Cambridge School, London
Cambridge School is a special school for pupils aged 11 to 16 in London. It was rated Good at its last graded Ofsted inspection, in May 2015. Ofsted's ungraded inspection in October 2024 did not change this grade.
- Ofsted
- Good (2015)
Data last updated 26 Oct 2026
Cambridge School in detail
Compared with nearby schools
The nearest other special schools to Cambridge School are Jack Tizard School (0.2 miles, Outstanding); Q+ Queensmill College (0.3 miles, Good); Ormiston Queensmill Academy (0.4 miles, Good); and Woodlane High School (0.4 miles, Outstanding).
Jack Tizard SchoolQ+ Queensmill CollegeOrmiston Queensmill AcademyWoodlane High School
What parents say
10 parents answered Ofsted's Parent View survey about Cambridge School (as of September 2025): 80% would recommend the school, 80% say their child is happy there and 25% of those with a view say bullying is dealt with well.
The strongest agreement was that their child does well at the school (90%); the weakest, that the school deals with bullying well (among parents with a view) (25%).
Where pupils go next
Of the 20 pupils who finished Year 11 in 2023/24, 75% stayed in education or training for at least two terms, including 60% to a further education college.
Who goes there
58.2% of pupils are eligible for free school meals, and 24.8% speak English as an additional language, according to the 2026 school census.
Almost every pupil at Cambridge School has an education, health and care plan (141 of 141 in 2026). The most common need among them is autism.
Cambridge School provides for pupils with speech, language and communication needs, autism, social, emotional and mental health needs and moderate learning difficulties.
Getting there
The nearest tram or metro stop is White City, about 810 metres away (roughly a 10-minute walk).
9 bus stops are within a five-minute walk; the closest is Commonwealth Avenue, 140 metres away.
Suspensions and exclusions
In 2024/25, Cambridge School issued 15 suspensions, 10.5 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 May 2015, 11 years ago, longer than Ofsted's usual 4-year cycle: the school may have changed since.
Overall
Latest (ungraded) inspection: Standards have been maintained.
Ofsted Insights
From Ofsted's October 2024 inspection report.
What This School Does Well
Cambridge School excels at treating each pupil as an individual while building a strong sense of community. Staff demonstrate unwavering ambition for every student's success, with specialist resources and support tailored to their specific needs. The school prepares pupils exceptionally well for life beyond school through real-world learning experiences and a genuine commitment to helping them develop independence and confidence.
Key Strengths
- Extremely high expectations for all pupils with skilled staff support for emotional regulation and behaviour
- Excellent reading instruction with pupils reading with confidence, accuracy and fluency
- Strong community focus with meaningful trips and activities (canoeing, shopping, Royal Albert Hall performances) that boost engagement and self-esteem
- Well-structured support preparing pupils for independent living and the next stage of education
- Effective work to improve attendance through patience, consistency and collaboration with other agencies
Areas for Improvement
- In some subjects like mathematics, the curriculum does not clearly identify the important content pupils should learn, limiting their deeper subject knowledge
- Need for clearer, more coherent curriculum sequencing across all subjects
Safeguarding
Safeguarding arrangements are effective with a strong, open culture that prioritises pupils' interests and immediate, sensitive responses to bullying.
Extracurricular Activities
Canoeing, shopping trips, park visits, Royal Albert Hall performances, school council, pupil ambassadors
Cambridge School is a special school for pupils aged 11-16 with social, emotional, mental health needs and moderate learning difficulties. The school has maintained good standards and successfully adapted its approach to support an increasing number of pupils with severe emotional and behavioural issues.
At a Glance
58.2%
Free School Meals
No
Boarding
No
Nursery
No
Sixth Form
Speech and language, Autism, SEMH +1
SEN Provision
No
Special Measures
What Parents Think
10 responsesSource: Ofsted Parent View, responses as at September 2025 - % who strongly agree or agree
How Does This School Compare?
