Mapledown School, London
Mapledown School is a special school for pupils aged 11 to 19 in London. It was rated Good at its last graded Ofsted inspection, in November 2013. Ofsted's ungraded inspection in November 2023 did not change this grade.
- Ofsted
- Good (2013)
Data last updated 26 Oct 2026
Mapledown School in detail
Mapledown School in its own words
In its own words: "Mapledown is dedicated to providing a rich, deep and demanding curriculum at levels appropriate to the developmental understanding of our students. It is the outcome of ongoing work at Mapledown, as the school has evolved over the years and is now catering for young people in Barnet with a wider range of needs. In 2018, Mapledown was inspected by Ofsted."
From the headteacher's welcome: "We are a proud secondary school serving students aged 11-19 with Special Educational Needs (including Autism and/or profound or severe learning, health and care needs). We recognise that adopting a personalised approach is a critical key for each student's development."
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 Mapledown School are Kisharon School (1.4 miles, Good); Woodfield School (1.5 miles, Good); Mapesbury School (1.5 miles); and Oak Lodge School (2.1 miles, Outstanding).
Kisharon SchoolWoodfield SchoolMapesbury SchoolOak Lodge School
Where pupils go next
Of the 15 pupils who finished Year 11 in 2023/24, 93% stayed in education or training for at least two terms.
Who goes there
52.6% of pupils are eligible for free school meals, and 66.7% speak English as an additional language, according to the 2026 school census.
The largest ethnic groups are other ethnic groups (18%), Black (18%) and Asian (15%).
Almost every pupil at Mapledown School has an education, health and care plan (114 of 114 in 2026). The most common need among them is autism.
Mapledown School provides for pupils with autism, physical disability, severe learning difficulties and profound and multiple learning difficulties.
Getting there
The nearest Underground station is Brent Cross Underground Station, about 510 metres away (roughly a 6-minute walk).
18 bus stops are within a five-minute walk; the closest is Mapledown School, 50 metres away.
The area around the school
Measured by the 2025 English Indices of Deprivation, the neighbourhood Mapledown School stands in is among the 20% most deprived neighbourhoods in England. This describes where the school is, not where its pupils live.
Suspensions and exclusions
Mapledown 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 November 2013, 12 years ago, longer than Ofsted's usual 4-year cycle: the school may have changed since.
Overall
Latest (ungraded) inspection: The school remains Good and may be improving; its next inspection will be a full graded one.
Ofsted Insights
Ofsted rated this school Good at its November 2013 inspection - down from Outstanding.
Rated Good for
Leadership & management.
At a Glance
52.6%
Free School Meals
No
Boarding
No
Nursery
Yes
Sixth Form
Autism, Physical, SLD +1
SEN Provision
No
Special Measures
How Does This School Compare?
Ranked against 5 nearby schools
Keep up with Mapledown School
Getting There
Train Stations
Tube / Metro / Tram
Bus Stops
Free school transport
Check free transport to Mapledown School from your postcode →
You apply to the council where you live. Mapledown School is in Barnet; for families living there:
Apply to Barnet for free school transport. Its policy is on the council's website.
Safety and surroundings
Road collisions within 500 m (2021 to 2025)
- Collisions
- 131
- Fatal
- 1
- Serious
- 16
- Children hurt
- 8
Within 500 m of the school's mapped location, police recorded 131 road collisions in which someone was injured in 2021 to 2025: 1 fatal, 16 serious and 114 slight.
8 children aged 0 to 15 were hurt: 5 on foot and 3 in a vehicle or otherwise.
23 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 Barnet is 53 (the median across 175 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
127%
Over capacity
114 pupils
90 places
24 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 Barnet council
Places available
4,618
Applications
3,998
Got 1st preference
72.7%
Got preferred school
93.2%
All secondary applications across Barnet council (2026/27), not just this school.
Inspection History(6)
SEND & SEN Provision
SEN Overview
0
SEN Support
114
EHC Plans
100.0%
of Total Pupils
2026 academic year
Provision & Specialist Facilities
Mapledown School provides for pupils with autism, 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
114
Total Pupils
84
Boys
30
Girls
2026 academic year
Workforce
22
Teachers
5.2:1
Pupil-teacher ratio
£50,736
Mean salary
2026 data
Pupil Absence2024/25
14.5%
Overall absence
45.3%
Persistent absence
75
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
Mapledown School
Showing 10 of 11 linked schools
Questions parents ask about Mapledown School
What is Mapledown School's Ofsted rating?
Mapledown School's most recent Ofsted inspection, in November 2023, was ungraded, so it gave no overall grade. At its last graded inspection, in November 2013, it was rated Good.
What is the catchment area for Mapledown School?
No fixed boundary. When Mapledown School is oversubscribed, Barnet allocates places by its published criteria, usually ending with home-to-school distance.
How many pupils go to Mapledown School?
Mapledown School has around 114 pupils on roll. 53% are eligible for free school meals.
Does Mapledown School have specialist SEN provision?
Mapledown School provides for pupils with autism, physical disability, severe learning difficulties and profound and multiple learning difficulties.
What is attendance like at Mapledown School?
14.5% of sessions were missed at Mapledown School in 2024/25. 45.3% of pupils were persistently absent (missing 10% or more of sessions).
How do I apply to Mapledown School?
Apply through Barnet's coordinated admissions process, naming Mapledown 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 Mapledown School?
Within 500 m of the school's mapped location, police recorded 131 road collisions in which someone was injured in 2021 to 2025: 1 fatal, 16 serious and 114 slight. 8 children aged 0 to 15 were hurt: 5 on foot and 3 in a vehicle or otherwise. 23 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 Barnet is 53 (the median across 175 schools, same distance and years).
Where is Mapledown School?
Mapledown School is at Claremont Road, Cricklewood, London, NW2 1TR.
Source: Department for Transport, Road Safety Data (STATS19)