Absolute Return for Kids (ARK), is an international children's educational charity based in London, UK.
Ark is a registered charity under English law. In its reporting year 2017–18, excluding its few subsidiaries, it saw gross income of £14.66 million and had 42 employees.[1]
Ark is the parent organisation of Ark Schools, a separate legal entity that is a multi-academy trust in the English education system, with 39 schools (as of 14 October 2022) and nearly 30,000 pupils.[2][3]
Its aim is to invest philanthropy (benevolence, gift-giving) to improve, greatly, the life chances of children. Since 2014, the charity has been known as Ark or ARK.
Its charitable objects are: "to make sure that all children, regardless of their background, have access to a great education and real choices in life. ark incubates, launches and scales ventures that share our mission and values."[1]
Activities
Ark operates in the UK, South Africa, Zimbabwe and India. In the US, it is affiliated to Absolute Return for Kids US, Inc. (Ark US), a US philanthropic organisation which shares Ark's mission, and which supports the work of Ark through grants.[4]
Ark works in education, health and child protection.
Schools
In England, its subsidiary Ark Schools is a multi-academy trust responsible for the schools that Ark runs which, typical of its class, has exempt charity status since 2011.[4][5])
Ark Schools was created in 2004 to work with the Department for Education and local authorities to create new schools for inner cities through the academies programme. Its aim is to help close the achievement gap between children from disadvantaged and more affluent backgrounds.[6] Its academies focus on raising attainment with the aim of every pupil going into higher education when they complete school.[citation needed] The schools are frequently held up by the government as an example of a successful multi-academy trust, where at least seven others were failing[vague].[6]Ofsted chief inspector Sir Michael Wilshaw stepped down in 2016 and was replaced by Amanda Spielman, the founder of Ark Schools and an accountant.[6]
As of 2019, Ark runs 36 schools in the English education system, and plans to grow further. It has been, by a sector analyst of a periodical, criticised or seen as unusual for a record of running some schools, as at before 2020 at a deficit, relying on internal loans[clarification needed].[7]
In 2022, the Birmingham school Ark Kings Academy was given a funding warning after being found inadequate during an Ofsted inspection. The Ofsted report, published in May 2022, following an inspection in February 2022, said: "Some pupils, particularly those who identify as LGBT, experience repeated name-calling and prejudiced behaviour. This means that pupils do not feel safe in the school."[8]
List of Ark schools in England
The planning district (main local government unit and authority for local authority-run schools) is stated after the final comma in this list
^ abcAdams Education, Richard (15 June 2016). "Few multi-academy trusts good enough to improve schools, says Wilshaw". The Guardian. Retrieved 31 January 2020.
^Hazell, Will (11 January 2018). "Ark reports £4m loss and relies on loans between its schools to cover deficits". Tes. Retrieved 31 January 2020.
^"Birmingham school Ark Kings Academy given funding warning". BBC News. BBC. 27 May 2022. Retrieved 27 May 2022.
External links
Ark website
Ark schools website
January 07, 2023
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Absolute Return for Kids ARK is an international children s educational charity based in London UK Ark is a registered charity under English law In its reporting year 2017 18 excluding its few subsidiaries it saw gross income of 14 66 million and had 42 employees 1 Ark is the parent organisation of Ark Schools a separate legal entity that is a multi academy trust in the English education system with 39 schools as of 14 October 2022 and nearly 30 000 pupils 2 3 Contents 1 History 2 Activities 2 1 Schools 3 List of Ark schools in England 3 1 Primary schools 3 2 Secondary schools 3 3 All through schools 4 Boards of Trustees 5 See also 6 References 7 External linksHistory EditArk was founded in 2002 by a group of hedge fund financiers including Paul Marshall and Ian Wace of Marshall Wace and Arpad Busson of EIM Group founding chairman of the charity s board of trustees Its aim is to invest philanthropy benevolence gift giving to improve greatly the life chances of children Since 2014 the charity has been known as Ark or ARK Its charitable objects are to make sure that all children regardless of their background have access to a great education and real choices in life ark incubates launches and scales ventures