Oak Lodge School, London
Oak Lodge School is a special school for pupils aged 11 to 19 in London, part of Barnet Special Education Trust. It was rated Outstanding at its last graded Ofsted inspection, in December 2013. Ofsted's ungraded inspection in March 2025 did not change this grade.
- Ofsted
- Outstanding (2013)
Data last updated 27 Oct 2026
Oak Lodge School in detail
Compared with nearby schools
The nearest other special schools to Oak Lodge School are Blanche Nevile School (1.1 miles, Good); TreeHouse School (1.3 miles, Outstanding); Kisharon School (1.8 miles, Good); and The Harington Scheme Ltd (1.9 miles).
Blanche Nevile SchoolTreeHouse SchoolKisharon SchoolThe Harington Scheme Ltd
The trust
Oak Lodge School is one of 2 schools run by Barnet Special Education Trust, an academy trust.
Where pupils go next
Of the 25 pupils who finished Year 11 in 2023/24, 80% stayed in education or training for at least two terms, including 12% to a further education college.
Who goes there
43.7% of pupils are eligible for free school meals, and 37.9% speak English as an additional language, according to the 2026 school census.
The largest ethnic groups are White British (26%), Black (20%) and Mixed (16%).
Almost every pupil at Oak Lodge School has an education, health and care plan (190 of 190 in 2026). The most common need among them is autism.
Oak Lodge School provides for pupils with specific learning difficulties such as dyslexia, visual impairment, other difficulties or disabilities, hearing impairment, speech, language and communication needs, autism, physical disability, moderate learning difficulties and severe learning difficulties.
Getting there
The nearest Underground station is East Finchley Underground Station, about 930 metres away (roughly a 12-minute walk).
11 bus stops are within a five-minute walk; the closest is Ludlow Way (->s), 150 metres away.
Suspensions and exclusions
In 2024/25, Oak Lodge School issued 2 suspensions, 1.1 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 December 2013, 12 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 March 2025 inspection report.
What This School Does Well
Oak Lodge School excels at creating a happy, caring environment where pupils arrive smiling and feel genuinely safe. The school expertly supports pupils' individual needs through a thoughtfully designed curriculum that links learning to real-life experiences, such as running the school cafe. Staff are highly skilled at building strong relationships and quickly calming anxious pupils, while offering extensive clubs and performances that help students develop confidence and independence.
Key Strengths
- Expert curriculum design tailored to individual pupil needs with clear learning intentions
- Strong focus on reading and communication skills with effective phonics teaching and specialist support
- Extensive enrichment opportunities through weekly clubs and performances that build confidence
- Calm, nurturing atmosphere with skilled staff who support pupils' social and emotional needs
- Sixth form students well-prepared for adulthood through vocational qualifications and work experience
Safeguarding
Safeguarding arrangements are effective with strong systems in place to keep pupils safe.
Extracurricular Activities
Dance, football, gardening, music, choir, school newsletter (sixth form), work experience in the community, charity work
Oak Lodge School has maintained the high standards from its previous outstanding rating. Pupils enjoy school, feel safe, and benefit from a calm, caring environment with strong staff relationships.
About
Oak Lodge School is a specialist day school with a residential provision for students with hearing, speech, language and communication needs aged 10–19. It is located in the London borough of Wandsworth in England.
From Wikipedia, licensed under CC BY-SA 4.0
At a Glance
43.7%
Free School Meals
No
Boarding
No
Nursery
Yes
Sixth Form
SpLD, Vision, Other +6
SEN Provision
No
Special Measures
How Does This School Compare?
Ranked against 5 nearby schools
Keep up with Oak Lodge School
Getting There
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 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
- 31
- Fatal
- 0
- Serious
- 6
- Children hurt
- 4
Within 500 m of the school's mapped location, police recorded 31 road collisions in which someone was injured in 2021 to 2025: none fatal, 6 serious and 25 slight.
4 children aged 0 to 15 were hurt: 3 on foot and 1 on a bicycle.
10 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
97%
Near capacity
190 pupils
195 places
5 spare places
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(3)
SEND & SEN Provision
SEN Overview
0
SEN Support
190
EHC Plans
100.0%
of Total Pupils
2026 academic year
Provision & Specialist Facilities
Oak Lodge School provides for pupils with specific learning difficulties such as dyslexia, visual impairment, other difficulties or disabilities, hearing impairment, speech, language and communication needs, autism, physical disability, moderate learning difficulties and severe learning difficulties.
Source: GIAS, Department for Education.
Pupils by Need Type
Pupil Demographics
Ethnicity
2026 academic year
Key Indicators
190
Total Pupils
130
Boys
60
Girls
2026 academic year
Workforce
30
Teachers
6.3:1
Pupil-teacher ratio
£49,825
Mean salary
2026 data
Pupil Absence2024/25
11.0%
Overall absence
33.1%
Persistent absence
124
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
Oak Lodge School
Showing 10 of 14 linked schools
Questions parents ask about Oak Lodge School
What is Oak Lodge School's Ofsted rating?
Oak Lodge School's most recent Ofsted inspection, in March 2025, was ungraded, so it gave no overall grade. At its last graded inspection, in December 2013, it was rated Outstanding.
What is the catchment area for Oak Lodge School?
No fixed boundary. When Oak Lodge School is oversubscribed, Barnet 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 190 pupils on roll. 44% are eligible for free school meals.
Does Oak Lodge School have specialist SEN provision?
Oak Lodge School provides for pupils with specific learning difficulties such as dyslexia, visual impairment, other difficulties or disabilities, hearing impairment, speech, language and communication needs, autism, physical disability, moderate learning difficulties and severe learning difficulties.
What is attendance like at Oak Lodge School?
11% of sessions were missed at Oak Lodge School in 2024/25. 33.1% of pupils were persistently absent (missing 10% or more of sessions).
How do I apply to Oak Lodge School?
Apply through Barnet'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 31 road collisions in which someone was injured in 2021 to 2025: none fatal, 6 serious and 25 slight. 4 children aged 0 to 15 were hurt: 3 on foot and 1 on a bicycle. 10 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 Oak Lodge School?
Oak Lodge School is at Heath View, East Finchley, London, N2 0QY.
Source: Department for Transport, Road Safety Data (STATS19)