Ark Blake Academy

Ark Blake Academy is a growing school that provides a high-quality education with a clear focus on its values such as bravery and aspiration. The curriculum is challenging and engaging, allowing pupils to pursue their artistic talents, particularly in drama, music, and art. While most pupils are motivated and behave well in class, there are inconsistencies in behaviour across different classes, which affects the overall learning environment. Pupils feel safe at the school and trust that their concerns will be addressed, although they express some anxiety about behaviours from peers, especially outside of lessons. Although the school has notable strengths, such as strong subject knowledge among teachers and effective support for special educational needs, there are areas requiring improvement. Communication with parents about school plans and changes has been insufficient, leading to a decline in confidence among some parents regarding the school's direction. Furthermore, not all staff consistently implement the behaviour policy, causing disruptions that hinder learning. Addressing these weaknesses is crucial as the school moves forward in its development.

Strengths

• Strong curriculum that includes a focus on artistic and creative talents
• High expectations for pupils' learning and behaviour
• Effective support for special educational needs
• Strong subject knowledge among teachers
• Inclusive environment that celebrates diversity
• Engaging enrichment activities outside the classroom

Areas for Improvement

• Inconsistent application of behaviour policy by staff
• Insufficient communication with parents about school improvement plans

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 Blake Academy attended 91.5% of sessions (the national figure for secondary schools was 91.6%). 25.3% of pupils were persistently absent, missing at least one session in ten (nationally 23.4%).

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, 6.6% of pupils at Ark Blake Academy were suspended at least once (nationally 7.3%). No pupils were 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 Blake Academy had 16.4 pupils for each teacher (the national figure for secondary schools was 16.7). Of its teachers in 2024–25, 20.0% were no longer at the school a year later (nationally 14.1%).

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, 13.4% of pupils at Ark Blake Academy were on SEN support (nationally 14.1%) and 3.4% had an education, health and care (EHC) plan (nationally 3.5%).

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 secondary schools. Counts are as published, with small numbers not hidden.

In 2024–25 Ark Blake Academy received £9,839 and spent £9,399 for each of its 783 pupils. It ended the year with a deficit of £547,000 (-£698 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 Croydon · Croydon local authority: places and applications

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

• Ark Oval Primary Academy Croydon
• Ark Evelyn Grace Academy London
• Ark Bolingbroke Academy London
• Ark All Saints Academy London
• ARK John Archer Primary Academy London
• Ark Walworth Academy London
• Ark Globe Academy London
• Ark Putney Academy London
• Ark Greenwich Free School London
• Ark King Solomon Academy London

What is Ark Blake Academy's Ofsted rating?

The latest Ofsted rating for Ark Blake Academy is Good, from an inspection in April 2023.

When was Ark Blake Academy last inspected by Ofsted?

Ark Blake Academy was last inspected in April 2023.

How many pupils does Ark Blake Academy have?

Ark Blake Academy has 759 pupils on roll.

What age range does Ark Blake Academy cover?

Ark Blake Academy for pupils aged 11 to 18.

What are Ark Blake Academy's GCSE results?

In 2026 its average Attainment 8 score was 43.5, and 46% of pupils achieved grade 5 or above in both English and maths GCSE.

Where is Ark Blake Academy?

Ark Blake Academy is at 6 Morland Road, Croydon, CR0 6NA.