SchoolScoresSamuel Rhodes MLD School
Special school · Secondary, ages 11 to 19 · Mixed · Sixth form
11 Highbury New Park, Islington, London, N5 2EG
020 7704 7490 · School website · Map and directions
Ofsted inspection
Ofsted report card from the inspection that started on 12 May 2026 , published 29 June 2026.
In short: 1 exceptional, 6 strong, 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. | Strong standard Second of five grades. Better than the standard Ofsted expects. |
| AchievementHow well pupils learn and the results they get. | Strong standard Second of five grades. Better than the standard Ofsted expects. |
| Attendance and behaviourWhether pupils come to school and how they behave. | Strong standard Second of five grades. Better than the standard Ofsted expects. |
| Personal development and wellbeingPupils' wider development, character and wellbeing. | Exceptional The highest of five grades. Ofsted judged this among the best nationally. |
| 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. | Strong standard Second of five grades. Better than the standard Ofsted expects. |
Read the full Ofsted reports for this school
Source: Ofsted state-funded schools inspection data.
Results
Key stage 2 (SATs, age 11), 2024/25
2 pupils in this year group.
Only 2 pupils took these tests, so results can change a lot from year to year. Compare with care.
| Measure | This school | Islington | England |
|---|---|---|---|
| Met the expected standard in reading, writing and maths | Not published | 67% | 62% |
| Reached the higher standard in reading, writing and maths | Not published | 13% | 8% |
| Met the expected standard in reading | Not published | 79% | 75% |
| Met the expected standard in writing | Not published | 75% | 72% |
| Met the expected standard in maths | Not published | 77% | 74% |
| Average reading scoreScaled score from 80 to 120; 100 is the expected standard. | Not published | 107 | 106 |
| Average maths scoreScaled score from 80 to 120; 100 is the expected standard. | Not published | 106 | 105 |
"Not published": Not published: too few pupils, so individual pupils could be identified.
Source: DfE key stage 2 performance tables, 2024/25. England figures are for state-funded schools.
After Year 11
Where pupils went next. DfE measures this for pupils who finished in an earlier year, so these figures describe a previous year group.
14 pupils in this year group.
100% — 9 points above the Islington average, and 8 points above the England average.
| Measure | This school | Islington | England |
|---|---|---|---|
| Stayed in education, an apprenticeship or workPupils recorded in sustained education, apprenticeship or employment in the year after finishing Year 11. | 100% | 91% | 92% |
| School sixth form | 0% | 39% | 34% |
| Sixth form college | 0% | 5% | 13% |
| Further education college | 0% | 41% | 37% |
| Apprenticeship | 0% | 1% | 3% |
| Work | 0% | 1% | 3% |
Stayed in education, an apprenticeship or work, over time
| 2023/24 | 2024/25 |
|---|---|
| 100% | 100% |
Source: DfE key stage 4 destination measures, 2024/25 performance tables. England figures are for state-funded schools.
Admissions
Apply through the council where you live, even if the school is in a different council area. This school is in Islington. 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: Moderate learning difficulties.
| Pupils | This school | Islington | England |
|---|---|---|---|
| Eligible for free school meals in the last 6 years | 70.8% | 69.9%* | 51.9% |
| With an education, health and care plan | 100.0% | 100.0%* | 99.5% |
| Receiving special educational needs support | 0.0% | 0.0%* | 0.5% |
| English as an additional language | 27.1% | 34.3%* | 14.4% |
| Overall absence (sessions missed) | 10.5% | 14.2%* | 12.8% |
| Persistently absent (missed 10% or more) | 33.7% | 41.8%* | 35.3% |
| Suspensions per 100 pupils | 1.6 | 0.3 | 12.3 |
| Pupils suspended at least once | 1.6% | 0.3% | 5.1% |
| Pupils permanently excluded0 pupils | 0.00% | 0.00% | 0.08% |
| Pupils per teacher | 6.8 | 6.0 | 6.6 |
| Pupils per adult (teachers and support staff) | 2.0 | 2.0 | 2.3 |
| Teachers who left during the year | 14.6% | 14.2%* | 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
- The Courtyard Islington 0.4 miles · Ofsted: Good (2017), confirmed 2023 · 0% grade 5+ English and maths
- The Bridge Integrated Learning Space 0.9 miles · Ofsted: Outstanding (2017), confirmed 2023
- The Garden School 0.9 miles · Ofsted: No overall grade (2024)
- Richard Cloudesley School 0.9 miles · Ofsted: Outstanding (2014), confirmed 2023
- Side By Side School 1.2 miles · Independent · Ofsted: Outstanding (2025)
- The Bridge School 1.3 miles · Ofsted: Outstanding (2013, before conversion), confirmed 2025
- Frank Barnes School for Deaf Children 1.5 miles · Ofsted: Outstanding (2012), confirmed 2023
- Stormont House School 1.7 miles · Ofsted: Outstanding (2018), confirmed 2024 · 0% grade 5+ English and maths
- The Bridge Keystone 1.9 miles · Ofsted: Good (2022)
- Brick Lane School 2.1 miles · Independent, inspected by ISI
Straight-line distance. Distance isn't the same as a catchment area.
Questions parents ask
What is Samuel Rhodes MLD School's Ofsted rating?
Samuel Rhodes MLD School 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 1 exceptional, 6 strong, and safeguarding was met.
Sources
- School details: Get Information about Schools (DfE), 26 September 2026. URN 100469.
- Inspections: Ofsted management information, data to 31 August 2026.
- Results: DfE school performance tables, Key stage 2 2024/25, After Year 11 2024/25.
Spotted a mistake? Report it and we'll check it against the source.
Page updated 26 September 2026.