Samuel Rhodes MLD School, London
Samuel Rhodes MLD School is a special school for pupils aged 11 to 19 in London. Its most recent Ofsted inspection, in May 2026, ended in a report card: 1 exceptional and 6 strong standard. Before that it was rated Outstanding at its last graded inspection, in March 2017.
- Ofsted report card
- 7 of 7 areas strong or better
Data last updated 27 Oct 2026
Samuel Rhodes MLD School in detail
What Ofsted's report card says
Ofsted's report card from its 12 May 2026 inspection grades Samuel Rhodes MLD School on 7 areas: 1 exceptional and 6 strong standard. Report cards replaced single-word judgements in November 2025, on a five-point scale from exceptional to urgent improvement.
Personal development and wellbeing - Exceptional. "Leaders provide exceptionally effective, insightful and carefully considered leadership for personal development and wellbeing."
Achievement - Strong standard. "All pupils are pupils with special educational needs and/or disabilities and face a range of different challenges to success."
Attendance and behaviour - Strong standard. "Leaders take a highly proactive approach to attendance."
Curriculum and teaching - Strong standard. "Leaders have a clear and well-established understanding of what pupils need to learn and the quality of teaching."
Inclusion - Strong standard. "Leaders are highly effective in identifying and meeting pupils' needs."
Leadership and governance - Strong standard. "Leaders provide an extremely clear and purposeful vision for consistent improvement."
Post 16 provision - Strong standard. "Leaders provide very clear and effective leadership of the post-16 programme."
Safeguarding standards were met.
Ofsted's next steps for the school: "Leaders and governors should continue to strengthen how assessment is used by staff to secure consistently exceptional achievement across subjects, and ensure this information is shared with parents and carers to help them to understand their child's holistic and academic achievement even better".
Read the full report card on Ofsted's site (school website)
Source: Ofsted report card (Open Government Licence), quoted
Samuel Rhodes MLD School in its own words
From the headteacher's welcome: "We pride ourselves on the sustained holistic work we provide for all pupils that supports them to engage in learning and to develop greater confidence, resilience and independence. Our talented staff team create an ambitious and inclusive learning environment where pupils thrive."
Coming up: an open evening on Monday 18 January 2027 and an open evening on Monday 21 June 2027. Check the school's website before you go, as dates can change.
All school open days in Islington
Headteacher's welcome (school website)
Source: The school's own website
Compared with nearby schools
The nearest other special schools to Samuel Rhodes MLD School are The Courtyard Islington (0.4 miles, Good); The Bridge Integrated Learning Space (0.9 miles, Outstanding); The Garden School (0.9 miles, Outstanding); and Richard Cloudesley School (0.9 miles, Outstanding).
The Courtyard IslingtonThe Bridge Integrated Learning SpaceThe Garden SchoolRichard Cloudesley School
Where pupils go next
Of the 16 pupils who finished Year 11 in 2023/24, 94% stayed in education or training for at least two terms.
Who goes there
73.8% of pupils are eligible for free school meals, and 48.5% speak English as an additional language, according to the 2026 school census.
The largest ethnic groups are White British (27%), Black (27%) and Asian (15%).
Almost every pupil at Samuel Rhodes MLD School has an education, health and care plan (130 of 130 in 2026). The most common need among them is autism.
Samuel Rhodes MLD School provides for pupils with moderate learning difficulties.
Getting there
The nearest railway station is Canonbury Rail Station, about 390 metres away (roughly a 5-minute walk).
13 bus stops are within a five-minute walk; the closest is Highbury Grove Sch /Baalbec Rd, 30 metres away.
