Ofsted: Good trending_up Places Available emoji_events #8 in Croydon public Top 21% UK

Ark Blake Academy

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

personMr Sam Rispoli

corporate_fareARK SCHOOLS

location_onCroydon, CR0 6NA

language Visit Website phone 2034439000

verified

Ofsted

Good

Inspected 2023

groups

Students

523

trending_up

Attainment 8

45.6

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GCSE Rank

#9 in Croydon

#1,628 of 3,216 nationally

summarize

Ark Blake Academy is a Free schools secondary school in Croydon, serving ages 11-18. Rated Good by Ofsted.

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School Summary

Ark Blake Academy is a free schools in Croydon, admitting pupils aged 11-18. It is part of ARK SCHOOLS. The school has approximately 782 pupils on roll, of whom 53% are eligible for free school meals.

In 2025, pupils achieved an Attainment 8 score of 45.6, placing the school #9 in Croydon and #1,628 of 3,216 nationally. 50.60% of pupils achieved grade 5 or above in English and Maths. 22.2% of all GCSE entries were graded 9–7.

Ofsted last inspected the school in 2023. The school's current overall rating is Good. Inspectors assessed quality of education as Good, behaviour and attitudes Requires improvement, personal development Good, and leadership and management Good.

In the most recent admissions cycle, applications were at 0.7× capacity.

The pupil-to-qualified-teacher ratio is 18.3:1. There are no current teaching vacancies.

In the 2024/25 academic year, there were no permanent exclusions. The average suspension rate was 3.4 per 1,000 pupils per term.

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

Academic Performance

verified Data: UK Gov 2024/25

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Secondary Performance Trends (KS4)

2025

Progress 8 Score

Attainment 8

45.6

Grade 5+ E&M

50.60%

Grade 9–7 (all GCSEs)22.2%

Entering EBacc58.40%

EBacc APS4.28

2024

Progress 8 Score

Attainment 8

Grade 5+ E&M

Entering EBacc-%

EBacc APS-

2023

Progress 8 Score

Attainment 8

Grade 5+ E&M

Entering EBacc-%

EBacc APS-

2022

Progress 8 Score

Attainment 8

Grade 5+ E&M

Entering EBacc-%

EBacc APS-

2021

Progress 8 Score

Attainment 8

Grade 5+ E&M

Entering EBacc-%

EBacc APS-

Ofsted History

Publication Timeline

Report Archive

22 February 2023

Inspection Report

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Inspection Report

Inspection History

1 Evaluations

2023-02-22

S5 Inspection EIF

Good

Education

Good

Behaviour

Requires improvement

Development

Good

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

3.5%per term

sentiment_satisfied Below Average (Good)

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

Pupils Suspended 1+ Times

2.7%(21 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 782 pupils. During this period, there were 27 temporary suspensions. The school's suspension rate was 3.5%, which is below the termly national average of 7.3%.

View Historical Disciplinary Records (2017–2025)keyboard_arrow_down

Year / Term	Headcount	Suspensions	Susp. Rate	Nat. Avg
2024/25 (Spring term)	782	27	3.5%	7.3%
2024/25 (Autumn term)	790	27	3.4%	7.8%
2023/24 (Summer term)	659	18	2.7%	7.4%
2023/24 (Spring term)	664	49	7.4%	7.1%
2023/24 (Autumn term)	670	64	9.6%	8.2%
2022/23 (Summer term)	517	50	9.7%	6.6%
2022/23 (Spring term)	523	51	9.8%	6.4%
2022/23 (Autumn term)	530	39	7.4%	5.9%
2021/22 (Summer term)	345	31	9.0%	4.7%
2021/22 (Spring term)	352	17	4.8%	4.9%
2021/22 (Autumn term)	358	9	2.5%	4.4%
2020/21 (Summer term)	178	5	2.8%	3.6%
2020/21 (Spring term)	178	0	0.0%	1.0%
2020/21 (Autumn term)	179	9	5.0%	3.9%

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

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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.

Speech, Language & Communication 30 pupils

Social, Emotional & Mental Health 25 pupils

Autistic Spectrum Disorder 21 pupils

Specific Learning Difficulty 18 pupils

Moderate Learning Difficulty 8 pupils

Hearing Impairment 5 pupils

Visual Impairment 4 pupils

Physical Disability 4 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.

63.0%Positive

My child feels safe at this school.

60.0%Positive

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

14.0%Positive

View All Survey Responseskeyboard_arrow_down

The school makes sure its pupils are well behaved.

strongly agree11%

agree40%

disagree26%

strongly disagree18%

don't know5%

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

strongly agree18%

agree35%

disagree24%

strongly disagree16%

don't know6%

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

strongly agree16%

agree21%

disagree19%

strongly disagree19%

don't know3%

not applicable21%

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

yes26%

no74%

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

strongly agree19%

agree31%

disagree31%

strongly disagree19%

The school has high expectations for my child.

strongly agree37%

agree45%

disagree11%

strongly disagree2%

don't know5%

My child does well at this school.

strongly agree27%

agree45%

disagree16%

strongly disagree6%

don't know5%

The school lets me know how my child is doing.

strongly agree24%

agree44%

disagree16%

strongly disagree16%

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

strongly agree18%

agree56%

disagree15%

strongly disagree5%

don't know6%

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

strongly agree23%

agree56%

disagree15%

strongly disagree3%

don't know3%

The school supports my child's wider personal development.

strongly agree11%

agree44%

disagree16%

strongly disagree15%

don't know15%

I would recommend this school to another parent.

yes48%

no52%

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School Summary

Academic Performance

Secondary Performance Trends (KS4)

Ofsted History

Publication Timeline

Inspection History

Admissions Insight

How Places Are Allocated

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 Croydon

Coloma Convent Girls' School

Coombe Wood School

Harris City Academy Crystal Palace

Riddlesdown Collegiate

Harris Academy South Norwood

Norbury High School for Girls