Nightingale Community Academy, London
Nightingale Community Academy is a special school for pupils aged 5 to 19 in London, part of Orchard Hill College Academy Trust. Its most recent Ofsted inspection, in April 2026, ended in a report card: 5 strong standard and 2 expected standard. Before that it was rated Good at its last graded inspection, in September 2022.
- Ofsted report card
- 5 of 7 areas strong or better
Data last updated 26 Oct 2026
Nightingale Community Academy in detail
What Ofsted's report card says
Ofsted's report card from its 21 April 2026 inspection grades Nightingale Community Academy on 7 areas: 5 strong standard and 2 expected standard. Report cards replaced single-word judgements in November 2025, on a five-point scale from exceptional to urgent improvement.
Achievement - Strong standard. "Pupils make excellent progress from often low starting points."
Attendance and behaviour - Strong standard. "Leaders place attendance at the centre of the school's work."
Inclusion - Strong standard. "All pupils at this school have special educational needs and/or disabilities, and face significant barriers to their learning."
Leadership and governance - Strong standard. "Trustees, governors and school leaders have clear and well-thought-through ambitions for the school."
Personal development and wellbeing - Strong standard. "Leaders have set a clear vision that safety, wellbeing and learning go hand in hand."
Curriculum and teaching - Expected standard. "Leaders have taken a clear strategic approach to curriculum and teaching."
Post 16 provision - Expected standard. "Leaders provide clear direction for the post-16 provision."
Safeguarding standards were met.
Ofsted's next steps for the school: "Leaders should continue to further develop consistency in teaching so that teachers confidently check what pupils already know and move learning on when knowledge is secure, and a more systematic and consistent approach to pupils' handwriting across all phases is implemented".
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 Nightingale Community Academy are Chelsea Hall School (0.6 miles); Garratt Park School (0.7 miles); Garratt Park School (0.7 miles, Good); and Paddock School (0.7 miles, Outstanding).
Chelsea Hall SchoolGarratt Park SchoolGarratt Park SchoolPaddock School
The trust
Nightingale Community Academy is one of 13 schools run by Orchard Hill College Academy Trust, an academy trust.
Where pupils go next
Of the 16 pupils who finished Year 11 in 2023/24, 94% stayed in education or training for at least two terms, including 19% to a further education college.
Who goes there
72.7% of pupils are eligible for free school meals, and 4.3% speak English as an additional language, according to the 2026 school census.
The largest ethnic groups are White British (43%), Mixed (28%) and Black (22%).
Almost every pupil at Nightingale Community Academy has an education, health and care plan (139 of 139 in 2026). The most common need among them is social, emotional and mental health needs.
Getting there
The nearest railway station is Wandsworth Common, about 760 metres away (roughly a 9-minute walk).
11 bus stops are within a five-minute walk; the closest is Marham Gardens, 70 metres away.
Suspensions and exclusions
In 2024/25, Nightingale Community Academy issued 16 suspensions, 11.7 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 · 6 months agoReport card - no single overall grade (Ofsted's framework since November 2025)
Safeguarding standards met
- AchievementStrong standard
- Attendance and behaviourStrong standard
- InclusionStrong standard
- Leadership and governanceStrong standard
- Personal development and wellbeingStrong standard
- Curriculum and teachingExpected standard
- Post 16 provisionExpected standard
Safeguarding standards: met
Ofsted's report card, in its own words
What it's like to be a pupil at Nightingale Community Academy
Pupils experience a calm, welcoming and friendly school. They are greeted every day by staff who know them well and notice how they are feeling. Pupils settle quickly because well-established routines and clear expectations make school life predictable and safe. Behaviour is calm and respectful. Pupils are supported by staff who help them understand their complex feelings, manage problems and put things right. Breaktimes are well-supervised social times where pupils have space to play games and engage in sport. Pupils can also choose to take time to be quiet and relax in social spaces. Older and younger pupils support each other with kindness. Pupils find their learning manageable because classes are small and teachers explain things clearly. Pupils get help when they need it, including support with reading and writing. Over time, pupils develop confidence in their ability to learn and concentrate. They learn how to focus on tasks and take pride in finishing work. At this school, pupils' achievement is about more than test results. Pupils make progress from very different starting points. Many arrive having missed a lot of school. Some find learning or being around others very hard. As pupils learn to manage their emotions and trust staff, their attendance and behaviour improve. This allows learning to build over time. Pupils gain qualifications that help and interest them. Pupils and staff work together positively in this caring and purposeful school community where relationships matter. Pupils know that trusted adults, safe spaces and access to therapy are available when needed. Pupils learn about safety, friendships and choices. They talk openly about worries and know who to go to for help. There are many opportunities to help pupils build their confidence outside of school. These include cultural and creative visits around London, sport, creative activities and practical learning such as farming, construction, cooking and mechanics. Pupils receive extensive careers advice and work experience so that they are very well prepared for the future.
What Ofsted says the school should do next
- Leaders should continue to further develop consistency in teaching so that teachers confidently check what pupils already know and move learning on when knowledge is secure, and a more systematic and consistent approach to pupils' handwriting across all phases is implemented.
From Ofsted's report card (inspection 21 April 2026). Read the full report Contains public sector information licensed under the Open Government Licence v3.0.
Ofsted Insights
From Ofsted's April 2026 inspection report.
