What if your child's unique talents could truly change the world? Too many children never find their passion or purpose - something every parent fears. By helping them discover who they are and unlock their potential, we can build a brighter future.
We know, like us, that you are tired of seeing your child stuck in a painfully outdated system. The world is evolving quickly, and children deserve an education that sparks curiosity, inspires creativity, and empowers them to ask: "What if?"
When we found Acton Academy, we knew we had to bring this global movement to our green and pleasant land, so every child can grow into the hero they're meant to be.
"We are such stuff as dreams are made on." Join us and give your child the education they deserve.
St. George Academy is located in central London, just to the south of The Regent's Park, off Great Portland Street.
As a child, I felt lost in a traditional classroom that never seemed to value what made me unique. I struggled to conform, feeling constantly behind and inferior to my classmates. By my teenage years, I was already questioning why schools poured so much energy into academic theory instead of helping us learn the skills we'd actually need in the real world. For that, I was labelled "lazy and bone idle." I left school angry, embarrassed, and completely unprepared for adult life.
Over the years, I drifted through a range of careers, searching for a sense of purpose and a place where my strengths mattered. Two decades after finishing school, I found myself back in a classroom, this time as a teacher. But despite all the technological and cultural shifts in the world outside, the schooling inside remained stuck in the past. I recognised the frustration in my own students: they asked when they'd ever use fronted adverbials, or angrily pointed out that school felt more like a prison than a pathway to independence, freedom and success.
It was in that moment I began to truly understand what I'd always felt deep down - that tomorrow's leaders and innovators wouldn't emerge from the outdated systems of yesterday.
When I discovered Acton Academy, I knew I had found something different: a model that respects each child's individuality and empowers them to explore their interests, build real-life skills, and develop the mindset they need to thrive in an ever changing world.
I know you want a better path for your child, too. I know your fears and frustrations, because I've lived them. Let's give your child the education they deserve. Join us, and help them thrive in a world that's ready for who they really are.
As a father of two, I spent years searching for an education that meets the real needs of today's children. Having visited dozens of traditional schools all over the country, I found them stuck in outdated modes of learning, and supposedly progressive options that failed to deliver on their promises. Driven by a desire to see my own children thrive, I dedicated myself to bringing a more meaningful, future focused education to families across the UK.
Before co-founding SGA, I forged a successful career as an investor and entrepreneur in natural health and nutrition. I was immersed in educating the public about the importance of whole-food supplements and tackling the low nutrient density in our modern diets. Drawing on my experience in innovation and impact, I recognised that students, like consumers, deserve authenticity, transparency, and real substance in what they receive; perhaps in the world of education more than anywhere else.
Today, as co-founder, I channel this passion into creating a learner-driven environment that nurtures curiosity, independence, and a love of lifelong learning. I am committed to helping every child discover their own path to success - just as I've always sought, and continue to do, for my own family.
Professor Tooley is renowned for his advocacy of choice, competition, and entrepreneurship in education. Currently Vice Chancellor of the University of Buckingham and Professor of Educational Entrepreneurship and Policy, he has over three decades of experience in educational development and policy.
Formerly serving as Professor of Education Policy at Newcastle University, Professor Tooley directed the E. G. West Centre, dedicated to expanding educational opportunities globally. His pioneering research highlights the benefits of private education.
Beyond academia, he has played a key role in establishing low-cost private schools in India, China, and Africa, earning prestigious awards such as the Sir Antony Fisher Memorial Prize and the Templeton Prize for Free Market Solutions to Poverty.
As a bestselling author, his book, "The Beautiful Tree: A Personal Journey Into How the World's Poorest Are Educating Themselves," has reshaped global education discourse. Professor Tooley's dedication to empowering communities through education has been featured in documentaries and across global media, including BBC World and PBS.
His commitment to educational innovation and equitable access to quality education aligns seamlessly with St. George Academy's mission of nurturing young minds and fostering lifelong learning.
Richard brings a wealth of experience in educational leadership and innovation to our community. Renowned for his transformative leadership, Richard's journey began as the headmaster of Grange Primary School, where he led a remarkable turnaround recognised by UNESCO and the UK Government.
As a global speaker, Richard shares his insights on leadership, human potential, and innovation with audiences worldwide, including prestigious platforms like TED and the BBC. Mentored by the late, great Sir Ken Robinson, his principles of communication, empowerment, and impact resonate deeply within the ethos of St. George Academy, guiding our approach to nurturing heroes and future leaders.
In addition to his advisory role, Richard collaborates with governments and major corporations from Google to GSK, leveraging his expertise in human potential to drive meaningful transformation. His bestselling books, such as "Creating Tomorrow's Schools Today" and "Education: A Manifesto for Change", have garnered critical acclaim and provide invaluable resources for progressive educators around the world.
Richard's influence extends beyond education to elite sports teams and the British music industry, where he champions proactive and sustainable change. His message of hope and possibility aligns perfectly with St. George Academy's mission, inspiring our learners and guides to embrace innovation and unlock their full potential.
Jeff Sandefer lives a dual life as an entrepreneur and a Socratic Guide. As an entrepreneur, he founded his first company at age 16 and went on to found or co-found seven successful businesses. As a Socratic teacher at the University of Texas, Jeff’s students five times voted him the school’s Outstanding Teacher and Businessweek named him one of the top Entrepreneurship professors in America.
Jeff went on to co-found the Acton School of Business, an MBA program perennially ranked by the Princeton Review among the best in the nation. In 2012 The Economist honored him as one of the top fifteen Business School professors in the world.
Jeff is a graduate of the Harvard Business School, where he served for over twenty years on the school’s governing committees. He was a longtime director of the Philanthropy Roundtable and National Review magazine and one of the youngest members ever elected to the Texas Business Hall of Fame.
Laura lived on both US coasts and in between as a child, then settled into Vanderbilt University for her undergraduate studies in the College of Arts and Science. After being awarded the highly competitive Walter Wattles Fellowship at Lloyd’s of London, Laura worked in the aviation insurance industry in New York City.
Deciding to follow her calling into the world of education, Laura returned to Nashville and earned her Master of Education at Peabody College. This led her to her work at the Oklahoma Arts Institute, creating fine arts education programs for teachers and talented high school students.
Laura married Jeff Sandefer and is the happy mother of Sam and Charlie and step-mother to Taite. It is the inspiration of these children that led Laura and Jeff to co-found Acton Academy.
Her greatest hero is her mother who was a Master Teacher. Her wisest mentor is her father who sent her off to college with two words of advice: "Be curious."
Begin a Hero’s Journey,
Discover precious gifts and a commitment to mastery.
Become a curious, independent, life-long learner.
Embrace the forging of a strong character.
Cherish the arts, the physical world, and the mysteries of life.
Treasure economic, political, and religious freedom.
We believe each person has a gift that can change the world in a profound way;
We believe in learning to learn, learning to do, and learning to be.
We believe in a closely connected family of life-long learners.
We believe in economic, political, and religious freedom.
