Heron Academy, London
Heron Academy is a special school for pupils aged 11 to 19 in London, part of London South East Academies Trust. Its most recent Ofsted inspection, in May 2026, ended in a report card: 2 strong standard and 5 expected standard.
- Ofsted report card
- 2 of 7 areas strong or better
Data last updated 26 Oct 2026
Heron Academy in detail
What Ofsted's report card says
Ofsted's report card from its 12 May 2026 inspection grades Heron Academy on 7 areas: 2 strong standard and 5 expected standard. Report cards replaced single-word judgements in November 2025, on a five-point scale from exceptional to urgent improvement.
Inclusion - Strong standard. "This is a very inclusive school where every pupil is known, valued and supported."
Post 16 provision - Strong standard. "Leaders have a clear and accurate understanding of the post-16 cohort."
Achievement - Expected standard. "The school's carefully structured approach to learning ensures that pupils typically gain the knowledge and skills they need."
Attendance and behaviour - Expected standard. "Pupils' attendance is positive and pupils enjoy coming to school."
Curriculum and teaching - Expected standard. "The curriculum is designed carefully so pupils gain the knowledge and skills they need for the next stages of their lives."
Leadership and governance - Expected standard. "Leaders understand the school's context and pupils' needs very well."
Personal development and wellbeing - Expected standard. "Pupils typically benefit from a wide range of opportunities that support their personal development and wellbeing."
Safeguarding standards were met.
Ofsted's next steps for the school: "Leaders should strengthen and refine practice in applying sanctions as part of the school's approach to behaviour management"; "Leaders should continue their work to refine and strengthen the school's approaches to promoting pupils' learning and welfare, including through maintaining effective partnership working with external professionals, such as those in social care"; "Leaders should continue to embed processes that assure the quality of staff professional learning, particularly in relation to meeting the needs of staff and responding to pupils' complex needs".
Read the full report card on Ofsted's site (school website)
Source: Ofsted report card (Open Government Licence), quoted
Compared with nearby schools
The nearest other special schools to Heron Academy are Maudsley and Bethlem Hospital School (0.7 miles); Lansdowne School (0.9 miles, Good); JUS Education (0.9 miles, Good); and Turney Primary and Secondary Special School (1 mile, Outstanding).
Maudsley and Bethlem Hospital SchoolLansdowne SchoolJUS EducationTurney Primary and Secondary Special School
The trust
Heron Academy is one of 19 schools run by London South East Academies Trust, an academy trust.
Where pupils go next
Of the 9 pupils who finished Year 11 in 2023/24, 89% stayed in education or training for at least two terms.
Who goes there
62.8% of pupils are eligible for free school meals, and 29.1% speak English as an additional language, according to the 2026 school census.
The largest ethnic groups are Black (59%), White British (13%) and Asian (9%).
Almost every pupil at Heron Academy has an education, health and care plan (86 of 86 in 2026). The most common need among them is autism.
Heron Academy has a SEN unit for specific learning difficulties such as dyslexia, autism and profound and multiple learning difficulties: 90 places, 87 pupils on roll.
Getting there
The nearest railway station is Loughborough Junction Rail Station, about 540 metres away (roughly a 7-minute walk).
9 bus stops are within a five-minute walk; the closest is Deerdale Road / St Saviour's School (->w), 220 metres away.
Suspensions and exclusions
In 2024/25, Heron Academy issued 2 suspensions, 2.5 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 · 5 months agoReport card - no single overall grade (Ofsted's framework since November 2025)
Safeguarding standards met
- InclusionStrong standard
- Post 16 provisionStrong standard
- AchievementExpected standard
- Attendance and behaviourExpected standard
- Curriculum and teachingExpected standard
- Leadership and governanceExpected standard
- Personal development and wellbeingExpected standard
Safeguarding standards: met
Heron Academy has had no graded Ofsted inspection since it took its current form in February 2023. Before that, as The Michael Tippett School (URN 133442), it was rated Inadequate in November 2021.
Ofsted's report card, in its own words
What it's like to be a pupil at Heron Academy
Pupils enjoy being part of this school and feel welcomed, valued and understood. They build warm, respectful relationships with staff, who know them well and understand their special educational needs and/or disabilities (SEND). Staff use this knowledge to shape routines and daily practice so that pupils feel secure and ready to learn. Pupils take part in a wide range of learning, enrichment and community experiences that help them to grow in confidence and develop the skills they need for their next stages of life. Pupils benefit from being part of a caring community. They take on responsibilities such as helping in the library, supporting the café and keeping shared spaces tidy. These roles help them to develop independence and a sense of belonging. Behaviour is positive and poor behaviour is infrequent. Bullying is extremely rare and when it occurs it is dealt with firmly and supportively. When pupils find things difficult, staff respond calmly and skilfully so that pupils can regulate their emotions and return to learning quickly. Pupils feel safe in school. They attend regularly and like being at school. The environment is calm and supportive, which helps pupils become increasingly confident and independent. Staff adapt learning carefully so pupils can access lessons. As a result, pupils typically achieve well at all stages of their time in school. Pupils use a range of communication aids and strategies, and staff encourage them to use these confidently. Learning extends beyond the classroom, including, for example, with community visits, delivering food packages and practising travel skills. These experiences help pupils to apply what they learn in lessons and develop essential life skills. Pupils are extremely well prepared for their next steps. Older pupils enjoy being able to take part in work experience, a careers fair and the Duke of Edinburgh's Award activities. These opportunities help them to understand future pathways and build confidence and independence.
What Ofsted says the school should do next
- Leaders should strengthen and refine practice in applying sanctions as part of the school's approach to behaviour management.
