Alternative Centre of Education, London
Alternative Centre of Education is an independent school for pupils aged 7 to 16 in London. It was rated Good at its last graded Ofsted inspection, in September 2024.
- Ofsted
- Good (2024)
Data last updated 26 Oct 2026
Alternative Centre of Education in detail
Results
The Department for Education's GCSE measures do not count IGCSEs, which many independent schools take instead of GCSEs, so the Attainment 8 and English and maths figures it publishes for Alternative Centre of Education can understate its results. We do not rank or compare them; ask the school for its own GCSE and IGCSE results.
Compared with nearby schools
The nearest other independent schools to Alternative Centre of Education are Grange Park Preparatory School (2 miles); Palmers Green High School (2 miles, selective); Assunnah Primary School (2 miles, Good); and Keble Preparatory School (2.1 miles).
Grange Park Preparatory SchoolPalmers Green High SchoolAssunnah Primary SchoolKeble Preparatory School
Who goes there
In 2026, 6 pupils (19.4%) received SEN support and 22 (71%) had an education, health and care plan.
Getting there
The nearest railway station is Edmonton Green Station, about 170 metres away (roughly a 2-minute walk).
21 bus stops are within a five-minute walk; the closest is Edmonton Green Bus Station, 100 metres away.
The area around the school
Measured by the 2025 English Indices of Deprivation, the neighbourhood Alternative Centre of Education stands in is among the 10% most deprived neighbourhoods in England. This describes where the school is, not where its pupils live.
In August 2026, police recorded 775 crimes within a mile of the school, most often violence and sexual offences, anti-social behaviour and vehicle crime. That is well above the typical figure around schools in Enfield (407), as is usual near a town centre.
Sources: DfE school performance data (averages: state mainstream schools); DfE school census and special educational needs statistics; NaPTAN (Department for Transport); English Indices of Deprivation 2025 (MHCLG); data.police.uk street-level crime
Key Information
DfE GIASOfsted Rating
Ofsted · 2 years agoOverall
Quality of Education
Behaviour & Attitudes
Personal Development
Leadership & Management
Safeguarding: effective
Independent school standards
Met all the independent school standards.
- Part 1: quality of educationMet
- Part 2: pupils' spiritual, moral, social and cultural developmentMet
- Part 3: welfare, health and safetyMet
- Part 4: suitability of staff and proprietorsMet
- Part 5: premises and accommodationMet
- Part 6: information for parentsMet
- Part 7: handling of complaintsMet
- Part 8: leadership and managementMet
Source: Ofsted, non-association independent schools inspections and outcomes (Open Government Licence)
Ofsted's report, in its own words
What is it like to attend this school?
The school strives to improve the life chances of pupils. Pupils arrive having had negative prior experiences of school. They also typically struggle with their behaviour. Staff take time to understand pupils' complex social, emotional and mental health needs. They use this knowledge effectively to build strong working and trusting relationships with pupils. As a result, pupils settle well. They feel safe and begin to value the opportunities that they have to gain new knowledge.
The school uses a range of strategies to help pupils develop constructive social skills. It does plentiful work to support pupils' character development. This is aimed at enabling them to function positively in society. This also leads to a calm and purposeful environment in the school, making it a conducive place for study. There are times when pupils get dysregulated and need help to manage their emotions and behaviour. When this happens, staff intervene with dignity and skill. They show both effective behaviour management skills and respect for each pupil. Consequently, pupils regain their emotional equilibrium. They return quickly to work in the classroom.
What does the school do well and what does it need to do better?
All pupils have special educational needs and/or disabilities (SEND). Typically, pupils have had very poor prior attendance at their previous schools. This means that they tend to arrive at this school with much less knowledge than would be typical for their age. The school does extensive work to help pupils to overcome their barriers to attendance. It also strives to develop pupils' positive behaviours and attitudes. With the strong pastoral care that they receive, pupils' attendance and behaviour markedly improve. This, in turn, means that pupils attend lessons more often, helping them to gain new knowledge and skills.
The school has put much thought into planning a well-sequenced and ambitious curriculum. The school carries out a range of checks on learning when pupils arrive. Staff carefully identify where pupils have gaps in their prior knowledge. Staff are adept at using the information plans to design a bespoke curriculum to meet each pupil's needs, drawing on the school's curriculum thinking in each subject. Staff regularly check on what pupils have learned and review their individual targets. Suitable changes to teaching and support are made as needed.
From Ofsted's September 2024 inspection report: the opening paragraphs of each section, quoted word for word. Read the full report Contains public sector information licensed under the Open Government Licence v3.0.
Ofsted Insights
Ofsted rated this school Good at its September 2024 inspection.
