Classpot

Ark Boulton Academy

Birmingham, B11 2QGSecondaryAges 11–16MixedState
Ofsted Rating
Good
Jun 2024
Progress 8
-0.49
Below average
−20+2
Competition
0.6×
Not oversubscribed
132 1st-choice / 207 places
Ranking
#2,595
of 3,141 nationally

About Ark Boulton Academy

Ark Boulton Academy is a secondary school in Birmingham that clearly commands strong local demand. For the 2025/26 intake, the school received 717 applications for 207 places, giving an oversubscription ratio of 3.46 — meaning nearly three and a half families applied for every available spot. Of those, 132 were first-preference applications, all of which received offers. This level of competition suggests that parents in the area see real value in what the school offers. While the Department for Education does not publish a formal parent view score for this school, the sheer volume of applications, particularly first preferences, acts as a powerful signal of community trust. The school is a mixed, non-religious state secondary for pupils aged 11 to 16, with no sixth form. It is led by headteacher Laurence Cole and currently has 870 pupils on roll, just shy of its 900-pupil capacity.

Key Details

School TypeSecondary (State)
Age Range11 to 16 years
GenderMixed
Religious CharacterDoes not apply
AddressGolden Hillock Road, Birmingham, Birmingham, B11 2QG
HeadteacherLaurence Cole
Local AuthorityBirmingham
Number of Pupils870
Free School Meals (FSM)55.5%
School Capacity870 / 900 (97% full)

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

25 Jun 2024
View Report
Overall Effectiveness
Good
Quality of Education
Good
Behaviour & Attitudes
Good
Personal Development
Good
Leadership & Management
Good

Source: Ofsted, 15 Jul 2024. Ratings: 1=Outstanding, 2=Good, 3=Requires Improvement, 4=Inadequate.

Facilities

8
LibraryScience LabsPlaying FieldsMusic RoomsTheatreSixth Form CentreGymnasiumChapel

Facilities may vary. Contact the school for current availability.

Extracurriculars

14

Sports

BadmintonFootballBasketballGymnasticsDanceRounders

Clubs & Activities

NewspaperModel United NationsScience ClubDuke of EdinburghGardeningFilm ClubCodingDebate

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

SEND Support

AutismDyslexiaMental HealthSpeech & LanguageHearingPhysicalLearning DifficultyOther

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

School day

Verified

Teaching hours

08:30 – 15:00

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

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Frequently Asked Questions About Ark Boulton Academy

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