Ark Dickens Primary Academy
Portsmouth, PO1 4PN · Portsmouth · primary school
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8th of 32 primary schools in Portsmouth we can score, 45 in total — the rest without enough published data. 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 — 5.5/10 against 890 of them, against 3.9/10 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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Expected standard (RWM) 2024/25 | 67.0 · 57 | 40% | 2.28 |
| Ofsted | 52 | 35% | 1.82 |
| Higher standard (RWM) 2024/25 | 0.0 · 10 | 25% | 0.26 |
Each measure is read as a position among comparable schools, so a school in the middle of the country scores 5. Full method.
Ark Dickens Primary Academy overview
How it's doing
In 2024/25, 67.0% of pupils reached the expected standard in reading, writing, and maths, compared to the national median of 64%. The proportion reaching the higher standard was 0.0%, against a national median of 7%. Ofsted rated the school Good in May 2025. Narrow the comparison to schools whose pupils have similar backgrounds and it does better still (5.4 out of 10 against similar schools, 3.9 out of 10 against all schools).
Beyond the classroom
Pupils can join Reading, Craft, Lego Spike, Cooking, Comic, and Times Tables Clubs, as well as Mandarin and Movement Club. Sports options include Boys' and Girls' Football, Chess, Storytelling, Lego Club, Daily Mile, and Bikeability. Trips include a visit to Marwell Zoo, and an after-school club is available.
Getting in
The published school roll is 446 pupils against a stated capacity of 480. 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 who have not yet reached the expected standard in maths? What specific strategies are used to help children progress towards the higher standard?
What Ofsted said about Ark Dickens Primary Academy
Overview
Ark Dickens Primary Academy has taken effective action to maintain the standards identified at the previous inspection. The report describes a school where pupils thrive, characterised by strong, respectful relationships and a determination to help every child ‘be your best’. Leaders ensure staff are well-trained, and the curriculum provides a sensible order for learning that prepares pupils well for life beyond school.
Strengths
- Pupils are ‘polite, confident and articulate’, trusting adults completely and feeling ‘very safe’ at school.
- The curriculum enables pupils to learn important knowledge in a ‘sensible order over time’, with early emphasis on securing basic foundations.
- Teachers have ‘well-developed subject knowledge’ and use it expertly to present information clearly, particularly in mathematics and early years.
- Personal development is a ‘significant strength’, with pupils developing positive character traits such as kindness, respect, and resilience.
- Safeguarding arrangements are effective, and pupils receive comprehensive support for reading, including phonics and regular library visits.
Areas to improve
- In some subjects, pupils do not routinely practise and reinforce previously learned knowledge, meaning they ‘do not achieve as well as they could’.
- The school should ensure pupils have sufficient opportunities to review and apply their understanding in all subjects so they can ‘remember their learning well’.
Safeguarding
The report states that ‘the arrangements for safeguarding are effective’.
Results over time
Expected standard (reading, writing, maths), the years we hold.
| Year | Expected standard (reading, writing, maths) |
|---|---|
| 2022/23 | 67% |
| 2023/24 | 67% |
| 2024/25 | 67% |
| England | 64% |
Source: DfE Explore Education Statistics. “England” is the median of the 14,326 state schools in England we hold a 2024/25 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
- Primary (Reception) application deadline15 Jan 2027
- Primary National Offer Day16 Apr 2027
- Primary (Reception) application deadline15 Jan 2028
- Primary National Offer Day17 Apr 2028
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