Ark Castledown Primary Academy, Hastings
Ark Castledown Primary Academy is a primary school for pupils aged 2 to 11 in Hastings, part of ARK Schools. It was rated Good at its last graded Ofsted inspection, in November 2021. Its 2025 Key Stage 2 results were the 4th-highest of the 10 schools in Hastings with published results, and 5,291st of 14,452 across England. It was 90% full in 2025.
- SATs results
- In line with England
- Ofsted
- Good (2021)
- Demand
- Every first choice offered
- Attendance
- Below England average
Reception applications for September 2027 close in 81 days
Deadline Friday 15 January 2027. Apply to East Sussex (the council where you live). Offers on 16 April.
Data last updated 26 Oct 2026
Ark Castledown Primary Academy in detail
Ark Castledown Primary Academy in its own words
From the headteacher's welcome: "Welcome to Ark Castledown. We are a community primary school and nursery dedicated to providing the very best education for the children of our town. We have a strong child-centred approach to teaching, where consistency, praise, encouragement and challenge are key."
Clubs and activities named on the school's website include football, netball, basketball, dance, drama, gardening and art.
Headteacher's welcome (school website)Clubs (school website)
Source: The school's own website
Results
In 2025, 80% of Year 6 pupils at Ark Castledown Primary Academy reached the expected standard in reading and 82% in maths. At the average state primary the figures were 76% and 72% in East Sussex and 77% and 75% across England.
Results were similar in 2024 (80% in reading, 82% in maths).
Getting a place at Ark Castledown Primary Academy
For September 2026 entry, 41 families put Ark Castledown Primary Academy as their first choice and 81 named it as one of their preferences, for 42 places offered. It had fewer first-choice applications than places. Every family who put it first was offered a place there for 2026 entry.
Admissions history and your chances at Ark Castledown Primary Academy
Compared with nearby schools
The nearest other state primary schools to Ark Castledown Primary Academy are Sacred Heart Catholic Primary School (0.3 miles); Sacred Heart Catholic Primary School, Hastings (0.3 miles, Good, 72% reading, 53% maths); Mulberry Baird Primary (0.4 miles, Requires improvement, 75% reading, 73% maths); and Dudley Infant Academy (0.4 miles, Good).
Ark Castledown Primary Academy's 2025 results were higher than all 2 of them.
Sacred Heart Catholic Primary SchoolSacred Heart Catholic Primary School, HastingsMulberry Baird PrimaryDudley Infant Academy
The trust
Ark Castledown 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.
What parents say
31 parents answered Ofsted's Parent View survey about Ark Castledown Primary Academy (as of April 2026): 97% would recommend the school, 94% say their child is happy there and 80% of those with a view say bullying is dealt with well.
The strongest agreement was that they would recommend the school (97%); the weakest, that the school deals with bullying well (among parents with a view) (80%).
Who goes there
51.9% of pupils are eligible for free school meals, well above the average state school (25%), according to the 2026 school census.
Getting there
The nearest railway station is Ore Rail Station, about 430 metres away (roughly a 5-minute walk).
14 bus stops are within a five-minute walk; the closest is Whitefriars Road (adjacent), 90 metres away.
The area around the school
Measured by the 2025 English Indices of Deprivation, the neighbourhood Ark Castledown Primary Academy stands in is among the 20% most deprived neighbourhoods in England. This describes where the school is, not where its pupils live.
In August 2026, police recorded 651 crimes within a mile of the school, most often anti-social behaviour, violence and sexual offences and shoplifting. That is well above the typical figure around schools in East Sussex (65), as is usual near a town centre.
Suspensions and exclusions
Ark Castledown Primary Academy recorded no suspensions or permanent exclusions in 2024/25.
Secondary schools nearby
The secondary schools closest to Ark Castledown Primary Academy are Ark Alexandra Academy (1.4 miles), Lansdowne Children's Centre (1.5 miles) and Mulberry Academy Hastings (1.6 miles).
Ark Alexandra AcademyLansdowne Children's CentreMulberry Academy Hastings
Sources: DfE school performance data (averages: state mainstream schools); DfE school-level applications and offers; council admissions booklets; DfE appeals statistics; DfE multi-academy trust performance data; Ofsted Parent View; DfE school census and special educational needs statistics; NaPTAN (Department for Transport); English Indices of Deprivation 2025 (MHCLG); data.police.uk street-level crime; DfE exclusions statistics
Location
Every family who put it first was offered a place for 2026 entry, so distance did not limit places that year.
