Side By Side School, London
Side By Side School is a special school for pupils aged 2 to 20 in London. It was rated Outstanding at its last graded Ofsted inspection, in July 2025.
- Ofsted
- Outstanding (2025)
Data last updated 27 Oct 2026
Side By Side School in detail
Side By Side School in its own words
The school runs after-school care.
Wraparound care (school website)
Source: The school's own website
Compared with nearby schools
The nearest other special schools to Side By Side School are The Garden School (0.8 miles, Outstanding); Blossom Rose School (0.8 miles); The Yews School (0.8 miles); and Samuel Rhodes MLD School (1.2 miles, Outstanding).
The Garden SchoolBlossom Rose SchoolThe Yews SchoolSamuel Rhodes MLD School
What parents say
24 parents answered Ofsted's Parent View survey about Side By Side School (as of September 2025): 100% would recommend the school, 100% say their child is happy there and 100% of those with a view say bullying is dealt with well.
The strongest agreement was that the school deals with bullying well (among parents with a view) (100%); the weakest, that their child is happy at the school (100%).
Who goes there
In 2026, 17 pupils (15.5%) received SEN support and 85 (77.3%) had an education, health and care plan.
Getting there
The nearest railway station is Stoke Newington Station, about 820 metres away (roughly a 10-minute walk).
5 bus stops are within a five-minute walk; the closest is Lordship Road (->e), 160 metres away.
Sources: Ofsted Parent View; DfE school census and special educational needs statistics; NaPTAN (Department for Transport)
Key Information
DfE GIASOfsted Rating
Ofsted · 1 year agoOverall
Quality of Education
Behaviour & Attitudes
Personal Development
Leadership & Management
Early Years
Sixth Form
Safeguarding: effective
Independent school standards
Met all the independent school standards.
- Part 1: quality of educationMet
- Part 2: pupils' spiritual, moral, social and cultural developmentMet
- Part 3: welfare, health and safetyMet
- Part 4: suitability of staff and proprietorsMet
- Part 5: premises and accommodationMet
- Part 6: information for parentsMet
- Part 7: handling of complaintsMet
- Part 8: leadership and managementMet
Source: Ofsted, non-association independent schools inspections and outcomes (Open Government Licence)
Ofsted Insights
From Ofsted's July 2025 inspection report.
What This School Does Well
Side By Side School excels at matching the curriculum to each child's unique needs and abilities. Staff create a welcoming, calm environment where pupils develop independence and confidence through carefully planned learning activities. The school goes above and beyond with its focus on wider development, including life skills, community visits, and genuine work experience that prepares teenagers for adult life.
Key Strengths
- Exceptional curriculum design that prepares pupils well for their future lives and adult independence -
- Expert staff training in SEND, with strong support from other professionals like speech therapists and occupational therapists -
- Excellent work on communication and reading, with phonics taught when pupils are ready -
- Outstanding provision for employability skills, with all older pupils completing regular weekly work experience -
- Warm, caring relationships between staff and families, with parents kept well informed of progress
Safeguarding
Safeguarding arrangements are effective, with governors applying rigour to safeguarding procedures and the school maintaining an inclusive ethos through compliance with equality legislation.
Extracurricular Activities
School garden (growing vegetables and flowers), visits to local care homes, shopping and park visits, trips to places of interest in central London, kitchen skills practice, work experience placements in school and local area
Side By Side School is an independent special school serving pupils aged 2 to 20 with a range of learning difficulties and complex medical needs. The school provides first-class education and care with an ambitious curriculum tailored to each child's individual needs.
At a Glance
No
Boarding
Yes
Nursery
No
Sixth Form
No
Special Measures
What Parents Think
24 responsesSource: Ofsted Parent View, responses as at September 2025 - % who strongly agree or agree
How Does This School Compare?
Ranked against 5 nearby schools
Keep up with Side By Side School
Getting There
Train Stations
Bus Stops
Safety and surroundings
Road collisions within 500 m (2021 to 2025)
- Collisions
- 53
- Fatal
- 0
- Serious
- 8
- Children hurt
- 5
Within 500 m of the school's mapped location, police recorded 53 road collisions in which someone was injured in 2021 to 2025: none fatal, 8 serious and 45 slight.
5 children aged 0 to 15 were hurt: 4 on foot and 1 on a bicycle.
16 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 Hackney is 169 (the median across 105 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
73%
Available places
110 pupils
150 places
40 spare places
as recorded on GIAS
Area Demand Pressure - London
Based on MHCLG Live Table 122 (2024-25, last 5 years) for London
Across Hackney council
Places available
2,489
Applications
2,029
Got 1st preference
74.6%
Got preferred school
95.8%
All secondary applications across Hackney council (2026/27), not just this school.
Inspection History(7)
Independent School standard inspection
Met all the independent school standards.
SEND & SEN Provision
SEN Overview
17
SEN Support
85
EHC Plans
92.7%
of Total Pupils
2026 academic year
Provision & Specialist Facilities
Side By Side 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
110
Total Pupils
62
Boys
48
Girls
2026 academic year
Feeder Primary Schools
Primary schools that likely feed into this school, based on proximity
Questions parents ask about Side By Side School
What is Side By Side School's Ofsted rating?
Side By Side School was rated Outstanding at its most recent Ofsted inspection in July 2025.
Does Side By Side School meet the independent school standards?
At its most recent standard inspection, in July 2025, Side By Side School met all the independent school standards.
How many pupils go to Side By Side School?
Side By Side School has around 110 pupils on roll.
Does Side By Side School have specialist SEN provision?
Side By Side School is not approved under Section 41 of the Children and Families Act 2014.
How do I apply to Side By Side School?
Side By Side 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 Side By Side School?
Within 500 m of the school's mapped location, police recorded 53 road collisions in which someone was injured in 2021 to 2025: none fatal, 8 serious and 45 slight. 5 children aged 0 to 15 were hurt: 4 on foot and 1 on a bicycle. 16 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 Hackney is 169 (the median across 105 schools, same distance and years).
Where is Side By Side School?
Side By Side School is at Avigdor Mews, Lordship Road, London, N16 0QJ.
Source: Department for Transport, Road Safety Data (STATS19)