Ark Ayrton Primary Academy

Ark Ayrton Primary Academy continues to maintain its good overall performance, as confirmed by this section 8 inspection. The school has high aspirations for its pupils, evident in their strong academic achievements and exceptional behavior. Pupils are well-prepared for their next educational steps, thanks in part to a well-sequenced curriculum that combines personal development with academic learning. Additionally, the nurturing atmosphere allows pupils to flourish, showcasing high levels of confidence and engagement in their studies. While the school shows promising signs of excellence that could lead to an outstanding grade in future inspections, it still maintains its status as a good institution for now.

Strengths

• Pupils achieve extremely well and are well prepared for their next educational steps.
• Exceptional behavior and high expectations lead to a positive school culture.
• Strong emphasis on personal development intertwined with academic learning.
• High-quality staff training and professional development contribute to effective teaching.
• Reading and language development are prioritized across the curriculum.
• Pupils enjoy a well-resourced school library and actively participate in their reading.
• Robust assessment processes ensure gaps in learning are quickly addressed.

Admissions: local authority offers data from the Department for Education. A school is oversubscribed when at least 5% of the families who put it first were not offered a place, and undersubscribed when everyone who put it first got in but 10% or more of its places were unfilled in the Department's school capacity survey (the latest survey is used for entry years it does not cover). Places: Department for Education, School capacity, from local authorities' annual survey as at 1 May. Each year is the one the school year ends in (2025 is 2024–25); the survey was not run in 2020. Places include sixth form places. Forecasts are the local authority's own for the school's planning area, an area it uses to plan places that is not the school's catchment area. The forecast starts from a head count in 2025; the dashed line is the Department's estimate of places in that area, including those the authority has firm plans for. Planned places are cumulative, and only those with firm plans are counted.

In 2024–25 pupils at Ark Ayrton Primary Academy attended 93.8% of sessions (the national figure for primary schools was 94.8%). 19.1% of pupils were persistently absent, missing at least one session in ten (nationally 13.0%).

Sessions missed

Pupils persistently absent

Source: Department for Education, Pupil absence in schools in England. Each year is the one the school year ends in (2025 is 2024/25). Persistent absence means missing 10% or more of sessions; severe absence means 50% or more. No figures were published for 2019/20.

In 2024–25, 0.8% of pupils at Ark Ayrton Primary Academy were suspended at least once (nationally 1.1%). One pupil was permanently excluded.

Pupils suspended at least once

Source: Department for Education, Suspensions and permanent exclusions in England. Each year is the one the school year ends in (2025 is 2024/25). A pupil can be suspended more than once, so suspensions per 100 pupils can be higher than the share of pupils suspended. Very small numbers are hidden by the DfE. Exclusion figures dropped in 2020 and 2021 because of school closures.

In 2025–26 Ark Ayrton Primary Academy had 23.2 pupils for each teacher (the national figure for primary schools was 20.7). Of its teachers in 2024–25, 9.5% were no longer at the school a year later (nationally 15.7%).

Pupils per teacher

Teachers who left the school within a year

Source: Department for Education, School workforce in England. Each year is the one the school year ends in (2025 is 2024/25). Pupils per teacher counts full-time-equivalent pupils and teachers. Turnover is the share of a year's teachers (full-time equivalent) who were not at the school the following year, whether they moved to another school or left state-funded teaching. Turnover and sickness figures run one year behind the ratios. Sick leave is the share of teachers who took at least one day in the year, so it swings widely at small schools, where a few teachers can make it 0% or 100%. The national figures are for all state schools of the same type.

In 2025–26, 9.1% of pupils at Ark Ayrton Primary Academy were on SEN support (nationally 15.4%) and 8.5% had an education, health and care (EHC) plan (nationally 4.1%).

Pupils by main type of need

Source: Department for Education, Special educational needs in England (the 2025–26 school census). SEN support is extra help in school without an EHC plan. National figures are for all state-funded primary schools. Counts are as published, with small numbers not hidden.

In 2024–25 Ark Ayrton Primary Academy received £7,031 and spent £6,893 for each of its 477 pupils. It ended the year with reserves of £276,000 (£578 per pupil).

Across all 48 schools of Ark Schools, income was £9,191 and spending £9,015 per pupil.

Income per pupil

Spending per pupil

Source: Department for Education, Financial Benchmarking and Insights Tool. Each year is the one the financial year ends in (2024 is 2023–24). Academy figures include a share of the trust's central services, shared out by pupil numbers, and are rounded to the nearest £1,000. Premises costs were defined differently from 2024, so compare them across that gap with care.

• Primary Schools
• Secondary Schools

All schools in Portsmouth · Portsmouth local authority: places and applications

Ark Ayrton Primary Academy is part of Ark Schools, which runs 48 schools. The nearest others:

• Ark Charter Academy Southsea
• Ark Dickens Primary Academy Portsmouth
• Ark Putney Academy London
• Ark Oval Primary Academy Croydon
• Ark Blake Academy Croydon
• Ark Acton Academy London
• Ark Soane Academy London
• Ark Priory Primary Academy London
• Ark Bolingbroke Academy London
• ARK John Archer Primary Academy London

What is Ark Ayrton Primary Academy's Ofsted rating?

The latest Ofsted rating for Ark Ayrton Primary Academy is Good, from an inspection in September 2024.

When was Ark Ayrton Primary Academy last inspected by Ofsted?

Ark Ayrton Primary Academy was last inspected in September 2024.

How many pupils does Ark Ayrton Primary Academy have?

Ark Ayrton Primary Academy has 495 pupils on roll.

What age range does Ark Ayrton Primary Academy cover?

Ark Ayrton Primary Academy for pupils aged 2 to 11.

What are Ark Ayrton Primary Academy's SATs (KS2) results?

In 2025, 78% of Year 6 pupils met the expected standard in reading, writing and maths.

Where is Ark Ayrton Primary Academy?

Ark Ayrton Primary Academy is at Somers Road, Southsea, Portsmouth, Hampshire, PO5 4LS.