Orange Tree School, London
Orange Tree School is a special school for pupils aged 8 to 19 in London.
Data last updated 27 Oct 2026
Orange Tree School in detail
Orange Tree School in its own words
In its own words: "The Orange Tree School works to achieve its aims by providing a stimulating, caring, calm and secure environment. We are guided by three broad principles: engagement and raising aspiration, unlocking every child’s potential, and recognising and celebrating achievement."
From the headteacher's welcome: "As soon as you walk through the doors of the Orange Tree you can feel its warmth and generosity."
Vision and values (school website)Headteacher's welcome (school website)
Source: The school's own website
Compared with nearby schools
The nearest other special schools to Orange Tree School are Oakleigh School & Acorn Assessment Centre (0.6 miles, Outstanding); Oak Hill School (0.7 miles, Good); The Holmewood School (1 mile, selective); and Oaktree School (1.4 miles, Good).
Oakleigh School & Acorn Assessment CentreOak Hill SchoolThe Holmewood SchoolOaktree School
Who goes there
In 2026, 9 pupils (11.8%) received SEN support and 67 (88.2%) had an education, health and care plan.
Getting there
The nearest Underground station is Totteridge & Whetstone Underground Station, about 590 metres away (roughly a 7-minute walk).
17 bus stops are within a five-minute walk; the closest is Oakleigh Park North (->w), 60 metres away.
The area around the school
Measured by the 2025 English Indices of Deprivation, the neighbourhood Orange Tree School stands in is among the 10% least deprived neighbourhoods in England. On income deprivation affecting children it is in the 8th decile, where the 1st is the most deprived. This describes where the school is, not where its pupils live.
In August 2026, police recorded 237 crimes within a mile of the school, most often violence and sexual offences, anti-social behaviour and other theft. That is well below the typical figure around schools in Barnet (370).
Sources: 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 · 1 year agoOverall
Ofsted Insights
From Ofsted's May 2025 inspection report.
What This School Does Well
Orange Tree School excels at supporting pupils who have missed significant periods of education, quickly identifying gaps and providing tailored support to help them catch up. The school offers a well-designed curriculum that goes beyond the classroom, with opportunities in areas like equine studies and woodland learning, while maintaining excellent facilities specifically designed for pupils' needs. Staff demonstrate expertise in supporting social, emotional and mental health needs alongside academic learning.
Key Strengths
- Excellent curriculum tailored specifically for pupils with SEND, with strong emphasis on language, communication and number skills
- Staff quickly identify learning gaps and adapt teaching to support individual pupils catching up
- Outstanding premises designed to support pupils with SEND, including specialist lighting and facilities
- Robust safeguarding policies covering all current guidance including online safety and child protection
- Strong leadership with knowledge of teaching SEND and capacity to manage additional pupils
Safeguarding
Safeguarding is effective with detailed policies covering online safety, female genital mutilation, child-on-child abuse and sexual exploitation, with clear identification of designated leads.
Extracurricular Activities
Equine studies, woodland learning, GCSE examinations, external accreditation in food technology
Orange Tree School is proposing to change from an independent school to a special school and increase pupil numbers from 81 to 110. The school is well-positioned to meet independent school standards with its strong curriculum designed for pupils with social, emotional, mental and health needs.
At a Glance
No
Boarding
No
Nursery
Yes
Sixth Form
No
Special Measures
How Does This School Compare?
Ranked against 5 nearby schools
Social & online
Keep up with Orange Tree School
Getting There
Train Stations
Tube / Metro / Tram
Bus Stops
Safety and surroundings
Road collisions within 500 m (2021 to 2025)
- Collisions
- 71
- Fatal
- 0
- Serious
- 12
- Children hurt
- 0
Within 500 m of the school's mapped location, police recorded 71 road collisions in which someone was injured in 2021 to 2025: none fatal, 12 serious and 59 slight.
No children aged 0 to 15 were among the people hurt.
7 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
69%
Available places
76 pupils
110 places
34 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.
SEND & SEN Provision
SEN Overview
9
SEN Support
67
EHC Plans
100.0%
of Total Pupils
2026 academic year
Provision & Specialist Facilities
Orange Tree School is not approved under Section 41 of the Children and Families Act 2014.
Source: GIAS, Department for Education.
Pupils by Need Type
No need-level breakdown available
Pupil Demographics
Key Indicators
76
Total Pupils
33
Boys
43
Girls
2026 academic year
Feeder Primary Schools
Primary schools that likely feed into this school, based on proximity
Orange Tree School
Showing 10 of 14 linked schools
Questions parents ask about Orange Tree School
What are GCSE results like at Orange Tree School?
The Department for Education's GCSE measures do not count IGCSEs, which many independent schools take instead of GCSEs, so the Attainment 8 and English and maths figures it publishes for Orange Tree School can understate its results. We do not rank or compare them; ask the school for its own GCSE and IGCSE results.
How many pupils go to Orange Tree School?
Orange Tree School has around 76 pupils on roll.
Does Orange Tree School have specialist SEN provision?
Orange Tree School is not approved under Section 41 of the Children and Families Act 2014.
How do I apply to Orange Tree School?
Orange Tree School is an independent school and runs its own admissions rather than going through the local authority. Contact the school directly for entry requirements, assessment dates, fees and any bursaries.
How many road collisions happen near Orange Tree School?
Within 500 m of the school's mapped location, police recorded 71 road collisions in which someone was injured in 2021 to 2025: none fatal, 12 serious and 59 slight. No children aged 0 to 15 were among the people hurt. 7 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 Orange Tree School?
Orange Tree School is at Oakleigh Park North, Whetstone, London, N20 9AR.
Source: Department for Transport, Road Safety Data (STATS19)