Children's Hospital School at Gt Ormond Street and UCH, London
Children's Hospital School at Gt Ormond Street and UCH is a special school for pupils aged 4 to 18 in London. It was rated Outstanding at its last graded Ofsted inspection, in February 2014. Ofsted's ungraded inspection in November 2023 did not change this grade.
- Ofsted
- Outstanding (2014)
Data last updated 26 Oct 2026
Children's Hospital School at Gt Ormond Street and UCH in detail
Compared with nearby schools
The nearest other special schools to Children's Hospital School at Gt Ormond Street and UCH are Odyssey House School - Bloomsbury (0.3 miles); Frank Barnes School for Deaf Children (1.1 miles, Outstanding); The Bridge Integrated Learning Space (1.2 miles, Outstanding); and Richard Cloudesley School (1.3 miles, Outstanding).
Odyssey House School - BloomsburyFrank Barnes School for Deaf ChildrenThe Bridge Integrated Learning SpaceRichard Cloudesley School
Getting there
The nearest Underground station is Russell Square Underground Station, about 320 metres away (roughly a 4-minute walk).
8 bus stops are within a five-minute walk; the closest is Red Lion Square, 240 metres away.
The area around the school
In August 2026, police recorded 4173 crimes within a mile of the school, most often other theft, violence and sexual offences and shoplifting. That is well above the typical figure around schools in Camden (1254), as is usual near a town centre.
Sources: NaPTAN (Department for Transport); English Indices of Deprivation 2025 (MHCLG); data.police.uk street-level crime
Key Information
DfE GIASOfsted Rating
Ofsted · 3 years agoThis judgement is from February 2014, 12 years ago, longer than Ofsted's usual 4-year cycle: the school may have changed since.
Overall
Latest (ungraded) inspection: The school remains Outstanding.
Ofsted Insights
From Ofsted's November 2023 inspection report.
What This School Does Well
This school delivers exceptional education to some of the most vulnerable children, helping them continue learning during challenging medical treatment. Staff quickly build trusting relationships and adapt teaching to each child's needs, whether they need phonics support or accredited qualifications. Parents consistently praise how the school has had a positive impact on their child's life during extraordinarily difficult times.
Key Strengths
- Pupils achieve exceptionally well with highly ambitious, tailored curriculum adapted to individual medical and learning needs
- Strong specialist teaching with expert knowledge of subjects and ability to respond to pupils' daily changing needs
- Exceptional behaviour and positive attitudes, with pupils feeling safe and supported by caring, committed staff
- Outstanding focus on reading with pupils developing a love of reading through book clubs and themed events
- Wide range of enriching activities including virtual trips, work with galleries and museums that build confidence and self-esteem
Safeguarding
Safeguarding arrangements are effective, with staff creating an open and positive culture that prioritises pupils' safety and well-being.
Extracurricular Activities
Virtual trips using video robots, working with visiting chefs, sports day, book club, work with galleries and museums, themed events
Children's Hospital School at Gt Ormond Street and UCH continues to be an outstanding school that supports pupils with medical and mental health needs to continue their education while in hospital. Pupils achieve extremely well with high engagement and attendance despite their complex medical conditions.
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 Children's Hospital School at Gt Ormond Street and UCH
Getting There
Tube / Metro / Tram
Bus Stops
Free school transport
Check free transport to Children's Hospital School at Gt Ormond Street and UCH from your postcode →
You apply to the council where you live. Children's Hospital School at Gt Ormond Street and UCH is in Camden; for families living there:
Apply to Camden for free school transport. Its policy is on the council's website.
Safety and surroundings
Road collisions within 500 m (2021 to 2025)
- Collisions
- 178
- Fatal
- 1
- Serious
- 26
- Children hurt
- 3
Within 500 m of the school's mapped location, police recorded 178 road collisions in which someone was injured in 2021 to 2025: 1 fatal, 26 serious and 151 slight.
3 children aged 0 to 15 were hurt: 2 on foot and 1 on a bicycle.
28 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 Camden is 130 (the median across 102 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
Area Demand Pressure - London
Based on MHCLG Live Table 122 (2024-25, last 5 years) for London
Across Camden council
Places available
1,577
Applications
1,261
Got 1st preference
73.7%
Got preferred school
93.3%
All secondary applications across Camden council (2026/27), not just this school.
Inspection History(6)
SEND & SEN Provision
SEN Overview
0
SEN Support
0
EHC Plans
-%
of Total Pupils
2026 academic year
Provision & Specialist Facilities
Pupils by Need Type
No need-level breakdown available
Pupil Demographics
Key Indicators
0
Total Pupils
0
Boys
0
Girls
2026 academic year
Workforce
20
Teachers
£50,775
Mean salary
2015 data
Feeder Primary Schools
Primary schools that likely feed into this school, based on proximity
Children's Hospital School at Gt Ormond Street and UCH
Showing 10 of 12 linked schools
Questions parents ask about Children's Hospital School at Gt Ormond Street and UCH
What is Children's Hospital School at Gt Ormond Street and UCH's Ofsted rating?
Children's Hospital School at Gt Ormond Street and UCH's most recent Ofsted inspection, in November 2023, was ungraded, so it gave no overall grade. At its last graded inspection, in February 2014, it was rated Outstanding.
What is the catchment area for Children's Hospital School at Gt Ormond Street and UCH?
No fixed boundary. When Children's Hospital School at Gt Ormond Street and UCH is oversubscribed, Camden allocates places by its published criteria, usually ending with home-to-school distance.
How do I apply to Children's Hospital School at Gt Ormond Street and UCH?
Apply through Camden's coordinated admissions process, naming Children's Hospital School at Gt Ormond Street and UCH 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 Children's Hospital School at Gt Ormond Street and UCH?
Within 500 m of the school's mapped location, police recorded 178 road collisions in which someone was injured in 2021 to 2025: 1 fatal, 26 serious and 151 slight. 3 children aged 0 to 15 were hurt: 2 on foot and 1 on a bicycle. 28 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 Camden is 130 (the median across 102 schools, same distance and years).
Where is Children's Hospital School at Gt Ormond Street and UCH?
Children's Hospital School at Gt Ormond Street and UCH is at Great Ormond Street, Camden, London, WC1N 3JH.
Source: Department for Transport, Road Safety Data (STATS19)