Ark Oval Primary Academy, Croydon
Data last updated 11 Sept 2026
Location
Estimated admission likelihood based on school density and oversubscription data. Admissions policy: Non-selective
Key Information
DfE GIASOfsted Rating
Ofsted · 1 year agoOverall
Quality of Education
Behaviour & Attitudes
Personal Development
Leadership & Management
Early Years
Ofsted Insights
What This School Does Well
Ark Oval Primary Academy excels at teaching reading with a strong phonics programme and inspiring children to love books through author visits and parent reading sessions. The school creates a welcoming environment where all pupils, including those with additional needs, feel supported and can access a broad, ambitious curriculum. Pupils benefit from excellent enrichment activities like museum visits, gallery trips, and after-school clubs that bring their learning to life.
Key Strengths
- Excellent phonics teaching with well-trained staff helping all pupils become confident readers
- Strong subject knowledge from teachers who present learning effectively and check pupils' understanding
- Effective support for pupils with SEND, quickly identified and integrated into mainstream learning
- Positive behaviour and attitudes to learning, with fair and consistent approach to discipline
- Broad range of educational enrichment including museum visits, art galleries, author visits, and after-school clubs
Areas for Improvement
- Some wider subjects not taught as effectively, with learning activities not always focused on key knowledge and skills
- New information sometimes not broken down into manageable amounts for pupils to absorb
- Pupils not given enough opportunities in some subjects to practice and retain new vocabulary
- Inconsistent curriculum delivery across subjects means some pupils struggle to remember what they've learned
Safeguarding
Safeguarding arrangements are effective, with clear procedures in place and staff creating a positive culture that puts pupils' interests first.
Extracurricular Activities
Multi-sports club, football club, drama club, museum visits, art gallery visits, places of worship visits, author visits, Come Read with Me sessions
Ark Oval Primary Academy is a welcoming and inclusive school where pupils are happy and feel safe. The school has been rated Good across all key areas, with strong focus on reading and broad curriculum provision.
At a Glance
34.4%
Free School Meals
No
Boarding
Yes
Nursery
No
Sixth Form
No
Special Measures
What Parents Think
47 responsesSource: Ofsted Parent View - % who strongly agree or agree
Primary Performance (KS2)
Academic year 2025/26KS2 Results (% meeting expected standard)
Reading has improved from 73% to 81%. Maths has remained stable at around 71%. Writing has declined from 78% to 72%.
Class Sizes
28.6
Avg class size
29.3
Infant (KS1)
28.1
KS2
21
Total classes
2024/25 academic year
Getting There
Train Stations
Tube / Metro / Tram
Bus Stops
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Capacity & Demand
School Occupancy
94%
Near capacity
593 pupils
630 capacity
37 spare places available
Area Demand Pressure - Croydon
Based on MHCLG housing supply data for Croydon
Admissions Demand - Croydon
Places available
4,890
Applications
4,309
Got 1st preference
86.7%
Got preferred school
98.1%
Primary admissions across Croydon (2025/26)
Inspection History(4)
House Prices
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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.
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.
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.
School Funding
Annual funding per pupil, total budget, pupil premium grants, and how the school's resources compare to similar schools nationally.
Pupil Absence2024/25
5.69081%
Overall absence
15.20979%
Persistent absence
572
Enrolments
Absence trend
Source: DfE pupil absence statistics. Persistent absence = pupils missing 10%+ sessions.
Reviews
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Secondary Schools Nearby
Secondary schools pupils are likely to move to
Ark Oval Primary Academy
Al-Khair Secondary Girls
Al-Khair School
Supreme Education AP
Ark Blake Academy
St Mary's Catholic High School
Chaffinch Brook School
Arise Academy
Harris Invictus Academy Croydon
Archbishop Tenison's CofE High School
Serenity School, Old Palace Croydon
Showing 10 of 16 linked schools
Nearby Schools
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