School profile

Ark Academy

All-through · Academy sponsor led · Wembley, HA9 9JR

Outstanding

Map showing Ark Academy

Schools
Numbers on map: pupil ages
Outstanding
Good
Requires improvement
Inadequate
Not rated

National ranking

Key stage 2 2024/25

#1,458 of 15,057

Better than 90% of schools in England

Ranked by pupils meeting the expected standard in reading, writing and maths.

GCSE 2025/26

#386 of 3,312

Better than 88% of schools in England

Ranked by Attainment 8 score, state-funded mainstream schools.

A-level 2024/25

#594 of 2,536

Better than 76% of schools in England

Ranked by average points per A-level entry.

Ark Academy Ofsted rating

Ofsted report cardInspected 14 Apr 2026

Area360 rating
Outstanding
Inclusion
Strong standard
Curriculum and teaching
Strong standard
Achievement
Strong standard
Attendance and behaviour
Strong standard
Personal development and wellbeing
Exceptional
Leadership and governance
Strong standard
Early years
Expected standard
Post-16 provision
Strong standard
Safeguarding
Met

School facts

PhaseAll-through
TypeAcademy sponsor led
Ages3 to 18
Pupils1,639
GenderMixed
Admissions policyNon-selective
Head teacherMs Delia Smith
TrustARK SCHOOLS
Local authorityBrent
Opened30 Sept 2008
WebsiteVisit

Source: Get Information about Schools, URN 135600.

Key stage 2 results

2024/25

Year 6 results in national curriculum tests and teacher assessments. The expected standard is the level pupils should reach by the end of primary school.

MeasureThis schoolBrentEngland
Expected standard in reading, writing and maths82%, better than England, better than Brent69%63%
Higher standard in reading, writing and mathsScore of 110 or more in reading and maths, greater depth in writing.11%, better than England, similar to Brent10%8%
Average reading scoreScaled score from 80 to 120; 100 meets the expected standard.106, similar to England, similar to Brent106106
Average maths scoreScaled score from 80 to 120; 100 meets the expected standard.106, similar to England, similar to Brent106105
Average grammar, punctuation and spelling scoreScaled score from 80 to 120; 100 meets the expected standard.105, similar to England, worse than Brent108105
Expected standard in reading86%, better than England, better than Brent79%76%
Expected standard in writing86%, better than England, better than Brent77%73%
Expected standard in maths89%, better than England, better than Brent80%75%
Pupils taking tests56--

Source: DfE, Compare school performance, Compare school performance 2024-2025.

GCSE results

2025/26

GCSE and equivalent results at the end of year 11. Attainment 8 averages results across 8 subjects.

MeasureThis schoolBrentEngland
Attainment 8 scoreResults across 8 subjects, English and maths count twice. 50 is about a grade 5 average.56.7, better than England, better than Brent50.146.2
Grade 4 or above in English and mathsGrade 4 is a standard pass.80.2%, better than England, better than Brent68.3%64.8%
Grade 5 or above in English and mathsGrade 5 is a strong pass.63.4%, better than England, better than Brent52.5%46.3%
Grade 7 or above in English and mathsGrade 7 is roughly an old A grade.22.1%, better than England, better than Brent19.7%14.2%
5 or more GCSEs at grade 9-4, including English and maths76.7%, better than England, better than Brent64.7%60.2%
Pupils at the end of key stage 4172--

Source: DfE, Key stage 4 performance, Academic year 2025/26, published 15 Oct 2026.

A-level results

2024/25

Results for students at the end of 16 to 18 study.

MeasureThis schoolBrentEngland
Average points per A-level entryA* is 60, A is 50, B is 40, C is 30, D is 20, E is 10.38.28, better than England, similar to Brent37.835
Average A-level gradeB---
Average points, best three A-levels38.27, better than England, similar to Brent38.8835.78
Average grade, best three A-levelsB---
AAB or better17%, similar to England, worse than Brent23%17.5%
A-level progress scoreCompared with students with similar GCSE results. 0 is average.0.07, similar to England--
A-level progressAverage, similar to England--
Students at the end of 16 to 18 study150--
Average applied general gradeVocational qualifications, such as BTECs.Dist+--

Source: DfE, 16 to 19 performance, Academic year 2024/25, published 23 Apr 2026.

