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OpenPrimaryOfsted: GoodURN 141020

Ark Dickens Primary Academy

Academy sponsor led · Portsmouth · PO1 4PN

Ages 2–11 · 446 pupils · Portsmouth

School website

Ofsted

Good

KS2 expected (RWM)

67%

Overall absence

5.4%

Admissions demand

0.98 · Balanced demand

Ofsted

Latest published inspection outcomes — not a ranking.

Read full report

Headline

Good

Inspection date

2019-11-12

Overall effectiveness
Good
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 2 (2023/24)

Expected standard (RWM)67%
Higher standard (RWM)0%
Avg scaled score — reading
103.0
Avg scaled score — maths
105.0
Avg scaled score — GPS
100.0

Source: DfE school and college performance tables

Absence

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

Overall absence5.4%
Persistent absence (10%+)15.8%
Unauthorised2.3%
Authorised absence
3.1%
Severe absence (50%+)
0.8%
Enrolments in measure
385

Absence trend

2021/22

2022/23

2023/24

  • Overall
  • Persistent (10%+)

Source: DfE pupil absence in schools in England

Admissions demand

Coordinated admissions for primary 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

0.98 · Balanced demand

1st preferences

44

Places offered

54

1st-preference offers

44

Total preferences (any rank)
78
Preferred offers (top 3)
45
Applications from outside LA
0
Offers to outside-LA applicants
0

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 fill93%

446 pupils · 480 places

Pupils on roll
446
Boys / girls
220 / 226
School capacity
480
Capacity fill
446 / 480 (93%)
Free school meals
54.8%
FSM pupils
223
Gender
Mixed
School type
Academy sponsor led

Age range

Ages 2–11

05111619

Provision

Official GIAS characteristics

2 / 6

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

School characteristics

Governance
Academy trust: ARK SCHOOLS
Academy trust
ARK SCHOOLS
Sponsor
ARK Schools
Headteacher
Mrs Laura Berry

Location

Address
Turner Road
Postcode
PO1 4PN
Town
Portsmouth
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 (primary), Ages 2–11, in Portsmouth, Portsmouth, 446 pupils on roll. Notable characteristics: nursery, academy. Free school meals: 54.8%.

Open schools in Portsmouth
54
Primary schools in Portsmouth
35
Academies among open schools in Portsmouth
69% (37)
Open schools in PO1
12
Primary in PO1
7
Open schools in Portsmouth LA
67
Primary in Portsmouth LA
45

Nearby primary schools

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

Compare with theseAll in PortsmouthNear PO1

  • Manor Infant and Nursery School

    Ofsted: Good

    Community school · Primary

    Portsmouth · PO1 5QR · Portsmouth

    Ages 2–7

    • Absence5.3%
    • FSM40.4%
    • Demand0.98

    0.4 miles away

  • The Flying Bull Academy

    Ofsted: Needs attention

    Academy converter · Primary

    Portsmouth · PO2 7BJ · Portsmouth

    Ages 3–11

    • KS241%
    • Absence7.6%
    • FSM57.0%
    • Demand0.95

    0.4 miles away

  • Penbridge Infant School & Nursery

    Ofsted: School remains Good

    Academy converter · Primary

    Portsmouth · PO1 5BG · Portsmouth

    Ages 2–7

    • Absence6.7%
    • FSM35.8%
    • Demand0.88

    0.6 miles away

  • New Horizons Primary School

    Ofsted: Good

    Academy converter · Primary

    Portsmouth · PO2 7JB · Portsmouth

    Ages 4–11

    • KS251%
    • Absence5.3%
    • FSM34.6%
    • Demand0.99

    0.6 miles away

  • Ark Ayrton Primary Academy

    Ofsted: School remains Good (Improving) - S5 Next

    Academy sponsor led · Primary

    Portsmouth · PO5 4LS · Portsmouth

    Ages 2–11

    • KS280%
    • Absence6.5%
    • FSM62.8%
    • Demand1.19

    0.7 miles away

  • Penbridge Junior School

    Ofsted: School remains Good

    Academy converter · Primary

    Portsmouth · PO2 7RW · Portsmouth

    Ages 7–11

    • KS270%
    • Absence5.3%
    • FSM51.2%

    0.7 miles away

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

Contact

Headteacher
Mrs Laura Berry
Telephone
02392826514
Website
www.arkdickensprimary.org/

Official links