SchoolScoresArk Dickens Primary Academy
Academy · Primary, ages 2 to 11 · Mixed · Nursery class
Part of ARK SCHOOLS
Turner Road, Portsmouth, PO1 4PN
023 9282 6514 · School website · Map and directions
Ofsted inspection
Ofsted rated this school Good at the inspection that started on 12 November 2019.
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 | Good |
| Personal development | Good |
| Leadership and management | Good |
| Early years | Good |
| Safeguarding | Effective |
Since then, a shorter ungraded inspection on 2 April 2025: Ofsted found the school had maintained its standards.
Read the full Ofsted reports for this school
Source: Ofsted state-funded schools inspection data.
What parents say
11 parents answered Ofsted's Parent View survey between 3 September 2024 and 1 September 2025.
Portsmouth comparisons use the 23 of its 35 state primary schools with comparable results. The other 12 have no published Parent View results (Ofsted only publishes a survey once at least 10 parents answer) or used Ofsted's newer questions, which we don't compare with the older ones.
| Statement | This school | Portsmouth | England |
|---|---|---|---|
| My child is happy at this school 20th highest of 23 state primary schools with comparable Parent View results in Portsmouth. Higher than 8% of 8,868 state primary schools with comparable Parent View results in England. | 82% | 90% | 89% |
| My child feels safe at this school 20th highest of 23 state primary schools with comparable Parent View results in Portsmouth. Higher than 8% of 8,868 state primary schools with comparable Parent View results in England. | 82% | 89% | 90% |
| The school makes sure pupils are well behaved Joint 19th highest of 23 state primary schools with comparable Parent View results in Portsmouth. Higher than 5% of 8,868 state primary schools with comparable Parent View results in England. | 64% | 81% | 84% |
| I would recommend this school to another parent 21st highest of 23 state primary schools with comparable Parent View results in Portsmouth. Higher than 11% of 8,868 state primary schools with comparable Parent View results in England. | 73%said yes | 83% | 84% |
Parents choose whether to take part, so these answers may not represent all families (Ofsted puts the response rate at 2%). Figures are the share who agree or strongly agree. England figures are all parents answering the same questions over the same period, for state-funded schools. Portsmouth figures pool parents at the Portsmouth schools compared, from each school's latest survey, so survey dates differ between schools. The scales run from lower (left) to higher (right) agreement, and the dot marks this school among state schools of the same phase that used the same survey questions. The third it falls in is coloured: green for the top third, amber the middle, red the bottom. This survey used Ofsted's previous Parent View questions, which changed in November 2025. Source: Ofsted Parent View management information.
Results
Key stage 2 (SATs, age 11), 2024/25
60 pupils in this year group.
67% — 13 points above the Portsmouth average, and 5 points above the England average.
| Measure | This school | Portsmouth | England |
|---|---|---|---|
| Met the expected standard in reading, writing and maths | 67% | 54% | 62% |
| Reached the higher standard in reading, writing and maths | 0% | 3% | 8% |
| Met the expected standard in reading | 72% | 69% | 75% |
| Met the expected standard in writing | 67% | 67% | 72% |
| Met the expected standard in maths | 73% | 66% | 74% |
| Average reading scoreScaled score from 80 to 120; 100 is the expected standard. | 103 | 104 | 106 |
| Average maths scoreScaled score from 80 to 120; 100 is the expected standard. | 105 | 103 | 105 |
Source: DfE key stage 2 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 Portsmouth. The national closing date for primary applications is 15 January, and offers are sent on 16 April.
How hard is it to get in?
For the September 2026 intake there were about one first-choice application for every place.
