Harmood School, London
Harmood School is a special school for pupils aged 11 to 16 in London. It was rated Good at its last graded Ofsted inspection, in January 2013. Ofsted's ungraded inspection in September 2022 did not change this grade.
- Ofsted
- Good (2013)
Data last updated 26 Oct 2026
Harmood School in detail
Harmood School in its own words
In its own words: "Harmood is a welcoming and nurturing school. Each of our students has an Education, Health & Care plan (EHCP) and we work closely with each child as an individual, helping them achieve their very best - whatever their starting point. Harmood is a place where all students can learn, grow and succeed."
From the headteacher's welcome: "At Harmood School, we're dedicated to understanding every one of our young people, helping each student achieve their best - whatever their starting point. Head of School Debbie Man explains... We understand that all our students are individuals with their own unique strengths as well as their own social, emotional and mental health needs."
Vision and values (school website)Headteacher's welcome (school website)
Source: The school's own website
Compared with nearby schools
The nearest other special schools to Harmood School are The Bridge School (0.9 miles, Outstanding); Frank Barnes School for Deaf Children (1 mile, Outstanding); Royal Free Hospital Children's School (1 mile, Outstanding); and Swiss Cottage School - Development & Research Centre (1.1 miles, Outstanding).
The Bridge SchoolFrank Barnes School for Deaf ChildrenRoyal Free Hospital Children's SchoolSwiss Cottage School - Development & Research Centre
Where pupils go next
Of the 8 pupils who finished Year 11 in 2023/24, 25% stayed in education or training for at least two terms.
Who goes there
72.2% of pupils are eligible for free school meals, and 16.7% speak English as an additional language, according to the 2026 school census.
Almost every pupil at Harmood School has an education, health and care plan (36 of 36 in 2026). The most common need among them is social, emotional and mental health needs.
Harmood School provides for pupils with social, emotional and mental health needs.
Getting there
The nearest railway station is Kentish Town West Station, about 240 metres away (roughly a 3-minute walk).
19 bus stops are within a five-minute walk; the closest is Ferdinand Street, 170 metres away.
Suspensions and exclusions
In 2024/25, Harmood School issued 61 suspensions, 156.4 for every 100 pupils, and no permanent exclusions.
Sources: DfE destination measures; DfE school census and special educational needs statistics; NaPTAN (Department for Transport); DfE exclusions statistics
Key Information
DfE GIASOfsted Rating
Ofsted · 4 years agoThis judgement is from January 2013, 13 years ago, longer than Ofsted's usual 4-year cycle: the school may have changed since.
Overall
Latest (ungraded) inspection: The school remains Good.
Ofsted Insights
From Ofsted's September 2022 inspection report.
What This School Does Well
This is a caring school where pupils with complex needs feel understood and supported. Staff have high expectations and are helping many pupils enjoy learning for the first time. Parents consistently praise the fabulous support and commitment to helping their child succeed.
Key Strengths
- Staff build strong relationships with pupils by understanding their complex needs and providing excellent support
- The school has introduced a carefully designed new curriculum that helps pupils build knowledge over time
- Strong careers programme with work experience and vocational qualifications preparing pupils for post-16 options
- Comprehensive enrichment activities including theatre workshops and equine centre visits
- Parents report high satisfaction with progress and adaptation of curriculum to individual needs
Areas for Improvement
- The new curriculum is not yet consistently implemented across all lessons
- Some staff lack sufficient expertise in teaching reading and phonics, which slows some pupils' progress
- Behaviour expectations are not always clear or high enough, causing disruption in some lessons
Safeguarding
Safeguarding arrangements are effective - the school has a strong culture of keeping pupils safe with thorough pre-employment checks, well-trained staff who understand their responsibilities, and careful monitoring of pupils at risk.
Extracurricular Activities
Theatre workshops, equine centre visits, work experience, careers fairs, vocational qualifications
Camden Centre for Learning Special School continues to be a good school. The school specializes in supporting pupils with complex social, emotional and mental health needs, and pupils are happy and feel safe here.
At a Glance
72.2%
Free School Meals
No
Boarding
No
Nursery
No
Sixth Form
SEMH
SEN Provision
No
Special Measures
How Does This School Compare?
Ranked against 5 nearby schools
Latest from Harmood School
Personal Development in Action - Building Skills and Confidence
17 Jul 2026
Work Experience: Developing Skills Beyond the Classroom
17 Jul 2026
World of Work: Exploring Careers and Future Pathways
16 Jul 2026
BTEC Art & Design: Creativity, Experimentation and Success
16 Jul 2026
KS4 Science Success: Celebrating Achievement Beyond the Classroom
15 Jul 2026
Harmood's First Live Band Performance: A Celebration of Talent
15 Jul 2026
From Harmood School's website. School Signal is not affiliated with the school.
Keep up with Harmood School
Getting There
Train Stations
Tube / Metro / Tram
Ferry Terminals
Bus Stops
Free school transport
Check free transport to Harmood School from your postcode →
You apply to the council where you live. Harmood School 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
- 194
- Fatal
- 0
- Serious
- 20
- Children hurt
- 14
Within 500 m of the school's mapped location, police recorded 194 road collisions in which someone was injured in 2021 to 2025: none fatal, 20 serious and 174 slight.
14 children aged 0 to 15 were hurt: 8 on foot, 4 on a bicycle and 2 in a vehicle or otherwise.
29 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
School Occupancy
103%
Over capacity
36 pupils
35 places
1 pupil over capacity
as recorded on GIAS
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
36
EHC Plans
100.0%
of Total Pupils
2026 academic year
Provision & Specialist Facilities
Harmood School provides for pupils with social, emotional and mental health needs.
Source: GIAS, Department for Education.
Pupils by Need Type
Pupil Demographics
Ethnicity
2026 academic year
Key Indicators
36
Total Pupils
25
Boys
11
Girls
2026 academic year
Workforce
10
Teachers
3.6:1
Pupil-teacher ratio
£72,423
Mean salary
2026 data
Pupil Absence2024/25
35.4%
Overall absence
75.0%
Persistent absence
40
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
Harmood School
Showing 10 of 12 linked schools
Questions parents ask about Harmood School
What are GCSE results like at Harmood School?
In the 2026 results, pupils at Harmood School achieved an Attainment 8 score of 4.2. 0% passed GCSE English and maths at grade 5 or above.
What is Harmood School's Ofsted rating?
Harmood School's most recent Ofsted inspection, in September 2022, was ungraded, so it gave no overall grade. At its last graded inspection, in January 2013, it was rated Good.
What is the catchment area for Harmood School?
No fixed boundary. When Harmood School is oversubscribed, Camden allocates places by its published criteria, usually ending with home-to-school distance.
How many pupils go to Harmood School?
Harmood School has around 36 pupils on roll. 72% are eligible for free school meals.
Does Harmood School have specialist SEN provision?
Harmood School provides for pupils with social, emotional and mental health needs.
What is attendance like at Harmood School?
35.4% of sessions were missed at Harmood School in 2024/25. 75% of pupils were persistently absent (missing 10% or more of sessions).
How do I apply to Harmood School?
Apply through Camden's coordinated admissions process, naming Harmood 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 Harmood School?
Within 500 m of the school's mapped location, police recorded 194 road collisions in which someone was injured in 2021 to 2025: none fatal, 20 serious and 174 slight. 14 children aged 0 to 15 were hurt: 8 on foot, 4 on a bicycle and 2 in a vehicle or otherwise. 29 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 Harmood School?
Harmood School is at Harmood Street, Camden, London, NW1 8DP.
Source: Department for Transport, Road Safety Data (STATS19)