Ranked against 5 nearby schools
Keep up with Cambridge School
Getting There
Tube / Metro / Tram
Bus Stops
Free school transport
Check free transport to Cambridge School from your postcode →
You apply to the council where you live. Cambridge School is in Hammersmith and Fulham; for families living there:
Apply to Hammersmith and Fulham for free school transport. Its policy is on the council's website.
Safety and surroundings
Road collisions within 500 m (2021 to 2025)
- Collisions
- 72
- Fatal
- 0
- Serious
- 11
- Children hurt
- 5
Within 500 m of the school's mapped location, police recorded 72 road collisions in which someone was injured in 2021 to 2025: none fatal, 11 serious and 61 slight.
5 children aged 0 to 15 were hurt: 2 on foot, 1 on a bicycle and 2 in a vehicle or otherwise.
11 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 Hammersmith and Fulham is 146 (the median across 81 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
109%
Over capacity
141 pupils
129 places
12 pupils over capacity
as recorded on GIAS
Area Demand Pressure - London
Based on MHCLG Live Table 122 (2024-25, last 5 years) for London
Across Hammersmith and Fulham council
Places available
1,503
Applications
1,109
Got 1st preference
64.5%
Got preferred school
92.0%
All secondary applications across Hammersmith and Fulham council (2026/27), not just this school.
Inspection History(8)
SEND & SEN Provision
SEN Overview
0
SEN Support
141
EHC Plans
100.0%
of Total Pupils
2026 academic year
Provision & Specialist Facilities
Cambridge School provides for pupils with speech, language and communication needs, autism, social, emotional and mental health needs and moderate learning difficulties.
Source: GIAS, Department for Education.
Pupils by Need Type
Pupil Demographics
Ethnicity
2026 academic year
Key Indicators
141
Total Pupils
112
Boys
29
Girls
2026 academic year
Workforce
22
Teachers
6.4:1
Pupil-teacher ratio
£59,641
Mean salary
2026 data
Pupil Absence2024/25
15.7%
Overall absence
42.2%
Persistent absence
147
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
Cambridge School
Showing 10 of 15 linked schools
Questions parents ask about Cambridge School
What are GCSE results like at Cambridge School?
In the 2025 results, pupils at Cambridge School achieved an Attainment 8 score of 0.6. 0% passed GCSE English and maths at grade 5 or above.
What is Cambridge School's Ofsted rating?
Cambridge School's most recent Ofsted inspection, in October 2024, was ungraded, so it gave no overall grade. At its last graded inspection, in May 2015, it was rated Good.
What is the catchment area for Cambridge School?
No fixed boundary. When Cambridge School is oversubscribed, Hammersmith and Fulham allocates places by its published criteria, usually ending with home-to-school distance.
How many pupils go to Cambridge School?
Cambridge School has around 141 pupils on roll. 58% are eligible for free school meals.
Does Cambridge School have specialist SEN provision?
Cambridge School provides for pupils with speech, language and communication needs, autism, social, emotional and mental health needs and moderate learning difficulties.
What is attendance like at Cambridge School?
15.7% of sessions were missed at Cambridge School in 2024/25. 42.2% of pupils were persistently absent (missing 10% or more of sessions).
How do I apply to Cambridge School?
Apply through Hammersmith and Fulham's coordinated admissions process, naming Cambridge School on your application. The national closing date in England is 31 October for secondary places and 15 January for primary places, in the year before your child starts.
How many road collisions happen near Cambridge School?
Within 500 m of the school's mapped location, police recorded 72 road collisions in which someone was injured in 2021 to 2025: none fatal, 11 serious and 61 slight. 5 children aged 0 to 15 were hurt: 2 on foot, 1 on a bicycle and 2 in a vehicle or otherwise. 11 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 Hammersmith and Fulham is 146 (the median across 81 schools, same distance and years).
Where is Cambridge School?
Cambridge School is at 61, Bryony Rd, White City, London, W12 0SP.
Source: Department for Transport, Road Safety Data (STATS19)