Key Information
DfE GIASOfsted Rating
Ofsted · 11 months agoReport card - no single overall grade (Ofsted's framework since November 2025)
Safeguarding standards: met
Ofsted Insights
From Ofsted's November 2025 inspection report.
What This School Does Well
This school is exceptional at including every child and making them feel they belong. Teachers are highly skilled at spotting what each child needs and providing the right support, whether that's extra help with reading or managing emotions. Pupils achieve well above average results, especially disadvantaged children, and genuinely love coming to school.
Key Strengths
- Exceptional inclusive culture with expert staff who quickly identify and support pupils' needs
- Above-average pupil achievement across all subjects, with disadvantaged pupils outperforming peers nationally
- Highly positive behaviour and excellent attendance, with staff effectively removing barriers to regular attendance
- Ambitious, well-designed curriculum with strong focus on communication and language development
- Strong leadership that monitors progress closely and shares best practice nationally
Safeguarding
Safeguarding standards are met - leaders have established an open culture where safeguarding is everyone's responsibility and pupils feel safe.
Extracurricular Activities
School councillors, prefects, allotment activities, Hastings carnival parade, singing performances with other schools in London, workshops in artistic, musical, sporting and cultural development, educational trips and visits
Ark Castledown Primary Academy is an exceptionally inclusive school where pupils thrive and feel safe. The school demonstrates strong achievement, with above-average attainment and particularly impressive support for disadvantaged pupils and those with special educational needs.
At a Glance
51.9%
Free School Meals
No
Boarding
Yes
Nursery
No
Sixth Form
No
Special Measures
What Parents Think
31 responsesSource: Ofsted Parent View, responses as at April 2026 - % who strongly agree or agree
Primary Performance (KS2)
Academic year 2024/25KS2 Results (% meeting expected standard)
Reading has remained stable at around 80% (2024 to 2025). Maths has remained stable at around 82% (2024 to 2025). Writing has declined from 88% to 84% (2024 to 2025).
Class Sizes
25.2
Avg class size
27.7
Infant (KS1)
25.8
KS2
16
Total classes
2025/26 academic year
How Does This School Compare?
Ranked against 5 nearby primary schools
Latest from Ark Castledown Primary Academy
Hogwarts Day
29 Sep 2026
Individual photographs
28 Sep 2026
Year 4 Roman Workshop
28 Sep 2026
Last Day of Term 3
21 Sep 2026
Nasal Flu Vaccinations
21 Sep 2026
Year 4 Roman Workshop
21 Sep 2026
From Ark Castledown Primary Academy's website. School Signal is not affiliated with the school.
Social & online
Keep up with Ark Castledown Primary Academy
Before and after school care
Clubs on Ofsted's childcare register at or near Ark Castledown Primary Academy.
- Fireflies childcare limited450m away · Not yet graded
- 1066 Kids Club @ Baird850m away · Not yet graded
Term dates
Ark Castledown Primary Academy is an academy, so it sets its own term dates: check the school's website. As a guide, see East Sussex's term dates for its community schools.
Getting There
Train Stations
Bus Stops
Free school transport
Check free transport to Ark Castledown Primary Academy from your postcode →
You apply to the council where you live. Ark Castledown Primary Academy is in East Sussex; for families living there:
Apply to East Sussex for free school transport. Its policy is on the council's website.
Safety and surroundings
Road collisions within 500 m (2021 to 2025)
- Collisions
- 37
- Fatal
- 1
- Serious
- 13
- Children hurt
- 6
Within 500 m of the school's mapped location, police recorded 37 road collisions in which someone was injured in 2021 to 2025: 1 fatal, 13 serious and 23 slight.
6 children aged 0 to 15 were hurt: 4 on foot and 2 in a vehicle or otherwise.
9 of the collisions happened on a weekday between 08:00 and 09:30 or 14:45 and 16:30, holidays included.
The typical figure for schools in East Sussex is 8 (the median across 221 schools, same distance and years).
Serious and slight counts use the Department for Transport's severity adjustment, which allows for changes in how police forces record injuries; they are estimates, rounded to whole numbers. Distances are in a straight line. Source: Department for Transport, Road Safety Data (STATS19), Open Government Licence v3.0.
Commute and house prices
Your chances of a place at Ark Castledown Primary Academy
Will you get a place at Ark Castledown Primary Academy? Get the admissions report
Your home postcode, set against Ark Castledown Primary Academy's admissions figures, in one report saved to your account.
What the report includes for Ark Castledown Primary Academy:
- The straight-line distance from your home to Ark Castledown Primary Academy.