Suspensions and exclusions
In 2024/25, Samuel Rhodes MLD School issued 2 suspensions, 1.6 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 · 5 months agoReport card - no single overall grade (Ofsted's framework since November 2025)
Safeguarding standards met
- Personal development and wellbeingExceptional
- AchievementStrong standard
- Attendance and behaviourStrong standard
- Curriculum and teachingStrong standard
- InclusionStrong standard
- Leadership and governanceStrong 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 Samuel Rhodes MLD School
Pupils belong to a calm, supportive and purposeful community. They feel safe, understood and ready to learn. The day starts in a highly structured, welcoming way. Staff greet pupils warmly as they arrive. There is a clear sense of purpose as pupils enter the school. Pupils know where they need to be and go there without fuss. This helps pupils settle quickly and feel happy and secure. Pupils behave very well. They show highly positive attitudes toward each other, staff and their learning. Clear routines and strong relationships underpin daily life. Classrooms and social spaces are orderly and focused. Staff understand pupils' needs very well. They support pupils to manage their emotions effectively. Pupils learn to recognise their feelings and respond appropriately. When difficulties arise, staff remain calm and respectful. This keeps learning positive for everyone. Pupils trust staff to help them. They know who to talk to if they are worried. Pupils understand how to stay safe online and in the community. They treat each other with respect and kindness. Bullying is rare. When it happens, staff deal with it carefully and quickly. Pupils enjoy learning and take part in a wide range of activities. Lessons are meaningful and matched to pupils' needs. Pupils develop considerable confidence in speaking and listening. They explain their ideas clearly and take part in group discussions. Learning extends beyond the classroom. Pupils cook, take part in enterprise projects and visits in the community. For example, pupils run the café and tuck shop. They handle money and serve others with confidence. Pupils develop important skills that prepare them for employment, training and for life after school. Pupils make notable gains from their starting points. They improve in reading, writing and mathematics and develop communication, independence and self-control. Older pupils become increasingly confident. They speak with positivity and optimism about their achievements and future. Pupils flourish in this setting because leaders and staff have high expectations for what they can achieve in life. Pupils' needs are met through carefully tailored support, so they develop the independence skills necessary to be successful.
What Ofsted says the school should do next
- Leaders and governors should continue to strengthen how assessment is used by staff to secure consistently exceptional achievement across subjects, and ensure this information is shared with parents and carers to help them to understand their child's holistic and academic achievement even better.
From Ofsted's report card (inspection 12 May 2026). Read the full report Contains public sector information licensed under the Open Government Licence v3.0.
Ofsted Insights
From Ofsted's May 2026 inspection report.
What This School Does Well
Samuel Rhodes excels at preparing young people for adult life through practical skills like cooking, budgeting and travel training, alongside academic learning. The school creates a rich, inclusive environment where every pupil is supported to achieve well regardless of their starting point, with staff making thoughtful adjustments to meet individual needs. Pupils leave with confidence, independence and the skills needed to move into suitable work, training or college placements.
Key Strengths
- Exceptional personal development and wellbeing programme with rich enrichment activities including Shakespeare productions, sports events, and clubs
- Outstanding preparation for adulthood with excellent careers education and work experience leading to suitable employment and training placements
- Highly inclusive teaching that adapts tasks and resources so all pupils can succeed and gain confidence
- Proactive approach to attendance with specialist support resulting in above-average attendance rates
- Strong behaviour support and calm, respectful school environment where pupils feel secure
Safeguarding
Safeguarding standards are met with an open and positive culture where all legal requirements are fulfilled and pupils feel safe.
Extracurricular Activities
Shakespeare productions, sporting events, dance, football, art, library time, breaktime clubs, work experience, enterprise projects, workshops, school visits
Samuel Rhodes MLD School is a special school for pupils with moderate learning difficulties and disabilities in Islington, London. The school received an overall rating of 'Strong Standard' with 'Exceptional' ratings in Personal Development and Wellbeing.
At a Glance
73.8%
Free School Meals
No
Boarding
No
Nursery
Yes
Sixth Form
MLD
SEN Provision
No
Special Measures
Primary Performance (KS2)
Academic year 2023/24KS2 Results (% meeting expected standard)
2023/24 academic year
How Does This School Compare?