that share our mission and values 1 Activities EditArk operates in the UK South Africa Zimbabwe and India In the US it is affiliated to Absolute Return for Kids US Inc Ark US a US philanthropic organisation which shares Ark s mission and which supports the work of Ark through grants 4 Ark works in education health and child protection Schools Edit In England its subsidiary Ark Schools is a multi academy trust responsible for the schools that Ark runs which typical of its class has exempt charity status since 2011 4 5 Ark Schools was created in 2004 to work with the Department for Education and local authorities to create new schools for inner cities through the academies programme Its aim is to help close the achievement gap between children from disadvantaged and more affluent backgrounds 6 Its academies focus on raising attainment with the aim of every pupil going into higher education when they complete school citation needed The schools are frequently held up by the government as an example of a successful multi academy trust where at least seven others were failing vague 6 Ofsted chief inspector Sir Michael Wilshaw stepped down in 2016 and was replaced by Amanda Spielman the founder of Ark Schools and an accountant 6 As of 2019 Ark runs 36 schools in the English education system and plans to grow further It has been by a sector analyst of a periodical criticised or seen as unusual for a record of running some schools as at before 2020 at a deficit relying on internal loans clarification needed 7 In 2022 the Birmingham school Ark Kings Academy was given a funding warning after being found inadequate during an Ofsted inspection The Ofsted report published in May 2022 following an inspection in February 2022 said Some pupils particularly those who identify as LGBT experience repeated name calling and prejudiced behaviour This means that pupils do not feel safe in the school 8 List of Ark schools in England EditThe planning district main local government unit and authority for local authority run schools is stated after the final comma in this list Outside of London are marked Primary schools Edit Ark Atwood Primary Academy Westminster Ark Ayrton Primary Academy Portsmouth Ark Bentworth Primary Academy Hammersmith amp Fulham Ark Blacklands Primary Academy Hastings Ark Brunel Primary Academy Kensington and Chelsea Ark Byron Primary Academy Ealing Ark Castledown Primary Academy Hastings Ark Conway Primary Academy Hammersmith amp Fulham Ark Dickens Primary Academy Portsmouth Ark Franklin Primary Academy Brent Ark John Archer Primary Academy Wandsworth Ark Little Ridge Primary Academy Hastings Ark Oval Primary Academy Croydon Ark Priory Primary Academy Ealing Ark Swift Primary Academy Hammersmith amp Fulham Ark Tindal Primary Academy Birmingham Secondary schools Edit Ark Acton Academy Acton Ealing Ark Alexandra Academy Hastings Ark All Saints Academy Southwark Ark Blake Academy Croydon Ark Bolingbroke Academy Wandsworth Ark Boulton Academy Birmingham Ark Charter Academy Portsmouth Ark Elvin Academy Wembley Brent Ark Evelyn Grace Academy Lambeth Ark Greenwich Free School Greenwich Ark Pioneer Academy Barnet Ark Putney Academy Wandsworth Ark St Alban s Academy Birmingham Ark Soane Academy Acton Ealing Ark Walworth Academy Southwark All through schools Edit Ark Academy Brent Ark Burlington Danes Academy Hammersmith amp Fulham Ark Globe Academy Southwark Ark Isaac Newton Academy Redbridge Ark John Keats Academy Enfield Ark King Solomon Academy Westminster Ark Kings Academy Birmingham Ark Victoria Academy Birmingham Boards of Trustees EditAs of November 2018 the Ark Schools trustees are Ian Wace Chairman Lord Fink Sir Paul Marshall Anthony Williams and Anthony Clake 4 Arpad Busson sits on the global board and is chairman of Absolute Return for Kids US Inc See also EditList of charitable foundationsReferences Edit a b Absolute Return for Kids registered charity no 1095322 Charity Commission for England and Wales GovUK Ark Schools Ofsted reports a b c Ark Annual Report and Accounts for the year ended 31 August 2018 ARK Schools registered charity no 1111608 Charity Commission for England and Wales a b c Adams Education Richard 15 June 2016 Few multi academy trusts good enough to improve schools says Wilshaw The Guardian Retrieved 31 January 2020 Hazell Will 11 January 2018 Ark reports 4m loss and relies on loans between its schools to cover deficits Tes Retrieved 31 January 2020 Birmingham school Ark Kings Academy given funding warning BBC News BBC 27 May 2022 Retrieved 27 May 2022 External links EditArk website Ark schools website Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Ark charity amp oldid 1116042115, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