- We hold no last distance offered figures from East Sussex, so the report covers demand, alternatives and dates.
- Applications, first choices and offers at Ark Castledown Primary Academy for 2018 to 2026 entry.
- How many families in East Sussex got their first choice, and how often appeals there succeed.
- The nearest state schools to your home, with Ofsted rating, demand and last distance offered where published.
- Key dates for September 2027 entry and how to apply.
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Capacity & Demand
School Occupancy
90%
Near capacity
378 pupils
420 places
42 spare places in 2025
2025, DfE school capacity data
Area Demand Pressure - Hastings
Based on MHCLG Live Table 122 (2024-25, last 5 years) for Hastings
Across East Sussex council
Places available
5,501
Applications
4,559
Got 1st preference
91.1%
Got preferred school
97.7%
All primary applications across East Sussex council (2026/27), not just this school.
This school: Every first choice offered
Inspection History(3)
SEND & SEN Provision
SEN Overview
73
SEN Support
13
EHC Plans
21.3%
of Total Pupils
2026 academic year
Provision & Specialist Facilities
Pupils by Need Type
Pupil Demographics
Ethnicity
2026 academic year
Key Indicators
403
Total Pupils
217
Boys
186
Girls
2026 academic year
Workforce
17
Teachers
23.7:1
Pupil-teacher ratio
£40,817
Mean salary
2026 data
School Funding
£6,037
Per pupil
£2671k
Total funding
£314k
Pupil premium
2025-26 financial year allocations
Pupil Absence2024/25
6.4%
Overall absence
19.3%
Persistent absence
357
Enrolments
Absence trend
Source: DfE pupil absence statistics. Persistent absence = pupils missing 10%+ sessions.
Secondary Schools Nearby
Secondary schools pupils are likely to move to
Ark Castledown Primary Academy
Questions parents ask about Ark Castledown Primary Academy
What are SATs results like at Ark Castledown Primary Academy?
Of the pupils at Ark Castledown Primary Academy who took the 2025 Key Stage 2 assessments, 80% reached the expected standard in reading and 82% did so in maths.
What is Ark Castledown Primary Academy's Ofsted rating?
Ark Castledown Primary Academy's most recent Ofsted inspection, in November 2025, produced a report card, which grades each area but gives no overall grade. At its last graded inspection, in November 2021, it was rated Good.
What is the catchment area for Ark Castledown Primary Academy?
No fixed boundary. When Ark Castledown Primary Academy is oversubscribed, East Sussex allocates places by its published criteria, usually ending with home-to-school distance.
Is it hard to get a place at Ark Castledown Primary Academy?
Ark Castledown Primary Academy was not full in 2025: it ran at 90% of its 420 places.
How big are the classes at Ark Castledown Primary Academy?
Classes at Ark Castledown Primary Academy average 25.2 pupils (2025/26).
How many pupils go to Ark Castledown Primary Academy?
Ark Castledown Primary Academy has around 403 pupils on roll. 52% are eligible for free school meals.
What is attendance like at Ark Castledown Primary Academy?
6.4% of sessions were missed at Ark Castledown Primary Academy in 2024/25. 19.3% of pupils were persistently absent (missing 10% or more of sessions).
How do I apply to Ark Castledown Primary Academy?
Apply through East Sussex's coordinated admissions process, naming Ark Castledown Primary Academy on your application. Applications for Reception places starting in September 2027 close on Friday 15 January 2027, and offers are made on Friday 16 April 2027.
Does Ark Castledown Primary Academy have a breakfast club or after-school club?
Ofsted's childcare register lists 2 out-of-school clubs within a kilometre of Ark Castledown Primary Academy: Fireflies childcare limited (450m away, registered, not yet graded) and 1066 Kids Club @ Baird (850m away, registered, not yet graded). The school may also run its own clubs, which don't have to register with Ofsted.
How many road collisions happen near Ark Castledown Primary Academy?
Within 500 m of the school's mapped location, police recorded 37 road collisions in which someone was injured in 2021 to 2025: 1 fatal, 13 serious and 23 slight. 6 children aged 0 to 15 were hurt: 4 on foot and 2 in a vehicle or otherwise. 9 of the collisions happened on a weekday between 08:00 and 09:30 or 14:45 and 16:30, holidays included. The typical figure for schools in East Sussex is 8 (the median across 221 schools, same distance and years).
Where is Ark Castledown Primary Academy?
Ark Castledown Primary Academy is at Priory Road, Hastings, East Sussex, TN34 3QT.
Source: Department for Transport, Road Safety Data (STATS19)