Pupils

2025/26

Pupils at the January school census.

MeasureThis school
Total pupils1,639
Girls807
Boys832
Eligible for free school mealsPupils from low-income families who can get free school meals.41.4%
First language not English47.9%
School places2024/25Capacity, not including nursery.1,734
Pupils excluding nurseryPupils who take up school places.1,610
Unfilled placesShare of school places not taken.7.2%
Sixth form places2024/25250
SEN supportPupils with special educational needs who get extra help at school.155
EHC planEducation, health and care plan: a legal plan for pupils with more complex needs.57
Average class size25.4

Source: DfE, Schools, pupils and their characteristics and School capacity, Academic year 2025/26, published 04 Jun 2026.

Pupils ethnicity

2025/26

Share of pupils in each ethnic group, as recorded at the January school census.

Pupils ethnicity

African
16.9%
Other ethnic group
15.4%
Other Asian
11.9%
Indian
11.6%
Other White
11.2%
Pakistani
7.2%
Other mixed
6.1%
Other Black
3.4%
White British
3.1%
Caribbean
3%

Source: DfE, Schools, pupils and their characteristics, Academic year 2025/26, published 04 Jun 2026.

Teachers and staff

2025/26

Staff numbers are full-time equivalent (FTE). Teacher turnover shows where the school's teachers were by the following year's census.

MeasureThis school
Pupils per teacher17.2
Pupils per adultAdults include teaching assistants.12.6
Teachers (FTE)94.5
Teaching assistants (FTE)25.35
Support staff (FTE)65.41
Teachers in census year (FTE)2024/25104.3
Teachers who stayed (FTE)2024/2577.5
Teachers who moved to another state school (FTE)2024/258.8
Teachers who left state schools (FTE)2024/2518

Source: DfE, School workforce in England, Reporting year 2025, published 04 Jun 2026.

Admissions

2026/27

Applications and offers for the main entry points. Offers from oversubscribed schools depend on each school's admissions criteria; check the local authority admissions page.

MeasureThis school
Offers made (Reception)Places offered on national offer day.58
Applications (Reception)Includes every preference parents listed.314
First preference applications (Reception)Families who put this school as their first choice.124
First preference offers (Reception)First-choice applicants who were offered a place.53
Applications from another local authority (Reception)11
Offers made (Year 7)Places offered on national offer day.131
Applications (Year 7)Includes every preference parents listed.790
First preference applications (Year 7)Families who put this school as their first choice.173
First preference offers (Year 7)First-choice applicants who were offered a place.93
Applications from another local authority (Year 7)52

Source: DfE, Primary and secondary school applications and offers, Academic year 2026/27, published 18 Jun 2026.

Attendance

2025/26

Share of possible sessions missed.

MeasureThis schoolBrentEngland
Overall absence5.3%, better than England, better than Brent6.5%8%
Persistent absencePupils missing 10% or more of sessions.13.6%, better than England, better than Brent18.4%21.6%
Severe absencePupils missing 50% or more of sessions.0.3%, better than England, better than Brent1.6%3.6%

Source: DfE, Pupil absence in schools in England, Autumn and spring term 2025/26, published 15 Oct 2026.

Suspensions and exclusions

2024/25

Suspension rate is the number of suspensions per 100 pupils, so one pupil can be counted more than once. A permanently excluded pupil is removed from the school roll.

MeasureThis school
Suspension rate7.7%
Pupils with one or more suspensions3.3%
Permanent exclusion rate0%
Permanent exclusions0

Source: DfE, Suspensions and permanent exclusions in England, Academic year 2024/25, published 09 Jul 2026.

Destinations after GCSEs

2023/24

Where pupils went after year 11, sustained for at least two terms.

