What did Ofsted judge Ark Blake Academy's overall effectiveness to be?

Ofsted judged Ark Blake Academy's overall effectiveness as Good at its inspection in February 2023, on Ofsted's own scale.

How many pupils attend Ark Blake Academy?

Ark Blake Academy has 759 pupils on roll.

What ages does Ark Blake Academy take?

Ark Blake Academy admits pupils aged 11 to 18.

Where is Ark Blake Academy located?

Ark Blake Academy is located in Croydon, CR0 6NA, Croydon.

How do I apply to Ark Blake Academy?

Ark Blake Academy is a state school. In England you apply through the council where you live, using its common application form, even if the school is in another council area. The national closing date for secondary places is 31 October.

How far from Ark Blake Academy were places offered?

The furthest place offered at Ark Blake Academy for 2026-27 (Year 7) was 5.692 miles from the school. The council's figures don't show whether anyone was refused, so it may not have been a cut-off.

How are Year 7 places decided at Ark Blake Academy?

When Ark Blake Academy has more applications than places for 2027-28, they are offered in a published order of priority: 1. Looked After Children and previously looked after children — ‘Looked After Children’ and children who have previously been a ‘Looked After Child’ but immediately following this became subject to adoption, a child arrangements order or special guardianship order, including those who appear (to Ark Schools) to have been in state care outside of England and ceased to be in state care as a result of being adopted; 2. Children of staff (skill shortage post) — Children of staff at the school where the member of staff has been recruited to a post where there is a demonstrable skill shortage. Ark Schools must approve the Principal’s assessment process and designation of such posts to confirm the staff members’ eligibility under this criterion. Priority will be limited to one place for each form of entry in any year (i.e. 6 places in each 6-form year group); 3. Siblings — Children who, at the time of admission, have a sibling who attends the academy. For this purpose, “sibling” means a whole, half or step-sibling or an adopted child resident at the same address, and 2 further criteria. Tie-break: If Ark Schools is unable to distinguish between applicants using the published oversubscription criteria, including those who live in blocks of flats within the same building, places will be offered via a random draw which will be supervised by someone independent of the academy.

What is the largest ethnic background at Ark Blake Academy?

According to the DfE School Census 2025-26, 15.9% of pupils at Ark Blake Academy are recorded as White British. The full ethnic breakdown across all groups is available on the Pupils tab.

Ark Blake Academy: Ofsted, Results & Catchment 2026

How far did offers reach?

5.692miles

was the furthest place offered for 2026-27 (Year 7). The council's figures don't show whether anyone was refused, so it may not have been a cut-off.

Last distance offered at Ark Blake Academy, year by year →

How places are decided at Ark Blake Academy

When there are more applications than places for 2027-28 (Year 7), places are offered in this order of priority. Meeting a higher criterion beats meeting a lower one.

1Looked After Children and previously looked after children — ‘Looked After Children’ and children who have previously been a ‘Looked After Child’ but immediately following this became subject to adoption, a child arrangements order or special guardianship order, including those who appear (to Ark Schools) to have been in state care outside of England and ceased to be in state care as a result of being adopted.
2Children of staff (skill shortage post) — Children of staff at the school where the member of staff has been recruited to a post where there is a demonstrable skill shortage. Ark Schools must approve the Principal’s assessment process and designation of such posts to confirm the staff members’ eligibility under this criterion. Priority will be limited to one place for each form of entry in any year (i.e. 6 places in each 6-form year group).
3Siblings — Children who, at the time of admission, have a sibling who attends the academy. For this purpose, “sibling” means a whole, half or step-sibling or an adopted child resident at the same address.
4Children of staff (2+ years employed) — Children of staff in the school who have been employed at the academy for two or more years at the time the application is submitted. Ark Schools must approve the Principal’s decision to allocate places to staff under this criterion. Priority will be limited to one place for each form of entry in any year (i.e. 3 places in each 3-form year group).
5Distance — Distance measurement – Priority will be given to those children who live closest to the school.

If two applications tie: If Ark Schools is unable to distinguish between applicants using the published oversubscription criteria, including those who live in blocks of flats within the same building, places will be offered via a random draw which will be supervised by someone independent of the academy.

Multiple births/siblings in the same year group with only one place available will be considered together as one application. Fair Access Protocol may result in admissions above PAN.

Published by the admission authority. Meeting a criterion never guarantees a place — it sets the order places are offered in. Full detail, other entry points and previous years are on the Admissions tab.

