Ark Pioneer Academy, Barnet

From the headteacher's welcome: "I am delighted to welcome you to Ark Pioneer. In 2019, this was a new-start non-selective secondary school in Barnet. In September 2023, we proudly received an 'Outstanding' rating from Ofsted, recognising our unwavering commitment to providing our pupils with high-quality education."

Clubs and activities named on the school's website include drama, choir, orchestra and chess.

In 2026, pupils at Ark Pioneer Academy averaged an Attainment 8 score of 53.8, the average grade across their best eight GCSEs. The average state school scored 57.9 in Barnet and 47 across England.

62% passed English and maths at grade 5 or above, against 66% in Barnet and 47% in England.

That is down from 56 in 2025.

Its most recent Progress 8 score, for 2024, was 0.57: pupils made well 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 48.9, against 56.4 for other pupils at the school - a gap of 7.5 points.

Pupils sat GCSEs in 21 subjects; after English and maths, the most popular were French, Combined Science and Geography.

For September 2026 entry, 167 families put Ark Pioneer Academy as their first choice and 865 named it as one of their preferences, for 170 places offered. It had fewer first-choice applications than places. 28 families who put it first were not offered a place there.

The nearest other state secondary schools to Ark Pioneer Academy are Queen Elizabeth's Girls' School (0.4 miles, Good, Attainment 8 61.2); The Totteridge Academy (0.6 miles, Good, Attainment 8 60.9); Queen Elizabeth's School, Barnet (1.1 miles, Outstanding, selective, Attainment 8 87.1); and JCoSS (1.1 miles, Good, Attainment 8 61).

Each of them had higher 2026 results than Ark Pioneer Academy.

Ark Pioneer 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 176 pupils who finished Year 11 in 2023/24, 93% stayed in education or training for at least two terms, including 21% to a further education college and 1% to an apprenticeship.

39% of pupils are eligible for free school meals, well above the average state school (25%), and 31.8% speak English as an additional language, against 18.8% on average, according to the 2026 school census.

The largest ethnic groups are White British (22%), Black (17%) and Mixed (15%).

Ark Pioneer Academy had 79 teachers in 2026, one for every 13 pupils: more teachers per pupil than a typical secondary school, at about one for every 17.

The nearest tram or metro stop is High Barnet Station, about 480 metres away (roughly a 6-minute walk).

23 bus stops are within a five-minute walk; the closest is Fairfield Way (->n), 90 metres away.

In August 2026, police recorded 205 crimes within a mile of the school, most often violence and sexual offences, anti-social behaviour and vehicle crime. That is well below the typical figure around schools in Barnet (370).

In 2024/25, Ark Pioneer Academy issued 151 suspensions, 15.1 for every 100 pupils (the average state school: 6.3), and no permanent exclusions.

The primary schools closest to Ark Pioneer Academy are St Catherine's RC School (0.2 miles), Underhill School (0.6 miles), Cromer Road Primary School (0.7 miles) and Foulds School (1.1 miles). Admission does not depend on which primary a child attends unless the school's policy names feeder schools.