The Courtyard Islington, London
The Courtyard Islington is a special school for pupils aged 13 to 19 in London. It was rated Good at its last graded Ofsted inspection, in May 2017. Ofsted's ungraded inspection in February 2023 did not change this grade.
- Ofsted
- Good (2017)
Data last updated 26 Oct 2026
The Courtyard Islington in detail
The Courtyard Islington in its own words
In its own words: "Whether you're planning for the academic year, preparing for school events, or exploring how we support all our students, you'll find the key details you need. We encourage parents and guardians to stay informed and involved in the school community."
Vision and values (school website)
Source: The school's own website
Compared with nearby schools
The nearest other special schools to The Courtyard Islington are Samuel Rhodes MLD School (0.4 miles, Outstanding); The Bridge Integrated Learning Space (0.7 miles, Outstanding); The Bridge School (0.9 miles, Outstanding); and Richard Cloudesley School (0.9 miles, Outstanding).
Samuel Rhodes MLD SchoolThe Bridge Integrated Learning SpaceThe Bridge SchoolRichard Cloudesley School
Where pupils go next
Of the 10 pupils who finished Year 11 in 2023/24, 100% stayed in education or training for at least two terms.
Who goes there
57.9% of pupils are eligible for free school meals, and 15.8% speak English as an additional language, according to the 2026 school census.
Almost every pupil at The Courtyard Islington has an education, health and care plan (74 of 76 in 2026). The most common need among them is autism.
The Courtyard Islington has a resourced provision for speech, language and communication needs and autism: 72 places, 72 pupils on roll.
Getting there
The nearest railway station is Highbury & Islington Rail Station, about 300 metres away (roughly a 4-minute walk).
7 bus stops are within a five-minute walk; the closest is St Mary Magdalene Church, 50 metres away.
Suspensions and exclusions
The Courtyard Islington recorded no suspensions or permanent exclusions in 2024/25.
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 · 4 years agoThis judgement is from May 2017, 9 years ago, longer than Ofsted's usual 4-year cycle: the school may have changed since.
Overall
Latest (ungraded) inspection: The school remains Good.
Ofsted Insights
Ofsted rated this school Good at its May 2017 inspection - up from Requires Improvement.
Rated Good for
Leadership & management.
At a Glance
57.9%
Free School Meals
No
Boarding
No
Nursery
Yes
Sixth Form
Resourced provision: Speech and language, Autism
SEN Provision
No
Special Measures
How Does This School Compare?
Ranked against 5 nearby schools
Social & online
Keep up with The Courtyard Islington
Getting There
Train Stations
Tube / Metro / Tram
Bus Stops
Free school transport
Check free transport to The Courtyard Islington from your postcode →
You apply to the council where you live. The Courtyard Islington 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
- 236
- Fatal
- 0
- Serious
- 44
- Children hurt
- 15
Within 500 m of the school's mapped location, police recorded 236 road collisions in which someone was injured in 2021 to 2025: none fatal, 44 serious and 192 slight.
15 children aged 0 to 15 were hurt: 4 on foot, 4 on a bicycle and 7 in a vehicle or otherwise.
39 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
106%
Over capacity
76 pupils
72 places
4 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 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(4)
SEND & SEN Provision
SEN Overview
2
SEN Support
74
EHC Plans
100.0%
of Total Pupils
2026 academic year
Provision & Specialist Facilities
The Courtyard Islington has a resourced provision for speech, language and communication needs and autism: 72 places, 72 pupils on roll.
Source: GIAS, Department for Education.
Pupils by Need Type
Pupil Demographics
Ethnicity
2026 academic year
Key Indicators
76
Total Pupils
48
Boys
28
Girls
2026 academic year
Workforce
20
Teachers
3.8:1
Pupil-teacher ratio
£51,557
Mean salary
2026 data
Pupil Absence2024/25
19.1%
Overall absence
50.0%
Persistent absence
32
Enrolments
Absence trend
Source: DfE pupil absence statistics. Persistent absence = pupils missing 10%+ sessions.
Questions parents ask about The Courtyard Islington
What are GCSE results like at The Courtyard Islington?
In the 2026 results, pupils at The Courtyard Islington achieved an Attainment 8 score of 1.5. 0% passed GCSE English and maths at grade 5 or above.
What is The Courtyard Islington's Ofsted rating?
The Courtyard Islington's most recent Ofsted inspection, in February 2023, was ungraded, so it gave no overall grade. At its last graded inspection, in May 2017, it was rated Good.
What is the catchment area for The Courtyard Islington?
No fixed boundary. When The Courtyard Islington is oversubscribed, Islington allocates places by its published criteria, usually ending with home-to-school distance.
How many pupils go to The Courtyard Islington?
The Courtyard Islington has around 76 pupils on roll. 58% are eligible for free school meals.
Does The Courtyard Islington have specialist SEN provision?
The Courtyard Islington has a resourced provision for speech, language and communication needs and autism: 72 places, 72 pupils on roll.
What is attendance like at The Courtyard Islington?
19.1% of sessions were missed at The Courtyard Islington in 2024/25. 50% of pupils were persistently absent (missing 10% or more of sessions).
How do I apply to The Courtyard Islington?
Apply through Islington's coordinated admissions process, naming The Courtyard Islington 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 Courtyard Islington?
Within 500 m of the school's mapped location, police recorded 236 road collisions in which someone was injured in 2021 to 2025: none fatal, 44 serious and 192 slight. 15 children aged 0 to 15 were hurt: 4 on foot, 4 on a bicycle and 7 in a vehicle or otherwise. 39 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 Courtyard Islington?
The Courtyard Islington is at Holloway Road, Islington, London, N7 8LT.
Source: Department for Transport, Road Safety Data (STATS19)