Samuel Rhodes MLD School
Samuel Rhodes MLD School is a community special school in Islington for pupils aged 11 to 19. It has 130 pupils on roll. The latest Ofsted rating for Samuel Rhodes MLD School is Strong standard, from an inspection in June 2026.
Ofsted inspection: June 2026.
| Type | Special School / Community special school |
| Age Range | 11-19 |
| Religion | Does not apply |
| Address | 11 Highbury New Park Islington London N5 2EG |
| Phone | 02077047490 |
| Reference Number | 100469 |
General Makeup
| Number of pupils | 130 |
| Boy/Girl ratio |
Boys: 68.46%
Girls: 31.54% |
| Percentage of students eligible for free school meals | 72.8% |
| Percentage of students where English is not their first language | 48.5% |
Year Groups
| Year | Boys | Girls | Total |
|---|---|---|---|
| 7 | 11 | 3 | 14 |
| 8 | 12 | 3 | 15 |
| 9 | 10 | 6 | 16 |
| 10 | 15 | 8 | 23 |
| 11 | 21 | 3 | 24 |
| 12 | 8 | 10 | 18 |
| 13 | 9 | 6 | 15 |
Ethnicities
| Ethnicity | Percentage |
|---|---|
| White, British | 26.9% |
| African | 21.5% |
| White, Other | 9.2% |
| Mixed, Other | 8.5% |
| Caribbean | 3.1% |
| White & Black (Caribbean) | 2.3% |
| White & Black (African) | 2.3% |
| Pakistani | 2.3% |
| Unclassified | 1.5% |
| Chinese | 0.8% |
| White & Asian | 0.8% |
| Indian | 0.8% |
| Irish | 0.8% |
| Asian, Other | 0.8% |
Samuel Rhodes MLD School is performing very strongly. It is a special school where all pupils have an education, health and care plan, most have moderate learning difficulties and many have autism. Safeguarding standards are met. The school was rated exceptional for personal development and wellbeing, and strong standard across achievement, attendance and behaviour, curriculum and teaching, inclusion, leadership and governance, and post-16 provision.
| Overall Ofsted Rating | Strong standard |
| > Leadership & Governance | Strong standard |
| > Personal Development & Wellbeing | Exceptional |
| > Achievement | Strong standard |
| > Attendance & Behaviour | Strong standard |
| > Curriculum & Teaching | Strong standard |
| > Inclusion | Strong standard |
| > Post-16 Provision | Strong standard |
| Last Report Date | 12 May 2026 |
| Date | Report |
|---|---|
| 12 May 2026 | School inspection |
| 24 May 2022 | School inspection |
| 07 Mar 2017 | Full inspection |
| 03 Jun 2015 | Monitoring visit |
| 05 Dec 2012 | Full inspection |
| 12 Oct 2009 | Full inspection |
| 06 Jun 2007 | Full inspection |
| 04 Mar 2002 | Full inspection |
Strengths
- Exceptional personal development and wellbeing provision embedded across the school
- Highly effective careers education and preparation for adulthood
- Rich wider opportunities including clubs, performances, sports and community visits
- Highly responsive pastoral support with an extensive therapeutic team
- Strong progress in key skills including speaking, reading, writing and numeracy
- Proactive attendance work leading to attendance above similar schools
- Calm, purposeful behaviour and strong pupil attitudes to learning
- Well-sequenced, inclusive curriculum with effective teaching and support staff
- Highly effective identification and support for varied SEND needs
- Strong leadership and governance with clear vision and staff wellbeing
- Highly effective post-16 provision with personalised pathways and strong transitions
- Pupils develop independence, confidence and self-advocacy
Areas for Improvement
- Assessment is not yet used consistently to secure exceptional achievement across all subjects
- Assessment information is not yet shared with parents and carers as well as it could be
Destinations after GCSE's
| Staying in Education | Locked: unlock for £9.99, one-off payment |
| > Further Education | Locked: unlock for £9.99, one-off payment |
| > School Sixth Form | Locked: unlock for £9.99, one-off payment |
| > Sixth Form College | Locked: unlock for £9.99, one-off payment |
