Ofsted: Requires improvement trending_up Places Available emoji_events #7 in Portsmouth public Top 37% UK

Ark Charter Academy

verifiedData: DfE 2024/25–2025/26 · Ofsted

personMr Christian Down

corporate_fareARK SCHOOLS

location_onSouthsea, PO5 4HL

language Visit Website phone 2392824204

verified

Ofsted

Requires improvement

Inspected 2024

groups

Students

853

trending_up

Attainment 8

38.9

leaderboard

GCSE Rank

#7 in Portsmouth

#2,681 of 3,216 nationally

summarize

Ark Charter Academy is a Academy sponsor led secondary school in Southsea, serving ages 11-16. Currently Requires Improvement according to Ofsted — the school is working to raise standards.

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School Summary

Ark Charter Academy is an academy sponsor led in Southsea, Portsmouth, admitting pupils aged 11-16. It is part of ARK SCHOOLS. The school has approximately 917 pupils on roll, of whom 62% are eligible for free school meals.

In 2025, pupils achieved an Attainment 8 score of 38.9, placing the school #7 in Portsmouth and #2,681 of 3,216 nationally. 35.90% of pupils achieved grade 5 or above in English and Maths. 16.8% of all GCSE entries were graded 9–7.

Ofsted last inspected the school in 2024. The school's current overall rating is Requires improvement. Inspectors assessed quality of education as Good, behaviour and attitudes Good, personal development Good, and leadership and management Good.

In the most recent admissions cycle, applications were at 0.5× capacity.

The pupil-to-qualified-teacher ratio is 17.6:1. There is 1 teaching vacancy.

In the 2024/25 academic year, there was 1 permanent exclusion. The average suspension rate was 19.8 per 1,000 pupils per term.

verified Source: DfE 2024/25–2025/26 · Ofsted

Academic Performance

verified Data: UK Gov 2024/25

analytics

Secondary Performance Trends (KS4)

2025

Progress 8 Score

Attainment 8

38.9

Grade 5+ E&M

35.90%

Grade 9–7 (all GCSEs)16.8%

Entering EBacc38.10%

EBacc APS3.49

2024

Progress 8 Score

-0.32

vs National Avg

Attainment 8

40.6

Grade 5+ E&M

Entering EBacc63.60%

EBacc APS3.69

2023

Progress 8 Score

-0.70

vs National Avg

Attainment 8

33.6

Grade 5+ E&M

Entering EBacc19%

EBacc APS2.90

2022

Progress 8 Score

-0.48

vs National Avg

Attainment 8

38.4

Grade 5+ E&M

Entering EBacc16%

EBacc APS3.34

2021

Progress 8 Score

Attainment 8

Grade 5+ E&M

Entering EBacc7%

EBacc APS-

2019

Progress 8 Score

-0.51

vs National Avg

Attainment 8

40.8

Grade 5+ E&M

Entering EBacc48%

EBacc APS3.81

2018

Progress 8 Score

-0.05

vs National Avg

Attainment 8

Grade 5+ E&M

Entering EBacc68%

EBacc APS4.21

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Student Destinations (After Secondary)

This module shows what students did after finishing Key Stage 4 (GCSEs). It reflects how well the school prepares pupils for the real world.

2025

Stayed in Education / Employment

83%

Education (e.g. Sixth Form/College)78%

Apprenticeships1%

Employment5%

Not in Education / Employment (NEET)10%

2024

Stayed in Education / Employment

86%

Education (e.g. Sixth Form/College)74%

Apprenticeships3%

Employment9%

Not in Education / Employment (NEET)12%

2023

Stayed in Education / Employment

83%

Education (e.g. Sixth Form/College)75%

Apprenticeships3%

Employment6%

Not in Education / Employment (NEET)14%

2022

Stayed in Education / Employment

91%

Education (e.g. Sixth Form/College)86%

Apprenticeships0%

Employment5%

Not in Education / Employment (NEET)8%

2021

Stayed in Education / Employment

81%

Education (e.g. Sixth Form/College)76%

Apprenticeships2%

Employment4%

Not in Education / Employment (NEET)14%

Ofsted History

Publication Timeline

Report Archive

10 December 2024

Inspection Report

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05 July 2022

Inspection Report

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30 November 2016

Inspection Report

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02 May 2012

Inspection Report

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02 March 2011

Inspection Report

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Inspection Report

Inspection History

4 Evaluations

2024-12-10

Requires Improvement S5 Reinspection Visit 1 EIF

Not Judged

info

Why no overall grade?