- Leaders should continue their work to refine and strengthen the school's approaches to promoting pupils' learning and welfare, including through maintaining effective partnership working with external professionals, such as those in social care.
- Leaders should continue to embed processes that assure the quality of staff professional learning, particularly in relation to meeting the needs of staff and responding to pupils' complex needs.
From Ofsted's report card (inspection 12 May 2026). Read the full report Contains public sector information licensed under the Open Government Licence v3.0.
Ofsted Insights
From Ofsted's May 2026 inspection report.
What This School Does Well
Heron Academy excels at making every pupil feel valued and included. Teachers skilfully adapt their teaching to meet individual needs and help pupils apply what they learn in real-life situations, building independence and confidence. The school's strong relationships, careful monitoring of progress and thoughtful support mean pupils receive help exactly when they need it.
Key Strengths
- Highly inclusive approach with warm, trusting relationships between staff and pupils
- Thoughtful use of pupil premium funding to remove barriers for disadvantaged pupils
- Careful curriculum design with different pathways matched to individual learning needs
- Strong focus on real-life skills applied in community settings
- Excellent post-16 provision with high progression to further education
Areas for Improvement
- Some inconsistencies in how well teaching develops pupils' learning across the school
- Need to strengthen approaches to evaluating the quality and impact of professional learning
- Further work needed to ensure sanctions are consistently issued fairly based on pupils' needs
Safeguarding
Safeguarding standards are met - the school has an open and positive culture of safeguarding where all legal requirements are met, and pupils are made safer and feel safe.
Extracurricular Activities
Duke of Edinburgh's Award, cultural visits, leadership roles, student council, work experience placements, careers fair, community activities including food bank support, sports, trips
Heron Academy is a highly inclusive school where every pupil is known, valued and supported with high expectations placed at the centre of their work. Leaders and staff create a safe, calm environment where pupils can learn, develop and feel secure.
At a Glance
62.8%
Free School Meals
No
Boarding
No
Nursery
Yes
Sixth Form
SEN unit: SpLD, Autism, PMLD
SEN Provision
No
Special Measures
How Does This School Compare?
Ranked against 5 nearby schools
Keep up with Heron Academy
Getting There
Train Stations
Bus Stops
Free school transport
Check free transport to Heron Academy from your postcode →
You apply to the council where you live. Heron Academy is in Lambeth; for families living there:
- Lambeth's school travel policy: Home to school transport policy
Safety and surroundings
Road collisions within 500 m (2021 to 2025)
- Collisions
- 79
- Fatal
- 0
- Serious
- 12
- Children hurt
- 4
Within 500 m of the school's mapped location, police recorded 79 road collisions in which someone was injured in 2021 to 2025: none fatal, 12 serious and 67 slight.
4 children aged 0 to 15 were hurt: 2 on foot and 2 in a vehicle or otherwise.
15 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 Lambeth is 142.5 (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
96%
Near capacity
86 pupils
90 places
4 spare places
as recorded on GIAS
Area Demand Pressure - London
Based on MHCLG Live Table 122 (2024-25, last 5 years) for London
Across Lambeth council
Places available
2,111
Applications
2,198
Got 1st preference
61.4%
Got preferred school
91.2%
All secondary applications across Lambeth council (2026/27), not just this school.
Inspection History
SEND & SEN Provision
SEN Overview
0
SEN Support
86
EHC Plans
100.0%
of Total Pupils
2026 academic year
Provision & Specialist Facilities
Heron Academy has a SEN unit for specific learning difficulties such as dyslexia, autism and profound and multiple learning difficulties: 90 places, 87 pupils on roll.
Source: GIAS, Department for Education.
Pupils by Need Type
Pupil Demographics
Ethnicity
2026 academic year
Key Indicators
86
Total Pupils
50
Boys
36
Girls
2026 academic year
Workforce
9
Teachers
9.6:1
Pupil-teacher ratio
£60,200
Mean salary
2026 data
Pupil Absence2024/25
17.7%
Overall absence
43.1%
Persistent absence
51
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
Heron Academy
Showing 10 of 15 linked schools
Questions parents ask about Heron Academy
What is Heron Academy's Ofsted rating?
Heron Academy has had no graded Ofsted inspection since it took its current form in February 2023. Before that, as The Michael Tippett School (URN 133442), it was rated Inadequate in November 2021.
What is the catchment area for Heron Academy?
No fixed boundary. When Heron Academy is oversubscribed, Lambeth allocates places by its published criteria, usually ending with home-to-school distance.
How many pupils go to Heron Academy?
Heron Academy has around 86 pupils on roll. 63% are eligible for free school meals.
Does Heron Academy have specialist SEN provision?
Heron Academy has a SEN unit for specific learning difficulties such as dyslexia, autism and profound and multiple learning difficulties: 90 places, 87 pupils on roll.
What is attendance like at Heron Academy?
17.7% of sessions were missed at Heron Academy in 2024/25. 43.1% of pupils were persistently absent (missing 10% or more of sessions).
How do I apply to Heron Academy?
Apply through Lambeth's coordinated admissions process, naming Heron Academy 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 Heron Academy?
Within 500 m of the school's mapped location, police recorded 79 road collisions in which someone was injured in 2021 to 2025: none fatal, 12 serious and 67 slight. 4 children aged 0 to 15 were hurt: 2 on foot and 2 in a vehicle or otherwise. 15 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 Lambeth is 142.5 (the median across 102 schools, same distance and years).
Where is Heron Academy?
Heron Academy is at Heron Road, Herne Hill, London, SE24 0HZ.
Source: Department for Transport, Road Safety Data (STATS19)