Ark Charter Academy
Southsea, PO5 4HL · Portsmouth · secondary school
Check the area around this school
6th of 11 secondary schools in Portsmouth we can score. Local and same-phase on purpose: a national table mostly measures who attends.
Narrow the comparison to schools whose pupils have similar backgrounds and it does better still — 4.5/10 against 209 of them, against 2.1/10 nationally. Both figures are results only, without the inspection grade. A lower figure here means a stronger comparison group, not a weaker school.
How this is worked out
| Measure | Percentile | Weight | Adds |
|---|---|---|---|
| Grade 5+ English & maths 2025/26 | 32.1 · 18 | 46% | 0.85 |
| Progress 8 2023/24 | -0.32 · 26 | 38% | 0.99 |
| Attainment 8 2025/26 | 39.9 · 19 | 15% | 0.29 |
Each measure is read as a position among comparable schools, so a school in the middle of the country scores 5. Full method.
Ark Charter Academy overview
How it's doing
In 2024/25, 35.9% of pupils achieved grade 5 or above in English and maths. Attainment 8 was 38.9, against a national median of 44.6. Progress 8 for 2023/24 was -0.32, indicating pupils did worse than nationally similar peers. Narrow the comparison to schools whose pupils have similar backgrounds and it does better still (5.5 out of 10 against similar schools, 2.6 out of 10 against all schools).
Beyond the classroom
Pupils can join the Maths Cipher Challenge, 7Gs Research Project, Dungeons & Dragons Club, Music Tech Club, Biscuit Band, Debate Club, STEM Club, Axiom Maths, Netball Club, Football, Girls’ Football, Chamber Choir, Drama Society, Poetry Workshop, Choir, Art Club, and the Duke of Edinburgh Award.
Getting in
The published school roll is 883 pupils against a stated capacity of 900. These whole-school figures do not establish entry-year vacancies or the likelihood of an offer. Confirm entry-year availability and admissions criteria with the school or local authority.
Worth asking on a visit
How does the school support pupils to close the gap between their current attainment and the national median? What specific support is available for students aiming to improve their Progress 8 scores?
What Ofsted said about Ark Charter Academy
Overview
Ark Charter Academy has undergone a significant transformation, with stakeholders welcoming "considerable improvements" since the previous inspection. The school has successfully instigated a "culture shift" where pupils are now "proud to attend," benefiting from a "happy, kind, respectful and calm" atmosphere. Leaders and staff have created an inclusive community focused on high expectations, resulting in better GCSE outcomes and improved behaviour.
Strengths
- A "culture shift" has created an environment that is "open, accepting and reflective of differences," with bullying and discrimination reduced considerably.
- The curriculum is now "ambitious and logically sequenced," allowing pupils to learn effectively across a broad range of subjects, including design technology and computing.
- Staff work "extremely well together" to align behaviour, attendance, well-being, and safeguarding systems, supported by external agencies and the new ‘Jonathan Centre’.
- High-quality careers advice and a sharp focus on reading have been "transformational," helping pupils raise their aspirations and improve their behaviour.
- Staff feel "well supported" by the school and multi-academy trust regarding their professional development, workload, and well-being.
Areas to improve
- The school must ensure learning is well adapted to fill "gaps in their knowledge" for some pupils, enabling them to achieve the curriculum’s ambition.
- Leaders should continue to promote school values so that all pupils adopt them, ensuring suspensions decrease and attendance improves for those not yet fully on board.
Safeguarding
The report states that "the arrangements for safeguarding are effective."
Results over time
Attainment 8, the years we hold.
| Year | Attainment 8 |
|---|---|
| 2023/24 | 40.6 |
| 2024/25 | 38.9 |
| 2025/26 | 39.9 |
| England | 44.9 |
Source: DfE Explore Education Statistics. “England” is the median of the 3,682 state schools in England we hold a 2025/26 figure for — a school-level median, not the DfE's pupil-weighted national figure.
Your offer chance
—Based on official applications/offers, distance and catchment where we have it. Bands only — never a percentage.
Sibling, faith, looked-after and other criteria can override distance. Always confirm with the school or local authority.
Next dates
- Secondary application deadline31 Oct 2026
- Secondary National Offer Day1 Mar 2027
- Secondary application deadline31 Oct 2027
- Secondary National Offer Day1 Mar 2028
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