| > Other Education | Locked: unlock for £9.99, one-off payment |
| Apprenticeships | Locked: unlock for £9.99, one-off payment |
| Employment | Locked: unlock for £9.99, one-off payment |
| Not in education or employment | Locked: unlock for £9.99, one-off payment |
| Unknown | Locked: unlock for £9.99, one-off payment |
In 2024–25 pupils at Samuel Rhodes MLD School attended 89.5% of sessions (the national figure for special schools was 87.2%). 33.7% 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 | 7.7% | 7.6% | 6.1% | 6.8% | 6.8% | 7.3% | 29.5% | 12.0% | 11.6% | 9.0% | 8.7% |
| Unauthorised absence | 0.3% | 0.5% | 0.4% | 1.6% | 1.3% | 1.7% | 2.3% | 2.7% | 1.8% | 1.5% | 1.8% |
| Severely absent pupils | 1.1% | 1.1% | 0.0% | 0.9% | 1.0% | 1.0% | 8.7% | 4.0% | 4.5% | 1.8% | 3.1% |
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, 1.6% of pupils at Samuel Rhodes MLD School 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 | 13.4 | 20.9 | 31.1 | 24.7 | 22.4 | 13.9 | 6.5 | 19.4 | 9.6 | 14.5 | 6.9 | 0.0 | 0.7 | 1.4 | 2.1 | 1.6 |
| 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 Samuel Rhodes MLD School had 6.8 pupils for each teacher (the national figure for special schools was 6.6). Of its teachers in 2024–25, 14.6% 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 | 6.0 | 3.4 | 3.4 | 3.1 | 3.2 | 3.3 | 3.3 | 3.2 | 3.4 | 3.1 | 3.0 | 3.1 | 2.3 | 2.1 | 2.6 | 2.0 |
| Teachers who left state teaching | 10.9% | 11.0% | 0.0% | 3.1% | 12.1% | 4.7% | 2.4% | 8.1% | 4.2% | 4.2% | 3.9% | 5.5% | 0.0% | 16.9% | 10.4% | – |
| Teachers who took any sick leave | 62.5% | 78.9% | 61.9% | 62.5% | 57.7% | 44.8% | 75.9% | 64.7% | 60.0% | – | 48.3% | 62.1% | 75.9% | 67.9% | 65.0% | – |
| Sick days per teacher | 11.0 | 4.7 | 4.4 | 10.1 | 6.3 | 2.8 | 9.7 | 4.9 | 9.2 | – | 4.6 | 4.9 | 6.1 | 10.3 | 10.3 | – |
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 Samuel Rhodes MLD School had 130 pupils, 100.0% of them with an education, health and care (EHC) plan (nationally 99.5%).
It says it provides for: moderate learning difficulty.
Pupils by main type of need
| EHC plan | |
|---|---|
| Autistic spectrum disorder | 48 |
| Moderate learning difficulty | 27 |
| Specific learning difficulty | 19 |
| Social, emotional and mental health | 14 |
| Speech, language and communication needs | 10 |
| Down's syndrome | 8 |
| Other difficulty or disability | 2 |
| Physical disability | 2 |
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 Samuel Rhodes MLD School received £35,647 and spent £35,329 for each of its 130 pupils. It ended the year with reserves of £658,000 (£5,060 per pupil).
Income per pupil
Spending per pupil
| 2019 | 2020 | 2021 | 2022 | 2023 | 2024 | 2025 | 2026 | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Revenue reserve | £135,000 | £226,000 | £241,000 | £118,000 | £102,000 | £251,000 | £616,000 | £658,000 |
| per pupil | £1,091 | £1,952 | £1,942 | £873 | £735 | £1,732 | £4,779 | £5,060 |
| In-year balance | -£51,000 | £91,000 | £14,000 | -£123,000 | -£16,000 | £149,000 | £365,000 | £41,000 |
| per pupil | -£415 | £786 | £115 | -£910 | -£113 | £1,028 | £2,832 | £318 |
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 Islington · Islington local authority: places and applications
What is Samuel Rhodes MLD School's Ofsted rating?
The latest Ofsted rating for Samuel Rhodes MLD School is Strong standard, from an inspection in June 2026.
When was Samuel Rhodes MLD School last inspected by Ofsted?
Samuel Rhodes MLD School was last inspected in June 2026.
How many pupils does Samuel Rhodes MLD School have?
Samuel Rhodes MLD School has 130 pupils on roll.
What age range does Samuel Rhodes MLD School cover?
Samuel Rhodes MLD School for pupils aged 11 to 19.
Where is Samuel Rhodes MLD School?
Samuel Rhodes MLD School is at 11 Highbury New Park, Islington, London, N5 2EG.
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