Frank Barnes School for Deaf Children
Frank Barnes School for Deaf Children is a community special school in Camden for pupils aged 2 to 11. It has 40 pupils on roll. The latest Ofsted rating for Frank Barnes School for Deaf Children is Outstanding, from an inspection in June 2023.
Ofsted inspection: June 2023.
| Type | Special School / Community special school |
| Age Range | 2-11 |
| Religion | Does not apply |
| Address | 4 Wollstonecraft Street Kings Cross London N1C 4BT |
| Phone | 02073917040 |
| Reference Number | 100091 |
General Makeup
| Number of pupils | 40 |
| Boy/Girl ratio |
Boys: 45%
Girls: 55% |
| Percentage of students eligible for free school meals | 47.5% |
| Percentage of students where English is not their first language | 100% |
Year Groups
| Year | Boys | Girls | Total |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 3 | 2 | 5 |
| 2 | Unknown | 7 | 7 |
| 3 | 3 | 1 | 4 |
| 4 | 4 | Unknown | 4 |
| 5 | 4 | 2 | 6 |
| 6 | Unknown | 6 | 6 |
Ethnicities
| Ethnicity | Percentage |
|---|---|
| White, British | 17.5% |
| African | 15% |
| Mixed, Other | 15% |
| White, Other | 12.5% |
| White & Black (Caribbean) | 7.5% |
| Caribbean | 7.5% |
| Indian | 5% |
| White & Black (African) | 5% |
| White & Asian | 2.5% |
Frank Barnes School for Deaf Children continues to demonstrate outstanding performance, being a beacon of bilingualism and deaf pride. The school's commitment to providing an inspiring environment for both deaf and hearing pupils has nurtured an atmosphere where students thrive and feel safe. Parents express immense satisfaction, noting significant improvements in their children's lives due to the school's culture and educational approach. The dedicated staff not only excel in teaching British Sign Language and English in parallel but also ensure that the unique needs of deaf pupils are prioritized, facilitating their personal and academic growth.
| Overall Ofsted Rating | Outstanding |
| Last Report Date | 10 May 2023 |
| Date | Report |
|---|---|
| 10 May 2023 | School inspection |
| 21 Mar 2017 | Short inspection |
| 25 Jun 2012 | Full inspection: |
| 18 Jan 2011 | Curriculum and development visit |
| 11 Feb 2009 | Full inspection: |
| 01 Feb 2006 | Full inspection: |
| 10 Jan 2000 | Full inspection |
Strengths
- Pupils feel proud of their deaf identity and culture.
- Exemplary behavior and a calm environment for learning.
- Effective use of technology to support communication.
- Commitment to personal development opportunities.
- Strong emphasis on deaf studies and cultural awareness.
In 2024–25 pupils at Frank Barnes School for Deaf Children attended 91.5% of sessions (the national figure for special schools was 87.2%). 39.3% of pupils were persistently absent, missing at least one session in ten (nationally 35.3%).
Sessions missed
Pupils persistently absent
| 2014 | 2015 | 2016 | 2017 | 2018 | 2019 | 2021 | 2022 | 2023 | 2024 | 2025 | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Authorised absence | 6.9% | 7.2% | 6.8% | 6.5% | 6.0% | 4.9% | 6.3% | 9.0% | 9.3% | 6.9% | 8.0% |
| Unauthorised absence | 0.2% | 0.5% | 0.8% | 1.4% | 2.0% | 2.1% | 4.5% | 1.1% | 0.8% | 1.3% | 0.5% |
| Severely absent pupils | 0.0% | 0.0% | 0.0% | 0.0% | 0.0% | 0.0% | 0.0% | 0.0% | 0.0% | 0.0% | 0.0% |
Source: Department for Education, Pupil absence in schools in England. Each year is the one the school year ends in (2025 is 2024/25). Persistent absence means missing 10% or more of sessions; severe absence means 50% or more. No figures were published for 2019/20.
In 2024–25, 0.0% of pupils at Frank Barnes School for Deaf Children were suspended at least once (nationally 5.1%). No pupils were permanently excluded.
Pupils suspended at least once
| 2010 | 2011 | 2012 | 2013 | 2014 | 2015 | 2016 | 2017 | 2018 | 2019 | 2020 | 2021 | 2022 | 2023 | 2024 | 2025 | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Suspensions per 100 pupils | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 6.1 | 8.8 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 |
| Permanent exclusions | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
Source: Department for Education, Suspensions and permanent exclusions in England. Each year is the one the school year ends in (2025 is 2024/25). A pupil can be suspended more than once, so suspensions per 100 pupils can be higher than the share of pupils suspended. Very small numbers are hidden by the DfE. Exclusion figures dropped in 2020 and 2021 because of school closures.
