SchoolScoresHeron Academy
Special academy · Secondary, ages 11 to 19 · Mixed · Sixth form
Part of LONDON SOUTH EAST ACADEMIES TRUST
Heron Road, Herne Hill, London, SE24 0HZ
020 7326 5898 · School website · Map and directions
Ofsted inspection
Ofsted report card from the inspection that started on 12 May 2026 , published 24 July 2026.
In short: 2 strong, 5 expected, and safeguarding met.
Since November 2025 Ofsted grades each area on a five-point scale instead of giving one overall grade. How report cards work.
| Area | Grade |
|---|---|
| SafeguardingWhether pupils are kept safe. Met or not met. | Met |
| InclusionHow well the school supports disadvantaged pupils and pupils with special educational needs. | Strong standard Second of five grades. Better than the standard Ofsted expects. |
| Curriculum and teachingWhat pupils are taught and how well they are taught it. | Expected standard Middle of five grades. Meets the standard Ofsted expects. |
| AchievementHow well pupils learn and the results they get. | Expected standard Middle of five grades. Meets the standard Ofsted expects. |
| Attendance and behaviourWhether pupils come to school and how they behave. | Expected standard Middle of five grades. Meets the standard Ofsted expects. |
| Personal development and wellbeingPupils' wider development, character and wellbeing. | Expected standard Middle of five grades. Meets the standard Ofsted expects. |
| Post-16 provisionSixth form or other study after 16. | Strong standard Second of five grades. Better than the standard Ofsted expects. |
| Leadership and governanceHow well leaders and governors run the school. | Expected standard Middle of five grades. Meets the standard Ofsted expects. |
Read the full Ofsted reports for this school
Source: Ofsted state-funded schools inspection data.
Results
No test or exam results have been published for this school yet.
Admissions
Apply through the council where you live, even if the school is in a different council area. This school is in Lambeth. The national closing date for secondary applications is 31 October, and offers are sent on 1 March.
Pupils, staff and SEND
This is a special school for children with an education, health and care plan (EHCP). Places are arranged through the council's SEND team, not the normal admissions round. It caters for: Specific learning difficulties (such as dyslexia); Autism; Profound and multiple learning difficulties.
| Pupils | This school | Lambeth | England |
|---|---|---|---|
| Eligible for free school meals in the last 6 years | 83.7% | 73.6%* | 51.9% |
| With an education, health and care plan | 100.0% | 99.8%* | 99.5% |
| Receiving special educational needs support | 0.0% | 0.1%* | 0.5% |
| English as an additional language | 32.1% | 29.1%* | 14.4% |
| Overall absence (sessions missed) | 17.7% | 11.6%* | 12.8% |
| Persistently absent (missed 10% or more) | 43.1% | 33.6%* | 35.3% |
| Suspensions per 100 pupils | 2.5 | 6.3 | 12.3 |
| Pupils suspended at least once | 1.2% | 4.4% | 5.1% |
| Pupils permanently excluded0 pupils | 0.00% | 0.00% | 0.08% |
| Pupils per teacher | 9.7 | 6.9 | 6.6 |
| Pupils per adult (teachers and support staff) | 2.3 | 3.0 | 2.3 |
| Teachers who left during the year | 35.2% | 29.2%* | 14.3%* |
Comparisons are with special schools. * Calculated by SchoolScores from the council's or England's schools, weighted by pupils (or teachers, for turnover); other figures are published by DfE. Sources: DfE school census 2024/25; DfE pupil absence 2024/25; DfE suspensions and permanent exclusions 2024/25; DfE school workforce census 2025/26; DfE teacher turnover 2024/25.
SEND provision: Get Information about Schools (DfE).
Nearby special schools
- Maudsley and Bethlem Hospital School 0.7 miles · Ofsted: Outstanding (2011, before conversion), confirmed 2021
- Lansdowne School 0.9 miles · Ofsted: Report card 2026: 3 strong, 4 expected · 0% grade 5+ English and maths
- JUS Education 0.9 miles · Independent · Ofsted: Good (2025)
- Turney Primary and Secondary Special School 1.0 miles · Ofsted: No overall grade (2024)
- PhoenixPlace 1.1 miles · Independent · Ofsted: Good (2024)
- Elm Court School 1.2 miles · Ofsted: Outstanding (2019), confirmed 2024 · 0% grade 5+ English and maths
- Highshore School 1.2 miles · Ofsted: Good (2013), confirmed 2023
- Spa School Camberwell 1.3 miles · Ofsted: Good (2023)
- Cherry Garden School 1.4 miles · Ofsted: Outstanding (2015), confirmed 2024 · 0% met expected standard (KS2)
- Tuke School 1.6 miles · Ofsted: Report card 2026: 4 strong, 2 expected, 1 needs attention
Straight-line distance. Distance isn't the same as a catchment area.
Questions parents ask
What is Heron Academy's Ofsted rating?
Heron Academy was inspected under Ofsted's report card format in 12 May 2026. Report cards grade each area on a five-point scale instead of giving one overall grade. Its grades were 2 strong, 5 expected, and safeguarding was met.
Sources
- School details: Get Information about Schools (DfE), 26 September 2026. URN 149331.
- Inspections: Ofsted management information, data to 31 August 2026.
Spotted a mistake? Report it and we'll check it against the source.
Page updated 26 September 2026.