Ark Academy is an all-through mainstream school in Wembley, Brent, for children and young people aged 3 to 18. In January 2026, 155 of its 1,639 pupils (9.5%) were getting SEN support and 57 (3.5%) had an EHC plan.
- Ages 3–18
- 1,639 pupils
- Ofsted report card (2026)
Special educational needs here
From the school census, January 2026. Compared with state secondary schools across England and in Brent.
9.5% get SEN support
155 of 1,639 pupils. Help in school without an EHC plan.
Lower than the England average.
3.5% have an EHC plan
57 of 1,639 pupils. A legal plan from the council, for children who need more help.
About the same as the England average.
Most common needs
- Speech, language and communication73
- Social, emotional and mental health40
- Autism31
- Moderate learning difficulty30
- Specific learning difficulty, such as dyslexia6
- Hearing impairment5
Pupils by their main need, on SEN support or with an EHC plan. Needs with fewer than 5 pupils aren’t shown.
Figures show how many children the school supports, not how well. To see how it would support your child, talk to the SENCO and read its SEN information report on the school’s website.
School details
- Type
- Mainstream all-through school
- Run as
- Academy (sponsored)
- Ages
- 3 to 18
- Boys and girls
- Boys and girls
- Pupils
- 1,639 (places for 1,650)
- Headteacher
- Ms Delia Smith (Principal)
- Part of
- Ark Schools
- Free school meals
- 41.5% of pupils eligible
- Council
- Brent
- School reference (URN)
- 135600
How SEN support works
4 steps, from a first chat to an EHC plan
- Talk to the class teacher and the SENCO
If you’re worried about your child, ask for a meeting. Every school has a SENCO (special educational needs co-ordinator). Your child doesn’t need a diagnosis to get help.
- SEN support
The school should work out what your child needs, agree a plan with you, put it in place and review it together, usually each term. This is called SEN support.
- An EHC needs assessment
If your child needs more help than the school can usually give, you or the school can ask Brent council for an EHC needs assessment. It can lead to an Education, Health and Care (EHC) plan, which the council must make sure is delivered.
- Free, independent advice
Your local SENDIASS can help at any stage, and can come to meetings with the school with you.
Questions to ask the SENCO
10 questions to tick off as you go
Ticks stay on this device, so you can use them at the meeting.
Ofsted
Report card, April 2026: Strong standard in 6 of 8 areas
Inspected in April 2026 under Ofsted’s new report cards, which grade each area separately, from Exceptional to Urgent improvement, instead of one overall grade.
- InclusionStrong standard
- Curriculum and teachingStrong standard
- AchievementStrong standard
- Attendance and behaviourStrong standard
- Personal development and wellbeingExceptional
- Early yearsExpected standard
- Post-16Strong standard
- Leadership and governanceStrong standard
- SafeguardingMet
Contact and getting there
Forty Avenue, Wembley, HA9 9JR
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Directions: Walk Public transport Drive
Email me these details
The school’s details, its SEN figures and the questions to ask the SENCO, in your inbox.
Nearby
Specialist schools and SEN units
- Preston Manor School Mainstream + base · Ages 4–19 · Ofsted: Good 0.4 miles
- Buxlow School Independent · Ages 4–11 0.7 miles
- Oakington Manor Primary School Mainstream + base · Ages 3–11 · Ofsted: Good 1.0 mile
- Phoenix Arch School Special school · Ages 4–11 · Ofsted: Good 1.1 miles
Other mainstream schools
Questions about Ark Academy
How many pupils at Ark Academy have special educational needs?
In the January 2026 school census, 155 of the 1,639 pupils (9.5%) were getting SEN support and 57 (3.5%) had an EHC plan. Across England’s state secondary schools it is 14.1% and 3.5%.
What are the most common needs at Ark Academy?
Counting pupils on SEN support and with an EHC plan, the most common main needs are speech, language and communication needs (73 pupils), social, emotional and mental health (SEMH) needs (40 pupils) and autism (31 pupils).
Who do I talk to about my child’s needs at Ark Academy?
The SENCO (special educational needs co-ordinator). Every school has one, and every school must publish an SEN information report on its website explaining how it supports pupils with SEND.
How do I apply for a place at Ark Academy?
Through Brent council’s school admissions, in the normal application round or during the year. If your child has an EHC plan, you don’t apply this way: you ask for the school to be named in the plan instead.
Can my child with an EHC plan go to Ark Academy?
You can ask for Ark Academy to be named in your child’s EHC plan. The council must consult the school and name it, unless it would be unsuitable for your child’s age, ability or needs, or would affect other children’s education or the efficient use of resources.
Does Ark Academy have an SEN unit or resourced provision?
Not according to the Department for Education’s register of schools. The nearest mainstream school with one is Preston Manor School, about 0.4 miles away.
Where is Ark Academy?
Forty Avenue, Wembley, HA9 9JR, in Brent.
School data: DfE Get Information About Schools, SEN figures from DfE Special educational needs in England (the January school census), under the Open Government Licence. Postcode lookups by postcodes.io: contains OS data © Crown copyright and database right, Royal Mail data © Royal Mail copyright and database right, and National Statistics data © Crown copyright and database right. Distances are as the crow flies. Always check details and admissions with the school and your council.