Ark Burlington Danes Academy: Faith, Ambition, and Community in White City

On London's largest school site, a 10-acre campus in White City, Ark Burlington Danes Academy traces its origins to 1699 when it began as a Christian charity school for girls. Today, this Church of England comprehensive serves students aged 11 to 18 from across Hammersmith and Fulham. The academy joined the Ark Schools network in 2006 and has since established itself as a school where academic ambition and pastoral care work in tandem. Over 50% of sixth form leavers progress to Russell Group universities, a striking figure for a non-selective state school drawing from one of London's most economically diverse postcodes.

The four values displayed throughout the school, Aim High, Be Brave, Be Kind, and Keep Learning, are not decorative slogans. They underpin everything from behaviour expectations to curriculum design. Principal David Carr sets the tone in his welcome message, telling students they will be the ones to make our world a better place. The academy maintains its Christian character through daily collective worship and a culture that explicitly promotes ethical decision-making and service to others.

The campus itself is a striking blend of heritage and investment. The original buildings house a performing arts centre named the Dennis Potter Centre, honouring the playwright who attended the predecessor St Clement Danes School. Modern additions include a professional gym, astroturf pitch, tennis courts, and dance studios. The site sprawls between Wood Lane and Du Cane Road, accessible via White City station on the Central line or Wood Lane on the Hammersmith and City and Circle lines.

Staff turnover at Ark schools tends to be lower than the sector average, and leadership at Burlington Danes reflects this stability. Mr Carr leads a senior team of twelve, including Vice Principals Laura Morris and John Rawkins. The most recent Ofsted inspection in July 2022 noted that teachers seek to know and understand every pupil, and pupils have adults who are always there to help them. This language of relationships recurs throughout parent feedback and official assessments alike.

GCSE Performance

GCSE outcomes place Ark Burlington Danes in solid territory. The Attainment 8 score of 49 sits above the England average of 45.9. Progress 8 of -0.03 indicates students make progress broadly in line with expectations from their starting points, neither significantly above nor below. The school ranks 1,430th in England for GCSE outcomes (FindMySchool ranking), placing it in the middle 35% of schools in England (25th to 60th percentile). Locally, this is 14th among secondary schools in Hammersmith and Fulham.

In English and mathematics, 44% of pupils achieved grade 5 or above in both subjects. The EBacc entry rate and average point score both exceed England averages, with 21.2% of pupils achieving grades 5 or above in EBacc subjects and an average EBacc point score of 4.46 against the England average of 4.08.

A-Level Performance

At A-level, the picture shows continued progress. In 2024, 72% of students achieved three A* to C grades, a 24% improvement on the previous year. Nearly half of students achieved A* to C or equivalent across all subjects. The proportion achieving A* to B grades rose to 24%. Academic qualification holders averaged B minus grades with 36.2 points, while students on applied programmes achieved Distinction level outcomes.

The school ranks 1,173rd in England for A-level outcomes (FindMySchool ranking), placing it in the middle 35% of schools in England. Within Hammersmith and Fulham, this is 11th among providers with sixth forms. The combined GCSE and A-level ranking of 1,107th in England (FindMySchool composite) reflects consistent performance across both key stages.

At A-level in the most recent cohort, 4.0% of grades were A*, 21.5% were A, and 49.7% reached A* to B, just above the England average of 47.2% for A* to B.

The curriculum is designed around what the school calls core academic A-level subjects, those most valued by good universities and those that keep progression options open. Most sixth formers study three linear A-levels, though some take a fourth subject depending on GCSE results. Entry requirements are stringent: six GCSEs at grades 6 to 9, including English Language and Mathematics, with grade 6 or above required in subjects students wish to study at A-level. Sciences and mathematics demand grade 7.

For students seeking a vocational pathway, the Professional Pathways programme offers an alternative to traditional A-levels. This BTEC-based route emphasises workplace skills and employability, requiring five GCSEs at grade 4 or above, including English and Mathematics. The school reports that over 40% of Professional Pathways students progress to top third universities or top 100 apprenticeships, seven times the average.

Teaching follows structured routines. The Ofsted inspection noted that leaders have high aspirations for pupils and want to give them every opportunity to succeed. Class sizes in the sixth form are smaller than at GCSE, allowing for more intensive academic dialogue. The school offers subject-specific intervention sessions and homework help, with formal intervention programmes for Years 11 and 13 during examination periods.

University destinations demonstrate the school's academic reach. In 2024, 63% of sixth form leavers progressed to university. Nearly 50% of students secured places at top third universities, including Durham, Manchester, Imperial College London, King's College London, and University College London. The school publishes examples of recent leavers attending Cambridge, Imperial, UCL, Bristol, and Durham.

Eight students applied to Oxbridge in the measurement period, with one student receiving an offer and accepting a place at Cambridge. While Oxford applications have not yet converted to offers, the Cambridge success demonstrates that elite university pathways are achievable from this school.

The cohort of 98 leavers in 2024 saw diverse destinations beyond university. 8% entered apprenticeships, including sought-after degree apprenticeships at employers like Bloomberg. 14% moved directly into employment. The school supports these transitions through its Professional Pathways programme and dedicated careers guidance.

For Year 13 leavers progressing to higher education, the school offers bursaries ranging from £3,000 to £50,000 to help with the financial costs of university life. This financial support infrastructure distinguishes Ark Burlington Danes from many state schools and reflects the Ark network's commitment to widening access.

Notable individual achievements in 2024 include Sammy Hilfawi, who achieved Biology A*, Chemistry A, and History A before progressing to study Medicine at UCL, and Vitor-Emanuel Pereira Da Silva, who secured A*, A*, A in his subjects and is reading Mathematics at the University of Warwick.

