Phoenix School, London
Phoenix School is a special school for pupils aged 3 to 19 in London. It was rated Outstanding at its last graded Ofsted inspection, in December 2013. Ofsted's ungraded inspection in January 2026 did not change this grade.
- Ofsted
- Outstanding (2013)
Data last updated 27 Oct 2026
Phoenix School in detail
Phoenix School in its own words
From the headteacher's welcome: "To offer a positive, life-enhancing education, providing opportunities for the development of each individual’s potential, and to achieve a fulfilling adult life. Welcome to Phoenix, a well-established special school dedicated to educating autistic children and young people nestled in the heart of Tower Hamlets, we take immense pride in offering a unique and invaluable educational provision."
Headteacher's welcome (school website)
Source: The school's own website
Compared with nearby schools
The nearest other special schools to Phoenix School are Phoenix Autism Trust (under 0.1 miles, Good); Beatrice Tate School (0.3 miles, Outstanding); Onelab College (0.5 miles); and Ian Mikardo High School (0.6 miles, Good).
Phoenix Autism TrustBeatrice Tate SchoolOnelab CollegeIan Mikardo High School
Where pupils go next
Of the 36 pupils who finished Year 11 in 2023/24, 100% stayed in education or training for at least two terms, including 3% to a further education college.
Who goes there
62.3% of pupils are eligible for free school meals, and 57% speak English as an additional language, according to the 2026 school census.
The largest ethnic groups are Asian (64%), Black (13%) and Mixed (9%).
Almost every pupil at Phoenix School has an education, health and care plan (533 of 533 in 2026). The most common need among them is autism.
Phoenix School provides for pupils with speech, language and communication needs, autism, social, emotional and mental health needs and moderate learning difficulties.
Getting there
The nearest tram or metro stop is Bow Road Station, about 120 metres away (roughly a 1-minute walk).
6 bus stops are within a five-minute walk; the closest is Bow Road Station, 70 metres away.
The area around the school
Measured by the 2025 English Indices of Deprivation, the neighbourhood Phoenix School stands in is among the 20% most deprived neighbourhoods in England. This describes where the school is, not where its pupils live.
Suspensions and exclusions
In 2024/25, Phoenix School issued 6 suspensions, 1.2 for every 100 pupils, and no permanent exclusions.
Sources: DfE destination measures; DfE school census and special educational needs statistics; NaPTAN (Department for Transport); English Indices of Deprivation 2025 (MHCLG); data.police.uk street-level crime; DfE exclusions statistics
Key Information
DfE GIASOfsted Rating
Ofsted · 9 months agoThis judgement is from December 2013, 12 years ago, longer than Ofsted's usual 4-year cycle: the school may have changed since.
Overall
Ofsted Insights
From Ofsted's January 2026 inspection report.
What This School Does Well
Phoenix School excels at creating a calm, supportive environment where pupils with diverse needs feel safe and settled. Leaders and staff use clear routines and individualised approaches to help pupils manage their behaviour and emotions. The school works closely with families to keep them informed and involved in their child's learning and wellbeing.
Key Strengths
- Strong leadership at all levels with clear systems for monitoring safeguarding, behaviour and attendance
- Consistent, calm approach to behaviour management with staff responding promptly to individual pupil needs
- Well-designed regulation spaces that help pupils calm down and return to learning
- Close monitoring of attendance with quick follow-up and support from external agencies when needed
- Open culture where concerns are discussed candidly and improvements are made
Areas for Improvement
- Enhance communication with families about regulation strategies so all parents understand how support is provided when their child becomes significantly distressed
Safeguarding
Safeguarding standards are met, with leaders establishing an open culture where safeguarding is everyone's responsibility and concerns are actively identified and managed, keeping children safe.
Phoenix School is a specialist provision serving 533 pupils with diverse needs including speech and language difficulties, autism, and emotional and mental health needs. This focused monitoring inspection found that safeguarding standards are met and leadership remains a strength.
