School of Oriental and African Studies, London
School of Oriental and African Studies is a school for pupils in London.
Data last updated 26 Oct 2026
School of Oriental and African Studies in detail
School of Oriental and African Studies in its own words
In its own words: "SOAS’s new 2026-2030 strategy was approved by the Board of Trustees in July 2025. Our bold new vision aims to consolidate and deepen our engagement in our regions, bolster research intensity and excellence, and enhance research-based teaching, placing the student experience at the centre."
Vision and values (school website)
Source: The school's own website
Getting there
The nearest tram or metro stop is Russell Square Station, about 350 metres away (roughly a 4-minute walk).
12 bus stops are within a five-minute walk; the closest is Russell Square Station, 150 metres away.
The area around the school
In August 2026, police recorded 4421 crimes within a mile of the school, most often other theft, theft from the person and violence and sexual offences. That is well above the typical figure around schools in Camden (1254), as is usual near a town centre.
Sources: NaPTAN (Department for Transport); English Indices of Deprivation 2025 (MHCLG); data.police.uk street-level crime
Key Information
DfE GIASOfsted Rating
No inspection data available
At a Glance
No
Boarding
No
Nursery
No
Sixth Form
No
Special Measures
How Does This School Compare?
Ranked against 5 nearby schools
Keep up with School of Oriental and African Studies
Getting There
Train Stations
Tube / Metro / Tram
Bus Stops
Safety and surroundings
Road collisions within 500 m (2021 to 2025)
- Collisions
- 194
- Fatal
- 0
- Serious
- 37
- Children hurt
- 1
Within 500 m of the school's mapped location, police recorded 194 road collisions in which someone was injured in 2021 to 2025: none fatal, 37 serious and 157 slight.
1 child aged 0 to 15 was hurt: 1 on a bicycle.
37 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 Camden is 130 (the median across 102 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
Across Camden council
Places available
1,577
Applications
1,261
Got 1st preference
73.7%
Got preferred school
93.3%
All secondary applications across Camden council (2026/27), not just this school.
Questions parents ask about School of Oriental and African Studies
What is the catchment area for School of Oriental and African Studies?
No fixed boundary. When School of Oriental and African Studies is oversubscribed, Camden allocates places by its published criteria, usually ending with home-to-school distance.
How do I apply to School of Oriental and African Studies?
Apply through Camden's coordinated admissions process, naming School of Oriental and African Studies 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 School of Oriental and African Studies?
Within 500 m of the school's mapped location, police recorded 194 road collisions in which someone was injured in 2021 to 2025: none fatal, 37 serious and 157 slight. 1 child aged 0 to 15 was hurt: 1 on a bicycle. 37 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 Camden is 130 (the median across 102 schools, same distance and years).
Where is School of Oriental and African Studies?
School of Oriental and African Studies is at Thornhaugh Street, Russell Square, London, WC1H 0XG.
Source: Department for Transport, Road Safety Data (STATS19)