Ark Burlington Danes is a Church of England school, though it operates a broadly inclusive admissions policy within its faith framework. Year 7 applications are coordinated through Hammersmith and Fulham Council, not directly to the school. The deadline for September 2026 entry is 31 October, with National Offer Day on 1 March.

The school is proposing to reduce its Published Admissions Number for Year 7 from 180 to 120 from September 2026. This change responds to declining application numbers across the local area and future forecasts that do not support maintaining the larger intake. The consultation on this change closed in early 2025.

Demand for the Ark White City Primary Academy feeder route remains strong, with 260 applications for 72 places in the most recent cycle, a subscription ratio of 3.61 to 1. This primary entry point is significantly oversubscribed.

Open evenings for September 2026 entry take place in early October, with the main evening session on Thursday 2 October from 4:30pm to 7pm. Open mornings run throughout October on multiple dates from 9:30am to 10:30am. There is no on-site parking; families should use public transport via White City or Wood Lane stations.

Sixth form applications for September 2026 open on 3 November. Prospective students submit forms with predicted grades and course preferences, then attend interviews in February. Offers are conditional on achieving the required GCSE grades: six grades at 6 to 9 for A-levels, or five grades at 4 or above for Professional Pathways. Sixth form open sessions run on 15 and 16 October from 9:30am to 10:30am, with parent accompaniment required.

The Ofsted inspection found that students treat each other with care and respect across all age groups. Bullying is rare and effectively handled. The school maintains a dedicated SENDCo, Catherine Tiney, at Assistant Principal level, indicating the status given to special educational needs provision within the leadership structure.

The culture and wellbeing strand of the school's identity receives explicit focus. The four values, particularly Be Kind, translate into practical expectations around empathy, support for others, standing against bullying, and valuing diversity. Students are encouraged to make ethical decisions independently and to learn from mistakes rather than be defined by them.

Safeguarding is a strength. Official assessments confirm that pupils feel safe and know who to turn to if they have concerns. The school's size, over 1,200 students on a 10-acre site, could risk anonymity, but the house structure and tutor system work against this. Teachers know students by name and circumstances.

The Club Programme

Around fifty different enrichment clubs run throughout the week, organised into four categories: Our World, Sport and Games, Cerebral, and Creative Arts. For Years 7 to 9, Wednesday enrichment from 3pm to 3:50pm is compulsory, ensuring every younger student engages with at least one activity beyond the academic curriculum.

Creative Arts offerings include Drama Club, Guitar Club, Craft Club, Origami Club, Creative Writing, Clay Club, and Cross Stitching Club. The Dennis Potter Centre provides professional-standard facilities for performing arts, including theatre and dance studios.

The Cerebral category features Chess Club, Book Club, Film Club, Maths Club, and Kritikos, the school's debate club. These intellectual enrichment opportunities support academic stretch beyond the classroom.

Sport and Games provisions include football for Years 7 and 8 boys, netball for Year 7, and a boxing programme for Key Stage 3. The campus facilities, including the astroturf pitch, professional gym, and tennis courts, support both competitive fixtures and recreational activity.

Duke of Edinburgh Award

The Duke of Edinburgh programme is well-established and well-subscribed. Over 70 Year 10 students participated in a weekend expedition through Epping Forest in preparation for the Bronze Award. Training expeditions have also taken place in Richmond Park. The school has a dedicated social media presence for DofE activities, indicating the programme's prominence within the extended curriculum.

Leadership and Service

Students can develop leadership through roles as anti-bullying ambassadors, student council representatives, and sixth form reading buddies. These opportunities were noted specifically in the Ofsted report as contributing to personal development. The Christian ethos of the school shapes service expectations, with students encouraged to contribute to the wider community.

The school day begins at 8:30am and finishes at 3:50pm on Wednesdays when compulsory enrichment runs. On other days, lessons end at 3pm. Breakfast club operates from 7:30am to 8:15am with free breakfast for all students, supporting working families who need earlier drop-off.

The campus sits between White City station (Central line, 8-minute walk) and Wood Lane station (Hammersmith and City and Circle lines, 15-minute walk). There is no on-site parking for visitors. The KS5 study space in the Dennis Potter building provides dedicated facilities for sixth formers outside lessons.

Faith character is genuine. While the school is broadly inclusive, it operates explicitly as a Church of England institution. Daily collective worship and Christian values permeate school culture. Families uncomfortable with religious schooling should explore secular alternatives.

Academic stretch varies. GCSE and A-level results sit in the middle band for England. Students aiming for highly competitive university courses will need to be proactive in seeking academic extension opportunities. The school supports Oxbridge applications but success rates remain modest.

Sixth form entry is conditional. The requirement for six GCSEs at grades 6 to 9 for A-levels, with grade 7 in sciences and mathematics, means the sixth form is effectively selective. Students achieving lower grades may be directed toward Professional Pathways or alternative provision.

Reduced Year 7 intake from 2026. The proposed reduction from 180 to 120 places may affect admissions chances in ways not yet predictable. Families should monitor how this change affects oversubscription patterns.

Ark Burlington Danes Academy offers a distinctive proposition: a non-selective state school with faith foundations, ambitious university destinations, and a 10-acre campus with facilities that rival many independent schools. The Ark network's resources and expertise are visible in everything from staff development to student bursaries. Results are solid rather than exceptional, placing the school firmly in the middle tier for England, but the trajectory is upward and the destination data speaks to genuine aspiration.

Best suited to families who value a Church of England ethos alongside academic ambition. The school works particularly well for students who respond to explicit values, structured routines, and a culture that expects effort and offers support in return. Those seeking a highly selective academic environment or a secular school culture should look elsewhere. For local families wanting a comprehensive education with sixth form progression and genuine university pathways, Ark Burlington Danes delivers.