At a Glance
62.3%
Free School Meals
No
Boarding
Yes
Nursery
Yes
Sixth Form
Speech and language, Autism, SEMH +1
SEN Provision
No
Special Measures
Primary Performance (KS2)
Academic year 2025/26KS2 Results (% meeting expected standard)
Maths has remained stable at around 4% (2024 to 2025).
How Does This School Compare?
Ranked against 5 nearby schools
Keep up with Phoenix School
Getting There
Tube / Metro / Tram
Bus Stops
Free school transport
Check free transport to Phoenix School from your postcode →
You apply to the council where you live. Phoenix School is in Tower Hamlets; for families living there:
Apply to Tower Hamlets for free school transport. Its policy is on the council's website.
Safety and surroundings
Road collisions within 500 m (2021 to 2025)
- Collisions
- 233
- Fatal
- 1
- Serious
- 37
- Children hurt
- 13
Within 500 m of the school's mapped location, police recorded 233 road collisions in which someone was injured in 2021 to 2025: 1 fatal, 37 serious and 195 slight.
13 children aged 0 to 15 were hurt: 3 on foot, 2 on a bicycle and 8 in a vehicle or otherwise.
46 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 Tower Hamlets is 231 (the median across 115 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
107%
Over capacity
533 pupils
500 places
33 pupils over capacity
as recorded on GIAS
Area Demand Pressure - London
Based on MHCLG Live Table 122 (2024-25, last 5 years) for London
Across Tower Hamlets council
Places available
3,059
Applications
2,716
Got 1st preference
79.1%
Got preferred school
96.6%
All secondary applications across Tower Hamlets council (2026/27), not just this school.
Inspection History(6)
SEND & SEN Provision
SEN Overview
0
SEN Support
533
EHC Plans
100.0%
of Total Pupils
2026 academic year
Provision & Specialist Facilities
Phoenix School provides for pupils with speech, language and communication needs, autism, social, emotional and mental health needs and moderate learning difficulties.
Source: GIAS, Department for Education.
Pupils by Need Type
Pupil Demographics
Ethnicity
2026 academic year
Key Indicators
533
Total Pupils
414
Boys
119
Girls
2026 academic year
Workforce
88
Teachers
6.1:1
Pupil-teacher ratio
£57,173
Mean salary
2026 data
Pupil Absence2024/25
9.6%
Overall absence
33.8%
Persistent absence
396
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
Phoenix School
Showing 10 of 15 linked schools
Questions parents ask about Phoenix School
What are GCSE results like at Phoenix School?
In the 2026 results, pupils at Phoenix School achieved an Attainment 8 score of 0.2. 0% passed GCSE English and maths at grade 5 or above.
What is Phoenix School's Ofsted rating?
Phoenix School's most recent Ofsted inspection, in January 2026, 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 Phoenix School?
No fixed boundary. When Phoenix School is oversubscribed, Tower Hamlets allocates places by its published criteria, usually ending with home-to-school distance.
How many pupils go to Phoenix School?
Phoenix School has around 533 pupils on roll. 62% are eligible for free school meals.
Does Phoenix School have specialist SEN provision?
Phoenix School provides for pupils with speech, language and communication needs, autism, social, emotional and mental health needs and moderate learning difficulties.
What is attendance like at Phoenix School?
9.6% of sessions were missed at Phoenix School in 2024/25. 33.8% of pupils were persistently absent (missing 10% or more of sessions).
How do I apply to Phoenix School?
Apply through Tower Hamlets's coordinated admissions process, naming Phoenix 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 Phoenix School?
Within 500 m of the school's mapped location, police recorded 233 road collisions in which someone was injured in 2021 to 2025: 1 fatal, 37 serious and 195 slight. 13 children aged 0 to 15 were hurt: 3 on foot, 2 on a bicycle and 8 in a vehicle or otherwise. 46 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 Tower Hamlets is 231 (the median across 115 schools, same distance and years).
Where is Phoenix School?
Phoenix School is at 49 Bow Road, London, E3 2AD.
Source: Department for Transport, Road Safety Data (STATS19)