Paddock School, London
Paddock School is a special school for pupils aged 4 to 19 in London. Its most recent Ofsted inspection, in July 2026, ended in a report card: 8 strong standard. Before that it was rated Outstanding at its last graded inspection, in May 2013.
- Ofsted report card
- 8 of 8 areas strong or better
Data last updated 26 Oct 2026
Paddock School in detail
What Ofsted's report card says
Ofsted's report card from its 14 July 2026 inspection grades Paddock School on 8 areas: 8 strong standard. Report cards replaced single-word judgements in November 2025, on a five-point scale from exceptional to urgent improvement.
Achievement - Strong standard. "Leaders prioritise pupils' achievement regardless of the barriers to learning they face."
Attendance and behaviour - Strong standard. "Leaders have managed attendance thoughtfully and carefully."
Curriculum and teaching - Strong standard. "Leaders have constructed a carefully sequenced, ambitious range of curriculum pathways that builds on pupils' prior learning across all age groups."
Early years - Strong standard. "Leaders have high aspirations for children in the early years."
Inclusion - Strong standard. "Leaders' dedication to the principles of inclusivity are informed by the deep understanding of pupils' individual needs."
Leadership and governance - Strong standard. "Leaders and those responsible for governance share a clear and passionate commitment to pupils' welfare, learning and inclusion."
Personal development and wellbeing - Strong standard. "Leaders have developed a personalised approach to pupils' personal development."
Post-16 provision - Strong standard. "Leaders have carefully planned post 16 study programmes that are matched to students' needs, interests and aspirations."
Safeguarding standards were met.
Ofsted's next steps for the school: "Leaders and those responsible for governance should maintain and build on the improvements to the curriculum and teaching across the school since the new structure and buildings were established to ensure the highest possible outcomes".
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 Paddock School are Garratt Park School (0.7 miles, Good); Garratt Park School (0.7 miles); Nightingale Community Academy (0.7 miles, Good); and Tram House School (0.7 miles, Outstanding).
Garratt Park SchoolGarratt Park SchoolNightingale Community AcademyTram House School
Where pupils go next
Of the 16 pupils who finished Year 11 in 2023/24, 100% stayed in education or training for at least two terms.
Who goes there
65.9% of pupils are eligible for free school meals, and 42.3% speak English as an additional language, according to the 2026 school census.
The largest ethnic groups are Black (35%), Asian (20%) and White British (15%).
Almost every pupil at Paddock School has an education, health and care plan (246 of 246 in 2026). The most common need among them is a severe learning difficulty.
Paddock School provides for pupils with autism, moderate learning difficulties and severe learning difficulties.
Getting there
The nearest tram or metro stop is Tooting Broadway Station, about 510 metres away (roughly a 6-minute walk).
9 bus stops are within a five-minute walk; the closest is Fairlight Road, 100 metres away.
Suspensions and exclusions
In 2024/25, Paddock School issued 4 suspensions, 1.8 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 · 3 months agoReport card - no single overall grade (Ofsted's framework since November 2025)
Safeguarding standards met
- AchievementStrong standard
- Attendance and behaviourStrong standard
- Curriculum and teachingStrong standard
- Early yearsStrong standard
- InclusionStrong standard
- Leadership and governanceStrong standard
- Personal development and wellbeingStrong standard
- Post-16 provisionStrong standard
Safeguarding standards: met
Ofsted's report card, in its own words
What it's like to be a pupil at Paddock School
Pupils have extremely positive attitudes to school and growing confidence as learners from the early years through to post 16. Pupils are proud to attend the school. They arrive each morning with enthusiasm and are greeted warmly by staff who know them extremely well. Adults have pupils' best interests at heart in everything they do and every decision they make. They are vigilant in ensuring that pupils feel safe and are kept safe. Relationships, between pupils and staff, are highly constructive. Staff understand pupils' worries and respond to them consistently well. As a result, pupils, including those who face barriers to their learning, feel safe, valued and ready to learn. Pupils enjoy their learning and approach lessons with interest and curiosity. Teachers plan lessons that are carefully crafted to build on what pupils have learned before and meet their needs, goals and targets. They achieve very well. Older pupils benefit from a carefully planned curriculum that results in a variety of qualifications that they can work towards. These opportunities help pupils to be well prepared for their next stages in education or life outside school. Pupils show high levels of respect for each other. They learn about how to behave around one another and in society. Behaviour throughout the school is excellent, calm and purposeful. Staff supervise pupils closely to support them to independently take actions and make positive, safe decisions. Incidents of bullying are rare and, if it happens, staff deal with it swiftly. Children in early years show high levels of independence, curiosity and fascination. Older pupils value the many opportunities to develop independence including travel preparation, singing in a group and visits to numerous places of interest. Parents and carers speak very highly about the care, progress and difference the school makes to their children in the school.