MeasureThis school
Sustained destinationIn education, an apprenticeship or work for at least two terms.97.2%
Staying in educationSixth form, college or further education.97.2%
School sixth form68%
Further education23.8%
Sixth form college4.4%
Not sustainedDid not stay in education, an apprenticeship or work for two terms.2.2%
Apprenticeship0%
Employment0%

Source: DfE, Key stage 4 destination measures, Academic year 2024/25, published 15 Oct 2026.

Destinations after A-levels

2023/24

Where students went after 16 to 18 study, sustained for at least two terms.

MeasureThis school
Sustained destinationIn education, an apprenticeship or work for at least two terms.87.4%
Higher education76.9%
Not sustainedDid not stay in education, an apprenticeship or work for two terms.9.8%
Employment8.4%
Apprenticeship1.4%
Further education0%

Source: DfE, 16 to 18 destination measures, Academic year 2024/25, published 15 Oct 2026.

Nearby schools

Ratings include official Ofsted judgements and Area360 summaries of inspection grades. Open a school’s profile for its inspection grades and results.

Schools near Ark Academy
DistancePhaseNameTypeRatingLinks
0.2 miSecondaryMichaela Community SchoolFree schools
Outstanding
0.3 miNot applicableLycee International de LondresOther independent school
Unrated
0.4 miNot applicableSt Christopher's Prep SchoolOther independent school
Unrated
0.4 miAll-throughPreston Manor SchoolAcademy converter
Good
0.5 miPrimaryChalkhill Primary SchoolCommunity school
Good
0.6 miPrimaryWembley Primary SchoolCommunity school
Good
0.8 miPrimarySt Margaret Clitherow RC Primary SchoolAcademy converter
Good
0.9 miPrimaryPark Lane Primary SchoolCommunity school
Good
0.9 miPrimaryPreston Park Primary SchoolCommunity school
Good
1.0 miPrimarySinai Jewish Primary SchoolVoluntary aided school
Outstanding

Frequently asked questions about Ark Academy

What is Ark Academy's Ofsted rating?

Ark Academy is rated Outstanding, last inspected on 14 Apr 2026. Recent Ofsted inspections have no single overall grade, so Area360 summarises the inspection grades.

How does Ark Academy rank in England?

Ark Academy ranks 1,458 of 15,057 schools in England for Key stage 2 2024/25 (better than 90% of schools), 386 of 3,312 schools in England for GCSE 2025/26 (better than 88% of schools) and 594 of 2,536 schools in England for A-level 2024/25 (better than 76% of schools).

What are Ark Academy's SATs results?

In 2024/25, 82% of pupils at Ark Academy met the expected standard in reading, writing and maths (England 63%).

What are Ark Academy's GCSE results?

In 2025/26, 63.4% of pupils at Ark Academy got grade 5 or above in English and maths (England 46.3%). The Attainment 8 score was 56.7 (England 46.2).

What are Ark Academy's A-level results?

In 2024/25, the average A-level grade at Ark Academy was B-, and 17% of students got AAB or better (England 17.5%).

How hard is it to get into Ark Academy?

For Reception entry in 2026/27, Ark Academy made 58 offers from 314 applications (5.4 per offer), and 53 of 124 first-preference applicants got a place. For Year 7 entry in 2026/27, it made 131 offers from 790 applications (6 per offer), and 93 of 173 first-preference applicants got a place. Applications include every preference parents listed.

How many pupils attend Ark Academy?

Ark Academy has 1,639 pupils aged 3 to 18.

What is the capacity of Ark Academy?

Ark Academy had 1,734 school places in 2024/25.

Does Ark Academy have a sixth form?

Yes, Ark Academy has a sixth form with 250 places in 2024/25.

How big are classes at Ark Academy?

At Ark Academy, the average class had 25.4 pupils in 2025/26, and there were 17.2 pupils per teacher.

What is attendance like at Ark Academy?

In 2025/26, pupils at Ark Academy missed 5.3% of sessions (England 8%), and 13.6% were persistently absent, missing 10% or more of sessions (England 21.6%).

Figures are the latest published by the Department for Education for each measure. Small numbers are suppressed by the publisher to protect pupils' privacy. Read how Area360 school ratings and rankings work.