Rated Good for
Quality of education, Behaviour & attitudes, Personal development, Leadership & management.
At a Glance
No
Boarding
No
Nursery
No
Sixth Form
No
Special Measures
Secondary Performance (GCSE)
The Department for Education's GCSE measures do not count IGCSEs, which many independent schools take instead of GCSEs, so the Attainment 8 and English and maths figures it publishes for Alternative Centre of Education can understate its results. We do not rank or compare them; ask the school for its own GCSE and IGCSE results.
GCSE Subjects Offered
2025/26 academic year - entries by number of pupils
How Does This School Compare?
Ranked against 5 nearby all-through schools
Keep up with Alternative Centre of Education
Before and after school care
Clubs on Ofsted's childcare register at or near Alternative Centre of Education.
- Blue Bears Playscheme LTD810m away · Not yet graded
- Quality Academy930m away · Not yet graded
Getting There
Train Stations
Bus Stops
Safety and surroundings
Road collisions within 500 m (2021 to 2025)
- Collisions
- 138
- Fatal
- 0
- Serious
- 13
- Children hurt
- 12
Within 500 m of the school's mapped location, police recorded 138 road collisions in which someone was injured in 2021 to 2025: none fatal, 13 serious and 125 slight.
12 children aged 0 to 15 were hurt: 8 on foot and 4 in a vehicle or otherwise.
23 of the collisions happened on a weekday between 08:00 and 09:30 or 14:45 and 16:30, holidays included.
The typical figure for schools in Enfield is 60 (the median across 108 schools, same distance and years).
Serious and slight counts use the Department for Transport's severity adjustment, which allows for changes in how police forces record injuries; they are estimates, rounded to whole numbers. Distances are in a straight line. Source: Department for Transport, Road Safety Data (STATS19), Open Government Licence v3.0.
Commute and house prices
Capacity & Demand
School Occupancy
66%
Available places
31 pupils
47 places
16 spare places
as recorded on GIAS
Area Demand Pressure - London
Based on MHCLG Live Table 122 (2024-25, last 5 years) for London
Across Enfield council
Places available
4,103
Applications
3,975
Got 1st preference
77.0%
Got preferred school
97.0%
All secondary applications across Enfield council (2026/27), not just this school.
Inspection History(3)
SEND & SEN Provision
SEN Overview
6
SEN Support
22
EHC Plans
90.3%
of Total Pupils
2026 academic year
Provision & Specialist Facilities
Pupils by Need Type
No need-level breakdown available
Pupil Demographics
Key Indicators
31
Total Pupils
25
Boys
6
Girls
2026 academic year
Feeder Primary Schools
Primary schools that likely feed into this school, based on proximity
Alternative Centre of Education
Showing 10 of 15 linked schools
Questions parents ask about Alternative Centre of Education
What are GCSE results like at Alternative Centre of Education?
The Department for Education's GCSE measures do not count IGCSEs, which many independent schools take instead of GCSEs, so the Attainment 8 and English and maths figures it publishes for Alternative Centre of Education can understate its results. We do not rank or compare them; ask the school for its own GCSE and IGCSE results.
What is Alternative Centre of Education's Ofsted rating?
Alternative Centre of Education was rated Good at its most recent Ofsted inspection in September 2024.
Does Alternative Centre of Education meet the independent school standards?
At its most recent standard inspection, in September 2024, Alternative Centre of Education met all the independent school standards.
How many pupils go to Alternative Centre of Education?
Alternative Centre of Education has around 31 pupils on roll.
How do I apply to Alternative Centre of Education?
Alternative Centre of Education is an independent school and runs its own admissions rather than going through the local authority. Contact the school directly for entry requirements, assessment dates, fees and any bursaries.
Does Alternative Centre of Education have a breakfast club or after-school club?
Ofsted's childcare register lists 2 out-of-school clubs within a kilometre of Alternative Centre of Education: Blue Bears Playscheme LTD (810m away, registered, not yet graded) and Quality Academy (930m away, registered, not yet graded). The school may also run its own clubs, which don't have to register with Ofsted.
How many road collisions happen near Alternative Centre of Education?
Within 500 m of the school's mapped location, police recorded 138 road collisions in which someone was injured in 2021 to 2025: none fatal, 13 serious and 125 slight. 12 children aged 0 to 15 were hurt: 8 on foot and 4 in a vehicle or otherwise. 23 of the collisions happened on a weekday between 08:00 and 09:30 or 14:45 and 16:30, holidays included. The typical figure for schools in Enfield is 60 (the median across 108 schools, same distance and years).
Where is Alternative Centre of Education?
Alternative Centre of Education is at 45/51 Market Square, Edmonton Green, London, N9 0TZ.
Source: Department for Transport, Road Safety Data (STATS19)