New River College Medical, London
New River College Medical is a pru school for pupils aged 5 to 16 in London. Its most recent Ofsted inspection, in March 2026, ended in a report card: 1 exceptional and 5 strong standard. Before that it was rated Outstanding at its last graded inspection, in October 2011.
- Ofsted report card
- 6 of 6 areas strong or better
Data last updated 26 Oct 2026
New River College Medical in detail
What Ofsted's report card says
Ofsted's report card from its 10 March 2026 inspection grades New River College Medical on 6 areas: 1 exceptional and 5 strong standard. Report cards replaced single-word judgements in November 2025, on a five-point scale from exceptional to urgent improvement.
Inclusion - Exceptional. "Leaders and staff model an inclusive culture in which pupils' best interests consistently inform key decisions."
Achievement - Strong standard. "The school has developed a curriculum and approaches to teaching that are highly effective in helping pupils to overcome barriers to learning."
Attendance and behaviour - Strong standard. "Leaders and staff are clear about the central importance of attendance."
Curriculum and teaching - Strong standard. "There is an ambitious curriculum in place across a wide range of subjects."
Leadership and governance - Strong standard. "Leaders have further enhanced the strengths identified at the last inspection."
Personal development and wellbeing - Strong standard. "Leaders give the highest priority to pupils' personal development."
Safeguarding standards were met.
Ofsted's next steps for the school: "Leaders and those responsible for governance should ensure continued improvements in their ambitious programme to support high-quality teaching. They should ensure that all staff have sufficient time to learn, practise and embed each of the school's approaches so that, over time, pupils benefit from an exceptional standard of teaching across all subjects".
Read the full report card on Ofsted's site (school website)
Source: Ofsted report card (Open Government Licence), quoted
Where pupils go next
Of the 16 pupils who finished Year 11 in 2023/24, 38% stayed in education or training for at least two terms, including 13% to a further education college.
Who goes there
67.9% of pupils are eligible for free school meals, and 3.6% speak English as an additional language, according to the 2026 school census.
The largest ethnic groups are White British (36%), Mixed (29%) and Black (11%).
In 2026, 17 pupils (60.7%) received SEN support and 10 (35.7%) had an education, health and care plan. The most common need among them is social, emotional and mental health needs.
Getting there
The nearest Underground station is King's Cross St. Pancras Underground Station, about 500 metres away (roughly a 6-minute walk).
15 bus stops are within a five-minute walk; the closest is Carnegie Street, 150 metres away.
The area around the school
Measured by the 2025 English Indices of Deprivation, the neighbourhood New River College Medical stands in is among the 20% most deprived neighbourhoods in England. This describes where the school is, not where its pupils live.
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
Key Information
DfE GIASOfsted Rating
Ofsted · 7 months agoReport card - no single overall grade (Ofsted's framework since November 2025)
Safeguarding standards met
- InclusionExceptional
- AchievementStrong standard
- Attendance and behaviourStrong standard
- Curriculum and teachingStrong standard
- Leadership and governanceStrong standard
- Personal development and wellbeingStrong standard
Safeguarding standards: met
Ofsted's report card, in its own words
What it's like to be a pupil at New River College Medical
The college motto, ‘New River, new start', is lived out every day. Pupils benefit from a positive and nurturing environment that helps them to re-engage with learning. Some pupils have had negative experiences of education. The induction programme helps pupils to settle quickly, and over time they develop a strong sense of belonging. Pupils are accepting and welcoming of their peers. This helps pupils form supportive friendships. The positive start means that for many pupils, attendance improves rapidly. Staff know pupils and their families very well. They use these close partnerships to design bespoke timetables and programmes of study. These help pupils overcome barriers to learning and address gaps in their knowledge. This includes pupils in the hospital school and those learning at home. Pupils are proud of the progress they make from their different starting points. Relationships between staff and pupils are warm and respectful. Pupils feel safe and know that adults will listen if they have concerns. Therapeutic support helps pupils to address issues linked to their mental health and understand how these may affect their learning and attendance. Pupils know that staff have high expectations. They value the effort that staff make to help them achieve and thrive. The curriculum offers a wide range of subjects and qualifications tailored to pupils' needs. As a result, many achieve well and are well prepared for their next steps. The extensive careers programme further supports pupils to have the skills and the confidence to be successful in the next stage of education, training or employment. Staff work closely with each pupil to identify their strengths and interests. Staff plan therapeutic and enrichment activities that help pupils develop their talents and build confidence. Community projects and work with local organisations help pupils to develop the social skills they need to be successful beyond school.
