John F Kennedy Special School, London
John F Kennedy Special School is a special school for pupils aged 4 to 19 in London, part of Learning in Harmony Multi Academy Trust. It was rated Outstanding at its last graded Ofsted inspection, in May 2017. Ofsted's ungraded inspection in November 2022 did not change this grade.
- Ofsted
- Outstanding (2017)
Data last updated 26 Oct 2026
John F Kennedy Special School in detail
Compared with nearby schools
The nearest other special schools to John F Kennedy Special School are East London Independent School (0.4 miles, Outstanding); Ian Mikardo High School (1.1 miles, Good); Onelab College (1.4 miles); and Connaught Special School (1.4 miles).
East London Independent SchoolIan Mikardo High SchoolOnelab CollegeConnaught Special School
The trust
John F Kennedy Special School is one of 14 schools run by Learning in Harmony Multi Academy Trust, an academy trust.
Where pupils go next
Of the 13 pupils who finished Year 11 in 2023/24, 100% stayed in education or training for at least two terms.
Who goes there
75.1% of pupils are eligible for free school meals, and 48.3% speak English as an additional language, according to the 2026 school census.
The largest ethnic groups are Asian (50%), Black (24%) and Mixed (7%).
Almost every pupil at John F Kennedy Special School has an education, health and care plan (201 of 201 in 2026). The most common need among them is autism.
John F Kennedy Special School provides for pupils with specific learning difficulties such as dyslexia, visual impairment, speech, language and communication needs, autism, social, emotional and mental health needs, multi-sensory impairment, physical disability, moderate learning difficulties and profound and multiple learning difficulties.
Getting there
The nearest tram or metro stop is Stratford High Street, about 130 metres away (roughly a 2-minute walk).
9 bus stops are within a five-minute walk; the closest is Paul Street, 240 metres away.
The area around the school
Measured by the 2025 English Indices of Deprivation, the neighbourhood John F Kennedy Special School stands in is among the 20% most deprived neighbourhoods in England. On income deprivation affecting children it is in the 4th decile, where the 1st is the most deprived. This describes where the school is, not where its pupils live.
Suspensions and exclusions
In 2024/25, John F Kennedy Special School issued 3 suspensions, 1.5 for every 100 pupils, and no permanent exclusions.
Sources: DfE multi-academy trust performance data; 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 · 4 years agoThis judgement is from May 2017, 9 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
Ofsted rated this school Outstanding at its May 2017 inspection - up from Good.
Rated Outstanding for
Leadership & management.
At a Glance
75.1%
Free School Meals
No
Boarding
No
Nursery
Yes
Sixth Form
SpLD, Vision, Speech and language +6
SEN Provision
No
Special Measures
Primary Performance (KS2)
Academic year 2024/25KS2 Results (% meeting expected standard)
2024/25 academic year
How Does This School Compare?
Ranked against 5 nearby schools
Keep up with John F Kennedy Special School
Getting There
Train Stations
Tube / Metro / Tram
Bus Stops
Free school transport
Check free transport to John F Kennedy Special School from your postcode →
You apply to the council where you live. John F Kennedy Special School is in Newham; for families living there:
Apply to Newham for free school transport. Its policy is on the council's website.
Safety and surroundings
Road collisions within 500 m (2021 to 2025)
- Collisions
- 196
- Fatal
- 2
- Serious
- 30
- Children hurt
- 9
Within 500 m of the school's mapped location, police recorded 196 road collisions in which someone was injured in 2021 to 2025: 2 fatal, 30 serious and 164 slight.
9 children aged 0 to 15 were hurt: 5 on foot and 4 in a vehicle or otherwise.
30 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 Newham is 110 (the median across 113 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
201 pupils
184 places
17 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 Newham council
Places available
4,792
Applications
3,682
Got 1st preference
74.5%
Got preferred school
97.5%
All secondary applications across Newham council (2026/27), not just this school.
Inspection History(2)
SEND & SEN Provision
SEN Overview
0
SEN Support
201
EHC Plans
100.0%
of Total Pupils
2026 academic year
Provision & Specialist Facilities
John F Kennedy Special School provides for pupils with specific learning difficulties such as dyslexia, visual impairment, speech, language and communication needs, autism, social, emotional and mental health needs, multi-sensory impairment, physical disability, moderate 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
201
Total Pupils
145
Boys
56
Girls
2026 academic year
Workforce
41
Teachers
4.9:1
Pupil-teacher ratio
£57,084
Mean salary
2026 data
Pupil Absence2024/25
15.2%
Overall absence
47.2%
Persistent absence
144
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
John F Kennedy Special School
Showing 10 of 15 linked schools
Questions parents ask about John F Kennedy Special School
What are SATs results like at John F Kennedy Special School?
Of the pupils at John F Kennedy Special School who took the 2025 Key Stage 2 assessments, 0% reached the expected standard in reading and 0% did so in maths.
What is John F Kennedy Special School's Ofsted rating?
John F Kennedy Special School's most recent Ofsted inspection, in November 2022, was ungraded, so it gave no overall grade. At its last graded inspection, in May 2017, it was rated Outstanding.
What is the catchment area for John F Kennedy Special School?
No fixed boundary. When John F Kennedy Special School is oversubscribed, Newham allocates places by its published criteria, usually ending with home-to-school distance.
How many pupils go to John F Kennedy Special School?
John F Kennedy Special School has around 201 pupils on roll. 75% are eligible for free school meals.
Does John F Kennedy Special School have specialist SEN provision?
John F Kennedy Special School provides for pupils with specific learning difficulties such as dyslexia, visual impairment, speech, language and communication needs, autism, social, emotional and mental health needs, multi-sensory impairment, physical disability, moderate learning difficulties and profound and multiple learning difficulties.
What is attendance like at John F Kennedy Special School?
15.2% of sessions were missed at John F Kennedy Special School in 2024/25. 47.2% of pupils were persistently absent (missing 10% or more of sessions).
How do I apply to John F Kennedy Special School?
Apply through Newham's coordinated admissions process, naming John F Kennedy Special 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 John F Kennedy Special School?
Within 500 m of the school's mapped location, police recorded 196 road collisions in which someone was injured in 2021 to 2025: 2 fatal, 30 serious and 164 slight. 9 children aged 0 to 15 were hurt: 5 on foot and 4 in a vehicle or otherwise. 30 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 Newham is 110 (the median across 113 schools, same distance and years).
Where is John F Kennedy Special School?
John F Kennedy Special School is at Pitchford Street, Stratford, London, E15 4RZ.
Source: Department for Transport, Road Safety Data (STATS19)