SchoolScoresArk Pioneer Academy
Free school · Secondary, ages 11 to 19 · Mixed · Sixth form
Part of ARK SCHOOLS
Westcombe Drive, Barnet, EN5 2BE
020 3787 4090 · School website · Map and directions
Ofsted inspection
Ofsted rated this school Outstanding at the inspection that started on 13 September 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
172 parents answered Ofsted's Parent View survey between 4 September 2023 and 2 September 2024.
Barnet comparisons use the 13 of its 30 state secondary schools with comparable results. The other 17 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 | Barnet | England |
|---|---|---|---|
| My child is happy at this school 3rd highest of 13 state secondary schools with comparable Parent View results in Barnet. Higher than 90% of 1,763 state secondary schools with comparable Parent View results in England. | 94% | 89% | 88% |
| My child feels safe at this school 3rd highest of 13 state secondary schools with comparable Parent View results in Barnet. Higher than 87% of 1,763 state secondary schools with comparable Parent View results in England. | 95% | 91% | 90% |
| The school makes sure pupils are well behaved 5th highest of 13 state secondary schools with comparable Parent View results in Barnet. Higher than 86% of 1,763 state secondary schools with comparable Parent View results in England. | 92% | 86% | 84% |
| Bullying was dealt with quickly and effectivelyOf 59 parents whose child had been bullied Joint 7th highest of 12 state secondary schools with comparable Parent View results in Barnet. Higher than 42% of 1,665 state secondary schools with comparable Parent View results in England. | 47% | 51% | 49% |
| Concerns were dealt with properlyOf 118 parents who had raised a concern 3rd highest of 13 state secondary schools with comparable Parent View results in Barnet. Higher than 90% of 1,736 state secondary schools with comparable Parent View results in England. | 86% | 77% | 75% |
| I would recommend this school to another parent 3rd highest of 13 state secondary schools with comparable Parent View results in Barnet. Higher than 93% of 1,763 state secondary schools with comparable Parent View results in England. | 95%said yes | 86% | 84% |
Parents choose whether to take part, so these answers may not represent all families. 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. Barnet figures pool parents at the Barnet 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
GCSEs (key stage 4, age 16), 2024/25
177 pupils in this year group.
62% — 2 points below the Barnet average, and 16 points above the England average.
| Measure | This school | Barnet | England |
|---|---|---|---|
| Grade 5 or above in English and maths | 62% | 63% | 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. | 56 | 56.7 | 46.1 |
| EBacc average point scoreAverage points across the English Baccalaureate subjects: English, maths, sciences, a language and history or geography. | 5.6 | 5.3 | 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.
Admissions
Apply through the council where you live, even if the school is in a different council area. This school is in Barnet. 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 one first-choice application for every place.
| Places offered | 170 |
|---|---|
| Families who put it first | 167 |
| Of those, offered a place | 139 (83%) |
| Families who listed it at all | 865 |
First-choice applications per place: 2024: 1.2 · 2025: 1.2 · 2026: 1.0
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 | Barnet | England |
|---|---|---|---|
| Eligible for free school meals in the last 6 years 7th highest of 28 state secondary schools in Barnet. Higher than 76% of 3,448 state secondary schools in England. | 40.0% | 26.7%* | 28.9% |
| With an education, health and care plan 12th highest of 28 state secondary schools in Barnet. Higher than 67% of 3,448 state secondary schools in England. | 3.7% | 3.4%* | 3.1% |
| Receiving special educational needs support 12th highest of 28 state secondary schools in Barnet. Higher than 41% of 3,448 state secondary schools in England. | 12.5% | 10.0%* | 13.4% |
| English as an additional language 16th highest of 28 state secondary schools in Barnet. Higher than 82% of 3,448 state secondary schools in England. | 33.3% | 41.1%* | 19.2% |
| Overall absence (sessions missed) 13th lowest of 28 state secondary schools in Barnet. Lower than 76% of 3,411 state secondary schools in England. | 6.8% | 6.7%* | 8.4% |
| Persistently absent (missed 10% or more) 11th lowest of 28 state secondary schools in Barnet. Lower than 77% of 3,411 state secondary schools in England. | 17.7% | 18.7%* | 23.4% |
| Suspensions per 100 pupils 24th lowest of 28 state secondary schools in Barnet. Lower than 49% of 3,445 state secondary schools in England. | 15.1 | 9.3 | 21.2 |
| Pupils suspended at least once 26th lowest of 28 state secondary schools in Barnet. Lower than 35% of 3,445 state secondary schools in England. | 8.6% | 5.6% | 7.3% |
| Pupils permanently excluded0 pupils | 0.00% | 0.08% | 0.23% |
| Pupils per teacher 22nd highest of 28 state secondary schools in Barnet. Higher than 8% of 3,442 state secondary schools in England. | 14.2 | 15.6 | 16.7 |
| Pupils per adult (teachers and support staff) 17th highest of 28 state secondary schools in Barnet. Higher than 47% of 3,445 state secondary schools in England. | 11.7 | 11.7 | 11.8 |
| Teachers who left during the year 17th highest of 28 state secondary schools in Barnet. Higher than 44% of 3,430 state secondary schools in England. | 12.3% | 16.3%* | 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
- Queen Elizabeth's Girls' School 0.4 miles · Ofsted: Report card 2026: 6 strong, 1 expected · 70% grade 5+ English and maths
- Susi Earnshaw Theatre School 0.6 miles · Independent, inspected by ISI
- The Totteridge Academy 0.6 miles · Ofsted: Report card 2025: 5 exceptional, 2 strong · 71% grade 5+ English and maths
- Queen Elizabeth's School, Barnet 1.1 miles · Ofsted: Outstanding (2022) · 99% grade 5+ English and maths
- JCoSS 1.1 miles · Ofsted: Good (2022) · 77% grade 5+ English and maths
- Mount House School 1.2 miles · Independent, inspected by ISI · 16% A*/A at A level
- East Barnet School 1.6 miles · Ofsted: Report card 2026: 7 strong · 57% grade 5+ English and maths
- Finchley Catholic High School 1.7 miles · Ofsted: Good (2013), confirmed 2023 · 79% grade 5+ English and maths
- Southgate School 2.2 miles · Ofsted: Good (2019), improved significantly 2025 · 52% grade 5+ English and maths
- St Andrew the Apostle Greek Orthodox School 2.2 miles · Ofsted: Good (2018), confirmed 2024 · 59% grade 5+ English and maths
Straight-line distance. Distance isn't the same as a catchment area.
Questions parents ask
What is Ark Pioneer Academy's Ofsted rating?
Ark Pioneer Academy was rated Outstanding by Ofsted at its inspection in 13 September 2023.
How did Ark Pioneer Academy do in its GCSEs?
In 2024/25, 62% of pupils grade 5 or above in English and maths, 16 points above the England average of 45%.
Would parents recommend Ark Pioneer Academy?
95% of the 172 parents who answered Ofsted's Parent View survey between 4 September 2023 and 2 September 2024 said they would recommend Ark Pioneer Academy to another parent. Parents choose whether to respond, so this may not represent all families.
Is Ark Pioneer Academy oversubscribed?
For the September 2026 intake, 167 families put Ark Pioneer Academy as their first choice for 170 places: about one first-choice application for every place. 139 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 147061.
- Inspections: Ofsted management information, data to 31 August 2026.
- Parent views: Ofsted Parent View, 4 September 2023 to 2 September 2024.
- 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.