From autumn 2024, Ofsted stopped issuing a single headline grade (Outstanding / Good / RI / Inadequate). Instead, each inspection area is graded individually. This follows a major review after the death of headteacher Ruth Perry in 2023. The overall effectiveness field is left as "Not judged" in the published data.

Education

Good

Behaviour

Good

Development

Good

Leadership

Good

2022-07-05

S5 Inspection EIF

Requires improvement

Education

Requires improvement

Behaviour

Requires improvement

Development

Requires improvement

Leadership

Requires improvement

2016-11-30

S5 Inspection Legacy

Good

Education

No Judgement

Behaviour

No Judgement

Development

No Judgement

Leadership

Good

2012-05-02

None Legacy

Good

Education

No Judgement

Behaviour

No Judgement

Development

No Judgement

Leadership

Good

Wellbeing, SEN & Pastoral Care

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Behaviour & Discipline (Suspensions & Exclusions)

Official Department for Education (DfE) data. Suspensions measure temporary removals due to behavior, while exclusions represent permanent removals.

Suspension Rate

20.9%per term

warning Above Average

National average: 7.3% for this term (secondary).

Pupils Suspended 1+ Times

9.1%(83 pupils)

Spring term 2025

Represents the proportion of unique students suspended at least once in this term.

Permanent Exclusions

0pupils

verified Excellent (Zero)

National average: 7.398% of pupils excluded per term.

Pastoral Context: In the Spring term of 2025, this school served a headcount of 917 pupils. During this period, there were 192 temporary suspensions. The school's suspension rate was 20.9%, which is above the termly national average of 7.3%.

View Historical Disciplinary Records (2017–2025)keyboard_arrow_down

Year / Term	Headcount	Suspensions	Susp. Rate	Nat. Avg	Perm. Excl.
2024/25 (Spring term)	917	192	20.9%	7.3%	0
2024/25 (Autumn term)	910	169	18.6%	7.8%	1
2023/24 (Summer term)	886	252	28.4%	7.4%	1
2023/24 (Spring term)	876	149	17.0%	7.1%	0
2023/24 (Autumn term)	890	267	30.0%	8.2%	1
2022/23 (Summer term)	881	348	39.5%	6.6%	1
2022/23 (Spring term)	853	191	22.4%	6.4%	3
2022/23 (Autumn term)	844	169	20.0%	5.9%	1
2021/22 (Summer term)	833	69	8.3%	4.7%	2
2021/22 (Spring term)	833	150	18.0%	4.9%	0
2021/22 (Autumn term)	818	77	9.4%	4.4%	0
2020/21 (Summer term)	774	53	6.8%	3.6%	0
2020/21 (Spring term)	772	6	0.8%	1.0%	0
2020/21 (Autumn term)	773	29	3.8%	3.9%	0
2019/20 (Summer term)	730	0	0.0%	0.0%	0
2019/20 (Spring term)	730	8	1.1%	3.2%	0
2019/20 (Autumn term)	745	145	19.5%	4.2%	3
2018/19 (Summer term)	665	84	12.6%	3.1%	0
2018/19 (Spring term)	664	168	25.3%	3.8%	3
2018/19 (Autumn term)	651	192	29.5%	3.8%	1
2017/18 (Summer term)	624	70	11.2%	3.4%	0
2017/18 (Spring term)	628	28	4.5%	3.0%	0
2017/18 (Autumn term)	635	70	11.0%	3.7%	2
2016/17 (Summer term)	610	0	0.0%	3.0%	0
2016/17 (Spring term)	611	0	0.0%	3.3%	0
2016/17 (Autumn term)	619	20	3.2%	3.1%	2

Source: DfE Suspensions and Permanent Exclusions in England. Data represents termly statistics as published by the Department for Education.

