Melrose School, Mitcham/ Raynes Park
Melrose School is a special school for pupils aged 5 to 16 in Mitcham/ Raynes Park. It was rated Good at its last graded Ofsted inspection, in July 2024.
- Ofsted
- Good (2024)
Data last updated 26 Oct 2026
Melrose School in detail
Compared with nearby schools
The nearest other special schools to Melrose School are Cricket Green School (0.2 miles, Outstanding); Lavender Lodge School (0.6 miles, Good, selective); Perseid School (1.1 miles, Outstanding); and Wandle Valley Academy (1.3 miles, Good).
Cricket Green SchoolLavender Lodge SchoolPerseid SchoolWandle Valley Academy
Where pupils go next
Of the 16 pupils who finished Year 11 in 2023/24, 50% stayed in education or training for at least two terms, including 44% to a further education college and 6% into work.
Who goes there
56% of pupils are eligible for free school meals, and 6% speak English as an additional language, according to the 2026 school census.
The largest ethnic groups are White British (55%), Mixed (16%) and Black (12%).
Almost every pupil at Melrose School has an education, health and care plan (166 of 166 in 2026). The most common need among them is social, emotional and mental health needs.
Melrose School provides for pupils with speech, language and communication needs, autism and social, emotional and mental health needs.
Getting there
The nearest tram or metro stop is Belgrave Walk Tram Stop, about 350 metres away (roughly a 4-minute walk).
12 bus stops are within a five-minute walk; the closest is Hall Place (->w), 100 metres away.
Suspensions and exclusions
In 2024/25, Melrose School issued 28 suspensions, 21.9 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 · 2 years agoOverall
Quality of Education
Behaviour & Attitudes
Personal Development
Leadership & Management
Ofsted Insights
From Ofsted's July 2024 inspection report.
What This School Does Well
Melrose School specializes in helping pupils who have struggled in education elsewhere to thrive. The school builds strong relationships based on trust, uses proven therapeutic approaches to support behaviour, and offers a wide range of activities to build confidence and independence. Parents report their children are happier and more settled, with many showing improved attendance and re-engagement with learning.
Key Strengths
- Well-sequenced curriculum that builds knowledge and skills progressively
- Effective use of nurturing and therapeutic strategies to support behaviour and emotional wellbeing
- Extensive enrichment activities including bike riding, horse riding, ice skating and travel training
- Strong focus on helping pupils who have had negative education experiences to re-engage with learning
- Personalized attendance support that helps many pupils improve their school attendance over time
Areas for Improvement
- Teaching approaches are not consistently applied across all lessons, meaning some pupils' gaps and misconceptions are not addressed quickly enough
- School should ensure all staff have the resources and expertise needed to deliver the curriculum equally well in all lessons
Safeguarding
Safeguarding arrangements are effective, with the school creating an open and positive culture that puts pupils' interests first.
Extracurricular Activities
Bike riding, horse riding, ice skating, travel training, farm visits, barbering, mechanics, vocational qualifications in health and beauty and motor vehicle maintenance
Melrose School is a special school where positive relationships between staff, pupils and families are central to its work. The school has been judged as Good overall, with strengths in curriculum design, behaviour support and personal development.
At a Glance
56.0%
Free School Meals
No
Boarding
No
Nursery
No
Sixth Form
Speech and language, Autism, SEMH
SEN Provision
No
Special Measures
Primary Performance (KS2)
Academic year 2025/26KS2 Results (% meeting expected standard)
How Does This School Compare?
Ranked against 5 nearby schools
Keep up with Melrose School
Before and after school care
Melrose School is on the Department for Education's free breakfast clubs programme (list updated July 2026), which pays for a free breakfast club for pupils before school. Source: Free breakfast clubs: schools on the programme, Department for Education Free breakfast clubs in Merton
Getting There
Tube / Metro / Tram
Bus Stops
Free school transport
Check free transport to Melrose School from your postcode →
You apply to the council where you live. Melrose School is in Merton; for families living there:
Apply to Merton for free school transport. Its policy is on the council's website.
Safety and surroundings
Road collisions within 500 m (2021 to 2025)
- Collisions
- 73
- Fatal
- 0
- Serious
- 15
- Children hurt
- 4
Within 500 m of the school's mapped location, police recorded 73 road collisions in which someone was injured in 2021 to 2025: none fatal, 15 serious and 58 slight.
4 children aged 0 to 15 were hurt: 3 on foot and 1 in a vehicle or otherwise.
14 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 Merton is 48.5 (the median across 74 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
105%
Over capacity
166 pupils
158 places
8 pupils over capacity
as recorded on GIAS
Area Demand Pressure - Mitcham/ Raynes Park
Based on MHCLG Live Table 122 (2024-25, last 5 years) for Mitcham/ Raynes Park
Across Merton council
Places available
1,874
Applications
1,982
Got 1st preference
67.4%
Got preferred school
95.4%
All secondary applications across Merton council (2026/27), not just this school.
Inspection History(7)
SEND & SEN Provision
SEN Overview
0
SEN Support
166
EHC Plans
100.0%
of Total Pupils
2026 academic year
Provision & Specialist Facilities
Melrose School provides for pupils with speech, language and communication needs, autism and social, emotional and mental health needs.
Source: GIAS, Department for Education.
Pupils by Need Type
Pupil Demographics
Ethnicity
2026 academic year
Key Indicators
166
Total Pupils
114
Boys
52
Girls
2026 academic year
Workforce
40
Teachers
4.2:1
Pupil-teacher ratio
£64,034
Mean salary
2026 data
Pupil Absence2024/25
21.7%
Overall absence
55.3%
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
Melrose School
Showing 10 of 13 linked schools
Questions parents ask about Melrose School
What are GCSE results like at Melrose School?
In the 2026 results, pupils at Melrose School achieved an Attainment 8 score of 15.2. 0% passed GCSE English and maths at grade 5 or above.
What is Melrose School's Ofsted rating?
Melrose School was rated Good at its most recent Ofsted inspection in July 2024.
What is the catchment area for Melrose School?
No fixed boundary. When Melrose School is oversubscribed, Merton allocates places by its published criteria, usually ending with home-to-school distance.
How many pupils go to Melrose School?
Melrose School has around 166 pupils on roll. 56% are eligible for free school meals.
Does Melrose School have specialist SEN provision?
Melrose School provides for pupils with speech, language and communication needs, autism and social, emotional and mental health needs.
What is attendance like at Melrose School?
21.7% of sessions were missed at Melrose School in 2024/25. 55.3% of pupils were persistently absent (missing 10% or more of sessions).
How do I apply to Melrose School?
Apply through Merton's coordinated admissions process, naming Melrose 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.
Does Melrose School have a breakfast club or after-school club?
Melrose School is on the Department for Education's free breakfast clubs programme (list updated July 2026), which pays for a free breakfast club for pupils before school.
How many road collisions happen near Melrose School?
Within 500 m of the school's mapped location, police recorded 73 road collisions in which someone was injured in 2021 to 2025: none fatal, 15 serious and 58 slight. 4 children aged 0 to 15 were hurt: 3 on foot and 1 in a vehicle or otherwise. 14 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 Merton is 48.5 (the median across 74 schools, same distance and years).
Where is Melrose School?
Melrose School is at Church Road/ Whatley Avenue, Mitcham/ Raynes Park, Surrey, CR4 3BE.
Source: Department for Transport, Road Safety Data (STATS19)