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Ark's Overview

Total employees1893
HeadquartersLondon
Founded2006

Ark Schools is a prominent multi-academy trust in the United Kingdom, operating a network of 39 non-selective primary, secondary, and all-through schools. Located in educationally disadvantaged areas across London, Birmingham, Hastings, and Portsmouth, Ark is committed to giving every child, regardless of their background, the opportunities and support needed to succeed academically and in life. Their approach is defined by high expectations for all students, excellent teaching, a rigorous curriculum, strong discipline, and extended learning time. Ark Schools is part of the wider Ark global children's charity, aiming to transform lives through education.

Where is Ark's Headquarters?

Ark officeArk officeArk officeArk office
*Images sourced via web search. Rights belong to original owners

HQ Function

The London headquarters serves as the central nerve centre for Ark Schools, overseeing network-wide strategy, educational program development, operational management, financial stewardship, talent development, and advocacy efforts to support its 39 schools.

Notable Features:

A modern, collaborative workspace in central London, designed to facilitate communication and innovation among the central team members who support the schools. Equipped with meeting and training facilities to support network-wide initiatives.

Work Culture:

Characterised by a strong mission-driven focus on educational excellence and equity. The culture encourages collaboration, continuous learning, and a proactive approach to tackling educational challenges, with staff deeply committed to improving student outcomes.

HQ Significance:

The HQ is crucial for maintaining quality and consistency across the Ark network, driving innovation in teaching and learning, ensuring efficient resource allocation, and providing robust support systems that enable individual schools to thrive.

Values Reflected in HQ: The HQ's operations embody Ark's core values such as 'Aim High' in their strategic goals, 'Work Together' through collaborative team structures, and 'Champion All Children' by ensuring all central efforts are geared towards student success.

Location:

Ark Schools operates exclusively within the United Kingdom, with its 39 academies located in London, Birmingham, Hastings, and Portsmouth. While Ark Schools itself is UK-focused, it is part of the broader 'Ark' international children's charity, which has a history of supporting educational initiatives and programmes in other countries, including India and Sub-Saharan Africa, to improve educational opportunities for disadvantaged children globally.

Street Address:

65 Kingsway

City:

London

State/Province:

Greater London

Country:

United Kingdom

Ark's Global Presence

London, England, United Kingdom

Address: Wood Lane, White City, London, W12 0HR

To serve the local community by offering high-quality education, aiming to raise aspirations and outcomes for students in its catchment area.

Birmingham, England, United Kingdom

Address: Shannon Road, Kings Norton, Birmingham, B38 9DE

To provide a seamless educational journey from nursery to sixth form for children in Kings Norton, Birmingham, addressing regional educational disadvantage.

Portsmouth, England, United Kingdom

Address: Greetham Street, Portsmouth, PO5 4LH

To deliver outstanding education and raise achievement levels for students in the urban coastal area of Portsmouth, fostering community and aspiration.

Buying Intent Signals for Ark

Highperformr Signals uncover buying intent and give you clear insights to target the right accounts at the right time — helping your sales, marketing, and GTM teams close more deals, faster.

Notable news
Hiring actively
Corporate Finance
Corporate Finance
Corporate Finance
Corporate Finance
Corporate Finance
*Example signal, not calculated in real time

Executive Team of Ark

As of April 2025, Ark' leadership includes:

Venessa Willms - Chief Executive Officer
Katie Oliver - Director of Education
Paul Brotherhood - Chief Operating Officer
Damian McBeath - Director of Secondary Education

Investors of Ark

Ark has been backed by several prominent investors over the years, including:

UK Department for Education (Primary Funder via Academy Grants)
Founding Philanthropists (Initial Seed Capital and Vision for Ark)
Various Charitable Trusts, Foundations, and Philanthropic Donors

Executive New Hires/Exits in the Last 12 Months

Hire1
Exits1

The most significant executive leadership change at Ark Schools in the past year was the appointment of Venessa Willms as the new Chief Executive Officer in September 2023, succeeding Lucy Heller. This transition marks a new chapter for the organization's leadership.

Departures

Lucy Heller, Lucy Heller concluded her tenure as Chief Executive Officer of Ark Schools.

New Appointments:

Venessa Willms, Venessa Willms was appointed as the new Chief Executive Officer of Ark Schools.

Technology (Tech Stack) used by Ark

Discover the tools Ark uses. Highperformr reveals the technologies powering your target accounts — helping your sales, marketing, and GTM teams prioritize smarter and close faster.

Ark Email Formats and Examples

Ark Schools generally utilizes a consistent email format for its staff, typically combining the employee's first name and last name separated by a period, followed by the '@arkonline.org' domain. This structured approach facilitates professional communication across the network and with external stakeholders.

firstname.lastname@arkonline.org

Format

jane.doe@arkonline.org

Example

95%

Success rate

News and media

arkonline.orgMay 24, 2024

Ark Schools News: Ark Start nurseries achieve Millie’s Mark accreditation

All three Ark Start nurseries have been awarded Millie’s Mark, a significant endorsement for nursery settings that demonstrate excellence in paediatric first aid capabilities, exceeding minimum requirements....more

arkonline.orgMarch 13, 2024

Ark Schools News: Ark Blake Academy celebrates 'Good' Ofsted rating

Ark Blake Academy in Croydon received a 'Good' rating in all areas from Ofsted during its first inspection since opening in 2020. Inspectors highlighted the school's ambitious curriculum and strong supportive culture....more

arkonline.orgSeptember 6, 2023

Ark Schools News: Ark appoints Venessa Willms as new Chief Executive Officer

Ark Schools announced Venessa Willms as its new Chief Executive Officer. Venessa, formerly Ark’s Director of Secondary Education, assumed the role in September 2023, taking over from Lucy Heller....more

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