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psychology_alt

Supported Special Educational Needs (SEN)

Primary areas of need currently supported by the school. A high number often indicates specialized internal units or high staff experience in these areas.

Social, Emotional & Mental Health 77 pupils

Speech, Language & Communication 59 pupils

Moderate Learning Difficulty 18 pupils

Autistic Spectrum Disorder 14 pupils

Specific Learning Difficulty 13 pupils

Physical Disability 6 pupils

Hearing Impairment 4 pupils

Visual Impairment 3 pupils

Other Difficulty/Disability 1 pupils

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Parent View on Pastoral Care

Results from the official Ofsted Parent View survey, reflecting direct parent sentiment regarding the school environment.

My child is happy at this school.

75.0%Positive

My child feels safe at this school.

80.0%Positive

My child has been bullied and the school dealt with the bullying quickly and effectively.

24.0%Positive

View All Survey Responseskeyboard_arrow_down

The school makes sure its pupils are well behaved.

strongly agree29%

agree44%

disagree18%

strongly disagree3%

don't know7%

The school makes me aware of what my child will learn during the year.

strongly agree34%

agree36%

disagree16%

strongly disagree10%

don't know4%

When I have raised concerns with the school they have been dealt with properly

strongly agree22%

agree19%

disagree22%

strongly disagree8%

not applicable29%

Does your child have special educational needs and/or disabilities (SEND)?

My child has special educational needs and/or disabilities, and the school gives them the support they need to succeed.

The school has high expectations for my child.

strongly agree33%

agree49%

disagree7%

strongly disagree1%

don't know10%

My child does well at this school.

strongly agree30%

agree49%

disagree10%

strongly disagree7%

don't know4%

The school lets me know how my child is doing.

strongly agree37%

agree41%

disagree12%

strongly disagree7%

don't know3%

There is a good range of subjects available to my child at this school.

strongly agree27%

agree49%

disagree12%

strongly disagree5%

don't know5%

My child can take part in clubs and activities at this school.

strongly agree44%

agree42%

disagree11%

don't know3%

The school supports my child's wider personal development.

strongly agree22%

agree38%

disagree16%

strongly disagree10%

don't know14%

I would recommend this school to another parent.

yes64%

no36%

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School Summary

Academic Performance

Secondary Performance Trends (KS4)

Student Destinations (After Secondary)

Ofsted History

Publication Timeline

Inspection History

Admissions Insight

How Places Are Allocated

Faith Priority (Church of England)

Distance to School

School Capacity

Secondary Admission Trends

Students & School Environment

School Size

Language Diversity

Inclusive Support

Attendance

Ethnicity Breakdown

Wellbeing, SEN & Pastoral Care

Behaviour & Discipline (Suspensions & Exclusions)

Supported Special Educational Needs (SEN)

Parent View on Pastoral Care

My child is happy at this school.

My child feels safe at this school.

My child has been bullied and the school dealt with the bullying quickly and effectively.

The school makes sure its pupils are well behaved.

The school makes me aware of what my child will learn during the year.

When I have raised concerns with the school they have been dealt with properly

Does your child have special educational needs and/or disabilities (SEND)?

My child has special educational needs and/or disabilities, and the school gives them the support they need to succeed.

The school has high expectations for my child.

My child does well at this school.

The school lets me know how my child is doing.

There is a good range of subjects available to my child at this school.

My child can take part in clubs and activities at this school.

The school supports my child's wider personal development.

I would recommend this school to another parent.

Funding & Staffing

School Funding Allocation

Funding Breakdown

Staffing

Teacher Turnover

Top Secondary Schools in Portsmouth

St Edmund's Catholic School

UTC Portsmouth

Priory School

Trafalgar School

Admiral Lord Nelson School

Springfield School