The school – which offers an all-through education for local children aged 4-18 – was reviewed under Ofsted’s new inspection framework, designed to give families a clearer picture of how schools are performing.
Reflecting on what it is like to be a pupil at Ark Globe Academy, Ofsted said that pupils “are delighted to be able to attend this school each and everyday”. They “know that they belong here” and it is their “home from home”. Inspectors describe the school as “a family”.
Ark Globe Academy was rated ‘exceptional’ for:
- Inclusion: Inspectors said that “the work that leaders do transforms pupils' lives.” Pupils with SEND “achieve significantly better here than they might at another school” and leaders support students to make their aspirations and dreams “a reality”.
- Leadership and governance: Leaders see the school as “the heart of the community” and “work tirelessly to bring the community into the school”. Staff report “high levels of support for their wellbeing and workload” and leaders put in place “training that allows teachers to quickly become experts in their roles”.
- Personal development and wellbeing: Personal development and pupil wellbeing are “at the heart of all that occurs at this school”. Leaders take “deliberate steps to remove barriers to pupils’ future success” and ensure that pupils “celebrate each other's differences and embrace what they can learn from each other”.
- Post 16 provision: Students describe their experiences in the sixth form as “transformational”. Their achievement is “highly positive”, including those who are disadvantaged and those with special educational needs and/or disabilities, and at the end of key stage 5, students “make significantly more progress in their learning than at many other schools”.
All further assessment areas were judged to be of a ‘strong standard’ under the new grading system:
- Achievement: Inspectors said pupils do “considerably better in national tests and assessments than their peers nationwide”.
- Attendance and behaviour: Leaders have “a clear vision and approach to supporting pupils to attend school every day” and pupils show “incredibly positive behaviour around the school”.
- Curriculum and teaching: Leaders have planned “a thorough curriculum that prepares pupils to be successful in the next stage of their education”.
- Early years: Children “are happy to come to school each day and enjoy the learning experiences that they take part in”. They “learn to read well through an effectively delivered phonics programme” and “appreciate the opportunities that they are given to read in school with adults, older pupils and their parents and carers”.
Ark Globe Academy Executive Principal Matt Jones OBE said, “We are thrilled that Ofsted has recognised the incredible work of all our staff, pupils and families.
“At Ark Globe, we are committed to creating a school where every child feels they belong and can thrive, so it is particularly meaningful to see inspectors describe the school as a ‘home from home’.
“We are especially proud of the transformational impact highlighted for our pupils, including those with additional needs, and of the strong culture of inclusion and ambition that runs through everything we do.”
The Ofsted inspection took place on 6 May 2026. The full report is available at: Ark Globe Academy - Open - Find an Inspection Report - Ofsted
