Ark Greenwich Free School is a mainstream secondary school in Greenwich, London, for children and young people aged 11 to 16. In January 2026, 65 of its 615 pupils (10.6%) were getting SEN support and 20 (3.3%) had an EHC plan.
- Ages 11–16
- 615 pupils
- Ofsted: Outstanding
Special educational needs here
From the school census, January 2026. Compared with state secondary schools across England and in Greenwich.
10.6% get SEN support
65 of 615 pupils. Help in school without an EHC plan.
Lower than the England average.
3.3% have an EHC plan
20 of 615 pupils. A legal plan from the council, for children who need more help.
About the same as the England average.
Most common needs
- Autism24
- Specific learning difficulty, such as dyslexia20
- Speech, language and communication13
- Social, emotional and mental health6
- Moderate learning difficulty5
- Visual 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 secondary school
- Run as
- Free school
- Ages
- 11 to 16
- Boys and girls
- Boys and girls
- Pupils
- 615 (places for 600)
- Headteacher
- Mr James MacNaughton
- Part of
- Ark Schools
- Free school meals
- 41.4% of pupils eligible
- Council
- Greenwich
- School reference (URN)
- 138245
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 Greenwich 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
Rated Outstanding, April 2023; school remains Good (Improving) - S5 Next (February 2020)
Rated Outstanding at its last graded inspection, in April 2023.
- Quality of educationOutstanding
- Behaviour and attitudesOutstanding
- Personal developmentOutstanding
- Leadership and managementOutstanding
- SafeguardingEffective
Since then: School remains Good (Improving) - S5 Next (ungraded inspection, February 2020).
Contact and getting there
403 Shooters Hill Road, London, SE18 4LH
Loading the map…
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
- Leigh Academy Halley Mainstream + base · Ages 11–19 · Ofsted report card (2025) 0.5 miles
- Charlton Park Academy Special school · Ages 11–19 · Ofsted: Good 0.7 miles
- Rowan Wood School Special school · Ages 5–19 0.8 miles
- Thomas Tallis School Mainstream + base · Ages 11–19 · Ofsted: Good 1.2 miles
Other mainstream schools
- Christ Church Church of England Primary School, Shooters Hill Primary · Ages 5–11 · SEN support 21.7%, EHC plans 7.2% 0.4 miles
- Kidbrooke Park Primary School Primary · Ages 3–11 · SEN support 23.6%, EHC plans 6.1% 0.4 miles
- Eglinton Primary School Primary · Ages 3–11 · SEN support 9.4%, EHC plans 4.2% 0.7 miles
All mainstream schools in Greenwich SEND schools in Greenwich
Questions about Ark Greenwich Free School
How many pupils at Ark Greenwich Free School have special educational needs?
In the January 2026 school census, 65 of the 615 pupils (10.6%) were getting SEN support and 20 (3.3%) 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 Greenwich Free School?
Counting pupils on SEN support and with an EHC plan, the most common main needs are autism (24 pupils), dyslexia and other specific learning difficulties (20 pupils) and speech, language and communication needs (13 pupils).
Who do I talk to about my child’s needs at Ark Greenwich Free School?
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 Greenwich Free School?
Through Greenwich 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 Greenwich Free School?
You can ask for Ark Greenwich Free School 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 Greenwich Free School 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 Leigh Academy Halley, about 0.5 miles away.
Where is Ark Greenwich Free School?
403 Shooters Hill Road, London, SE18 4LH, in Greenwich.
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.