Ark Globe Academy, London

Ofsted's report card from its 6 May 2026 inspection grades Ark Globe Academy on 8 areas: 4 exceptional and 4 strong standard. Report cards replaced single-word judgements in November 2025, on a five-point scale from exceptional to urgent improvement.

Inclusion - Exceptional. "Leaders have worked to ensure that this school is wholly inclusive."

Leadership and governance - Exceptional. "Leaders, including those in the trust, have an incredibly in-depth knowledge and understanding of school's the strengths and areas for further development."

Personal development and wellbeing - Exceptional. "Personal development and pupil wellbeing are at the heart of all that occurs at this school."

Post 16 provision - Exceptional. "Students describe their experiences in the sixth form as transformational."

Achievement - Strong standard. "Leaders ensure that pupils, including those who are disadvantaged and pupils with special educational needs and/or disabilities, achieve very well."

Attendance and behaviour - Strong standard. "Leaders have a clear vision and approach to supporting pupils to attend school each and everyday."

Curriculum and teaching - Strong standard. "Leaders have designed and implemented a curriculum that supports pupils to learn a broad range of subjects to a deep level."

Early years - Strong standard. "Children in the early years learn very well."

Safeguarding standards were met.

Ofsted's next steps for the school: "Leaders should continue to build upon their strong work to develop the ability of all teachers to excellently adapt the teaching of the curriculum for all pupils, no matter what barriers to learning they might have".

From the headteacher's welcome: "Ark Globe Academy is a mixed all through school with student age ranging from 4-18 located in Elephant and Castle, Southwark. At Ark Globe Academy we have the highest aspirations for all our children to ensure they are prepared for university and inspired to be leaders in their community."

Clubs and activities named on the school's website include football, netball, tennis, basketball, choir, art, debating and Duke of Edinburgh.

The school runs a breakfast club and after-school care.

Coming up: an open day on Thursday 5 November 2026 at 9am and an open day on Thursday 12 November 2026 at 9am. Check the school's website before you go, as dates can change.

In 2026, pupils at Ark Globe Academy averaged an Attainment 8 score of 46.4, the average grade across their best eight GCSEs. The average state school scored 50.7 in Southwark and 47 across England.

43% passed English and maths at grade 5 or above, against 53% in Southwark and 47% in England.

That is down from 48.4 in 2025.

Its most recent Progress 8 score, for 2024, was 0.22: 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 44.7, against 51.8 for other pupils at the school - a gap of 7.1 points.

Pupils sat GCSEs in 23 subjects; after English and maths, the most popular were Combined Science, Geography and Spanish.

For September 2026 entry, 57 families put Ark Globe Academy as their first choice and 310 named it as one of their preferences, for 81 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 Globe Academy are St Saviour's and St Olave's Church of England School (0.2 miles, Good, Attainment 8 48.4); South Bank University Academy (0.5 miles, Good, Attainment 8 32.6); Haberdashers' Borough Academy (0.5 miles, Good, Attainment 8 49.2); and Notre Dame Catholic Girls' School (0.7 miles, Requires improvement, Attainment 8 44.4).

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

Ark Globe 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 164 pupils who finished Year 11 in 2023/24, 93% stayed in education or training for at least two terms, including 29% to a further education college and 1% to an apprenticeship.

Of the 70 students who left the sixth form in 2023/24, 83% went on to university or other higher education, 1% to apprenticeships and 3% into work. 49% went to one of the most selective third of universities.

64.3% of pupils are eligible for free school meals, well above the average state school (25%), and 33.8% speak English as an additional language, against 18.8% on average, according to the 2026 school census.

The largest ethnic groups are Black (50%), Mixed (14%) and Asian (13%).

The nearest tram or metro stop is Borough Station, about 530 metres away (roughly a 7-minute walk).

11 bus stops are within a five-minute walk; the closest is Bricklayers Arms / New Kent Rd, 180 metres away.

In August 2026, police recorded 2434 crimes within a mile of the school, most often anti-social behaviour, theft from the person and violence and sexual offences. That is well above the typical figure around schools in Southwark (1438), as is usual near a town centre.

In 2024/25, Ark Globe Academy issued 234 suspensions, 18.4 for every 100 pupils (the average state school: 6.3), and no permanent exclusions.

The primary schools closest to Ark Globe Academy are Victory Primary School (0.2 miles), English Martyrs' Roman Catholic Primary School (0.4 miles), Grange Primary School (0.4 miles) and Charles Dickens Primary School (0.5 miles). Admission does not depend on which primary a child attends unless the school's policy names feeder schools.