In 2025–26 Frank Barnes School for Deaf Children had 11.1 pupils for each teacher (the national figure for special schools was 6.6). Of its teachers in 2024–25, 0.0% were no longer at the school a year later (nationally 14.5%).
Pupils per teacher
Teachers who left the school within a year
| 2011 | 2012 | 2013 | 2014 | 2015 | 2016 | 2017 | 2018 | 2019 | 2020 | 2021 | 2022 | 2023 | 2024 | 2025 | 2026 | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Pupils per adult | 1.7 | 2.6 | 1.8 | 1.6 | 1.3 | 0.9 | 1.2 | 1.2 | 1.2 | 1.2 | 1.4 | 1.7 | 2.0 | 1.8 | 2.1 | 2.4 |
| Teachers who left state teaching | 40.6% | 0.0% | 0.0% | 3.4% | 10.5% | 50.0% | 29.0% | 0.0% | 34.4% | 18.5% | 15.2% | 12.5% | 0.0% | 0.0% | 0.0% | – |
| Teachers who took any sick leave | – | 37.5% | 22.2% | 50.0% | 11.1% | 57.1% | 71.4% | 62.5% | 66.7% | – | 77.8% | 88.9% | 62.5% | 83.3% | – | – |
| Sick days per teacher | – | 0.9 | 0.6 | 1.2 | 0.1 | 7.5 | 2.2 | 1.4 | 4.7 | – | 7.9 | 5.6 | 2.8 | 9.3 | – | – |
Source: Department for Education, School workforce in England. Each year is the one the school year ends in (2025 is 2024/25). Pupils per teacher counts full-time-equivalent pupils and teachers. Turnover is the share of a year's teachers (full-time equivalent) who were not at the school the following year, whether they moved to another school or left state-funded teaching. Turnover and sickness figures run one year behind the ratios. Sick leave is the share of teachers who took at least one day in the year, so it swings widely at small schools, where a few teachers can make it 0% or 100%. The national figures are for all state schools of the same type.
In 2025–26 Frank Barnes School for Deaf Children had 40 pupils, 100.0% of them with an education, health and care (EHC) plan (nationally 99.5%).
It says it provides for: hearing impairment.
Pupils by main type of need
| EHC plan | |
|---|---|
| Hearing impairment | 40 |
Source: Department for Education, Special educational needs in England (the 2025–26 school census). SEN support is extra help in school without an EHC plan. National figures are for all state-funded special school schools. Counts are as published, with small numbers not hidden.
In 2025–26 Frank Barnes School for Deaf Children received £56,420 and spent £52,485 for each of its 40 pupils. It ended the year with reserves of £883,000 (£22,078 per pupil).
Income per pupil
Spending per pupil
| 2019 | 2020 | 2021 | 2022 | 2023 | 2024 | 2025 | 2026 | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Revenue reserve | £263,000 | £410,000 | £356,000 | £414,000 | £474,000 | £657,000 | £726,000 | £883,000 |
| per pupil | £7,964 | £12,812 | £9,891 | £11,340 | £12,990 | £18,494 | £21,344 | £22,078 |
| In-year balance | -£37,000 | £147,000 | -£54,000 | £58,000 | £60,000 | £182,000 | £69,000 | £157,000 |
| per pupil | -£1,119 | £4,599 | -£1,498 | £1,584 | £1,650 | £5,138 | £2,035 | £3,935 |
Source: Department for Education, Financial Benchmarking and Insights Tool. Each year is the one the financial year ends in (2024 is 2023–24).
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All schools in Camden · Camden local authority: places and applications
What is Frank Barnes School for Deaf Children's Ofsted rating?
The latest Ofsted rating for Frank Barnes School for Deaf Children is Outstanding, from an inspection in June 2023.
When was Frank Barnes School for Deaf Children last inspected by Ofsted?
Frank Barnes School for Deaf Children was last inspected in June 2023.
How many pupils does Frank Barnes School for Deaf Children have?
Frank Barnes School for Deaf Children has 40 pupils on roll.
What age range does Frank Barnes School for Deaf Children cover?
Frank Barnes School for Deaf Children for pupils aged 2 to 11.
Where is Frank Barnes School for Deaf Children?
Frank Barnes School for Deaf Children is at 4 Wollstonecraft Street, Kings Cross, London, N1C 4BT.
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