SchoolScoresArk Blake Academy
Free school · Secondary, ages 11 to 18 · Mixed
Part of ARK SCHOOLS
6 Morland Road, Croydon, CR0 6NA
020 3443 9000 · School website · Map and directions
Ofsted inspection
Ofsted rated this school Good at the inspection that started on 22 February 2023.
This inspection used Ofsted's older format with four grades: Outstanding, Good, Requires improvement and Inadequate. Newer inspections use report cards. What changed.
| Area | Grade |
|---|---|
| Quality of education | Good |
| Behaviour and attitudes | Requires improvement |
| Personal development | Good |
| Leadership and management | Good |
| Safeguarding | Effective |
Read the full Ofsted reports for this school
Source: Ofsted state-funded schools inspection data.
Results
GCSEs (key stage 4, age 16), 2024/25
154 pupils in this year group.
51% — 8 points above the Croydon average, and 5 points above the England average.
| Measure | This school | Croydon | England |
|---|---|---|---|
| Grade 5 or above in English and maths | 51% | 42% | 45% |
| Attainment 8 scoreAverage of each pupil's grades across 8 GCSE-level subjects, with English and maths counted twice. Around 50 means grade 5s on average. | 45.6 | 44.5 | 46.1 |
| EBacc average point scoreAverage points across the English Baccalaureate subjects: English, maths, sciences, a language and history or geography. | 4.3 | 4.0 | 4.1 |
Grade 5 or above in English and maths, over time
| 2022/23 | 2023/24 | 2024/25 |
|---|---|---|
| Not published | Not published | 51% |
Progress 8 isn't shown. DfE didn't publish it for 2024/25 because this year group's key stage 2 tests in 2020 were cancelled, and older progress scores aren't comparable.
Source: DfE key stage 4 performance tables, 2024/25. England figures are for state-funded schools.
Admissions
Apply through the council where you live, even if the school is in a different council area. This school is in Croydon. The national closing date for secondary applications is 31 October, and offers are sent on 1 March.
How hard is it to get in?
For the September 2026 intake there were fewer first-choice applications than places.
| Places offered | 158 |
|---|---|
| Families who put it first | 115 |
| Of those, offered a place | 115 (100%) |
| Families who listed it at all | 421 |
First-choice applications per place: 2024: 0.7 · 2025: 0.7 · 2026: 0.7
This isn't your chance of getting a place. That depends on the school's admissions rules (for example siblings, distance or faith) and where you live. Source: DfE applications and offers, September 2026 intake.
Pupils, staff and SEND
| Pupils | This school | Croydon | England |
|---|---|---|---|
| Eligible for free school meals in the last 6 years 3rd highest of 24 state secondary schools in Croydon. Higher than 92% of 3,448 state secondary schools in England. | 52.8% | 39.9%* | 28.9% |
| With an education, health and care plan Joint 21st highest of 24 state secondary schools in Croydon. Higher than 14% of 3,448 state secondary schools in England. | 1.4% | 2.9%* | 3.1% |
| Receiving special educational needs support 14th highest of 24 state secondary schools in Croydon. Higher than 48% of 3,448 state secondary schools in England. | 13.6% | 14.7%* | 13.4% |
| English as an additional language 8th highest of 24 state secondary schools in Croydon. Higher than 83% of 3,448 state secondary schools in England. | 33.9% | 28.5%* | 19.2% |
| Overall absence (sessions missed) 14th lowest of 24 state secondary schools in Croydon. Lower than 48% of 3,411 state secondary schools in England. | 8.5% | 8.4%* | 8.4% |
| Persistently absent (missed 10% or more) 15th lowest of 24 state secondary schools in Croydon. Lower than 41% of 3,411 state secondary schools in England. | 25.3% | 24.5%* | 23.4% |
| Suspensions per 100 pupils 10th lowest of 24 state secondary schools in Croydon. Lower than 64% of 3,445 state secondary schools in England. | 9.7 | 12.9 | 21.2 |
| Pupils suspended at least once 10th lowest of 24 state secondary schools in Croydon. Lower than 51% of 3,445 state secondary schools in England. | 6.6% | 7.2% | 7.3% |
| Pupils permanently excluded0 pupils | 0.00% | 0.14% | 0.23% |
| Pupils per teacher 16th highest of 24 state secondary schools in Croydon. Higher than 41% of 3,442 state secondary schools in England. | 16.4 | 16.8 | 16.7 |
| Pupils per adult (teachers and support staff) 12th highest of 24 state secondary schools in Croydon. Higher than 74% of 3,445 state secondary schools in England. | 12.9 | 12.4 | 11.8 |
| Teachers who left during the year 12th highest of 24 state secondary schools in Croydon. Higher than 80% of 3,430 state secondary schools in England. | 20.0% | 21.7%* | 14.2%* |
Comparisons are with secondary schools. Scales run from lower (left) to higher (right) figures. For absence and suspensions lower is better, so their scales run green to red; blue scales describe the school's pupils and staff and aren't good or bad. * Calculated by SchoolScores from the council's or England's schools, weighted by pupils (or teachers, for turnover); other figures are published by DfE. Sources: DfE school census 2024/25; DfE pupil absence 2024/25; DfE suspensions and permanent exclusions 2024/25; DfE school workforce census 2025/26; DfE teacher turnover 2024/25.
Nearby secondary schools
- Al-Khair School 0.3 miles · Independent · Ofsted: Good (2024)
- Al-Khair Secondary Girls 0.3 miles · Independent · Ofsted: Good (2024)
- St Mary's Catholic High School 0.6 miles · Ofsted: Report card 2026: 4 expected, 2 needs attention · 23% grade 5+ English and maths
- BRIT School for Performing Arts and Technology 0.7 miles · Independent · Ofsted: No overall grade (2024) · 32% A*/A at A level
- Archbishop Tenison's CofE High School 0.8 miles · Ofsted: Report card 2026: 6 expected, 1 needs attention · 39% grade 5+ English and maths
- Aya College (Educational Provision) 0.8 miles · Independent · Ofsted: Requires improvement (2022)
- Harris Invictus Academy Croydon 0.9 miles · Ofsted: Outstanding (2016), confirmed 2023 · 47% grade 5+ English and maths
- Oasis Academy Shirley Park 0.9 miles · Ofsted: No overall grade (2024) · 32% grade 5+ English and maths
- Trinity School 1.1 miles · Independent, inspected by ISI · 76% A*/A at A level
- Harris Professional Skills Sixth Form 1.2 miles · Ofsted: Not yet inspected
Straight-line distance. Distance isn't the same as a catchment area.
Questions parents ask
What is Ark Blake Academy's Ofsted rating?
Ark Blake Academy was rated Good by Ofsted at its inspection in 22 February 2023.
How did Ark Blake Academy do in its GCSEs?
In 2024/25, 51% of pupils grade 5 or above in English and maths, 5 points above the England average of 45%.
Is Ark Blake Academy oversubscribed?
For the September 2026 intake, 115 families put Ark Blake Academy as their first choice for 158 places: fewer first-choice applications than places. 115 of those families were offered a place. Whether you get a place depends on the school's admissions rules and where you live.
Sources
- School details: Get Information about Schools (DfE), 26 September 2026. URN 147832.
- Inspections: Ofsted management information, data to 31 August 2026.
- Results: DfE school performance tables, GCSEs 2024/25.
Spotted a mistake? Report it and we'll check it against the source.
Page updated 26 September 2026.