What Ofsted says the school should do next
- Leaders and those responsible for governance should maintain and build on the improvements to the curriculum and teaching across the school since the new structure and buildings were established to ensure the highest possible outcomes.
From Ofsted's report card (inspection 14 July 2026). Read the full report Contains public sector information licensed under the Open Government Licence v3.0.
Ofsted Insights
Ofsted rated this school Outstanding at its May 2013 inspection - unchanged since its previous inspection.
Rated Outstanding for
Leadership & management.
At a Glance
65.9%
Free School Meals
No
Boarding
No
Nursery
Yes
Sixth Form
Autism, MLD, SLD
SEN Provision
No
Special Measures
Primary Performance (KS2)
Academic year 2024/25KS2 Results (% meeting expected standard)
How Does This School Compare?
Ranked against 5 nearby schools
Keep up with Paddock School
Getting There
Tube / Metro / Tram
Bus Stops
Free school transport
Check free transport to Paddock School from your postcode →
You apply to the council where you live. Paddock 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
- 103
- Fatal
- 0
- Serious
- 14
- Children hurt
- 5
Within 500 m of the school's mapped location, police recorded 103 road collisions in which someone was injured in 2021 to 2025: none fatal, 14 serious and 89 slight.
5 children aged 0 to 15 were hurt: 2 on foot, 2 on a bicycle and 1 in a vehicle or otherwise.
21 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
95%
Near capacity
246 pupils
258 places
12 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(7)
SEND & SEN Provision
SEN Overview
0
SEN Support
246
EHC Plans
100.0%
of Total Pupils
2026 academic year
Provision & Specialist Facilities
Paddock School provides for pupils with autism, moderate learning difficulties and severe learning difficulties.
Source: GIAS, Department for Education.
Pupils by Need Type
Pupil Demographics
Ethnicity
2026 academic year
Key Indicators
246
Total Pupils
189
Boys
57
Girls
2026 academic year
Workforce
43
Teachers
5.7:1
Pupil-teacher ratio
£62,991
Mean salary
2026 data
Pupil Absence2024/25
8.6%
Overall absence
27.1%
Persistent absence
177
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
Paddock School
Showing 10 of 13 linked schools
Questions parents ask about Paddock School
What are SATs results like at Paddock School?
Of the pupils at Paddock School who took the 2025 Key Stage 2 assessments, 0% reached the expected standard in reading and 0% did so in maths.
What is Paddock School's Ofsted rating?
Paddock School's most recent Ofsted inspection, in July 2026, produced a report card, which grades each area but gives no overall grade. At its last graded inspection, in May 2013, it was rated Outstanding.
What is the catchment area for Paddock School?
No fixed boundary. When Paddock School is oversubscribed, Wandsworth allocates places by its published criteria, usually ending with home-to-school distance.
How many pupils go to Paddock School?
Paddock School has around 246 pupils on roll. 66% are eligible for free school meals.
Does Paddock School have specialist SEN provision?
Paddock School provides for pupils with autism, moderate learning difficulties and severe learning difficulties.
What is attendance like at Paddock School?
8.6% of sessions were missed at Paddock School in 2024/25. 27.1% of pupils were persistently absent (missing 10% or more of sessions).
How do I apply to Paddock School?
Apply through Wandsworth's coordinated admissions process, naming Paddock 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 Paddock School?
Within 500 m of the school's mapped location, police recorded 103 road collisions in which someone was injured in 2021 to 2025: none fatal, 14 serious and 89 slight. 5 children aged 0 to 15 were hurt: 2 on foot, 2 on a bicycle and 1 in a vehicle or otherwise. 21 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 Paddock School?
Paddock School is at 120 Broadwater Road, London, SW17 0DZ.
Source: Department for Transport, Road Safety Data (STATS19)