Turney Primary and Secondary Special School, London
Turney Primary and Secondary Special School is a special school for pupils aged 4 to 18 in London. It was rated Outstanding at its last graded Ofsted inspection, in May 2018. Ofsted's ungraded inspection in December 2024 did not change this grade.
- Ofsted
- Outstanding (2018)
Data last updated 26 Oct 2026
Turney Primary and Secondary Special School in detail
Compared with nearby schools
The nearest other special schools to Turney Primary and Secondary Special School are Elm Court School (0.8 miles, Outstanding); Heron Academy (1 mile); JUS Education (1.2 miles, Good); and The Livity School (1.3 miles, Good).
What parents say
17 parents answered Ofsted's Parent View survey about Turney Primary and Secondary Special School (as of September 2025): 94% would recommend the school, 100% say their child is happy there and 33% of those with a view say bullying is dealt with well.
The strongest agreement was that their child does well at the school (100%); the weakest, that the school deals with bullying well (among parents with a view) (33%).
Where pupils go next
Of the 7 pupils who finished Year 11 in 2023/24, 100% stayed in education or training for at least two terms.
Who goes there
69.6% of pupils are eligible for free school meals, and 41.6% speak English as an additional language, according to the 2026 school census.
The largest ethnic groups are Black (57%), White British (12%) and Mixed (9%).
Almost every pupil at Turney Primary and Secondary Special School has an education, health and care plan (161 of 161 in 2026). The most common need among them is autism.
Turney Primary and Secondary Special School has a SEN unit for autism, moderate learning difficulties, severe learning difficulties and profound and multiple learning difficulties: 165 places, 161 pupils on roll.
Getting there
The nearest railway station is Herne Hill Station, about 730 metres away (roughly a 9-minute walk).
7 bus stops are within a five-minute walk; the closest is Turney Road, 90 metres away.
The area around the school
In August 2026, police recorded 532 crimes within a mile of the school, most often anti-social behaviour, violence and sexual offences and shoplifting. That is well below the typical figure around schools in Lambeth (1302).
Suspensions and exclusions
In 2024/25, Turney Primary and Secondary Special School issued 4 suspensions, 2.6 for every 100 pupils, and no permanent exclusions.
Sources: Ofsted Parent View; DfE destination measures; DfE school census and special educational needs statistics; NaPTAN (Department for Transport); English Indices of Deprivation 2025 (MHCLG); data.police.uk street-level crime; DfE exclusions statistics
Key Information
DfE GIASOfsted Rating
Ofsted · 2 years agoThis judgement is from May 2018, 8 years ago, longer than Ofsted's usual 4-year cycle: the school may have changed since.
Overall
Quality of Education
Behaviour & Attitudes
Personal Development
Leadership & Management
Early Years
Sixth Form
Ofsted Insights
From Ofsted's December 2024 inspection report.
What This School Does Well
Turney is a calm, happy school where pupils with complex needs and autism feel safe and thrive. Staff know each child exceptionally well and provide sensitive, individualised support to help them learn and develop independence. The school has a broad, ambitious curriculum that builds essential life skills and prepares pupils well for their future, with particularly strong pastoral care at its core.
Key Strengths
- Ambitious, well-structured curriculum tailored to each pupil's needs with strong focus on communication and literacy skills
- Excellent pastoral support and calm school environment where staff quickly spot and address any unkind behaviour
- Systematic teaching of mathematics and phonics, with regular checks on pupil progress
- Sensitive adaptation of lessons to keep pupils engaged and help them regulate their behaviour
- Strong sixth-form provision preparing students for adult life including work, travel and independent living skills
Areas for Improvement
- Curriculum needs to be clearer about what specific knowledge pupils should learn in some subjects, so teachers have better guidance on the most important learning
- More explicit definition of essential knowledge pupils need to learn and remember across the curriculum
Safeguarding
Safeguarding arrangements are effective and all staff are alert to unkind behaviour which is dealt with quickly.
Extracurricular Activities
Regular visits to local area including travel on local buses, art, music, physical development activities, learning about different cultures and religions
Turney Primary and Secondary Special School is a good special school serving 150 pupils with complex needs and autism. Pupils enjoy coming to school and are engaged in their learning, with staff providing calm and sensitive support to help them thrive.
At a Glance
69.6%
Free School Meals
No
Boarding
No
Nursery
Yes
Sixth Form
SEN unit: Autism, MLD, SLD +1
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
Latest from Turney Primary and Secondary Special School
From Turney Primary and Secondary Special School's website. School Signal is not affiliated with the school.
