Ark Academy, Wembley

Ofsted's report card from its 14 April 2026 inspection grades Ark Academy on 8 areas: 1 exceptional, 6 strong standard and 1 expected standard. Report cards replaced single-word judgements in November 2025, on a five-point scale from exceptional to urgent improvement.

Personal development and wellbeing - Exceptional. "The personal development and wellbeing offer is exemplary."

Achievement - Strong standard. "Pupils achieve very highly across all phases in the school."

Attendance and behaviour - Strong standard. "Leaders have established highly effective systems and procedures to promote and support attendance."

Curriculum and teaching - Strong standard. "Leaders have a very clear understanding of the strengths and areas of priority in curriculum and teaching."

Inclusion - Strong standard. "The school swiftly identifies any pupils who have potential barriers to their learning."

Leadership and governance - Strong standard. "Leader have a precise understanding of the school's strengths and areas of priority."

Post 16 provision - Strong standard. "Students in the sixth form achieve very well."

Early years - Expected standard. "Children in the early years develop the skills, knowledge and understanding to ensure that they are ready for their transition into Year 1."

Safeguarding standards were met.

Ofsted's next steps for the school: "Leaders should ensure that staff in the early years develop the skills and expertise to consistently maximise opportunities to develop children's language and communication skills through high-quality interactions during all activities".

From the headteacher's welcome: "Ark Academy is an all through school that offers excellent learning from nursery through to higher education. In an All Through School, school parents can expect their child to transfer seamlessly from primary to secondary school; we are one and share the same values and expectations."

Clubs and activities named on the school's website include drama, coding, STEM, sewing and homework club.

Coming up: an open day on Monday 16 November 2026 at 9am, an open evening on Tuesday 17 November 2026 at 5pm, an open day on Tuesday 8 December 2026 at 9am and an open day on Tuesday 12 January 2027 at 9am. Check the school's website before you go, as dates can change.

In 2026, pupils at Ark Academy averaged an Attainment 8 score of 56.7, the average grade across their best eight GCSEs. The average state school scored 51.1 in Brent and 47 across England.

63% passed English and maths at grade 5 or above, against 54% in Brent and 47% in England.

That is up from 51.5 in 2025.

Its most recent Progress 8 score, for 2024, was 0.45: pupils made above average progress compared with pupils nationally who started secondary school at the same level. Progress 8 was not published for 2026.

Disadvantaged pupils averaged an Attainment 8 of 53.6, against 59.6 for other pupils at the school - a gap of 6 points.

Pupils sat GCSEs in 21 subjects; after English and maths, the most popular were Religious Studies, Combined Science and History.

For September 2026 entry, 173 families put Ark Academy as their first choice and 790 named it as one of their preferences, for 131 places offered. That is 1.3 first choices for every place. 80 families who put it first were not offered a place there.

The nearest other state secondary schools to Ark Academy are Michaela Community School (0.2 miles, Outstanding, Attainment 8 79.6); Preston Manor School (0.4 miles, Good, Attainment 8 46.9); Ark Elvin Academy (1 mile, Outstanding, Attainment 8 40.9); and JFS (1.1 miles, Good, Attainment 8 66.4).

Ark Academy's 2026 results were higher than 2 of these 4 schools.

Ark Academy is one of 48 schools run by ARK Schools, an academy trust.

Across the trust's secondary schools, pupils averaged an Attainment 8 score of 47.7 in 2024/25.

Of the 181 pupils who finished Year 11 in 2023/24, 97% stayed in education or training for at least two terms, including 24% to a further education college.

Of the 143 students who left the sixth form in 2023/24, 77% went on to university or other higher education, 1% to apprenticeships and 8% into work. 22% went to one of the most selective third of universities.

41.4% of pupils are eligible for free school meals, well above the average state school (25%), and 47.9% speak English as an additional language, against 18.8% on average, according to the 2026 school census.

The largest ethnic groups are Asian (32%), Black (23%) and other ethnic groups (15%).

In 2026, 155 pupils (9.5%) received SEN support and 57 (3.5%) had an education, health and care plan, against 16.2% and 4.6% at the average state school. The most common need among them is speech, language and communication needs.

The nearest Underground station is Wembley Park Underground Station, about 60 metres away (roughly a 1-minute walk).

13 bus stops are within a five-minute walk; the closest is Corringham Road, 50 metres away.

In 2024/25, Ark Academy issued 126 suspensions, 7.7 for every 100 pupils (the average state school: 6.3), and no permanent exclusions.

The primary schools closest to Ark Academy are Chalkhill Primary School (0.5 miles), Wembley Primary School (0.6 miles), St Margaret Clitherow RC Primary School (0.8 miles) and Park Lane Primary School (0.9 miles). Admission does not depend on which primary a child attends unless the school's policy names feeder schools.