What Ofsted says the school should do next
- Leaders and those responsible for governance should ensure continued improvements in their ambitious programme to support high-quality teaching. They should ensure that all staff have sufficient time to learn, practise and embed each of the school's approaches so that, over time, pupils benefit from an exceptional standard of teaching across all subjects.
From Ofsted's report card (inspection 10 March 2026). Read the full report Contains public sector information licensed under the Open Government Licence v3.0.
Ofsted Insights
From Ofsted's March 2026 inspection report.
What This School Does Well
The school transforms the lives of young people who have struggled with education, helping them rebuild confidence and a sense of purpose. Staff work with great sensitivity to support pupils' emotional wellbeing alongside their academic learning, which results in many pupils attending regularly and achieving well. The school goes far beyond academics, offering rich enrichment opportunities and strong careers guidance to prepare pupils for their next steps.
Key Strengths
- Exceptional inclusive culture where all pupils feel valued and supported with highly personalised provision
- Rapid improvements in attendance through identifying and removing barriers, with flexible timetables tailored to individual needs
- Strong partnerships with medical professionals and external agencies to meet pupils' holistic needs
- Ambitious, well-matched curriculum that helps pupils overcome learning barriers and achieve well in qualifications
- Extensive enrichment programme including music lessons, horse therapy, creative projects and educational trips
Safeguarding
Safeguarding standards are met - leaders and staff have established an open culture where safeguarding is everyone's responsibility and pupils feel safe.
Extracurricular Activities
Music lessons, horse therapy, creative projects, careers fair, visits to employers, work experience, educational and cultural trips
New River College Medical is a specialist hospital school that provides education for pupils with medical needs and those who have experienced barriers to learning. The school creates a welcoming, inclusive environment where pupils make rapid progress and rebuild confidence in their education.
At a Glance
67.9%
Free School Meals
No
Boarding
No
Nursery
No
Sixth Form
No
Special Measures
How Does This School Compare?
Ranked against 5 nearby schools
Keep up with New River College Medical
Getting There
Train Stations
Tube / Metro / Tram
Bus Stops
Free school transport
Check free transport to New River College Medical from your postcode →
You apply to the council where you live. New River College Medical is in Islington; for families living there:
Apply to Islington for free school transport. Its policy is on the council's website.
Safety and surroundings
Road collisions within 500 m (2021 to 2025)
- Collisions
- 90
- Fatal
- 0
- Serious
- 15
- Children hurt
- 4
Within 500 m of the school's mapped location, police recorded 90 road collisions in which someone was injured in 2021 to 2025: none fatal, 15 serious and 75 slight.
4 children aged 0 to 15 were hurt: 2 on foot and 2 in a vehicle or otherwise.
27 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 Islington is 143 (the median across 70 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
Area Demand Pressure - London
Based on MHCLG Live Table 122 (2024-25, last 5 years) for London
Across Islington council
Places available
1,480
Applications
1,593
Got 1st preference
66.2%
Got preferred school
94.5%
All secondary applications across Islington council (2026/27), not just this school.
Inspection History(6)
SEND & SEN Provision
SEN Overview
17
SEN Support
10
EHC Plans
96.4%
of Total Pupils
2026 academic year
Provision & Specialist Facilities
Pupils by Need Type
Pupil Demographics
Ethnicity
2026 academic year
Key Indicators
28
Total Pupils
10
Boys
18
Girls
2026 academic year
Workforce
13
Teachers
2.2:1
Pupil-teacher ratio
£72,299
Mean salary
2026 data
Feeder Primary Schools
Primary schools that likely feed into this school, based on proximity
New River College Medical
Showing 10 of 12 linked schools
Questions parents ask about New River College Medical
What is New River College Medical's Ofsted rating?
New River College Medical's most recent Ofsted inspection, in March 2026, produced a report card, which grades each area but gives no overall grade. At its last graded inspection, in October 2011, it was rated Outstanding.
What is the catchment area for New River College Medical?
No fixed boundary. When New River College Medical is oversubscribed, Islington allocates places by its published criteria, usually ending with home-to-school distance.
How many pupils go to New River College Medical?
New River College Medical has around 28 pupils on roll. 68% are eligible for free school meals.
How do I apply to New River College Medical?
Apply through Islington's coordinated admissions process, naming New River College Medical 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 New River College Medical?
Within 500 m of the school's mapped location, police recorded 90 road collisions in which someone was injured in 2021 to 2025: none fatal, 15 serious and 75 slight. 4 children aged 0 to 15 were hurt: 2 on foot and 2 in a vehicle or otherwise. 27 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 Islington is 143 (the median across 70 schools, same distance and years).
Where is New River College Medical?
New River College Medical is at Maygood Street, London, N1 0TJ.
Source: Department for Transport, Road Safety Data (STATS19)