Ark Walworth Academy, London

From the headteacher's welcome: "I'm proud to welcome you to Walworth Academy, where we seek to provide academic excellence and superb pastoral care for everyone in our school community. To that end, you'll find the team here at Walworth are dedicated to securing the best possible progress for students, placing our children at the heart of all decisions, and recognising their success."

Clubs and activities named on the school's website include football, rugby, tennis, gymnastics, basketball, dance, drama, choir and photography.

In 2026, pupils at Ark Walworth Academy averaged an Attainment 8 score of 44, the average grade across their best eight GCSEs. The average state school scored 50.7 in Southwark and 47 across England.

50% passed English and maths at grade 5 or above, against 53% in Southwark and 47% in England.

That is in line with 2025, when the score was 43.3.

Its most recent Progress 8 score, for 2024, was 0.18: 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 42.7, against 48.7 for other pupils at the school - a gap of 6 points.

Pupils sat GCSEs in 20 subjects; after English and maths, the most popular were Combined Science, Geography and Art and Design.

For September 2026 entry, 93 families put Ark Walworth Academy as their first choice and 399 named it as one of their preferences, for 130 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 Walworth Academy are South Bank University Academy (0.4 miles, Good, Attainment 8 32.6); Harris Academy Bermondsey (0.6 miles, Outstanding, Attainment 8 54.2); City of London Academy (Southwark) (0.6 miles, Good, Attainment 8 49); and St Saviour's and St Olave's Church of England School (0.6 miles, Good, Attainment 8 48.4).

Ark Walworth Academy's 2026 results were higher than 1 of these 4 schools.

Ark Walworth 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 155 pupils who finished Year 11 in 2023/24, 90% stayed in education or training for at least two terms, including 25% to a further education college, 1% to an apprenticeship and 1% into work.

Of the 103 students who left the sixth form in 2023/24, 68% went on to university or other higher education, 4% to apprenticeships and 10% into work. 21% went to one of the most selective third of universities.

69% of pupils are eligible for free school meals, well above the average state school (25%), and 46.8% speak English as an additional language, against 18.8% on average, according to the 2026 school census.

The largest ethnic groups are Black (46%), Mixed (14%) and other ethnic groups (10%).

In 2026, 156 pupils (16%) received SEN support and 25 (2.6%) had an education, health and care plan, against 16.2% and 4.6% at the average state school. The most common need among them is speech, language and communication needs.

The nearest railway station is Elephant & Castle Rail Station, about 0.9 miles away in a straight line.

9 bus stops are within a five-minute walk; the closest is Dunton Road, 210 metres away.

Measured by the 2025 English Indices of Deprivation, the neighbourhood Ark Walworth Academy stands in is among the 20% most deprived neighbourhoods in England. This describes where the school is, not where its pupils live.

Ark Walworth Academy recorded no suspensions or permanent exclusions in 2024/25.

The primary schools closest to Ark Walworth Academy are Oasis Academy Surrey Square (0.2 miles), Michael Faraday School (0.4 miles), English Martyrs' Roman Catholic Primary School (0.5 miles) and Angel Oak Academy (0.5 miles). Admission does not depend on which primary a child attends unless the school's policy names feeder schools.