Brent Knoll School, London
Brent Knoll School is a special school for pupils aged 4 to 17 in London, part of *Co-op Brent Knoll and Watergate Co-operative Trust. It was rated Good at its last graded Ofsted inspection, in July 2015. Ofsted's ungraded inspection in November 2024 did not change this grade.
- Ofsted
- Good (2015)
Data last updated 1 Nov 2026
Brent Knoll School in detail
Compared with nearby schools
The nearest other special schools to Brent Knoll School are Watergate School (0.9 miles, Outstanding); Woodside Park School (1.4 miles, selective); New Woodlands School (1.8 miles, Good); and The Young Women's Hub (1.8 miles, Good, selective).
Watergate SchoolWoodside Park SchoolNew Woodlands SchoolThe Young Women's Hub
The trust
Brent Knoll School is one of 2 schools run by *Co-op Brent Knoll and Watergate Co-operative Trust, an academy trust.
All 2 schools in *Co-op Brent Knoll and Watergate Co-operative Trust
What parents say
35 parents answered Ofsted's Parent View survey about Brent Knoll School (as of September 2025): 97% would recommend the school, 97% say their child is happy there and 67% of those with a view say bullying is dealt with well.
The strongest agreement was that they would recommend the school (97%); the weakest, that the school deals with bullying well (among parents with a view) (67%).
Where pupils go next
Of the 17 pupils who finished Year 11 in 2023/24, 100% stayed in education or training for at least two terms, including 24% to a further education college.
Who goes there
58% of pupils are eligible for free school meals, and 18.2% speak English as an additional language, according to the 2026 school census.
Almost every pupil at Brent Knoll School has an education, health and care plan (181 of 181 in 2026). The most common need among them is autism.
Brent Knoll School provides for pupils with speech, language and communication needs and autism.
Getting there
The nearest railway station is Lower Sydenham Rail Station, about 920 metres away (roughly a 11-minute walk).
14 bus stops are within a five-minute walk; the closest is Adamsrill Road, 130 metres away.
Suspensions and exclusions
In 2024/25, Brent Knoll School issued 6 suspensions, 3.4 for every 100 pupils, and no permanent exclusions.
Sources: Ofsted Parent View; DfE destination measures; DfE school census and special educational needs statistics; NaPTAN (Department for Transport); DfE exclusions statistics
Key Information
DfE GIASOfsted Rating
Ofsted · 2 years agoThis judgement is from July 2015, 11 years ago, longer than Ofsted's usual 4-year cycle: the school may have changed since.
Overall
Latest (ungraded) inspection: The school has improved significantly.
Ofsted Insights
From Ofsted's November 2024 inspection report.
What This School Does Well
Brent Knoll School excels at helping pupils with communication and social needs develop confidence and independence. Staff deeply understand each child's circumstances and adapt teaching skillfully, which helps pupils achieve well and leave school prepared for the next stage. The school's personalised approach, combined with strong communication with parents, means every child is supported to reach their potential.
Key Strengths
- Exceptional support for developing pupils' communication and social skills, helping them regulate their behaviour and engage in learning
- Broad, ambitious and carefully sequenced curriculum that includes Shakespeare, poetry, money and careers education
- Outstanding early years provision with seamless transition from Reception to Year 1
- Personalised teaching adapted to individual needs with very effective pupil engagement
- Strong focus on ensuring all pupils leave for college, training or employment with recognised qualifications
Safeguarding
Safeguarding arrangements are effective.
Extracurricular Activities
Duke of Edinburgh's Award scheme, work experience, after-school sports clubs, trips to Victoria and Albert Museum and London museums, therapeutic support
Brent Knoll School is a special school for pupils with speech, language and communication needs, where evidence suggests the school's work has improved significantly since the previous inspection. Pupils develop in a safe, supportive environment with staff who believe in every child's potential to succeed.
At a Glance
58.0%
Free School Meals
No
Boarding
No
Nursery
Yes
Sixth Form
Speech and language, Autism
SEN Provision
No
Special Measures
What Parents Think
35 responsesSource: Ofsted Parent View, responses as at September 2025 - % who strongly agree or agree
Primary Performance (KS2)
Academic year 2024/25KS2 Results (% meeting expected standard)
Reading has improved from 0% to 8% (2024 to 2025).
How Does This School Compare?
