Schools by area › Barnet › Ark Pioneer Academy
Ark Pioneer Academy
Secondary · Mixed · Ages 11–19 · Free school
Westcombe Drive, Barnet EN5 2BE · arkpioneer.org · 020 3787 4090
Overview
- Ofsted
- Outstanding
- 2019 framework · inspected Sept 2023
- GCSEs, 2024/25
- 56
- average Attainment 8 score. Barnet 56.7, England 46
- Last distance offered
- 1.64 mi
- 2.64 km · Year 7, September 2026 entry · Proximity · Barnet Council
- Demand for places
- 1.0
- first choices for each place · Year 7, September 2026
- Pupils
- 1,107
- 92% of 1,200 places
- Local authority
- Barnet
- Sixth form
- Yes
- Admissions
- Non-selective
- Free school meals
- 39.3%
- First language not English
- 31.8%
- School census 2025/26
- Trust
- Ark Schools
The official school record (Department for Education)
Admissions
For Year 7 in September 2026, the last place offered under “Proximity” went to a home 1.64 mi (2.64 km) from the school; in September 2025 it was 1.13 mi (1.82 km). Source: Barnet Council’s document.
For Year 7 in September 2026, 167 families put the school first and 170 places were offered; 83% of those families were offered a place there. Admission depends on the school’s own rules.
Demand for places
First choices against places
| Year 7 | Places | First choices | Per place | % offered |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| September 2026Sept 2026 | 170 | 167 | 1 | 83% |
| September 2025Sept 2025 | 177 | 216 | 1.2▲ | 66% |
| September 2024Sept 2024 | 178 | 220 | 1.2▲ | 72% |
| September 2023Sept 2023 | 177 | 183 | 1▲ | 77% |
| September 2022Sept 2022 | 177 | 144 | 0.8 | 76% |
Last distance offered
| Year 7 – Proximity | Distance | |
|---|---|---|
| September 2026 | 1.64 mi2.64 km | |
| September 2025 | 1.13 mi1.82 km | |
| September 2024 | 1.41 mi2.27 km | |
Results
In 2024/25 the average Attainment 8 score at GCSE was 56, and 61.6% of pupils got grade 5 or above in English and maths. Across Barnet it was 56.7, and across England 46.
GCSE results
Attainment 8
| 2024/25 | Trend | School | England |
|---|---|---|---|
| ▲56 | 46 | ||
| ▲61.6% | 45.4% | ||
| ▲79.7% | 64.8% | ||
| ▲86.4% | 40.5% | ||
| ▲5.56 | 4.09 |
Where Year 11 leavers went
Left in 2023/24
| School sixth form | 60.2 |
|---|---|
| Sixth form college | 11.4 |
| Further education | 21 |
| Apprenticeship | 1.1 |
| Not in a lasting destination | 3.4 |
| Activity not captured | 2.8 |
Ofsted
Ark Pioneer Academy was judged Outstanding at its last graded inspection, on 13 September 2023, under Ofsted’s 2019 framework.
- Overall
- Outstanding
- Inspected
- 13 Sept 2023
- Graded inspection
Safeguarding effectiveInspection reports
Graded areas
| Quality of education | Outstanding |
|---|---|
| Behaviour and attitudes | Outstanding |
| Personal development | Outstanding |
| Leadership and management | Outstanding |
What parents said
95% of the parents who answered Ofsted’s Parent View survey would recommend the school (172 replies, to 2 September 2024).
- Recommend
- 95%
- Replies
- 172
- 2 Sept 2024
based on the 69% who raised concerns
based on the 34% who had a child bullied
based on 22 parents (13%) with SEND