Ark Greenwich Free School
London, SE18 4LH · Greenwich · secondary school
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1st of 16 secondary schools in Greenwich we can score. Local and same-phase on purpose: a national table mostly measures who attends.
Its results hold up when the comparison narrows to schools whose pupils have similar backgrounds — 10.0/10 against 493 of them, against 9.7/10 nationally. So this is not simply a reflection of who attends. 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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Ofsted | 94 | 35% | 3.29 |
| Grade 5+ English & maths 2025/26 | 86.0 · 96 | 30% | 2.87 |
| Progress 8 2023/24 | 1.43 · 100 | 25% | 2.49 |
| Attainment 8 2025/26 | 65.8 · 96 | 10% | 0.96 |
Each measure is read as a position among comparable schools, so a school in the middle of the country scores 5. Full method.
Ark Greenwich Free School overview
How it's doing
In 2024/25, 90.2% of pupils achieved Grade 5 or above in English and maths. Attainment 8 was 68.2, compared to the national median of 44.6. Progress 8 was +1.43 in 2023/24, indicating better progress than pupils nationally starting from the same place. Its results hold up when the comparison narrows to schools whose pupils have similar backgrounds, so they are not simply a reflection of who attends (10.0 out of 10 against similar schools, 9.7 out of 10 against all schools). Ofsted rated the school Outstanding in 2023.
Beyond the classroom
Pupils can join cooking, dance, and musical theatre clubs, or participate in watersports, assault courses, football, and athletics. The school offers Duke of Edinburgh awards and an after-school club. Trips include visits to the Science Museum, Chelsea football Stadium, River Boat tours, Hampton Court Palace, China, Berlin, and Brighton.
Getting in
The published school roll is 615 pupils against a stated capacity of 600. 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
What specific support is available for pupils aiming for Progress 8 scores above the national baseline? How are the various sports and arts activities scheduled to ensure broad access?
What Ofsted said about Ark Greenwich Free School
Overview
Pupils at Ark Greenwich Free School receive an “excellent education” and “excel in their learning.” The report describes a school where leaders place a strong emphasis on character development, ensuring pupils become “confident, articulate, and respectful members of the community.”
Strengths
- Leaders have constructed an “ambitious curriculum” that matches or exceeds the national curriculum, with pupils achieving very well, including those with special educational needs and/or disabilities.
- Teachers “precisely plan and sequence” lessons to ensure pupils embed content into long-term memory and understand increasingly complex concepts.
- A “culture of reading” is meticulously planned, with daily high-quality opportunities such as bespoke workshops and ‘read now’ activities.
- Behaviour is “exemplary,” with “low-level disruption” rarely seen and incidents of bullying being rare.
- The provision for personal development is “exemplary,” offering an extensive range of sporting, artistic, and community activities, including a compulsory enrichment programme.
Areas to improve
- The report identifies no significant areas for improvement.
Safeguarding
The arrangements for safeguarding are effective, with a “strong culture of safeguarding” where staff are trained to identify risks and report concerns swiftly.
Results over time
Attainment 8, the years we hold.
| Year | Attainment 8 |
|---|---|
| 2023/24 | 63.6 |
| 2024/25 | 68.2 |
| 2025/26 | 65.8 |
| 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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