Ark Blacklands Primary Academy, Hastings

From the headteacher's welcome: "Welcome to Ark Blacklands Primary Academy. We are a community primary school that serves the local children of Hastings. Our staff make a tremendous effort to get to know each pupil and provide them with the very best care. At Ark Blacklands we are extremely proud of the fact that Ofsted has graded us as outstanding in all areas."

Clubs and activities named on the school's website include football, netball, hockey, cricket, tennis, basketball, multi-sports, karate, dance and drama.

In 2025, 97% of Year 6 pupils at Ark Blacklands Primary Academy reached the expected standard in reading and 93% in maths. At the average state primary the figures were 76% and 72% in East Sussex and 77% and 75% across England.

Results rose from 92% in reading and 90% in maths in 2024.

For September 2026 entry, 88 families put Ark Blacklands Primary Academy as their first choice and 184 named it as one of their preferences, for 90 places offered. It had fewer first-choice applications than places. 5 families who put it first were not offered a place there.

The nearest other state primary schools to Ark Blacklands Primary Academy are Mulberry Baird Primary (0.5 miles, Requires improvement, 75% reading, 73% maths); St Paul's Church of England Academy (0.7 miles, Good, 84% reading, 80% maths); Ark Castledown Primary Academy (0.8 miles, Good, 80% reading, 82% maths); and Mulberry Silverdale Primary (0.9 miles, Good, 70% reading, 74% maths).

Ark Blacklands Primary Academy's 2025 results were higher than all 4 of them.

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

Across the trust's primary schools, 78% of Year 6 pupils met the expected standard in reading, writing and maths in 2024/25.

11.4% speak English as an additional language, against 18.8% on average, according to the 2026 school census.

The largest ethnic groups are White British (81%) and Mixed (6%).

In 2026, 97 pupils (15.6%) received SEN support and 13 (2.1%) 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 autism.

The nearest railway station is Ore Rail Station, about 1120 metres away (roughly a 14-minute walk).

18 bus stops are within a five-minute walk; the closest is Ashford Road South (o/s 92), 180 metres away.

In August 2026, police recorded 619 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 Blacklands Primary Academy issued 10 suspensions, 1.6 for every 100 pupils (the average state school: 6.3), and 1 permanent exclusion.

The secondary schools closest to Ark Blacklands Primary Academy are Ark Alexandra Academy (0.5 miles) and Lansdowne Children's Centre (1.2 miles).