Ark Blake Academy

About Ark Blake Academy

Ark Blake Academy, a mixed secondary in Croydon, was rated Good overall in its most recent Ofsted inspection in 2023, with the quality of education, personal development, and leadership and management all judged Good. However, the inspection flagged behaviour and attitudes as Requires Improvement, which is a significant point for parents to weigh. On the academic front, the school’s most informative metric is its Progress 8 score, which sits at -0.04 against the Croydon local authority average of the same figure. This means pupils at Ark Blake make progress that is broadly in line with the average for students across the borough, neither significantly above nor below expectations. For a school with a high proportion of pupils eligible for free school meals (46.1%), this is a solid baseline, though it doesn’t place the school among the top performers in the area.

The school’s Progress 8 score of -0.04 is exactly in line with the Croydon LA average, suggesting that Ark Blake is performing at the typical level for the borough. This is a useful benchmark, as Croydon has 26 secondary schools in total, with only five rated Outstanding. Ark Blake’s Good rating places it in the middle tier, but the behaviour and attitudes grade of Requires Improvement is a clear area of concern that may affect the day-to-day learning environment. The school has a sixth form, though no separate Ofsted grade was given for that provision, and no A-Level or GCSE results are available in the data to provide further detail. For parents focused on academic outcomes, the Progress 8 figure offers a straightforward comparison: the school is neither pulling ahead nor falling behind the local average, which may suit families looking for a stable, non-selective option.

Ark Blake Academy is oversubscribed, with 416 applications for 157 places in the 2025/26 intake, and 117 first-preference offers made, giving an oversubscription ratio of 2.65. This suggests strong local demand despite the behaviour rating. The school offers a wide range of facilities, including a swimming pool, tennis courts, sports hall, library, and a sixth form centre, alongside clubs like the Duke of Edinburgh’s Award, Young Enterprise, and an orchestra. Its SEND provisions are extensive, covering dyslexia, moderate learning difficulties, social and emotional mental health needs, speech and language issues, hearing and visual impairments, physical disabilities, and autistic spectrum disorder. This makes it a practical choice for families with children who have additional needs. The school is non-religious and has a capacity of 1,200, currently with 782 pupils, so there is room to grow. It will suit families who value a broad extracurricular offer and inclusive SEND support, but who are comfortable with a school that is still working on behaviour standards.

Key Details

Frequently Asked Questions About Ark Blake Academy

Helpful Guides for Parents