Ranked against 5 nearby schools
Keep up with Brent Knoll School
Before and after school care
Brent Knoll School is on the Department for Education's free breakfast clubs programme (list updated July 2026), which pays for a free breakfast club for pupils before school. Source: Free breakfast clubs: schools on the programme, Department for Education Free breakfast clubs in Lewisham
Nurseries
The nearest nurseries and pre-schools to Brent Knoll School, with their latest published grades:
- Little Elms Daycare Sydenham - Day nursery, under 0.1 milesOfsted report card, 23 April 2026: Expected standard in 6 areas; safeguarding standards met
- Kumon Sydenham Study Centre - Pre-school, 0.2 miles
- The Dulwich Day Nursery & Pre-School - Day nursery, 0.3 milesOfsted, 15 November 2023: Good overall; safeguarding is effective
- Little Cherubs Nursery & Pre School - Day nursery, 0.3 miles
- Little Legs Nursery - Day nursery, 0.5 milesOfsted report card, 6 August 2026: Expected standard in 6 areas; safeguarding standards met
Getting There
Train Stations
Bus Stops
Free school transport
Check free transport to Brent Knoll School from your postcode →
You apply to the council where you live. Brent Knoll School is in Lewisham; for families living there:
Apply to Lewisham for free school transport. Its policy is on the council's website.
Safety and surroundings
Road collisions within 500 m (2021 to 2025)
- Collisions
- 102
- Fatal
- 0
- Serious
- 13
- Children hurt
- 17
Within 500 m of the school's mapped location, police recorded 102 road collisions in which someone was injured in 2021 to 2025: none fatal, 13 serious and 89 slight.
17 children aged 0 to 15 were hurt: 3 on foot, 2 on a bicycle and 12 in a vehicle or otherwise.
14 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 Lewisham is 75 (the median across 98 schools, same distance and years).
Serious and slight are DfT estimates (severity adjustment). Source: Department for Transport, Road Safety Data (STATS19), Open Government Licence v3.0.
Commute and house prices
Capacity & Demand
School Occupancy
112%
Over capacity
181 pupils
162 places
19 pupils over capacity
as recorded on GIAS
Across Lewisham council
Places available
2,238
Applications
2,828
Got 1st preference
63.5%
Got preferred school
91.4%
All secondary applications across Lewisham council (2026/27), not just this school.
Inspection History(7)
SEND & SEN Provision
SEN Overview
0
SEN Support
181
EHC Plans
100.0%
of Total Pupils
2026 academic year
Provision & Specialist Facilities
Brent Knoll School provides for pupils with speech, language and communication needs and autism.
Source: GIAS, Department for Education.
Pupils by Need Type
Pupil Demographics
Ethnicity
2026 academic year
Key Indicators
181
Total Pupils
143
Boys
38
Girls
2026 academic year
Workforce
24
Teachers
7.5:1
Pupil-teacher ratio
£68,609
Mean salary
2026 data
Pupil Absence2024/25
8.0%
Overall absence
27.3%
Persistent absence
165
Enrolments
Absence trend
Source: DfE pupil absence statistics. Persistent absence = pupils missing 10%+ sessions.
Feeder Primary Schools
Primary schools that likely feed into this school, based on proximity
Brent Knoll School
Showing 10 of 15 linked schools
Questions parents ask about Brent Knoll School
What are GCSE results like at Brent Knoll School?
In the 2025 results, pupils at Brent Knoll School achieved an Attainment 8 score of 0.6. 0% passed GCSE English and maths at grade 5 or above.
What is Brent Knoll School's Ofsted rating?
Brent Knoll School's most recent Ofsted inspection, in November 2024, was ungraded. At its last graded inspection, in July 2015, it was rated Good.
How many pupils go to Brent Knoll School?
Brent Knoll School has around 181 pupils on roll. 58% are eligible for free school meals.
Does Brent Knoll School have specialist SEN provision?
Brent Knoll School provides for pupils with speech, language and communication needs and autism.
What is attendance like at Brent Knoll School?
8% of sessions were missed at Brent Knoll School in 2024/25. 27.3% of pupils were persistently absent.
Does Brent Knoll School have a breakfast club or after-school club?
Brent Knoll School is on the Department for Education's free breakfast clubs programme (list updated July 2026).
How many road collisions happen near Brent Knoll School?
Within 500 m of the school's mapped location, police recorded 102 road collisions in which someone was injured in 2021 to 2025: none fatal, 13 serious and 89 slight. 17 children aged 0 to 15 were hurt: 3 on foot, 2 on a bicycle and 12 in a vehicle or otherwise. 14 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 Lewisham is 75 (the median across 98 schools, same distance and years).
Where is Brent Knoll School?
Brent Knoll School is at Perry Rise, London, SE23 2QU.
Source: Department for Transport, Road Safety Data (STATS19)