Ark Isaac Newton Academy, Ilford

From the headteacher's welcome: "I am delighted to introduce you to Ark Isaac Newton Academy, a brand new, purpose-built, all-through school for students aged 4-18 in Ilford. Our academy is a non-denominational, non-selective school, welcoming pupils from all backgrounds from the local community. The school opened with just 180 Year 7 students in September 2012."

Coming up: an open evening on Tuesday 10 November 2026 at 6pm, an open evening on Wednesday 18 November 2026 at 5pm and an open evening on Wednesday 25 November 2026 at 6pm. Check the school's website before you go, as dates can change.

In 2026, pupils at Ark Isaac Newton Academy averaged an Attainment 8 score of 60.7, the average grade across their best eight GCSEs. The average state school scored 55.7 in Redbridge and 47 across England.

72% passed English and maths at grade 5 or above, against 63% in Redbridge and 47% in England.

That is up from 56.7 in 2025.

Its most recent Progress 8 score, for 2024, was 0.9: pupils made well above average progress compared with pupils nationally who started secondary school at the same level. Progress 8 was not published for 2026.

Disadvantaged pupils averaged an Attainment 8 of 55.1, against 63 for other pupils at the school - a gap of 7.9 points.

Pupils sat GCSEs in 18 subjects; after English and maths, the most popular were Spanish, Geography and Combined Science.

For September 2026 entry, 181 families put Ark Isaac Newton Academy as their first choice and 991 named it as one of their preferences, for 83 places offered. That is 2.2 first choices for every place. 120 families who put it first were not offered a place there.

The nearest other state secondary schools to Ark Isaac Newton Academy are The Palmer Catholic Academy (0.2 miles, Good, Attainment 8 48.5); Seven Kings School (0.6 miles, Outstanding, Attainment 8 62); Loxford School (0.8 miles, Outstanding, Attainment 8 54.1); and The Ursuline Academy Ilford (1 mile, Good, Attainment 8 55.3).

Ark Isaac Newton Academy's 2026 results were higher than 3 of these 4 schools.

Ark Isaac Newton Academy is one of 48 schools run by ARK Schools, an academy trust.

Across the trust's secondary schools, pupils averaged an Attainment 8 score of 47.7 in 2024/25.

148 parents answered Ofsted's Parent View survey about Ark Isaac Newton Academy (as of September 2025): 83% would recommend the school, 90% say their child is happy there and 63% of those with a view say bullying is dealt with well.

The strongest agreement was that pupils behave well (93%); the weakest, that the school deals with bullying well (among parents with a view) (63%).

Of the 171 pupils who finished Year 11 in 2023/24, 95% stayed in education or training for at least two terms, including 13% to a further education college.

Of the 118 students who left the sixth form in 2023/24, 70% went on to university or other higher education, 3% to apprenticeships and 11% into work. 32% went to one of the most selective third of universities.

33.9% of pupils are eligible for free school meals, well above the average state school (25%), and 41.1% speak English as an additional language, against 18.8% on average, according to the 2026 school census.

The largest ethnic groups are Asian (78%) and Mixed (8%).

In 2026, 139 pupils (7.8%) received SEN support and 64 (3.6%) had an education, health and care plan, against 16.2% and 4.6% at the average state school. The most common need among them is speech, language and communication needs.

The nearest railway station is Seven Kings Station, about 450 metres away (roughly a 6-minute walk).

10 bus stops are within a five-minute walk; the closest is Aldborough Road South Seven Kings, 180 metres away.

In August 2026, police recorded 737 crimes within a mile of the school, most often violence and sexual offences, anti-social behaviour and shoplifting. That is well above the typical figure around schools in Redbridge (338), as is usual near a town centre.

In 2024/25, Ark Isaac Newton Academy issued 52 suspensions, 3 for every 100 pupils (the average state school: 6.3), and no permanent exclusions.

The primary schools closest to Ark Isaac Newton Academy are SS Peter and Paul's Catholic Primary School (0.3 miles), South Park Primary School (0.3 miles), St Aidan's Catholic Primary Academy (0.4 miles) and Gordon Primary School (0.4 miles). Admission does not depend on which primary a child attends unless the school's policy names feeder schools.