Keep up with Turney Primary and Secondary Special School
Getting There
Train Stations
Bus Stops
Free school transport
Check free transport to Turney Primary and Secondary Special School from your postcode →
You apply to the council where you live. Turney Primary and Secondary Special School is in Lambeth; for families living there:
- Lambeth's school travel policy: Home to school transport policy
Safety and surroundings
Road collisions within 500 m (2021 to 2025)
- Collisions
- 57
- Fatal
- 0
- Serious
- 9
- Children hurt
- 4
Within 500 m of the school's mapped location, police recorded 57 road collisions in which someone was injured in 2021 to 2025: none fatal, 9 serious and 48 slight.
4 children aged 0 to 15 were hurt: 1 on foot, 1 on a bicycle and 2 in a vehicle or otherwise.
14 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 Lambeth is 142.5 (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
School Occupancy
98%
Near capacity
161 pupils
165 places
4 spare places
as recorded on GIAS
Area Demand Pressure - London
Based on MHCLG Live Table 122 (2024-25, last 5 years) for London
Across Lambeth council
Places available
2,111
Applications
2,198
Got 1st preference
61.4%
Got preferred school
91.2%
All secondary applications across Lambeth council (2026/27), not just this school.
Inspection History(7)
Ungraded inspection: The school remains Outstanding, but Ofsted raised concerns; its next inspection will be a full graded one.
SEND & SEN Provision
SEN Overview
0
SEN Support
161
EHC Plans
100.0%
of Total Pupils
2026 academic year
Provision & Specialist Facilities
Turney Primary and Secondary Special School has a SEN unit for autism, moderate learning difficulties, severe learning difficulties and profound and multiple learning difficulties: 165 places, 161 pupils on roll.
Source: GIAS, Department for Education.
Pupils by Need Type
Pupil Demographics
Ethnicity
2026 academic year
Key Indicators
161
Total Pupils
130
Boys
31
Girls
2026 academic year
Workforce
23
Teachers
7.0:1
Pupil-teacher ratio
£70,408
Mean salary
2026 data
Pupil Absence2024/25
8.2%
Overall absence
24.3%
Persistent absence
140
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
Turney Primary and Secondary Special School
Showing 10 of 13 linked schools
Questions parents ask about Turney Primary and Secondary Special School
What are SATs results like at Turney Primary and Secondary Special School?
Of the pupils at Turney Primary and Secondary Special School who took the 2025 Key Stage 2 assessments, 0% reached the expected standard in reading and 0% did so in maths.
What is Turney Primary and Secondary Special School's Ofsted rating?
Turney Primary and Secondary Special School's most recent Ofsted inspection, in December 2024, was ungraded, so it gave no overall grade. At its last graded inspection, in May 2018, it was rated Outstanding.
What is the catchment area for Turney Primary and Secondary Special School?
No fixed boundary. When Turney Primary and Secondary Special School is oversubscribed, Lambeth allocates places by its published criteria, usually ending with home-to-school distance.
How many pupils go to Turney Primary and Secondary Special School?
Turney Primary and Secondary Special School has around 161 pupils on roll. 70% are eligible for free school meals.
Does Turney Primary and Secondary Special School have specialist SEN provision?
Turney Primary and Secondary Special School has a SEN unit for autism, moderate learning difficulties, severe learning difficulties and profound and multiple learning difficulties: 165 places, 161 pupils on roll.
What is attendance like at Turney Primary and Secondary Special School?
8.2% of sessions were missed at Turney Primary and Secondary Special School in 2024/25. 24.3% of pupils were persistently absent (missing 10% or more of sessions).
How do I apply to Turney Primary and Secondary Special School?
Apply through Lambeth's coordinated admissions process, naming Turney Primary and Secondary Special 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 Turney Primary and Secondary Special School?
Within 500 m of the school's mapped location, police recorded 57 road collisions in which someone was injured in 2021 to 2025: none fatal, 9 serious and 48 slight. 4 children aged 0 to 15 were hurt: 1 on foot, 1 on a bicycle and 2 in a vehicle or otherwise. 14 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 Lambeth is 142.5 (the median across 102 schools, same distance and years).
Where is Turney Primary and Secondary Special School?
Turney Primary and Secondary Special School is at Turney Road, London, SE21 8LX.
Source: Department for Transport, Road Safety Data (STATS19)