Ark Boulton Academy, Birmingham

Good
Secondary
Academy sponsor led
Mixed
Ages 1116

Data last updated 11 Sept 2026

Location

Very likely (~876m)Possible (~1.3km)Unlikely (~1.6km)Confidence: medium

Estimated admission likelihood based on school density and oversubscription data. Admissions policy: Non-selective

Key Information

DfE GIAS
Head:Mr Laurence Cole
Pupils:877 / 900 capacity
LA:Birmingham
Phone:01217738156
Address:Golden Hillock Road, Sparkhill, Birmingham, B11 2QG
Trust:ARK SCHOOLS
Admissions:Non-selective
Status:open
Opened:1 September 2015

Ofsted Rating

Good

Overall

URN:140014
UKPRN:10042925
Diocese:Not applicable
Constituency:Birmingham Hall Green and Moseley
Urban/Rural:Urban: Nearer to a major town or city

Ofsted Insights

What This School Does Well

Ark Boulton Academy excels at creating an inclusive environment where all pupils, especially girls, feel supported and able to aspire to great achievements. The school takes safeguarding extremely seriously with proper procedures in place and staff confidence in raising concerns. Teachers consistently encourage pupils to work together across all backgrounds, preparing them effectively for life in modern Britain and beyond school.

Key Strengths

  • Safeguarding is taken seriously with proper procedures, careful record-keeping, and staff confidence in raising concerns
  • Effective work to promote equality and raise aspirations, particularly for girls who feel supported to 'dream big'
  • Strong curriculum teaching fundamental British values, including visits to places of worship and school council participation
  • Consistent expectation in lessons for pupils to work together regardless of sex, building confidence and preparing them for modern life
  • Leaders use detailed annual surveys and analysis to identify priorities and improve the school

Areas for Improvement

  • Some staff feel the leadership team does not listen to their concerns, though leaders are actively addressing this through surveys and feedback
  • Pupils sometimes lack confidence working together across genders at break and lunchtime, though this is improving in lessons

Safeguarding

Safeguarding standards are met - the school has established an open culture where safeguarding is everyone's responsibility, concerns are actively identified and managed, and children are made safer and feel safe.

Extracurricular Activities

Visits to places of worship, school council

Ark Boulton Academy had a focused monitoring inspection following concerns about safeguarding, equality, and personal development. The inspection found that safeguarding standards are met and leaders have effectively addressed the areas of concern.

At a Glance

66.4%

Free School Meals

No

Boarding

No

Nursery

No

Sixth Form

No

Special Measures

Class Sizes

26.3

Avg class size

31

Total classes

5 classes with more than 30 pupils

2024/25 academic year

Getting There

Train Stations

Small Heath Rail Station
755m · 12 min walk
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Capacity & Demand

School Occupancy

97%

Near capacity

877 pupils

900 capacity

23 spare places available

Area Demand Pressure - Birmingham

Low pressure
New homes approved:19,703
Projected new pupils:3,547

Based on MHCLG housing supply data for Birmingham

Admissions Demand - Birmingham

Low demand0.99x oversubscription

Places available

15,089

Applications

14,943

Got 1st preference

73.6%

Got preferred school

96.8%

Secondary admissions across Birmingham (2025/26)

Inspection History(113)

Date not published by Ofsted
Good
Date not published by Ofsted
Good
Date not published by Ofsted
Good

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SEN Provision

How many pupils have special educational needs, what types of support the school provides, and how it compares to similar schools.

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Pupil Demographics

The school's pupil mix - ethnicity breakdown, free school meals eligibility, and English as an additional language. Useful context when evaluating school fit.

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Teachers & Staff

Teacher qualification rates, pupil-to-teacher ratio, staff turnover, and salary data. Shows how well-resourced and stable the school's workforce is.

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School Funding

Annual funding per pupil, total budget, pupil premium grants, and how the school's resources compare to similar schools nationally.

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Pupil Absence
2024/25

6.65227%

Overall absence

20.6041%

Persistent absence

927

Enrolments

Authorised2.77377%
Unauthorised3.8785%
Persistent (10%+)20.6041%
Severe (50%+)1.726%

Absence trend

3.81358%
18/19
8.31502%
20/21
11.09168%
21/22
11.0494%
22/23
9.10723%
23/24
6.65227%
24/25
Overall absence rate

Source: DfE pupil absence statistics. Persistent absence = pupils missing 10%+ sessions.

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