What This School Does Well
Nightingale Community Academy excels at rebuilding pupils' trust in education and helping them overcome significant barriers to learning. The school uses creative, personalised approaches - from flexible start times to therapy support - to help every pupil succeed. Staff are highly skilled at managing pupils' emotional needs and creating calm, supportive classrooms where pupils develop confidence, independence and pride in their learning.
Key Strengths
- Pupils make excellent progress in reading, mathematics and wider knowledge, building confidence and independence from low starting points
- High attendance compared to similar schools, with leaders using personalised approaches to help pupils attend regularly
- Staff are well-trained to support pupils' emotional regulation and mental health needs, creating a calm and predictable environment
- Effective personalised planning that tracks each pupil's progress and adjusts support based on what works best
- Strong preparation for adulthood through careers education, work experience, and practical skills in areas like construction and catering
Areas for Improvement
- Writing instruction for older pupils is less systematic than for younger pupils and needs more structured approach
- Teachers sometimes spend too much time recapping knowledge pupils already know instead of moving to new learning
- Some lessons do not start quickly enough, which means valuable learning time is lost
Safeguarding
Safeguarding standards are met - leaders have established an open culture where safeguarding is everyone's responsibility, concerns are actively identified and acted upon, and pupils are made safer and feel safe.
Extracurricular Activities
Residential trips, theatre and museum visits, sporting events, work experience, vocational qualifications in construction, catering, motor mechanics and land-based studies
Nightingale Community Academy is a special school where all pupils have special educational needs and/or disabilities. The school provides excellent support to help pupils overcome significant barriers to learning and make meaningful progress from often low starting points.
At a Glance
72.7%
Free School Meals
No
Boarding
No
Nursery
Yes
Sixth Form
No
Special Measures
Primary Performance (KS2)
Academic year 2025/26KS2 Results (% meeting expected standard)
Reading has declined from 33% to 10% (2024 to 2025), while maths has declined from 11% to 0% (2024 to 2025).
How Does This School Compare?
Ranked against 5 nearby schools
Keep up with Nightingale Community Academy
Getting There
Train Stations
Tube / Metro / Tram
Bus Stops
Free school transport
Check free transport to Nightingale Community Academy from your postcode →
You apply to the council where you live. Nightingale Community Academy is in Wandsworth; for families living there:
Apply to Wandsworth for free school transport. Its policy is on the council's website.
Safety and surroundings
Road collisions within 500 m (2021 to 2025)
- Collisions
- 72
- Fatal
- 0
- Serious
- 10
- Children hurt
- 6
Within 500 m of the school's mapped location, police recorded 72 road collisions in which someone was injured in 2021 to 2025: none fatal, 10 serious and 62 slight.
6 children aged 0 to 15 were hurt: 5 on foot and 1 on a bicycle.
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 Wandsworth is 99 (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
58%
Available places
139 pupils
238 places
99 spare places
as recorded on GIAS
Area Demand Pressure - London
Based on MHCLG Live Table 122 (2024-25, last 5 years) for London
Across Wandsworth council
Places available
2,095
Applications
2,164
Got 1st preference
60.4%
Got preferred school
90.2%
All secondary applications across Wandsworth council (2026/27), not just this school.
Inspection History(3)
SEND & SEN Provision
SEN Overview
0
SEN Support
139
EHC Plans
100.0%
of Total Pupils
2026 academic year
Provision & Specialist Facilities
Pupils by Need Type
Pupil Demographics
Ethnicity
2026 academic year
Key Indicators
139
Total Pupils
139
Boys
0
Girls
2026 academic year
Workforce
24
Teachers
5.8:1
Pupil-teacher ratio
£58,359
Mean salary
2026 data
Pupil Absence2024/25
27.4%
Overall absence
63.2%
Persistent absence
125
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
Questions parents ask about Nightingale Community Academy
What are GCSE results like at Nightingale Community Academy?
In the 2026 results, pupils at Nightingale Community Academy achieved an Attainment 8 score of 7.2. 0% passed GCSE English and maths at grade 5 or above.
What is Nightingale Community Academy's Ofsted rating?
Nightingale Community Academy's most recent Ofsted inspection, in April 2026, produced a report card, which grades each area but gives no overall grade. At its last graded inspection, in September 2022, it was rated Good.
What is the catchment area for Nightingale Community Academy?
No fixed boundary. When Nightingale Community Academy is oversubscribed, Wandsworth allocates places by its published criteria, usually ending with home-to-school distance.
How many pupils go to Nightingale Community Academy?
Nightingale Community Academy has around 139 pupils on roll. 73% are eligible for free school meals.
What is attendance like at Nightingale Community Academy?
27.4% of sessions were missed at Nightingale Community Academy in 2024/25. 63.2% of pupils were persistently absent (missing 10% or more of sessions).
How do I apply to Nightingale Community Academy?
Apply through Wandsworth's coordinated admissions process, naming Nightingale Community 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 Nightingale Community Academy?
Within 500 m of the school's mapped location, police recorded 72 road collisions in which someone was injured in 2021 to 2025: none fatal, 10 serious and 62 slight. 6 children aged 0 to 15 were hurt: 5 on foot and 1 on a bicycle. 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 Wandsworth is 99 (the median across 113 schools, same distance and years).
Where is Nightingale Community Academy?
Nightingale Community Academy is at Beechcroft Road, Tooting, London, SW17 7DF.
Source: Department for Transport, Road Safety Data (STATS19)