Ranked against 5 nearby schools
Keep up with Samuel Rhodes MLD School
Getting There
Train Stations
Tube / Metro / Tram
Bus Stops
Free school transport
Check free transport to Samuel Rhodes MLD School from your postcode →
You apply to the council where you live. Samuel Rhodes MLD School is in Islington; for families living there:
Apply to Islington for free school transport. Its policy is on the council's website.
Safety and surroundings
Road collisions within 500 m (2021 to 2025)
- Collisions
- 109
- Fatal
- 0
- Serious
- 21
- Children hurt
- 8
Within 500 m of the school's mapped location, police recorded 109 road collisions in which someone was injured in 2021 to 2025: none fatal, 21 serious and 88 slight.
8 children aged 0 to 15 were hurt: 3 on foot, 3 on a bicycle and 2 in a vehicle or otherwise.
20 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 Islington is 143 (the median across 70 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
93%
Near capacity
130 pupils
140 places
10 spare places
as recorded on GIAS
Area Demand Pressure - London
Based on MHCLG Live Table 122 (2024-25, last 5 years) for London
Across Islington council
Places available
1,480
Applications
1,593
Got 1st preference
66.2%
Got preferred school
94.5%
All secondary applications across Islington council (2026/27), not just this school.
Inspection History(8)
Ungraded inspection: The school remains Outstanding.
SEND & SEN Provision
SEN Overview
0
SEN Support
130
EHC Plans
100.0%
of Total Pupils
2026 academic year
Provision & Specialist Facilities
Samuel Rhodes MLD School provides for pupils with moderate learning difficulties.
Source: GIAS, Department for Education.
Pupils by Need Type
Pupil Demographics
Ethnicity
2026 academic year
Key Indicators
130
Total Pupils
89
Boys
41
Girls
2026 academic year
Workforce
23
Teachers
5.7:1
Pupil-teacher ratio
£57,695
Mean salary
2026 data
Pupil Absence2024/25
10.5%
Overall absence
33.7%
Persistent absence
98
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
Samuel Rhodes MLD School
Showing 10 of 14 linked schools
Questions parents ask about Samuel Rhodes MLD School
What are SATs results like at Samuel Rhodes MLD School?
Of the pupils at Samuel Rhodes MLD School who took the 2024 Key Stage 2 assessments, 0% reached the expected standard in reading and 0% did so in maths.
What is Samuel Rhodes MLD School's Ofsted rating?
Samuel Rhodes MLD School's most recent Ofsted inspection, in May 2026, produced a report card, which grades each area but gives no overall grade. At its last graded inspection, in March 2017, it was rated Outstanding.
What is the catchment area for Samuel Rhodes MLD School?
No fixed boundary. When Samuel Rhodes MLD School is oversubscribed, Islington allocates places by its published criteria, usually ending with home-to-school distance.
How many pupils go to Samuel Rhodes MLD School?
Samuel Rhodes MLD School has around 130 pupils on roll. 74% are eligible for free school meals.
Does Samuel Rhodes MLD School have specialist SEN provision?
Samuel Rhodes MLD School provides for pupils with moderate learning difficulties.
What is attendance like at Samuel Rhodes MLD School?
10.5% of sessions were missed at Samuel Rhodes MLD School in 2024/25. 33.7% of pupils were persistently absent (missing 10% or more of sessions).
How do I apply to Samuel Rhodes MLD School?
Apply through Islington's coordinated admissions process, naming Samuel Rhodes MLD 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 Samuel Rhodes MLD School?
Within 500 m of the school's mapped location, police recorded 109 road collisions in which someone was injured in 2021 to 2025: none fatal, 21 serious and 88 slight. 8 children aged 0 to 15 were hurt: 3 on foot, 3 on a bicycle and 2 in a vehicle or otherwise. 20 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 Islington is 143 (the median across 70 schools, same distance and years).
Where is Samuel Rhodes MLD School?
Samuel Rhodes MLD School is at 11 Highbury New Park, London, N5 2EG.
Source: Department for Transport, Road Safety Data (STATS19)