Classpot

Ark Acton Academy

Ealing, W3 8EYSecondaryAges 11–18MixedState
Ofsted Rating
Good
Feb 2023
Progress 8
+0.20
Above average
−20+2
Competition
0.3×
Not oversubscribed
41 1st-choice / 151 places
Ranking
#1,081
of 3,141 nationally

About Ark Acton Academy

Ark Acton Academy is a mixed secondary school in Ealing with a current roll of 804 pupils, well below its official capacity of 1,400. That gap suggests the school has room to grow, but the demand picture is more nuanced. For the 2025/26 admissions cycle, the school received 221 applications for 151 places, making it officially oversubscribed with a ratio of 1.46 applicants per place. However, only 41 of those applications were first-preference choices, which means the majority of families who applied ranked other schools higher. The proportion of pupils eligible for free school meals stands at 50.6%, more than double the national average for secondary schools and a clear signal that the school serves a significantly disadvantaged intake. Headteacher Sarah Donachy leads a school that, in its most recent Ofsted inspection in 2023, was rated Good across all categories including behaviour and attitudes, personal development, and leadership — a notable turnaround from its previous Inadequate rating in 2017.

Key Details

School TypeSecondary (State)
Age Range11 to 18 years
GenderMixed
Religious CharacterDoes not apply
AddressGunnersbury Lane, London, Ealing, W3 8EY
HeadteacherSarah Donachy
Local AuthorityEaling
Number of Pupils804
Free School Meals (FSM)50.6%
School Capacity804 / 1,400 (57% full)
Sixth FormYes

The full report on this school

The inspection in plain English, admissions context, and how this school compares to nearby alternatives — all in one full school report.

  • Ofsted inspection in plain English
    Strengths, concerns and what inspectors flagged
  • Parent View survey results
    What parents told Ofsted — when the school has 10+ responses
  • Where Ofsted and parents disagree
    Gaps to probe + questions to ask at the open day
  • Admissions & catchment
    Admission criteria, distance cutoffs (where the LA publishes them)
  • Nearby schools compared
    Backup options with Ofsted, demand and distance
  • Attendance & behaviour data
    Persistent absentees, suspensions and exclusions vs national
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Ofsted Inspection Breakdown

2 Feb 2023
View Report
Overall Effectiveness
Good
Quality of Education
Good
Behaviour & Attitudes
Good
Personal Development
Good
Leadership & Management
Good
Sixth Form Provision
Good

Source: Ofsted, 2 Apr 2024. Ratings: 1=Outstanding, 2=Good, 3=Requires Improvement, 4=Inadequate.

Facilities

13
Music RoomsSwimming PoolDining HallPlaying FieldsTennis CourtsArt StudiosSixth Form CentreAstro TurfSports HallICT SuiteTheatreScience LabsChapel

Facilities may vary. Contact the school for current availability.

Extracurriculars

16

Sports

GymnasticsNetballCricketRugbySwimmingAthleticsFootball

Clubs & Activities

Art ClubEco ClubCodingChessDuke of EdinburghYoung EnterpriseDebateOrchestraModel United Nations

Activities may vary by term. Contact the school for current offerings.

SEND Support

AutismDyslexiaMental HealthSpeech & LanguageHearingVisionPhysicalLearning DifficultyMulti-SensoryOther

Source: Department for Education, 2024/25. Support availability based on current student population.

School day

Verified

Teaching hours

08:30 – 15:15

Source: arkacton.org. Extracted automatically — confirm with the school before relying on these times.

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Frequently Asked Questions About Ark Acton Academy

Ark Acton Academy has been rated "Good" by Ofsted. This means the school provides a good standard of education and effectively supports all pupils to succeed.