Focus 1st Academy
Same Haringey area with a comparable local commute
School profile
Verified 18 August 2026
Footsteps Trust is a private secondary-stage school in London, Greater London, with a published age range of 12-16.
Private school Co-ed Ages 12-16 No sixth form listed No boarders
- Application ?
- Apply direct to school
- Age range
- 12-16
- Ofsted ?
- All standards Met
- Boarding ?
- No boarders
Footsteps Trust
On this page
At a glance
Key facts
- Sector
- Private school
- Gender
- Mixed
- Application ?
- Apply direct to school
- Age range
- 12-16
- Boarding ?
- No boarders
- Route check
- Independent schools do not use the local-authority grammar-school catchment model; check the school site for boarding, transport and eligibility rules.
- Ofsted ?
- All standards Met
Overview
Overview
Footsteps Trust combines alternative provision with a sports-centre base at New River in Haringey. It works with young people in Years 8 to 11 whose mainstream experience has made engagement difficult, placing relationships, pastoral care and personal responsibility alongside academic progress. The mixed, day-only setting serves ages 12 to 16 and has no sixth form.
GCSE English, maths, business studies, science, PE, religious studies and art sit alongside Functional Skills in English and maths. The curriculum adapts to individual needs and includes work-related learning, careers education and preparation for further education, training and apprenticeships. That makes progress towards a next step as important as the immediate subject timetable.
Footsteps Sports Academy adds football, rugby, boxing, athletics and fitness, with coaching awards and small-group booster teaching supported by teachers and learning mentors. Entry is by referral and interview, not a standard family application. The referral route is therefore a defining part of the provision, alongside the strong practical role of sport.
Key points
Key points
- Assessment route
- Applications are made directly to the school. Check the school's own admissions pages for registration dates, entrance assessment stages, interviews, fees, scholarships and bursaries.
- Places and demand
- Published Year 7 place numbers and applicant-per-place data are not included in GIAS for this private-school seed profile.
- Catchment
- Private-school eligibility is not controlled by the local-authority grammar catchment model; check boarding, day-pupil, transport and any sibling or faith rules on the school site.
- Results
- 3.3% grade 5+ in English and maths and 2.9 Attainment 8
GCSE benchmark
Latest 2024/25 KS4 measures compared with Haringey and England.
School Local authority England
- Attainment 8
- 2.90
- Grade 5+ English and maths
- 3.3%
- EBacc APS
- 0.14
- EBacc entry
- 0%
Attainment 8 trend
Recent published Attainment 8 scores compared with Haringey and England.
School Local authority England
School details
School details
- Sector
- Private school
- School type
- Other independent school
- Funding
- Independent fee-paying
- Application
- Apply direct to school
- Gender
- Mixed
- Age range
- 12-16
- Headteacher
- Mr Christopher Hall
- Pupil roll
- 34 pupils
- Sixth form
- No
Location and contact
Location and contact
Address
- Address
- New River Sports Centre, White Hart Lane, Wood Green, London, Greater London
- Postcode
- N22 5QW
- Area
- Haringey
School leadership
- Headteacher
- Mr Christopher Hall
School contact
- School phone
- 02088814050
Admissions contact
- Admissions team
- Admissions
- Admissions email
- info@footstepstrust.com
- Admissions phone
- 02088814050
Admissions
Admissions
- Application route
- Apply direct to school
- Age range
- 12-16
- Gender
- Mixed
- Boarding
- No boarders
- Day fees
- Check school fees page
- Scholarships and bursaries
- Check school site
- Entrance details
- Entrance assessment details are not part of the GIAS open data extract.
- Admissions note
- GIAS confirms the school type and age range; fees, scholarships, bursaries and entrance assessments should be checked on the school's own website.
GIAS confirms the school type and age range; fees, scholarships, bursaries and entrance assessments should be checked on the school's own website.
Independent schools do not use the local-authority grammar-school catchment model; check the school site for boarding, transport and eligibility rules.
Oversubscription and eligibility
Use the official admissions policy for the current priority order and eligibility rules.
Exam and test format
Exam and test format
Entrance route and assessment
Entrance assessment details are not part of the GIAS open data extract.
- Assessment route
- Apply direct to school
Application
Application
How to apply
- 1
Apply direct to the school
Independent-school admissions are handled by the school rather than the local authority CAF.
Check school admissions
Results
Results
Attainment snapshot
- Attainment 8 ?
- 2.9 Attainment 8
- GCSE results
- 3.3% grade 4+ in English and maths
- Grade 5+ English and maths ?
- 3.3% grade 5+ in English and maths
- EBacc average point score ?
- 0.14 EBacc APS
Inspection
Inspection
All standards Met
Latest inspection: 24 June 2025
- Quality of education
- 2
- Behaviour and attitudes
- 2
- Personal development
- 2
- Leadership and management
- 2
Quick summary
- Ofsted inspection outcome: Ofsted's latest independent school standard inspection began on 2025-06-24. The reported outcome is: All standards Met.
- Ofsted safeguarding: The Ofsted dataset records safeguarding as: Yes.
Similar schools and comparisons
Similar schools and comparisons
Nearby schools families also consider
Local rivals appear first, followed by nearby alternatives where the journey and admissions route are still comparable.
Islamic Shakhsiyah Foundation
Same Haringey area with a comparable local commute
College Francais Bilingue De Londres
Same Haringey area with a comparable local commute
Heathside Preparatory School
Same Haringey area with a comparable local commute
Nearby schools with similar results
Closest comparable alternatives with a similar academic profile, so parents can weigh local fit and results together.
Maria Montessori School
Nearby option with a similar Ofsted and sixth-form picture
The School of the Islamic Republic of Iran
Nearby option with a similar Ofsted and sixth-form picture
Arco Academy
Nearby option with a similar Ofsted and sixth-form picture
Shortlist comparisons
Related pages and guides
Related pages and guides
Area and ranking pages
Guides and related reading
Related guides are still being added.
FAQ
Frequently asked questions
How does Footsteps Trust handle admissions?
Footsteps Trust handles applications directly. Check the school website for registration dates, entrance assessments, interviews, fees, scholarships and bursaries.
How do I apply to Footsteps Trust?
1. Apply direct to the school: Independent-school admissions are handled by the school rather than the local authority CAF.
When are the key dates for Footsteps Trust?
Use the school admissions page to confirm registration, assessment, interview and offer dates.
What does the latest inspection picture look like for Footsteps Trust?
Footsteps Trust is currently rated All standards Met following the latest published inspection dated 24 June 2025.