Schools by area › Croydon › Ark Oval Primary Academy
Ark Oval Primary Academy
Primary · Mixed · Ages 4–11 · Sponsored academy
98 Cherry Orchard Road, Croydon CR0 6BA · arkovalprimary.org · 020 8688 3000
Overview
- Ofsted
- No overall grade
- 2019 framework · inspected Jun 2025
- Key stage 2, 2024/25
- 66%
- reached the expected standard in reading, writing and maths. Croydon 68%, England 62%
- Last distance offered
- 3.83 mi
- 6.17 km · Reception, September 2026 entry · Croydon Council
- Demand for places
- 0.8
- first choices for each place · Reception, September 2026
- Pupils
- 593
- 94% of 630 places
- Local authority
- Croydon
- Nursery class
- Yes
- Admissions
- Non-selective
- Free school meals
- 34.4%
- First language not English
- 56.2%
- School census 2025/26
- Trust
- Ark Schools
The official school record (Department for Education)
Admissions
For Reception in September 2026, the last place offered on distance went to a home 3.83 mi (6.17 km) from the school; in September 2025 it was 1.01 mi (1.63 km). Source: Croydon Council’s document.
For Reception in September 2026, 71 families put the school first and 88 places were offered; 100% of those families were offered a place there. Admission depends on the school’s own rules.
Demand for places
First choices against places
| Reception | Places | First choices | Per place | % offered |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| September 2026Sept 2026 | 88 | 71 | 0.8 | 100% |
| September 2025Sept 2025 | 88 | 75 | 0.9 | 96% |
| September 2024Sept 2024 | 90 | 88 | 1 | 90% |
| September 2023Sept 2023 | 90 | 65 | 0.7 | 100% |
| September 2022Sept 2022 | 88 | 65 | 0.7 | 100% |
Last distance offered
| Reception | Distance | |
|---|---|---|
| September 2026 | 3.83 mi6.17 km | |
| September 2025 | 1.01 mi1.63 km | |
| September 2024 | 0.71 mi1.15 km | |
The furthest distance at which the school offered a place for the 2024, 2025 and 2026 intake.
Results
In 2024/25, 66% of pupils reached the expected standard in reading, writing and maths at the end of key stage 2, and 4% the higher standard. Across Croydon it was 68%, and across England 62%.
Expected standard reading, writing and maths
| 2024/25 | Trend | School | England |
|---|---|---|---|
| Reading, writing and maths | |||
| ▲66% | 62% | ||
| ▼4% | 8% | ||
| Average scaled score | |||
| ●106 | 106 | ||
| ●104 | 105 | ||
| ●106 | 105 | ||
Ofsted
Ofsted inspected Ark Oval Primary Academy on 17 June 2025 under its 2019 framework. Inspections from September 2024 give no overall grade.
- Overall
- No overall grade
- Inspected
- 17 Jun 2025
- Graded inspection
Safeguarding effectiveInspection reports
Graded areas
| Quality of education | Good |
|---|---|
| Behaviour and attitudes | Good |
| Personal development | Good |
| Leadership and management | Good |
| Early years | Good |
Previously: Remains Good, ungraded inspection, Mar 2020
Earlier inspections
September 2019 to November 2025
Mar 2020Ungraded inspectionRemains Good
Safeguarding Effective
Before September 2019
Dec 2012Good
Outcomes for pupils Good Quality of teaching, learning and assessment Good Leadership and management Good
What parents said
64% of the parents who answered Ofsted’s Parent View survey would recommend the school (47 replies, to 1 September 2025).
- Recommend
- 64%
- Replies
- 47
- 8% · 1 Sept 2025
based on the 85% who raised concerns
based on the 60% who had a child bullied
based on 14 parents (30%) with SEND