The Bridge School, London
The Bridge School is a special school for pupils aged 2 to 19 in London, part of The Bridge MAT Ltd. It was rated Outstanding at its last graded Ofsted inspection, in December 2013. Ofsted's ungraded inspection in July 2025 did not change this grade.
- Ofsted
- Outstanding (2013)
Data last updated 26 Oct 2026
The Bridge School in detail
Compared with nearby schools
The nearest other special schools to The Bridge School are Frank Barnes School for Deaf Children (0.7 miles, Outstanding); The Courtyard Islington (0.9 miles, Good); Harmood School (0.9 miles, Good); and The Bridge Integrated Learning Space (1 mile, Outstanding).
Frank Barnes School for Deaf ChildrenThe Courtyard IslingtonHarmood SchoolThe Bridge Integrated Learning Space
The trust
The Bridge School is one of 9 schools run by The Bridge MAT Ltd, an academy trust.
What parents say
17 parents answered Ofsted's Parent View survey about The Bridge School (as of September 2025): 24% would recommend the school, 59% say their child is happy there and 0% of those with a view say bullying is dealt with well.
The strongest agreement was that their child is happy at the school (59%); the weakest, that the school deals with bullying well (among parents with a view) (0%).
Where pupils go next
Of the 18 pupils who finished Year 11 in 2023/24, 100% stayed in education or training for at least two terms.
Who goes there
66.9% of pupils are eligible for free school meals, and 41.9% speak English as an additional language, according to the 2026 school census.
The largest ethnic groups are Black (39%), White British (20%) and Mixed (12%).
Almost every pupil at The Bridge School has an education, health and care plan (260 of 260 in 2026). The most common need among them is autism.
The Bridge School provides for pupils with autism and profound and multiple learning difficulties.
Getting there
The nearest Underground station is Caledonian Road Underground Station, about 580 metres away (roughly a 7-minute walk).
17 bus stops are within a five-minute walk; the closest is North Rd / Goodinge Health Cen, 80 metres away.
Suspensions and exclusions
The Bridge School recorded no suspensions or permanent exclusions in 2024/25.
Sources: Ofsted Parent View; DfE destination measures; DfE school census and special educational needs statistics; NaPTAN (Department for Transport); DfE exclusions statistics
Key Information
DfE GIASOfsted Rating
Ofsted · 1 year agoThis judgement is from December 2013, 12 years ago, longer than Ofsted's usual 4-year cycle: the school may have changed since.
Overall
Latest (ungraded) inspection: Standards have been maintained.
Ofsted Insights
From Ofsted's July 2025 inspection report.
What This School Does Well
The Bridge School excels at getting to know each pupil as an individual and tailoring support to their specific needs. Staff create a calm, happy environment where pupils feel secure and eager to learn, using creative approaches like sensory storytelling and personalised communication methods. The school is genuinely ambitious for all pupils' futures, offering practical experiences like workplace placements, independent living skills training, and specialist workshops that help prepare them for life beyond school.
Key Strengths
- Excellent focus on developing pupils' communication skills with highly personalised approaches tailored to individual needs
- Strong partnerships with therapists to support pupils' cognitive, personal and physical development
- Promotes independence and life skills through practical experiences like the on-site apartment, college visits, and workplace placements
- Creates a calm, joyful environment where staff know every pupil well and help them feel safe and secure
- Careful tracking of attendance with empathetic support to improve regular school attendance
Areas for Improvement
- Home-school communication is inconsistent in frequency and content, leaving some parents wanting more information about their child's education
- Lesson tasks do not always match pupils' current level of learning - sometimes too easy or too hard, which limits how well pupils can practise and build new skills
- Some parents have lost confidence in the school and would benefit from more regular updates on their child's progress
Safeguarding
Safeguarding arrangements are effective, with the school maintaining appropriate systems to keep pupils safe and secure.
Extracurricular Activities
Sports day, music workshops at The Barbican, school shows and performances, community activities, farm and fast-food workplace experiences, college visits, on-site cooking and art lessons
The Bridge School has successfully maintained its outstanding standards following leadership changes and the COVID-19 pandemic. The school is known for its personalised approach to supporting pupils with severe learning difficulties and autism to develop communication skills, independence, and prepare for adulthood.
At a Glance
66.9%
Free School Meals
No
Boarding
Yes
Nursery
Yes
Sixth Form
Autism, PMLD
SEN Provision
No
Special Measures
What Parents Think
17 responsesSource: Ofsted Parent View, responses as at September 2025 - % who strongly agree or agree
Primary Performance (KS2)
Academic year 2024/25KS2 Results (% meeting expected standard)
How Does This School Compare?
Ranked against 5 nearby schools
Keep up with The Bridge School
Getting There
Tube / Metro / Tram
Bus Stops
Free school transport
Check free transport to The Bridge School from your postcode →
You apply to the council where you live. The Bridge 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
- 118
- Fatal
- 0
- Serious
- 17
- Children hurt
- 3
Within 500 m of the school's mapped location, police recorded 118 road collisions in which someone was injured in 2021 to 2025: none fatal, 17 serious and 101 slight.
3 children aged 0 to 15 were hurt: 2 on foot and 1 on a bicycle.
27 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
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(3)
SEND & SEN Provision
SEN Overview
0
SEN Support
260
EHC Plans
100.0%
of Total Pupils
2026 academic year
Provision & Specialist Facilities
The Bridge School provides for pupils with autism and profound and multiple learning difficulties.
Source: GIAS, Department for Education.
Pupils by Need Type
Pupil Demographics
Ethnicity
2026 academic year
Key Indicators
260
Total Pupils
196
Boys
64
Girls
2026 academic year
Workforce
28
Teachers
9.3:1
Pupil-teacher ratio
£65,004
Mean salary
2026 data
Pupil Absence2024/25
14.8%
Overall absence
41.7%
Persistent absence
218
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
The Bridge School
Showing 10 of 14 linked schools
Questions parents ask about The Bridge School
What are SATs results like at The Bridge School?
Of the pupils at The Bridge School who took the 2025 Key Stage 2 assessments, 0% reached the expected standard in reading and 0% did so in maths.
What is The Bridge School's Ofsted rating?
The Bridge School's most recent Ofsted inspection, in July 2025, 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 The Bridge School?
No fixed boundary. When The Bridge School is oversubscribed, Islington allocates places by its published criteria, usually ending with home-to-school distance.
How many pupils go to The Bridge School?
The Bridge School has around 260 pupils on roll. 67% are eligible for free school meals.
Does The Bridge School have specialist SEN provision?
The Bridge School provides for pupils with autism and profound and multiple learning difficulties.
What is attendance like at The Bridge School?
14.8% of sessions were missed at The Bridge School in 2024/25. 41.7% of pupils were persistently absent (missing 10% or more of sessions).
How do I apply to The Bridge School?
Apply through Islington's coordinated admissions process, naming The Bridge 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 The Bridge School?
Within 500 m of the school's mapped location, police recorded 118 road collisions in which someone was injured in 2021 to 2025: none fatal, 17 serious and 101 slight. 3 children aged 0 to 15 were hurt: 2 on foot and 1 on a bicycle. 27 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 The Bridge School?
The Bridge School is at 251 Hungerford Road, London, N7 9LD.
Source: Department for Transport, Road Safety Data (STATS19)