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Impact9th February 2026

Celebrating our apprentices: Success stories from across the Ark network

Last summer, Ark was proud to be recognised in the Sunday Times ‘Top 100 Apprenticeship Employers 2025’, the only multi-academy trust in the UK to achieve a place in the top 100.
Ark Learning InstituteArk Globe AcademyArk Isaac Newton AcademyArk Evelyn Grace AcademyArk Kings Academy

In the 2024/25 academic year, Ark Schools enrolled more than 100 apprentices from a diverse range of backgrounds across a broad range of programmes including teaching, finance, HR, Teaching Assistant, Early Years, facilities and IT.

This academic year we have more than 40 Ark Teacher Training trainees on the Teacher Level 6 Apprenticeship.

Here, some of our Ark colleagues share their experiences of apprenticeships and how these pathways have helped them grow, gain confidence, and take the next step in their professional journeys.

Rozina

Admissions and Admin Officer at Ark Globe Academy in South London, Rozina O’Rourke is doing a Team Leader / Supervisor Level 3 apprenticeship with LMP Education. She said, “I started my apprenticeship because I wanted to build my confidence and develop essential leadership skills to advance my career from an admin role into a team leader position.

“The most important thing I have learned so far is the importance of effective communication and self-awareness, especially when supporting a team.

“This apprenticeship is helping me apply leadership skills in my current role while building strong foundations for future opportunities.

“To anyone considering an apprenticeship, I would say – go for it! Stay open to learning and make the most of every opportunity to grow and develop.”

Adam

Adam Wawrzynski is a trainee teacher of History and Politics at Ark Isaac Newton Academy in Ilford, on an Ark Teacher Training apprenticeship. He said, “After 10 years of working in the legal profession, I wanted to join a career where I would be actively engaged with people every day, helping and inspiring their interests. It is also great fun to talk about History all day!

“My apprenticeship has given me the opportunity to work at an outstanding school which as allowed me to learn from excellent practitioners in the field.

“The structure of the programme has allowed me to engage with the theory behind teaching and apply it immediately to the classroom. This has made it very easy for me to develop my own practice and to immediately reflect on feedback and results.

“Planning in advance so that you are comfortable that everything is in place for your lessons is absolutely key, allowing you to focus on the fun part – teaching.”

Constance

Constance Boakye is the HR Officer at Ark Evelyn Grace Academy in South London. She is working towards a Level 7 Senior People Professional Apprenticeship. She said, “I started the Level 7 apprenticeship to strengthen my strategic capability and professional confidence. While I had developed operational experience, I wanted to deepen my ability to credibly influence at senior level, apply evidence-based decision-making, and align my practice more closely with the CIPD Profession Map.

“The apprenticeship is supporting my transition from an operational practitioner to a more strategic HR professional. It is equipping me with tools to evaluate internal and external factors, interpret workforce data, and contribute to evidence-based workforce planning.

“An apprenticeship is a commitment alongside daily work and personal life responsibilities. Be prepared to challenge yourself and reflect honestly on your practice. It is more than a qualification — it is an opportunity to build confidence, strategic thinking, and the ability to influence with clarity and evidence.”

Carlos

Carlos Smith is Ark’s Estates Energy Manager, based in the central office in West London. He recently completed an apprenticeship in Energy Management.  He said, “I chose to pursue this apprenticeship to gain new skills and knowledge that would enable me to progress in my career and specialise in energy management.

“I saw it as an opportunity not only to develop professionally, but also to put this new expertise into practice for the benefit of students and staff.

“The most valuable thing I’ve learned so far is that there is significant opportunity to improve both the efficiency and the way we use energy across buildings.

“To anyone considering an apprenticeship, my key piece of advice would be to choose a programme that is closely aligned with your intended career path. Doing so will ensure that the knowledge you gain is directly applicable to your day-to-day work, while your practical experience will support your progress through each module and the end‑point assessment.”

Maisie

Birmingham-based Ark Kings Academy Teaching Assistant apprentice Maisie Bridges has recently completed a Level 3 TA apprenticeship with SEND pathway with LMP. She said, “Reflecting upon my SEND Teaching Assistant apprenticeship journey, I am proud of how much I have progressed and learned.

“The training and opportunities provided by both Ark and my apprenticeship provider LMP have given me the knowledge and skills to flourish in my dream career.

“I felt supported by my tutor and workplace to overcome the challenges inevitable within working in education, especially whilst completing a Level 3 qualification, allowing me to provide our students with the education they deserve.

“I would definitely recommend apprenticeships for those who value both practical and applied learning.”

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