| Places offered | 37 |
|---|---|
| Families who put it first | 34 |
| Of those, offered a place | 34 (100%) |
| Families who listed it at all | 94 |
First-choice applications per place: 2024: 0.8 · 2025: 0.9 · 2026: 0.9
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 | Portsmouth | England |
|---|---|---|---|
| Eligible for free school meals in the last 6 years 4th highest of 35 state primary schools in Portsmouth. Higher than 95% of 16,656 state primary schools in England. | 56.8% | 34.7%* | 26.3% |
| With an education, health and care plan 29th highest of 35 state primary schools in Portsmouth. Higher than 48% of 16,656 state primary schools in England. | 2.9% | 4.2%* | 3.5% |
| Receiving special educational needs support 24th highest of 35 state primary schools in Portsmouth. Higher than 28% of 16,656 state primary schools in England. | 11.2% | 14.1%* | 15.0% |
| English as an additional language 8th highest of 35 state primary schools in Portsmouth. Higher than 78% of 16,656 state primary schools in England. | 30.1% | 24.2%* | 23.4% |
| Overall absence (sessions missed) 29th lowest of 35 state primary schools in Portsmouth. Lower than 22% of 16,640 state primary schools in England. | 6.1% | 5.2%* | 5.2% |
| Persistently absent (missed 10% or more) 31st lowest of 35 state primary schools in Portsmouth. Lower than 10% of 16,640 state primary schools in England. | 21.8% | 12.8%* | 13.0% |
| Suspensions per 100 pupils 10th lowest of 35 state primary schools in Portsmouth. Lower than 63% of 16,651 state primary schools in England. | 0.4 | 3.2 | 2.5 |
| Pupils suspended at least once 13th lowest of 35 state primary schools in Portsmouth. Lower than 60% of 16,651 state primary schools in England. | 0.4% | 1.1% | 1.1% |
| Pupils permanently excluded0 pupils | 0.00% | 0.03% | 0.03% |
| Pupils per teacher Joint 20th highest of 35 state primary schools in Portsmouth. Higher than 41% of 16,642 state primary schools in England. | 19.9 | 20.7 | 20.7 |
| Pupils per adult (teachers and support staff) Joint 20th highest of 35 state primary schools in Portsmouth. Higher than 24% of 16,653 state primary schools in England. | 9.2 | 9.7 | 10.6 |
| Teachers who left during the year Joint 21st highest of 35 state primary schools in Portsmouth. Higher than 41% of 15,063 state primary schools in England. | 10.2% | 14.3%* | 14.4%* |
Comparisons are with primary 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 primary schools
- Arundel Court Primary Academy and Nursery 0.3 miles · Ofsted: Report card 2026: 1 expected, 6 needs attention · 35% met expected standard (KS2)
- Manor Infant and Nursery School 0.4 miles · Ofsted: Good (2024)
- The Flying Bull Academy 0.4 miles · Ofsted: Report card 2026: 7 needs attention · 17% met expected standard (KS2)
- St John's Cathedral Catholic Primary School 0.4 miles · Ofsted: Good (2022) · 83% met expected standard (KS2)
- Penbridge Infant School and Nursery 0.6 miles · Ofsted: Good (2013, before conversion), confirmed 2022
- New Horizons Primary School 0.6 miles · Ofsted: Good (2023) · 49% met expected standard (KS2)
- Ark Ayrton Primary Academy 0.6 miles · Ofsted: Good (2018), confirmed, may be improving 2024 · 78% met expected standard (KS2)
- Penbridge Junior School 0.7 miles · Ofsted: Good (2012, before conversion), confirmed 2023 · 54% met expected standard (KS2)
- Corpus Christi Catholic Primary School 0.9 miles · Ofsted: Good (2024) · 57% met expected standard (KS2)
- St George's Beneficial CofE (Voluntary Controlled) Primary School 1.0 miles · Ofsted: No overall grade (2025) · 69% met expected standard (KS2)
Straight-line distance. Distance isn't the same as a catchment area.
Questions parents ask
What is Ark Dickens Primary Academy's Ofsted rating?
Ark Dickens Primary Academy was rated Good by Ofsted at its inspection in 12 November 2019. At a shorter ungraded inspection in 2 April 2025, Ofsted found the school had maintained its standards.
How did Ark Dickens Primary Academy do in its SATs?
In 2024/25, 67% of pupils met the expected standard in reading, writing and maths, 5 points above the England average of 62%.
Would parents recommend Ark Dickens Primary Academy?
73% of the 11 parents who answered Ofsted's Parent View survey between 3 September 2024 and 1 September 2025 said they would recommend Ark Dickens Primary Academy to another parent. Parents choose whether to respond, so this may not represent all families.
Is Ark Dickens Primary Academy oversubscribed?
For the September 2026 intake, 34 families put Ark Dickens Primary Academy as their first choice for 37 places: about one first-choice application for every place. 34 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 141020.
- Inspections: Ofsted management information, data to 31 August 2026.
- Parent views: Ofsted Parent View, 3 September 2024 to 1 September 2025.
- Results: DfE school performance tables, Key stage 2 2024/25.
Spotted a mistake? Report it and we'll check it against the source.
Page updated 26 September 2026.