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OpenSecondaryOfsted: GoodURN 147832

Ark Blake Academy

Free schools · Croydon · CR0 6NA

Ages 11–18 · 759 pupils · Croydon

School website

Ofsted

Good

Overall absence

8.7%

Admissions demand

0.80 · Often has places

Ofsted

Latest published inspection outcomes — not a ranking.

Read full report

Headline

Good

Inspection date

2023-02-22

Overall effectiveness
Good
Quality of education
Good
Behaviour and attitudes
Requires improvement
Personal development
Good
Leadership and management
Good
Safeguarding effective
Yes

Source: Ofsted monthly management information

Performance

Official school-level results. Figures are not rankings — suppressed values are omitted.

Key stage 4 (2023/24)

Source: DfE school and college performance tables

Absence

Academic year 2023/24. Persistent absence means 10%+ of sessions missed. Lower figures are better.

Overall absence8.7%
Persistent absence (10%+)26.8%
Unauthorised3.7%
Authorised absence
5.0%
Severe absence (50%+)
2.9%
Enrolments in measure
701

Absence trend

2021/22

2022/23

2023/24

  • Overall
  • Persistent (10%+)

Source: DfE pupil absence in schools in England

Admissions demand

Coordinated admissions for secondary entry (2024/25 cycle, national offer day). Demand ratio compares families who listed this school 1st with total offers made — not a catchment or distance guarantee.

Demand ratio

0.80 · Often has places

1st preferences

107

Places offered

162

1st-preference offers

107

Total preferences (any rank)
429
Preferred offers (top 3)
136
Applications from outside LA
6
Offers to outside-LA applicants
1
Admissions policy (GIAS)
Non-selective

Source: DfE primary and secondary school applications and offers. Figures reflect offers on national offer day; late applications, appeals and waiting lists are not included.

Size & intake

From the GIAS school census (15 Jan 2026).

Capacity fill63%

759 pupils · 1,200 places

Pupils on roll
759
Boys / girls
375 / 384
School capacity
1,200
Capacity fill
759 / 1,200 (63%)
Free school meals
50.4%
FSM pupils
380
Admissions policy
Non-selective
Gender
Mixed
School type
Free schools

Age range

Ages 11–18

05111619

Provision

Official GIAS characteristics

1 / 6

  • Nursery
  • Sixth formHas a sixth form
  • Boarding
  • Special school
  • Independent
  • Academy

School characteristics

Governance
Academy trust: ARK SCHOOLS
Academy trust
ARK SCHOOLS
Sponsor
ARK Schools
Headteacher
Mr Sam Rispoli

Location

Address
6 Morland Road
Postcode
CR0 6NA
Town
Croydon
Local authority
Croydon
District
Croydon
Constituency
Croydon East
Urban/rural
Urban: Nearer to a major town or city

Local context

How this school sits among open establishments in its area, using official GIAS records. These are counts, not rankings.

Mixed free schools (secondary), Ages 11–18, in Croydon, Croydon, 759 pupils on roll. Notable characteristics: sixth form, non-selective admissions. Free school meals: 50.4%.

Open schools in Croydon
63
Secondary schools in Croydon
11
Academies among open schools in Croydon
65% (41)
Open schools in CR0
58
Secondary in CR0
6
Open schools in Croydon LA
155
Secondary in Croydon LA
23

Nearby secondary schools

Open schools within about 3 miles, prioritising the same phase where possible. Distances are approximate from GIAS coordinates.

Compare with theseAll in CroydonNear CR0

  • St Mary's Catholic High School

    Ofsted: Needs attention

    Voluntary aided school · Secondary

    Croydon · CR9 2EE · Croydon

    Ages 11–19

    • Att839.8
    • P80.3
    • EM5+30%
    • Absence6.1%

    0.6 miles away

  • Archbishop Tenison's CofE High School

    Ofsted: Expected standard

    Voluntary aided school · Secondary

    Croydon · CR0 5JQ · Croydon

    Ages 11–18

    • Att845.9
    • P8-0.2
    • EM5+41%
    • Absence8.7%

    0.8 miles away

  • Harris Invictus Academy Croydon

    Ofsted: School remains Outstanding

    Free schools · Secondary

    Croydon · CR0 2TB · Croydon

    Ages 11–18

    • Att842.4
    • P8-0.1
    • EM5+44%
    • Absence7.3%

    0.9 miles away

  • Oasis Academy Shirley Park

    Ofsted: Not judged

    Academy sponsor led · Secondary

    Croydon · CR9 7AL · Croydon

    Ages 11–19

    • Att842.7
    • P8-0.1
    • EM5+36%
    • Absence9.7%

    0.9 miles away

  • Oasis Academy Arena

    Ofsted: Needs attention

    Academy sponsor led · Secondary

    London · SE25 4QL · Croydon

    Ages 11–16

    • Att835.2
    • P8-0.5
    • EM5+32%
    • Absence13.0%

    1.2 miles away

  • Coombe Wood School

    Ofsted: Good

    Free schools · Secondary

    South Croydon · CR2 7HY · Croydon

    Ages 11–18

    • Att850.6
    • P80.4
    • EM5+57%
    • Absence7.4%

    1.3 miles away

  • Harris Academy South Norwood

    Ofsted: Good

    Academy sponsor led · Secondary

    London · SE25 6AE · Croydon

    Ages 11–19

    • Att848.1
    • P80.5
    • EM5+40%
    • Absence8.0%

    1.4 miles away

  • Coloma Convent Girls' School

    Ofsted: Expected standard

    Academy converter · Secondary

    Croydon · CR9 5AS · Croydon

    Ages 11–18

    • Att856.7
    • P80.5
    • EM5+67%
    • Absence8.3%

    1.6 miles away

New to reading school data? See Ofsted ratings explained and how to compare schools.

Contact

Headteacher
Mr Sam Rispoli
Telephone
02034439000
Website
www.arkblake.org

Official links