Ark Blake Academy: key facts

What did Ofsted judge Ark Blake Academy's overall effectiveness to be?: Ofsted judged Ark Blake Academy's overall effectiveness as Good at its inspection in February 2023, on Ofsted's own scale.
How many pupils attend Ark Blake Academy?: Ark Blake Academy has 759 pupils on roll.
What ages does Ark Blake Academy take?: Ark Blake Academy admits pupils aged 11 to 18.
Where is Ark Blake Academy located?: Ark Blake Academy is located in Croydon, CR0 6NA, Croydon.
How do I apply to Ark Blake Academy?: Ark Blake Academy is a state school. In England you apply through the council where you live, using its common application form, even if the school is in another council area. The national closing date for secondary places is 31 October.
How far from Ark Blake Academy were places offered?: The furthest place offered at Ark Blake Academy for 2026-27 (Year 7) was 5.692 miles from the school. The council's figures don't show whether anyone was refused, so it may not have been a cut-off.
How are Year 7 places decided at Ark Blake Academy?: When Ark Blake Academy has more applications than places for 2027-28, they are offered in a published order of priority: 1. Looked After Children and previously looked after children — ‘Looked After Children’ and children who have previously been a ‘Looked After Child’ but immediately following this became subject to adoption, a child arrangements order or special guardianship order, including those who appear (to Ark Schools) to have been in state care outside of England and ceased to be in state care as a result of being adopted; 2. Children of staff (skill shortage post) — Children of staff at the school where the member of staff has been recruited to a post where there is a demonstrable skill shortage. Ark Schools must approve the Principal’s assessment process and designation of such posts to confirm the staff members’ eligibility under this criterion. Priority will be limited to one place for each form of entry in any year (i.e. 6 places in each 6-form year group); 3. Siblings — Children who, at the time of admission, have a sibling who attends the academy. For this purpose, “sibling” means a whole, half or step-sibling or an adopted child resident at the same address, and 2 further criteria. Tie-break: If Ark Schools is unable to distinguish between applicants using the published oversubscription criteria, including those who live in blocks of flats within the same building, places will be offered via a random draw which will be supervised by someone independent of the academy.
What is the largest ethnic background at Ark Blake Academy?: According to the DfE School Census 2025-26, 15.9% of pupils at Ark Blake Academy are recorded as White British. The full ethnic breakdown across all groups is available on the Pupils tab.

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How far did offers reach?

5.692miles

was the furthest place offered for 2026-27 (Year 7). The council's figures don't show whether anyone was refused, so it may not have been a cut-off.

Last distance offered at Ark Blake Academy, year by year →

How places are decided at Ark Blake Academy

When there are more applications than places for 2027-28 (Year 7), places are offered in this order of priority. Meeting a higher criterion beats meeting a lower one.

1Looked After Children and previously looked after children — ‘Looked After Children’ and children who have previously been a ‘Looked After Child’ but immediately following this became subject to adoption, a child arrangements order or special guardianship order, including those who appear (to Ark Schools) to have been in state care outside of England and ceased to be in state care as a result of being adopted.
2Children of staff (skill shortage post) — Children of staff at the school where the member of staff has been recruited to a post where there is a demonstrable skill shortage. Ark Schools must approve the Principal’s assessment process and designation of such posts to confirm the staff members’ eligibility under this criterion. Priority will be limited to one place for each form of entry in any year (i.e. 6 places in each 6-form year group).
3Siblings — Children who, at the time of admission, have a sibling who attends the academy. For this purpose, “sibling” means a whole, half or step-sibling or an adopted child resident at the same address.
4Children of staff (2+ years employed) — Children of staff in the school who have been employed at the academy for two or more years at the time the application is submitted. Ark Schools must approve the Principal’s decision to allocate places to staff under this criterion. Priority will be limited to one place for each form of entry in any year (i.e. 3 places in each 3-form year group).
5Distance — Distance measurement – Priority will be given to those children who live closest to the school.

Multiple births/siblings in the same year group with only one place available will be considered together as one application. Fair Access Protocol may result in admissions above PAN.

Ark Blake Academy: key facts

What did Ofsted judge Ark Blake Academy's overall effectiveness to be?: Ofsted judged Ark Blake Academy's overall effectiveness as Good at its inspection in February 2023, on Ofsted's own scale.
How many pupils attend Ark Blake Academy?: Ark Blake Academy has 759 pupils on roll.
What ages does Ark Blake Academy take?: Ark Blake Academy admits pupils aged 11 to 18.
Where is Ark Blake Academy located?: Ark Blake Academy is located in Croydon, CR0 6NA, Croydon.
How do I apply to Ark Blake Academy?: Ark Blake Academy is a state school. In England you apply through the council where you live, using its common application form, even if the school is in another council area. The national closing date for secondary places is 31 October.
How far from Ark Blake Academy were places offered?: The furthest place offered at Ark Blake Academy for 2026-27 (Year 7) was 5.692 miles from the school. The council's figures don't show whether anyone was refused, so it may not have been a cut-off.
How are Year 7 places decided at Ark Blake Academy?: When Ark Blake Academy has more applications than places for 2027-28, they are offered in a published order of priority: 1. Looked After Children and previously looked after children — ‘Looked After Children’ and children who have previously been a ‘Looked After Child’ but immediately following this became subject to adoption, a child arrangements order or special guardianship order, including those who appear (to Ark Schools) to have been in state care outside of England and ceased to be in state care as a result of being adopted; 2. Children of staff (skill shortage post) — Children of staff at the school where the member of staff has been recruited to a post where there is a demonstrable skill shortage. Ark Schools must approve the Principal’s assessment process and designation of such posts to confirm the staff members’ eligibility under this criterion. Priority will be limited to one place for each form of entry in any year (i.e. 6 places in each 6-form year group); 3. Siblings — Children who, at the time of admission, have a sibling who attends the academy. For this purpose, “sibling” means a whole, half or step-sibling or an adopted child resident at the same address, and 2 further criteria. Tie-break: If Ark Schools is unable to distinguish between applicants using the published oversubscription criteria, including those who live in blocks of flats within the same building, places will be offered via a random draw which will be supervised by someone independent of the academy.
What is the largest ethnic background at Ark Blake Academy?: According to the DfE School Census 2025-26, 15.9% of pupils at Ark Blake Academy are recorded as White British. The full ethnic breakdown across all groups is available on the Pupils tab.

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Ark Blake Academy

How far did offers reach?

How places are decided at Ark Blake Academy

Ark Blake Academy: key facts

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Ark Blake Academy

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How far did offers reach?

How places are decided at Ark Blake Academy

Ark Blake Academy: key facts

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Nearby schools within 5 km