Joseph Clarke School

Joseph Clarke School continues to operate effectively as a good school, marked by a supportive and nurturing environment where pupils are eager to learn. The school places a strong emphasis on personal development and prepares students well for future challenges. Parents appreciate the dedication of staff and feel that their children are thriving academically and personally. However, there are areas where improvement is necessary, particularly concerning the educational approaches for pupils with complex needs and the delivery of the mathematics curriculum, which currently falls short in promoting deeper understanding.

Strengths

• A calm and purposeful environment conducive to learning.
• Strong partnerships with parents who feel supported.
• Well-trained staff knowledgeable about SEND.
• Effective assessment processes that inform teaching.
• An excellent early years provision.
• Strong personal development focus and preparation for adulthood.

Areas for Improvement

• Lack of clarity in long-term curriculum goals for pupils with complex needs.
• Mathematics curriculum emphasizes exam preparation over conceptual understanding.
• Non-verbal pupils do not have adequate communication systems.

In 2024–25 pupils at Joseph Clarke School attended 90.1% of sessions (the national figure for special schools was 87.2%). 32.9% of pupils were persistently absent, missing at least one session in ten (nationally 35.3%).

Sessions missed

Pupils persistently absent

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 Joseph Clarke School were suspended at least once (nationally 5.1%). No pupils were permanently excluded.

Pupils suspended at least once

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 Joseph Clarke School had 7.9 pupils for each teacher (the national figure for special schools was 6.6). Of its teachers in 2024–25, 29.2% were no longer at the school a year later (nationally 14.5%).

Pupils per teacher

Teachers who left the school within a year

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 Joseph Clarke School had 111 pupils, 98.2% of them with an education, health and care (EHC) plan (nationally 99.5%).

It says it provides for: specific learning difficulty; moderate learning difficulty; severe learning difficulty; social, emotional and mental health; speech, language and communication needs; vision impairment; physical disability; autistic spectrum disorder; other difficulty or disability.

Pupils by main type of need

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 2023–24 Joseph Clarke School received £33,513 and spent £32,548 for each of its 105 pupils. It ended the year with reserves of £1,590,000 (£15,140 per pupil).

Across all 13 schools of Learning in Harmony Multi Academy Trust, income was £10,420 and spending £10,695 per pupil.

Income per pupil

Spending per pupil

Source: Department for Education, Financial Benchmarking and Insights Tool. Each year is the one the financial year ends in (2024 is 2023–24). Academy figures include a share of the trust's central services, shared out by pupil numbers, and are rounded to the nearest £1,000. Premises costs were defined differently from 2024, so compare them across that gap with care.

• Primary Schools
• Secondary Schools

All schools in Waltham Forest · Waltham Forest local authority: places and applications

Joseph Clarke School is part of Learning in Harmony Multi Academy Trust, which runs 13 schools. The nearest others:

• Whitefield School London
• Sheringham Primary School London
• John F Kennedy Special School London
• Upton Cross Primary School London
• Connaught Special School London
• Hartley Primary School London
• Drew Primary School London
• Edwards Hall Primary School Leigh-On-Sea
• Blenheim Primary School Leigh-On-Sea
• Barons Court Primary School and Nursery Westcliff-On-Sea

What is Joseph Clarke School's Ofsted rating?

The latest Ofsted rating for Joseph Clarke School is Good, from an inspection in December 2022.

When was Joseph Clarke School last inspected by Ofsted?

Joseph Clarke School was last inspected in December 2022.

How many pupils does Joseph Clarke School have?

Joseph Clarke School has 111 pupils on roll.

What age range does Joseph Clarke School cover?

Joseph Clarke School for pupils aged 2 to 18.

What are Joseph Clarke School's GCSE results?

In 2018 its average Attainment 8 score was 8.0, and 17% of pupils achieved grade 5 or above in both English and maths GCSE.

What are Joseph Clarke School's SATs (KS2) results?

In 2025, 0% of Year 6 pupils met the expected standard in reading, writing and maths.

Where is Joseph Clarke School?

Joseph Clarke School is at Vincent Road, London, E4 9PP.