Latest blogs

#Ark20: the early years – international healthcare

Thursday 10th March 2022

In 2022, Ark celebrates its 20th year. We’re using this anniversary as an opportunity to highlight stories from our history of helping children in the UK and around the world.
Did you know, for example, that some of Ark's earliest work was in international healthcare?

2003
One of Ark's first projects was tackling HIV in South Africa.

Delivering outstanding History lessons at Ark Tindal

Wednesday 9th March 2022

Ark Tindal Primary Academy in Birmingham was recently awarded a Silver Quality Mark by the Historical Association (HA), recognising their excellent history provision. The Association said: “The subject leadership is outstanding” and praised the subject lead who had “strengthened the subject immeasurably” and was described as “a guiding light”. The report was referring to Shima Sinha, and we spoke with her about her love of History.

Enriching mathematical experiences for young people

Tuesday 8th February 2022

One of our newest ventures is MESME (Mathematics Education for Social Mobility and Excellence), which exists to support students from all backgrounds to achieve mathematical excellence so that they go on to have a greater and richer range of future personal, employment and economic choices.

Ark is turning 20

Tuesday 8th February 2022

In 2022, Ark celebrates its 20th year. We’re using this anniversary as an opportunity to tell our story – where we’ve come from, and where we’re going in the future.
Ark has a diverse history of helping children, both in the UK and worldwide. We’ve dug through some of our archive footage, to show some of the varied work Ark has taken part in over the years, and to announce our 20-year celebration.

Ark celebrates National Apprenticeship Week 2022

Monday 7th February 2022

At Ark, our mission is to help students reach their potential and we’re committed to helping young people into employment through as many career paths as possible.
Apprenticeships are a brilliant way to gain real-life experience and a chance for young people to apply what they are learning while getting paid. For employers, apprenticeships allow them to grow their talent in-house while offering practical experience alongside an education.

Ensuring every child can enjoy a life enriched by music

Wednesday 2nd February 2022

Margaret O’Shea, Head of Creative and Extended Curriculum at Ark Schools, spoke at the Music Teachers Association event on Music in Multi-Academy Trusts on Thursday 3 February, 2022. Here, she tells us about the five ingredients that have helped make Ark Music such a success.

Ark Curriculum Plus launches Science Mastery

Tuesday 11th January 2022

Shauna O'Brien, Head of Secondary Science Mastery, shares some exciting news as Ark Curriculum Plus expands its programmes. 
Ark Curriculum Plus is a non-profit organisation dedicated to transforming education in the UK.
Our mission is student success through empowered teaching. We believe that every student can succeed, and that the teacher makes a difference. We have created multiple complete curriculum programmes over the past ten years to ensure teachers have the required resources and subject knowledge.

From pub manager to leading a top Ark school

Monday 10th January 2022

Great schools are made of great leaders. At Ark, we know strong senior leadership is key to ensuring our students have access to an excellent education. That’s why we recognise the value of supporting and investing in our staff at every stage of their career. From nationally accredited development programmes to residential trips with peers, leaders are given all the tools and support to develop.

How funding boost helped our Ventures reach those most in need this year

Tuesday 30th November 2021

Our ventures share updates on how funding from the Department of Digital, Culture, Media and Sport’s Community Match Challenge scheme helped them support their communities during the Covid-19 pandemic.

“Teaching is the best job in the world,” says Ark John Keats head, Jo Facer

Monday 29th November 2021

Jo Facer is Principal at Ark John Keats Academy based in Enfield, North London. Having trained as an English teacher with Teach First, she’s worked in several schools as Head of Department, Assistant and Vice Principal.