Ark Pioneer Academy, based in Barnet, provides secondary education, serving pupils aged 11 to 19. The school is a free schools and operates as a mixed school. It follows a non-selective admissions policy. It has a religious character. The school also offers a sixth form, allowing students to continue into post-16 education on site.
Ark Pioneer Academy currently has around 998 pupils on roll, which is about 83% of its capacity. The gender split is relatively balanced, with approximately 64.4% boys and 35.6% girls. Around 38.8% of pupils are eligible for free school meals, which gives an indication of the socio-economic mix. The school has a diverse intake across different backgrounds and needs.
Overall absence at the school is 5.8%. Persistent absence is recorded at 16.1%.
The school has a diverse intake, with other white pupils forming the largest group at around 20.6%. white british pupils make up about 19.4% , followed by other (any other ethnic group) at 14.1%
At its latest Ofsted inspection, the school was rated Outstanding. This indicates exceptional performance across all areas. Safeguarding was judged to be effective, which is a key consideration for many parents.
| Address: | Westcombe Drive, Barnet, EN5 2BE |
| Website: | https://arkpioneer.org/ |
| Telephone: | 02037874090 |
| School Type: | Free schools |
| Education phase: | Secondary |
| Local authority: | Barnet |
| Headteacher / Principal: | Ms Su Reddy |
| Religious character: | |
| Admissions policy: | Non-selective |
| Unique reference: | 147061 |
Ofsted inspection date: 13/09/2023
Safeguarding is effective
| Age Range: | 11 - 19 |
| Gender: | Mixed |
| School Capacity: | 1200 |
| Number of Pupils: | 998 |
| Number of Boys: | 643 |
| Number of Girls: | 355 |
| School | England state-funded schools: | |
|---|---|---|
| Overall absence: | 5.8% | 4% |
| Persistent absence: | 16.1% | 8.2% |
| Other White | 20.60% | 206 |
| White British | 19.40% | 194 |
| Other (any other ethnic group) | 14.10% | 141 |
| African | 13.10% | 131 |
| Other Mixed | 8.00% | 80 |
| Indian | 4.90% | 49 |
| White and Asian | 3.20% | 32 |
| Chinese | 2.80% | 28 |
| White and Black African | 2.50% | 25 |
| Caribbean | 2.40% | 24 |
| Unclassified | 2.00% | 20 |
| White and Black Caribbean | 1.70% | 17 |
| Pakistani | 1.70% | 17 |
| Other Asian | 1.70% | 17 |
| Other Black | 0.90% | 9 |
| Bangladeshi | 0.60% | 6 |
| Irish | 0.10% | 1 |
| Irish Traveller (Traveller of Irish heritage) | 0.10% | 1 |
| Gypsy/Roma | 0.00% | 0 |
| Ofsted Overall Effectiveness | Distance | Establishment Type | Has Nursery Classes | Gender | More Info | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| St Margaret's Nursery School Margaret Road , New Barnet EN4 9NT | 4out of 4 | 1,807 yd | Local authority nursery school | Yes | Mixed | More About School |
| Brookhill Nursery School Brookhill Road , East Barnet EN4 8SD | 4out of 4 | 2,049 yd | Local authority nursery school | Yes | Mixed | More About School |
| Ofsted Overall Effectiveness | Distance | Establishment Type | Has Nursery Classes | Gender | More Info | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| St Catherine's RC School Vale Drive , EN5 2ED | 3out of 4 | 341 yd | Voluntary aided school | Yes | Mixed | More About School |
| Grasvenor Avenue Infant School Grasvenor Avenue , EN5 2BY | - not rated | 537 yd | Community school | No | Mixed | More About School |
| Grasvenor Avenue Infant School Grasvenor Avenue , EN5 2BY | - not rated | 537 yd | Academy converter | No | Mixed | More About School |
| Barnet Hill Junior Mixed Infant and Nursery School Hammond Close , EN5 2EQ | - not rated | 670 yd | Community school | Yes | Mixed | More About School |
| Underhill Junior School Mays Lane , EN5 2LZ | - not rated | 1,034 yd | Community school | No | Mixed | More About School |
| Ofsted Overall Effectiveness | Distance | Establishment Type | Has Nursery Classes | Gender | More Info | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Ark Pioneer Academy Westcombe Drive , EN5 2BE | 4out of 4 | 0 yd | Free schools | No | Mixed | More About School |
| Queen Elizabeth's Girls' School High Street , EN5 5RR | 3out of 4 | 770 yd | Academy converter | Not Applicable | Girls | More About School |
| Queen Elizabeth's Girls' School High Street , EN5 5RR | - not rated | 770 yd | Community school | Not Applicable | Girls | More About School |
| The Totteridge Academy Barnet Lane , N20 8AZ | - not rated | 1,103 yd | Academy converter | Not Applicable | Mixed | More About School |
| The Ravenscroft School A Technology College Barnet Lane , N20 8AZ | - not rated | 1,103 yd | Community school | Not Applicable | Mixed | More About School |
| Ofsted Overall Effectiveness | Distance | Establishment Type | Has Nursery Classes | Gender | More Info | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Barnet and Southgate College Wood Street , EN5 4AZ | - not rated | 1,021 yd | Further education | Not Applicable | Mixed | More About School |
| Ofsted Overall Effectiveness | Distance | Establishment Type | Has Nursery Classes | Gender | More Info | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Edgware Jewish Primary School Hammond Close , Edgware EN5 2EQ | - not rated | 774 yd | Other independent school | Yes | Mixed | More About School |
| Lyonsdown School 3 Richmond Road , New Barnet EN5 1SA | - not rated | 878 yd | Other independent school | Yes | Girls | More About School |
| Susi Earnshaw Theatre School 68 High Street , EN5 5SJ | - not rated | 1,052 yd | Other independent school | No | Mixed | More About School |
| The Windmill School Moxon Street , EN5 5TS | - not rated | 1,091 yd | Free schools special | No | Mixed | More About School |
| St Martha's Junior School 5b Union Street , EN5 4HY | - not rated | 1,328 yd | Other independent school | Yes | Mixed | More About School |
School statistics for this postcode are based on Ofsted rankings.