Greenvale School, London
Greenvale School is a special school for pupils aged 11 to 19 in London. It was rated Outstanding at its last graded Ofsted inspection, in January 2015. Ofsted's ungraded inspection in November 2023 did not change this grade.
- Ofsted
- Outstanding (2015)
Data last updated 26 Oct 2026
Greenvale School in detail
Greenvale School in its own words
From the headteacher's welcome: "We are the community special school for secondary aged students with severe learning difficulties in the borough of Lewisham. We are committed to providing the very best education for our students and in doing so we offer a dedicated and hig hly specialised team of staff to support and meet every individual student’s learning needs."
Headteacher's welcome (school website)
Source: The school's own website
Compared with nearby schools
The nearest other special schools to Greenvale School are New Woodlands School (0.3 miles, Good); Drumbeat School and ASD Service (0.4 miles, Good); The Young Women's Hub (0.8 miles, Good, selective); and The Anchor SENDfriendly Centre (1 mile).
New Woodlands SchoolDrumbeat School and ASD ServiceThe Young Women's HubThe Anchor SENDfriendly Centre
Where pupils go next
Of the 20 pupils who finished Year 11 in 2023/24, 100% stayed in education or training for at least two terms, including 5% to a further education college.
Who goes there
57.4% of pupils are eligible for free school meals, and 37% speak English as an additional language, according to the 2026 school census.
The largest ethnic groups are Black (41%), White British (16%) and Asian (8%).
Almost every pupil at Greenvale School has an education, health and care plan (213 of 216 in 2026). The most common need among them is a severe learning difficulty.
Greenvale School provides for pupils with visual impairment, speech, language and communication needs, autism, multi-sensory impairment, physical disability, severe learning difficulties and profound and multiple learning difficulties.
Getting there
The nearest railway station is Grove Park Station, about 0.8 miles away in a straight line.
13 bus stops are within a five-minute walk; the closest is Greenvale School, 60 metres away.
The area around the school
Measured by the 2025 English Indices of Deprivation, the neighbourhood Greenvale School stands in is among the 10% most deprived neighbourhoods in England. This describes where the school is, not where its pupils live.
Suspensions and exclusions
Greenvale School recorded no suspensions or permanent exclusions in 2024/25.
Sources: DfE destination measures; DfE school census and special educational needs statistics; NaPTAN (Department for Transport); English Indices of Deprivation 2025 (MHCLG); data.police.uk street-level crime; DfE exclusions statistics
Key Information
DfE GIASOfsted Rating
Ofsted · 3 years agoThis judgement is from January 2015, 11 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
Greenvale is a vibrant place where every pupil is known well and supported with care and kindness. The school excels at teaching pupils to manage their emotions and behaviour whilst preparing them exceptionally well for life after school through real work experience and education partnerships. Staff are highly skilled at adapting teaching so all pupils can learn successfully, with particular strength in developing communication skills.
Key Strengths
- Ambitious and well-designed curriculum with effective teaching tailored to individual pupil needs
- Excellent behaviour, attendance and safeguarding with a calm, harmonious atmosphere throughout the school
- Comprehensive preparation for adulthood including careers education, work experience and partnerships with further education providers
- Strong focus on developing communication and language skills using visual symbols and technology
- Extensive range of clubs, activities and community experiences that build confidence and independence
Safeguarding
Safeguarding arrangements are effective with strong systems in place that prioritise pupils' interests and wellbeing.
Extracurricular Activities
Music, dance, sports, community visits, work experience, further education college courses, training placements
Greenvale School is an outstanding special school where pupils flourish in a vibrant and exciting learning environment. All pupils have EHC plans and receive high-quality care with well-prepared pathways for adulthood.
At a Glance
57.4%
Free School Meals
No
Boarding
No
Nursery
Yes
Sixth Form
Vision, Speech and language, Autism +4
SEN Provision
No
Special Measures
How Does This School Compare?
Ranked against 5 nearby schools
Keep up with Greenvale School
Getting There
Bus Stops
Free school transport
Check free transport to Greenvale School from your postcode →
You apply to the council where you live. Greenvale 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
- 51
- Fatal
- 0
- Serious
- 5
- Children hurt
- 17
Within 500 m of the school's mapped location, police recorded 51 road collisions in which someone was injured in 2021 to 2025: none fatal, 5 serious and 46 slight.
17 children aged 0 to 15 were hurt: 4 on foot, 2 on a bicycle and 11 in a vehicle or otherwise.
12 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 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
96%
Near capacity
216 pupils
224 places
8 spare places
as recorded on GIAS
Area Demand Pressure - London
Based on MHCLG Live Table 122 (2024-25, last 5 years) for London
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
3
SEN Support
213
EHC Plans
100.0%
of Total Pupils
2026 academic year
Provision & Specialist Facilities
Greenvale School provides for pupils with visual impairment, speech, language and communication needs, autism, multi-sensory impairment, physical disability, severe learning difficulties and profound and multiple learning difficulties.
Source: GIAS, Department for Education.
Pupils by Need Type
Pupil Demographics
Ethnicity
2026 academic year
Key Indicators
216
Total Pupils
147
Boys
69
Girls
2026 academic year
Workforce
37
Teachers
5.8:1
Pupil-teacher ratio
£69,384
Mean salary
2026 data
Pupil Absence2024/25
9.0%
Overall absence
33.3%
Persistent absence
150
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
Greenvale School
Showing 10 of 15 linked schools
Questions parents ask about Greenvale School
What are GCSE results like at Greenvale School?
In the 2024 results, pupils at Greenvale School achieved an Attainment 8 score of 0 and a Progress 8 score of -1.62, well below the national average. 0% passed GCSE English and maths at grade 5 or above.
What is Greenvale School's Ofsted rating?
Greenvale School's most recent Ofsted inspection, in November 2023, was ungraded, so it gave no overall grade. At its last graded inspection, in January 2015, it was rated Outstanding.
What is the catchment area for Greenvale School?
No fixed boundary. When Greenvale School is oversubscribed, Lewisham allocates places by its published criteria, usually ending with home-to-school distance.
How many pupils go to Greenvale School?
Greenvale School has around 216 pupils on roll. 57% are eligible for free school meals.
Does Greenvale School have specialist SEN provision?
Greenvale School provides for pupils with visual impairment, speech, language and communication needs, autism, multi-sensory impairment, physical disability, severe learning difficulties and profound and multiple learning difficulties.
What is attendance like at Greenvale School?
9% of sessions were missed at Greenvale School in 2024/25. 33.3% of pupils were persistently absent (missing 10% or more of sessions).
How do I apply to Greenvale School?
Apply through Lewisham's coordinated admissions process, naming Greenvale 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 Greenvale School?
Within 500 m of the school's mapped location, police recorded 51 road collisions in which someone was injured in 2021 to 2025: none fatal, 5 serious and 46 slight. 17 children aged 0 to 15 were hurt: 4 on foot, 2 on a bicycle and 11 in a vehicle or otherwise. 12 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 Greenvale School?
Greenvale School is at Waters Road, Catford, London, SE6 1UF.
Source: Department for Transport, Road Safety Data (STATS19)