SchoolScoresArk Greenwich Free School
Free school · Secondary, ages 11 to 16 · Mixed
Part of ARK SCHOOLS
403 Shooters Hill Road, London, SE18 4LH
020 8319 3692 · School website · Map and directions
Ofsted inspection
Ofsted rated this school Outstanding at the inspection that started on 25 April 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 | Outstanding |
| Behaviour and attitudes | Outstanding |
| Personal development | Outstanding |
| Leadership and management | Outstanding |
| Safeguarding | Effective |
Read the full Ofsted reports for this school
Source: Ofsted state-funded schools inspection data.
What parents say
12 parents answered Ofsted's Parent View survey between 10 November 2025 and 6 April 2026.
Greenwich comparisons use the 3 of its 17 state secondary schools with comparable results. The other 14 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 | Greenwich | England |
|---|---|---|---|
| My child is happy at this school 3rd highest of 3 state secondary schools with comparable Parent View results in Greenwich. Higher than 4% of 442 state secondary schools with comparable Parent View results in England. | 42% | 75% | 83% |
| My child feels safe at this school 3rd highest of 3 state secondary schools with comparable Parent View results in Greenwich. Higher than 18% of 442 state secondary schools with comparable Parent View results in England. | 67% | 82% | 85% |
| The school makes sure pupils are well behaved 2nd highest of 3 state secondary schools with comparable Parent View results in Greenwich. Higher than 67% of 442 state secondary schools with comparable Parent View results in England. | 83% | 84% | 78% |
| I would recommend this school to another parent 3rd highest of 3 state secondary schools with comparable Parent View results in Greenwich. Higher than 37% of 442 state secondary schools with comparable Parent View results in England. | 75%said yes | 84% | 83% |
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. Greenwich figures pool parents at the Greenwich 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. Source: Ofsted Parent View management information.
Results
GCSEs (key stage 4, age 16), 2024/25
102 pupils in this year group.
90% — 44 points above the Greenwich average, and 45 points above the England average.
| Measure | This school | Greenwich | England |
|---|---|---|---|
| Grade 5 or above in English and maths | 90% | 46% | 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. | 68.2 | 46.9 | 46.1 |
| EBacc average point scoreAverage points across the English Baccalaureate subjects: English, maths, sciences, a language and history or geography. | 6.5 | 4.2 | 4.1 |
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.
After Year 11
Where pupils went next. DfE measures this for pupils who finished in an earlier year, so these figures describe a previous year group.
110 pupils in this year group.
94% — 3 points above the Greenwich average, and 2 points above the England average.
| Measure | This school | Greenwich | England |
|---|---|---|---|
| Stayed in education, an apprenticeship or workPupils recorded in sustained education, apprenticeship or employment in the year after finishing Year 11. | 94% | 91% | 92% |
| School sixth form | 73% | 53% | 34% |
| Sixth form college | 20% | 20% | 13% |
| Further education college | 1% | 14% | 37% |
| Apprenticeship | 0% | 1% | 3% |
| Work | 0% | 1% | 3% |
Stayed in education, an apprenticeship or work, over time
| 2023/24 | 2024/25 |
|---|---|
| 95% | 94% |
Source: DfE key stage 4 destination measures, 2024/25 performance tables. 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 Greenwich. 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 about 3 first-choice applications for every place.
