Big Creative Independent School, Walthamstow
Big Creative Independent School is an independent school for pupils aged 14 to 16 in Walthamstow. It was rated Good at its last graded Ofsted inspection, in June 2025.
- Ofsted
- Good (2025)
Data last updated 26 Oct 2026
Big Creative Independent School 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 Big Creative Independent School 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 Big Creative Independent School are Walthamstow Montessori School (0.8 miles); Hyland House School (1.2 miles, Good); Assunnah Primary School (1.2 miles, Good); and Bnos Zion of Bobov (1.7 miles, Requires improvement).
Walthamstow Montessori SchoolHyland House SchoolAssunnah Primary SchoolBnos Zion of Bobov
Who goes there
In 2026, 2 pupils (22.2%) received SEN support and 3 (33.3%) had an education, health and care plan.
Getting there
The nearest railway station is Blackhorse Road Station, about 710 metres away (roughly a 9-minute walk).
8 bus stops are within a five-minute walk; the closest is Shakespeare Road / Walthamstow, 30 metres away.
Sources: DfE school performance data (averages: state mainstream schools); DfE school census and special educational needs statistics; NaPTAN (Department for Transport)
Key Information
DfE GIASOfsted Rating
Ofsted · 1 year 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 Insights
From Ofsted's June 2025 inspection report.
What This School Does Well
Big Creative Independent School excels at supporting pupils with disrupted schooling through highly personalised teaching and strong pastoral care. Pupils thrive in behaviour and personal development, with the school weaving confidence-building and character development across all learning. The school combines creative subjects like music with rigorous academic preparation for national qualifications, helping all pupils see possibilities for their future.
Key Strengths
- Pupils show outstanding behaviour and self-control with a strong sense of belonging and respect between staff and pupils
- Well-designed curriculum with clear progression, particularly in music and creative subjects, preparing pupils for GCSEs and functional skills
- Effective strategies to support pupils with reading difficulties, helping them become confident readers
- Highly personalised support for pupils with gaps in learning and disrupted education
- Structured approach to personal development and careers education with enriching visits and experiences
Areas for Improvement
- Teachers do not always give pupils enough time to act on written feedback and correct errors in their work
- Some teachers do not spot errors in pupils' work quickly enough, leaving gaps in knowledge
- The school needs to encourage pupils to read more widely and develop a stronger love of reading
Safeguarding
Safeguarding arrangements are effective, with pupils taught to identify risks, receive age-appropriate relationship and consent education, and external professionals delivering workshops on online safety and grooming.
Extracurricular Activities
Art gallery visits, farm visits, Houses of Parliament visit, television studio visit, music production and editing, student ambassador voting, careers guidance workshops, grooming and online safety workshops
Big Creative Independent School is an alternative education provider for Years 10 and 11 pupils interested in creative music and media, serving students with disrupted schooling histories. The school has been rated Good overall, improving from Requires Improvement at the previous inspection.
At a Glance
No
Boarding
No
Nursery
No
Sixth Form
No
Special Measures
How Does This School Compare?
Ranked against 5 nearby schools
Keep up with Big Creative Independent School
Getting There
Train Stations
Tube / Metro / Tram
Bus Stops
Safety and surroundings
Road collisions within 500 m (2021 to 2025)
- Collisions
- 27
- Fatal
- 0
- Serious
- 1
- Children hurt
- 2
Within 500 m of the school's mapped location, police recorded 27 road collisions in which someone was injured in 2021 to 2025: none fatal, 1 serious and 26 slight.
2 children aged 0 to 15 were hurt: 2 on foot.
6 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 Waltham Forest is 66 (the median across 87 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
45%
Available places
9 pupils
20 places
11 spare places
as recorded on GIAS
Area Demand Pressure - Walthamstow
Based on MHCLG Live Table 122 (2024-25, last 5 years) for Walthamstow
Across Waltham Forest council
Places available
3,090
Applications
2,724
Got 1st preference
79.5%
Got preferred school
96.3%
All secondary applications across Waltham Forest council (2026/27), not just this school.
Inspection History(5)
SEND & SEN Provision
SEN Overview
2
SEN Support
3
EHC Plans
55.6%
of Total Pupils
2026 academic year
Provision & Specialist Facilities
Pupils by Need Type
No need-level breakdown available
Pupil Demographics
Key Indicators
9
Total Pupils
4
Boys
5
Girls
2026 academic year
Questions parents ask about Big Creative Independent School
What are GCSE results like at Big Creative Independent School?
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 Big Creative Independent School can understate its results. We do not rank or compare them; ask the school for its own GCSE and IGCSE results.
What is Big Creative Independent School's Ofsted rating?
Big Creative Independent School was rated Good at its most recent Ofsted inspection in June 2025.
Does Big Creative Independent School meet the independent school standards?
At its most recent standard inspection, in June 2025, Big Creative Independent School met all the independent school standards.
How many pupils go to Big Creative Independent School?
Big Creative Independent School has around 9 pupils on roll.
How do I apply to Big Creative Independent School?
Big Creative Independent School 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.
How many road collisions happen near Big Creative Independent School?
Within 500 m of the school's mapped location, police recorded 27 road collisions in which someone was injured in 2021 to 2025: none fatal, 1 serious and 26 slight. 2 children aged 0 to 15 were hurt: 2 on foot. 6 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 Waltham Forest is 66 (the median across 87 schools, same distance and years).
Where is Big Creative Independent School?
Big Creative Independent School is at Uplands House, Blackhorse Lane, Walthamstow, E17 5QJ.
Source: Department for Transport, Road Safety Data (STATS19)