Ark Pioneer Academy

Ark Pioneer Academy is a new-start non-selective secondary school in Barnet. We opened in September 2019 and will be at full capacity in 2026 with 1,200 pupils.

We believe that every child has the ability to be a knowledgeable, articulate, and successful individual. We are committed to realising every pupil's potential, enabling them to go on to the best universities or a career of their choice.

We have a fantastic team of staff, dedicated to achieving our ambitious vision for every child.

Why join Ark Pioneer?

- Learning at every stage - We are committed to providing high-quality professional learning throughout your career. The development of our staff is one of our top priorities, at every level and in every role. That’s why we offer twice the number of training days as standard.

- Collaborate beyond the school gates - Joining our school means becoming part of the Ark network, one of the UK's most successful school groups. You will have the opportunity to come together with your peers locally, nationally and sometimes even internationally, to share resources, learning and good practice.

- Effective organisation - You'll also be supported to focus on what you do best. We are always looking for ways to take away additional pressures, to give you more freedom to concentrate on improving education outcomes for young people.

- Take your career in your own direction - We are committed to offering you diverse career progression, whether that means aspiring to senior leadership or becoming an outstanding practitioner, allowing you to really carve out a successful career in education. We are dedicated to offering opportunities to support your career in our school or as part of our wider network.

Curriculum

At Ark Pioneer, our curriculum offer provides each pupil with a solid foundation for further study and preparation for university. Each subject leader has crafted a rigorous curriculum that promotes curiosity, develops a depth of understanding and includes a thorough base of content.

Ark Pioneer subject leaders have planned backwards from university to provide a rigorous curriculum that promotes curiosity and explores the big ideas underpinning each area of study. Each subject includes a thorough base of knowledge and develops a depth of understanding that supports future learning in that subject area.

Pupils at Ark Pioneer have a longer school day allowing them to study a wide range of subjects. More time for English and maths ensures that pupils develop literacy and numeracy skills to a very high level. We forensically track how pupils are doing in order to identify underperformance and plan appropriate support. In addition to regular assessment in lessons, pupils benefit from challenging cumulative tests in termly exam weeks, which test mastery of the content taught. Assessments are preceded by a whole school drive for revision, focussing on research driven revision skills. Pupils and teachers review and reflect on each assessment; identifying gaps and taking steps to address them, developing a growth mindset in each pupil.