services include SEND provision, a structured Careers and Destinations Programme (using Unifrog platform), and a Parent Hub providing digital access to communications, payments, and school information via MCAS and iPay integrations. The school also manages admissions services for secondary and in-year applications. The school building, designed by Zaha Hadid Architects and recipient of the RIBA Stirling Prize, provides state-of-the-art facilities including a Dance Studio and Sensory Garden.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Core Academic Curriculum

Quantifiable outcome

• English Baccalaureate completion increased by 8 percentage points year-on-year in the most recent GCSE results

Named customers3 records

Segments2 records

Ideal customer profiles1 record

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Integration9 records

Partnerships

Nine partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• Restore the MusiccoreGTM or Marketing PartnerRestore the Music is a national charity (founded 2013, established as charity 2017) dedicated to transforming music education in UK state schools. They awarded Ark Evelyn Grace Academy a £20,000 grant to purchase instruments, expand inclusive music ensembles, and support Key Stage 4 students working towards music qualifications. Restore the Music's approach ensures instruments reflect students' cultural backgrounds and musical interests.
• Zaha Hadid ArchitectscoreOthersZaha Hadid Architects designed the school building, completed in 2010. The building is widely recognised as a masterpiece of modern design, featuring bold lines, dynamic forms, and a zig-zag shape nodding to the 'Z' of Zaha Hadid. The design maximises natural light and creates open, flowing spaces. The building won the RIBA Stirling Prize for Architecture.
• Brixton Chamber OrchestraminorOthersThe Brixton Chamber Orchestra visited Ark Evelyn Grace Academy to deliver an inspiring music workshop, bringing live performance directly into the academy. Students explored a wide range of instruments including woodwind, brass, strings, and percussion while learning from professional musicians.
• IntoUniversitycoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerIntoUniversity delivered workshops at Ark Evelyn Grace Academy as part of a wider programme of immersive educational experiences. These sessions support attainment while developing key academic habits, confidence, and essential soft skills that prepare students for success in school, higher education, and beyond. Year 8 students also participated in an IntoUniversity trip.
• UnifrogcoreTechnology or IntegrationStudents at Ark Evelyn Grace Academy participated in dedicated Unifrog mornings throughout the academic year. Through guided activities on the platform, students explored their interests and strengths, recorded achievements, and researched education and training pathways. They also began drafting applications and developing skills for informed decisions about future destinations.
• Black Cultural ArchivesminorOthersYear 7 students visited the Black Cultural Archives in Brixton for a workshop. Students gathered information about the experiences of Caribbean immigrants and the Windrush Generation, exploring how community culture has been shaped by the past.
• Garden MuseumminorOthersYear 8 students visited the Garden Museum for a learning experience exploring the biology and cultural history of tea. Students crafted their own herbal tea bags and had a special visit from Her Majesty The Queen who spoke with them about what they learned.
• School of Hard KnocksminorOthersThe School of Hard Knocks rugby programme delivered a trip for students at Ark Evelyn Grace Academy, combining rugby training with personal development and educational outcomes.
• Her Majesty The QueenminorOthersHer Majesty The Queen visited Ark Evelyn Grace Academy's Year 8 students at the Garden Museum during a tea-themed educational event, engaging with students about what they had learned.

Scale indicators2 records

Recent moves5 records

Expansion highlights4 records

Direct peers

• Ark Burlington Danes Academy: A secondary academy within the same Ark Schools multi-academy trust, serving a similar age range in London. Directly comparable as a peer Ark-network school with shared governance, curriculum, and operational model.
• Kingsdale Foundation School: A high-performing mixed secondary school in nearby Southwark, South London. Comparable as a local competitor for South London secondary admissions and a peer school in the borough-adjacent geography.
• Ark Academy: A secondary school within the Ark Schools network in Wembley, London. Directly comparable as a peer Ark-network school sharing curriculum, governance, and operational model.
• Platanos College: A secondary academy in Lambeth, South London, serving a similar demographic. Comparable as a competitor school in the same local admissions area.
• Dunraven School: A mixed secondary school in Lambeth, South London, serving a similar 11-18 age range. Comparable as a local competitor for admissions and a peer in the South London state secondary market.
• Harris Academy Brixton: A neighbouring secondary academy in Brixton, Lambeth, operated by the Harris Federation. Directly comparable on catchment, age range, and academy model, making it the school's primary local competitor for Year 7 admissions.
• Oasis Academy South Bank: A secondary academy in the Lambeth/South Bank area operated by the Oasis Community Learning MAT. Comparable as a similarly-sized London secondary academy competing for the same pool of local students.

Broad incumbents

• Ark Schools: The parent multi-academy trust operating Ark Evelyn Grace Academy and multiple other schools across the UK. Comparable as the broader network governing the school and providing scaling, governance, and shared curriculum.
• Charter Schools USA: A US-based charter school management organisation operating a portfolio of secondary schools. Comparable at the broader-international level as a multi-school operator in a publicly-funded K-12 setting, though operating under a different regulatory framework.

Emerging players

• South Bank Engineering UTC: A University Technical College in Southwark/Lambeth offering secondary-age technical education. Comparable as a London secondary alternative overlapping with the 14-16 age range, though with a specialist STEM focus.

Market position

Strengths4 records

Weaknesses4 records

Competitive moat3 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• Xtwitter.com/ArkEvelynGraceAcademy
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/ark-evelyn-grace-academy

Compliance2 records

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles3 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 Ark Evelyn Grace Academy