Academy sponsor led · Birmingham

Ark Kings Academy

3–18Ages
739Pupils
All-throughPhase
Sixth formAges 16–18
137578URN

Shannon Road, Kings Norton, Birmingham, B38 9DE · School website

Applications per placeCircle size: applicationsThis school

Latest Ofsted

Graded inspection · Mar 2024 Previous framework

Good

Quality of education
Behaviour and attitudes
Personal development
Leadership and management

What Ofsted found

Applications per place · Sept 2026

3.1per place

1.1 below Birmingham median (4.2)

Fewer applicationsMore

This schoolOther secondary schools in BirminghamSelective

223 applications for 71 places · 71st of 83 in Birmingham

Every year since 2014

Attainment 8 · 2025/26 (provisional)

39.9of 90

Birmingham 45.3 England 46.0

71st of 88 in Birmingham

All GCSE results

What did Ofsted find?

Ofsted data to 30 September 2026

Overall effectiveness: Good · 13 March 2024Ofsted's previous 4-point scale (to August 2024)
Area	Outstanding	Good	Requires improvement	Inadequate
Quality of education		Good
Behaviour and attitudes		Good
Personal development		Good
Leadership and management		Good
Early years provision		Good

Full reports on the Ofsted website · How to read Ofsted grades

About these grades

Ofsted's report cards (from November 2025) grade each area on five steps and give no overall grade. Earlier grades come from a different framework; Ofsted says the two cannot be compared, so they are never converted here. Ofsted: "We normally inspect schools every 4 years or at any time if we have concerns." Methodology.

How hard is it to get a place?

DfE · Sept 2026 entry

3.1applications per place, Year 7

1.1 below Birmingham median (4.2) 0.9 above England median (2.2)

223 applications · 71 places offered · 38 named it first

HistoryEarlier years not shown: formed from, or split from, other schools.

2026 3.1; Birmingham median median 4.2
2025 4.4; Birmingham median median 4.3
2024 2.5; Birmingham median median 4.0
2023 2.3; Birmingham median median 4.1
2022 3.5; Birmingham median median 4.5
2021 3.7; Birmingham median median 4.3
2020 3.0; Birmingham median median 4.8
2019 3.0; Birmingham median median 4.8
2018 3.2; Birmingham median median 4.6
2017 1.7; Birmingham median median 4.5
2016 1.9; Birmingham median median 3.8
2015 1.7; Birmingham median median 3.6
2014 1.7; Birmingham median median 3.5

More applications per place than the Birmingham median in 1 of 13 years.

This school
Birmingham median

Reception entry, September 2026: 3.1 per place (59 applications for 19 places).

Year 7 applications for September 2027 close 31 October 2026, through your council

Reception applications for September 2027 close 15 January 2027, through your council

How this is measured

Applications per place: every application naming the school at any preference, divided by places offered on National Offer Day. It is not your chance of a place. Methodology.

Entry	Places	Applications	Per place	First preferences	First-pref. ratio
Sep 2026	71	223	3.1	38	0.54
Sep 2025	54	236	4.4	41	0.76
Sep 2024	81	204	2.5	34	0.42
Sep 2023	89	207	2.3	44	0.49
Sep 2022	89	313	3.5	63	0.71
Sep 2021	89	327	3.7	81	0.91
Sep 2020	119	359	3.0	95	0.80
Sep 2019	104	310	3.0	85	0.82
Sep 2018	89	287	3.2	96	1.08
Sep 2017	119	205	1.7	85	0.71
Sep 2016	73	137	1.9	60	0.82
Sep 2015	55	95	1.7	44	0.80
Sep 2014	58	101	1.7	40	0.69

How did pupils do at GCSE?

DfE KS4 · 2025/26 provisional

93 pupils took GCSEs in 2025/26.

Attainment 8 (out of 90)39.971st of 88 in Birmingham

Birmingham 45.3 England 46.0

Grade 5 or above in English and maths28%83rd of 88 in Birmingham

Birmingham 46% England 45%

Grade 4 or above in English and maths52%

Birmingham 65% England 66%

This school
Birmingham median
England median

Progress 8 (2023/24, the latest published)−0.53

−20 = national average+2

Every year as a table

Year	Pupils	Attainment 8	5+ Eng & maths	4+ Eng & maths	Progress 8
2025/26 (prov.)	93	39.9	28%	52%	–
2024/25	120	36.5	24%	47%	–
2023/24	111	35.8	23%	43%	−0.53
2022/23	111	31.8	16%	37%	−1.01

Progress 8 is not published for 2024/25 or 2025/26: those pupils had no key stage 2 tests in 2020 and 2021.

Schools nearby

The 8 nearest secondary schools in a straight line, in any local authority

Ark Kings AcademyThis school
This school

Good2024

3.1applications per place 39.9Attainment 8
St Thomas Aquinas Catholic School
1.7 km · Birmingham

Remains Good2024

3.9applications per place 50.9Attainment 8
King Edward VI King's Norton School for Boys
2.2 km · Birmingham

Good2023

4.1applications per place 48.1Attainment 8
King Edward VI Northfield School for Girls
2.5 km · Birmingham

Some aspects not as strong2024

3.2applications per place 45.3Attainment 8
Kings Norton Girls' School
2.5 km · Birmingham

Standards maintained2025

5.5applications per place 51.4Attainment 8
Turves Green Boys' School
2.6 km · Birmingham

Good2024

2.6applications per place 43.8Attainment 8
Bournville School
3.3 km · Birmingham

Requires improvement2024

16.0applications per place 37.5Attainment 8
Dame Elizabeth Cadbury School
3.4 km · Birmingham

Good2023

8.7applications per place 41.9Attainment 8
Woodrush High School
3.8 km · Worcestershire

Remains Good2024

1.9applications per place 43.9Attainment 8

School details

Type: Academy sponsor led
Phase: All-through
URN · DfE number: 137578 · 330/4001
Trust: Ark Schools
Capacity: 1,080 pupils · 739 on roll
Free school meals: 70.1% of pupils (England median 23%)
Opened: 1 September 2012
Address: Shannon Road, Kings Norton, Birmingham, B38 9DE
Local authority: Birmingham

Data last changed 19 October 2026 · Report an error · Corrections · Sources