Ark Alexandra Academy, HASTINGS

Ofsted's report card from its 16 June 2026 inspection grades Ark Alexandra Academy on 6 areas: 6 strong standard. Report cards replaced single-word judgements in November 2025, on a five-point scale from exceptional to urgent improvement.

Achievement - Strong standard. "Pupils achieve very well in all of their subjects."

Attendance and behaviour - Strong standard. "In the past, pupils' levels of attendance have been too low, including for specific groups of pupils such as pupils with special educational needs and/or disabilities and disadvantaged pupils."

Curriculum and teaching - Strong standard. "The school offers a broad and highly ambitious curriculum in both key stages 3 and 4."

Inclusion - Strong standard. "Vulnerable pupils are at the front and centre of the school's work."

Leadership and governance - Strong standard. "Leaders have made substantial improvements to all aspects of the school's work."

Personal development and wellbeing - Strong standard. "The support that the school provides for pupils' pastoral needs is a significant strength."

Safeguarding standards were met.

Ofsted's next steps for the school: "Leaders should continue their highly effective work to make substantial improvements to key aspects of the school, such as pupils' achievement, so that these significant successes are sustained over time".

From the headteacher's welcome: "It is our privilege to welcome you to our school, a vibrant Church of England community where Faith, Kindness, and Excellence guide everything we do. These values are not just words; they shape our culture, our curriculum, and the way we care for every child."

In 2026, pupils at Ark Alexandra Academy averaged an Attainment 8 score of 45.4, the average grade across their best eight GCSEs. The average state school scored 44.5 in East Sussex and 47 across England.

53% passed English and maths at grade 5 or above, against 44% in East Sussex and 47% in England.

That is up from 42.6 in 2025.

Its most recent Progress 8 score, for 2024, was -0.79: pupils made well below 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 36.3, against 50 for other pupils at the school - a gap of 13.7 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, 177 families put Ark Alexandra Academy as their first choice and 358 named it as one of their preferences, for 223 places offered. It had fewer first-choice applications than places. Every family who put it first was offered a place there for 2026 entry.

The nearest other state secondary schools to Ark Alexandra Academy are Lansdowne Children's Centre (1.5 miles); Mulberry Academy Hastings (2 miles, Requires improvement, Attainment 8 38.5); Mulberry Academy St Leonards (2 miles); and St Richard's Catholic College (4.2 miles).

Ark Alexandra 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.

141 parents answered Ofsted's Parent View survey about Ark Alexandra Academy (as of April 2026): 87% would recommend the school, 82% say their child is happy there and 77% of those with a view say bullying is dealt with well.

The strongest agreement was that their child feels safe (92%); the weakest, that the school deals with bullying well (among parents with a view) (77%).

Of the 258 pupils who finished Year 11 in 2023/24, 87% stayed in education or training for at least two terms, including 57% to a further education college, 2% to an apprenticeship and 2% into work.

Of the 45 students who left the sixth form in 2023/24, 42% went on to university or other higher education and 18% into work. 19% went to one of the most selective third of universities.

11.1% speak English as an additional language, against 18.8% on average, according to the 2026 school census.

The largest ethnic groups are White British (72%) and Mixed (7%).

In 2026, 179 pupils (13.6%) received SEN support and 6 (0.5%) 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 a specific learning difficulty such as dyslexia.

The nearest railway station is Ore Rail Station, about 1.2 miles away in a straight line.

8 bus stops are within a five-minute walk; the closest is William Parker Academy (opposite), 140 metres away.

In August 2026, police recorded 258 crimes within a mile of the school, most often violence and sexual offences, anti-social behaviour and shoplifting. That is well above the typical figure around schools in East Sussex (65), as is usual near a town centre.

In 2024/25, Ark Alexandra Academy issued 1069 suspensions, 74.7 for every 100 pupils (the average state school: 6.3), and 2 permanent exclusions.

The primary schools closest to Ark Alexandra Academy are Ark Blacklands Primary Academy (0.5 miles), Mulberry Silverdale Primary (0.6 miles), Ark Little Ridge Primary Academy (0.8 miles) and Hollington Primary School (0.9 miles). Admission does not depend on which primary a child attends unless the school's policy names feeder schools.