Oak Lodge School, London
Oak Lodge School is a special school for pupils aged 10 to 19 in London. It was rated Good at its last graded Ofsted inspection, in May 2016. Ofsted's ungraded inspection in April 2025 did not change this grade.
- Ofsted
- Good (2016)
Data last updated 26 Oct 2026
Oak Lodge School in detail
Oak Lodge School in its own words
In its own words: "Our Vision is to be an outstanding school in the eyes of all stakeholders. We will develop and share teaching expertise within our school in a structured way. We will enable each child to achieve his or her personal best both now and in the future."
Vision and values (school website)
Source: The school's own website
Compared with nearby schools
The nearest other special schools to Oak Lodge School are Nightingale Community Academy (0.8 miles, Good); Park House School (1.1 miles, Outstanding); Centre Academy London (1.1 miles, selective); and Chelsea Hall School (1.3 miles).
Nightingale Community AcademyPark House SchoolCentre Academy LondonChelsea Hall School
Where pupils go next
Of the 10 pupils who finished Year 11 in 2023/24, 90% stayed in education or training for at least two terms, including 50% to a further education college.
Who goes there
63.5% of pupils are eligible for free school meals, and 60.4% speak English as an additional language, according to the 2026 school census.
The largest ethnic groups are Black (28%), White British (23%) and Asian (21%).
Almost every pupil at Oak Lodge School has an education, health and care plan (95 of 96 in 2026). The most common need among them is hearing impairment.
Oak Lodge School provides for pupils with hearing impairment and speech, language and communication needs.
Getting there
The nearest railway station is Wandsworth Common Rail Station, about 440 metres away (roughly a 5-minute walk).
7 bus stops are within a five-minute walk; the closest is Oak Lodge School (->w), 160 metres away.
Suspensions and exclusions
In 2024/25, Oak Lodge School issued 11 suspensions, 12.1 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 agoThis judgement is from May 2016, 10 years ago, longer than Ofsted's usual 4-year cycle: the school may have changed since.
Overall
Latest (ungraded) inspection: Standards have been maintained.
Ofsted Insights
From Ofsted's April 2025 inspection report.
What This School Does Well
Oak Lodge provides a genuinely inclusive environment where every child feels valued and can be themselves. Your child will develop strong communication skills in both English and British Sign Language while achieving well academically. The school goes beyond the classroom to prepare pupils for real life - from business ventures run by sixth formers to visiting colleges and experiencing work placements.
Key Strengths
- Pupils develop excellent language and communication skills in both English and British Sign Language
- Strong focus on preparing pupils for future careers and life experiences through work placements, college visits and meeting positive role models
- Well-trained staff including teachers, support staff and therapists who work together effectively to identify and meet pupils' individual needs
- Enjoyable, meaningful learning experiences including field trips to tube stations and supermarkets that help pupils apply their learning
- Strong pastoral care with helpful strategies like the 'colours of emotion' to help pupils manage their feelings
Areas for Improvement
- In a few subjects, the school has not clearly defined what subject knowledge should be taught and when on the revised learning pathways, making it unclear for staff how pupils' knowledge should build over time
Safeguarding
Safeguarding arrangements are effective, with the school creating an open and positive culture that puts pupils' interests first.
Extracurricular Activities
School fair, prom fundraising, sixth-form student business selling QR code cards and items at markets, work placements, college visits, visits from services such as police
Oak Lodge School is a welcoming and inclusive special school for deaf pupils and those with speech, language and communication needs. The school has maintained the good standards from its previous inspection, with pupils happy, safe and achieving well.
At a Glance
63.5%
Free School Meals
No
Boarding
No
Nursery
Yes
Sixth Form
Hearing, Speech and language
SEN Provision
No
Special Measures
How Does This School Compare?
Ranked against 5 nearby schools
Latest from Oak Lodge School
Newsletter 18 September 2026 OL Newsletter 2026
18 Sep 2026
Newsletter 11 September 2026
11 Sep 2026
OL Newsletter June 5th 2026 OL Newsletter June 5th 2026
5 Jun 2026
OL Newsletter 22 May 2026 OL Newsletter 22 May 2026
22 May 2026
OL Newsletter 25 September 2025 OL Newsletter 25th September 2026
25 Sep 2025
From Oak Lodge School's website. School Signal is not affiliated with the school.
Social & online
Keep up with Oak Lodge School
Getting There
Train Stations
Tube / Metro / Tram
Bus Stops
Free school transport
Check free transport to Oak Lodge School from your postcode →
You apply to the council where you live. Oak Lodge School 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
- 57
- Fatal
- 0
- Serious
- 8
- Children hurt
- 1
Within 500 m of the school's mapped location, police recorded 57 road collisions in which someone was injured in 2021 to 2025: none fatal, 8 serious and 49 slight.
1 child aged 0 to 15 was hurt: 1 on foot.
11 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
96%
Near capacity
96 pupils
100 places
4 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(6)
SEND & SEN Provision
SEN Overview
1
SEN Support
95
EHC Plans
100.0%
of Total Pupils
2026 academic year
Provision & Specialist Facilities
Oak Lodge School provides for pupils with hearing impairment and speech, language and communication needs.
Source: GIAS, Department for Education.
Pupils by Need Type
Pupil Demographics
Ethnicity
2026 academic year
Key Indicators
96
Total Pupils
52
Boys
44
Girls
2026 academic year
Workforce
29
Teachers
3.3:1
Pupil-teacher ratio
£57,291
Mean salary
2026 data
Pupil Absence2024/25
9.5%
Overall absence
42.6%
Persistent absence
47
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 Oak Lodge School
What are GCSE results like at Oak Lodge School?
In the 2026 results, pupils at Oak Lodge School achieved an Attainment 8 score of 1.6. 0% passed GCSE English and maths at grade 5 or above.
What is Oak Lodge School's Ofsted rating?
Oak Lodge School's most recent Ofsted inspection, in April 2025, was ungraded, so it gave no overall grade. At its last graded inspection, in May 2016, it was rated Good.
What is the catchment area for Oak Lodge School?
No fixed boundary. When Oak Lodge School is oversubscribed, Wandsworth allocates places by its published criteria, usually ending with home-to-school distance.
How many pupils go to Oak Lodge School?
Oak Lodge School has around 96 pupils on roll. 64% are eligible for free school meals.
Does Oak Lodge School have specialist SEN provision?
Oak Lodge School provides for pupils with hearing impairment and speech, language and communication needs.
What is attendance like at Oak Lodge School?
9.5% of sessions were missed at Oak Lodge School in 2024/25. 42.6% of pupils were persistently absent (missing 10% or more of sessions).
How do I apply to Oak Lodge School?
Apply through Wandsworth's coordinated admissions process, naming Oak Lodge 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 Oak Lodge School?
Within 500 m of the school's mapped location, police recorded 57 road collisions in which someone was injured in 2021 to 2025: none fatal, 8 serious and 49 slight. 1 child aged 0 to 15 was hurt: 1 on foot. 11 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 Oak Lodge School?
Oak Lodge School is at 101 Nightingale Lane, Balham, London, SW12 8NA.
Source: Department for Transport, Road Safety Data (STATS19)