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OpenSecondaryOfsted: Not judgedURN 135965

Ark Charter Academy

Academy sponsor led · Southsea · PO5 4HL

Ages 11–16 · 883 pupils · Portsmouth

School website

Ofsted

Not judged

Attainment 8

40.6

Overall absence

11.1%

Admissions demand

0.70 · Often has places

Ofsted

Latest published inspection outcomes — not a ranking.

Read full report

Headline

Not judged

Inspection date

2024-12-10

Overall effectiveness
Not judged
Quality of education
Good
Behaviour and attitudes
Good
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)

Progress 8-0.32
−20+2
Attainment 840.6
English & maths grade 5+35%
English & maths grade 4+56%
EBacc entry64%

EBacc APS: 3.7

Source: DfE school and college performance tables

Absence

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

Overall absence11.1%
Persistent absence (10%+)28.6%
Unauthorised4.6%
Authorised absence
6.4%
Severe absence (50%+)
7.4%
Enrolments in measure
931

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

0.70 · Often has places

1st preferences

87

Places offered

192

1st-preference offers

87

Total preferences (any rank)
226
Preferred offers (top 3)
125
Applications from outside LA
0
Offers to outside-LA applicants
0
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 fill98%

883 pupils · 900 places

Pupils on roll
883
Boys / girls
452 / 431
School capacity
900
Capacity fill
883 / 900 (98%)
Free school meals
65.6%
FSM pupils
579
Admissions policy
Non-selective
Gender
Mixed
School type
Academy sponsor led

Age range

Ages 11–16

05111619

Provision

Official GIAS characteristics

1 / 6

  • Nursery
  • Sixth form
  • Boarding
  • Special school
  • Independent
  • Academy

School characteristics

Religious character
Church of England
Diocese
Diocese of Portsmouth (ce)
Special classes
No Special Classes
Governance
Academy trust: ARK SCHOOLS
Academy trust
ARK SCHOOLS
Sponsor
ARK Schools
Headteacher
Mr Christian Down

Location

Address
Hyde Park Road
Postcode
PO5 4HL
Town
Southsea
County
Hampshire
Local authority
Portsmouth
District
Portsmouth
Constituency
Portsmouth South
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 academy sponsor led (secondary), Ages 11–16, in Southsea, Portsmouth, 883 pupils on roll. Notable characteristics: academy, non-selective admissions. Free school meals: 65.6%. Religious character: Church of England. Diocese: Diocese of Portsmouth (ce).

Open schools in Southsea
13
Secondary schools in Southsea
2
Academies among open schools in Southsea
38% (5)
Open schools in PO5
7
Secondary in PO5
1
Open schools in Portsmouth LA
67
Secondary in Portsmouth LA
10

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 SouthseaNear PO5

  • St Edmund's Catholic School

    Ofsted: School remains Outstanding

    Voluntary aided school · Secondary

    Portsmouth · PO1 1RX · Portsmouth

    Ages 11–16

    • Att855.6
    • P80.7
    • EM5+69%
    • Absence4.8%

    0.2 miles away

  • Priory School

    Ofsted: Good

    Academy sponsor led · Secondary

    Southsea · PO4 0DL · Portsmouth

    Ages 11–16

    • Att840.3
    • P8-0.6
    • EM5+34%
    • Absence10.5%

    0.5 miles away

  • The Portsmouth Academy

    Ofsted: School remains Good

    Academy sponsor led · Secondary

    Portsmouth · PO1 5PF · Portsmouth

    Ages 11–16

    • Att834.8
    • P8-1.1
    • EM5+25%
    • Absence12.4%

    0.8 miles away

  • Miltoncross Academy

    Ofsted: Not judged

    Academy sponsor led · Secondary

    Portsmouth · PO3 6RB · Portsmouth

    Ages 11–16

    • Att834.6
    • P8-0.6
    • EM5+22%
    • Absence13.3%

    1.2 miles away

  • Admiral Lord Nelson School

    Ofsted: Expected standard

    Academy converter · Secondary

    Portsmouth · PO3 5XT · Portsmouth

    Ages 11–16

    • Att841.3
    • P8-0.3
    • EM5+36%
    • Absence9.1%

    2.2 miles away

  • Trafalgar School

    Ofsted: Good

    Academy sponsor led · Secondary

    Portsmouth · PO2 9RJ · Portsmouth

    Ages 11–16

    • Att837.8
    • P8-0.2
    • EM5+23%
    • Absence9.9%

    2.5 miles away

  • UTC Portsmouth

    Ofsted: Strong standard

    University technical college · Secondary

    Portsmouth · PO2 9DU · Portsmouth

    Ages 14–19

    • Att849.2
    • P8-0.5
    • EM5+57%
    • Absence7.2%

    2.5 miles away

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Contact

Headteacher
Mr Christian Down
Telephone
02392824204
Website
http://charteracademy.org.uk/

Official links