| Places offered | 115 |
|---|---|
| Families who put it first | 357 |
| Of those, offered a place | 95 (27%) |
| Families who listed it at all | 1,188 |
First-choice applications per place: 2024: 2.1 · 2025: 2.6 · 2026: 3.1
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 | Greenwich | England |
|---|---|---|---|
| Eligible for free school meals in the last 6 years 7th highest of 16 state secondary schools in Greenwich. Higher than 76% of 3,448 state secondary schools in England. | 40.1% | 36.9%* | 28.9% |
| With an education, health and care plan 10th highest of 16 state secondary schools in Greenwich. Higher than 43% of 3,448 state secondary schools in England. | 2.7% | 3.9%* | 3.1% |
| Receiving special educational needs support 10th highest of 16 state secondary schools in Greenwich. Higher than 50% of 3,448 state secondary schools in England. | 13.8% | 16.7%* | 13.4% |
| English as an additional language 10th highest of 16 state secondary schools in Greenwich. Higher than 68% of 3,448 state secondary schools in England. | 20.8% | 27.1%* | 19.2% |
| Overall absence (sessions missed) 2nd lowest of 16 state secondary schools in Greenwich. Lower than 93% of 3,411 state secondary schools in England. | 5.2% | 7.5%* | 8.4% |
| Persistently absent (missed 10% or more) 2nd lowest of 16 state secondary schools in Greenwich. Lower than 90% of 3,411 state secondary schools in England. | 13.5% | 21.2%* | 23.4% |
| Suspensions per 100 pupils 13th lowest of 16 state secondary schools in Greenwich. Lower than 28% of 3,445 state secondary schools in England. | 26.6 | 14.4 | 21.2 |
| Pupils suspended at least once 14th lowest of 16 state secondary schools in Greenwich. Lower than 16% of 3,445 state secondary schools in England. | 13.0% | 7.6% | 7.3% |
| Pupils permanently excluded3 pupils | 0.50% | 0.13% | 0.23% |
| Pupils per teacher 13th highest of 16 state secondary schools in Greenwich. Higher than 21% of 3,442 state secondary schools in England. | 15.3 | 17.1 | 16.7 |
| Pupils per adult (teachers and support staff) 7th highest of 16 state secondary schools in Greenwich. Higher than 70% of 3,445 state secondary schools in England. | 12.7 | 12.0 | 11.8 |
| Teachers who left during the year 5th highest of 16 state secondary schools in Greenwich. Higher than 89% of 3,430 state secondary schools in England. | 23.9% | 19.0%* | 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
- Shooters Hill Sixth Form College 0.4 miles · Ofsted: Not yet inspected · D+ average A level grade
- Leigh Academy Halley 0.5 miles · Ofsted: Report card 2025: 5 exceptional, 2 strong · 44% grade 5+ English and maths
- Leigh Academy Blackheath 1.1 miles · Ofsted: Outstanding (2022) · 61% grade 5+ English and maths
- Thomas Tallis School 1.2 miles · Ofsted: Good (2018), confirmed 2024 · 43% grade 5+ English and maths
- Saint Mary Magdalene CofE All Through School 1.4 miles · Ofsted: Good (2018), confirmed 2023 · 39% grade 5+ English and maths
- StreetVibes Media Academy 1.4 miles · Independent · Ofsted: Good (2024)
- Royal Greenwich Trust School 1.5 miles · Ofsted: Good (2022) · 24% grade 5+ English and maths
- Eltham Hill School 1.5 miles · Ofsted: Good (2019), confirmed, may be improving 2024 · 58% grade 5+ English and maths
- Harris Academy Greenwich 1.5 miles · Ofsted: Outstanding (2022) · 55% grade 5+ English and maths
- Plumstead Manor School 1.6 miles · Ofsted: Requires improvement (2023) · 22% grade 5+ English and maths
Straight-line distance. Distance isn't the same as a catchment area.
Questions parents ask
What is Ark Greenwich Free School's Ofsted rating?
Ark Greenwich Free School was rated Outstanding by Ofsted at its inspection in 25 April 2023.
How did Ark Greenwich Free School do in its GCSEs?
In 2024/25, 90% of pupils grade 5 or above in English and maths, 45 points above the England average of 45%.
Would parents recommend Ark Greenwich Free School?
75% of the 12 parents who answered Ofsted's Parent View survey between 10 November 2025 and 6 April 2026 said they would recommend Ark Greenwich Free School to another parent. Parents choose whether to respond, so this may not represent all families.
Is Ark Greenwich Free School oversubscribed?
For the September 2026 intake, 357 families put Ark Greenwich Free School as their first choice for 115 places: about 3 first-choice applications for every place. 95 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 138245.
- Inspections: Ofsted management information, data to 31 August 2026.
- Parent views: Ofsted Parent View, 10 November 2025 to 6 April 2026.
- Results: DfE school performance tables, GCSEs 2024/25, After Year 11 2024/25.
Spotted a mistake? Report it and we'll check it against the source.
Page updated 26 September 2026.