John F Kennedy Special School

John F Kennedy Special School continues to demonstrate outstanding performance, providing a happy and safe environment for its pupils. The school effectively meets the varied needs of its student population and prepares them for future educational stages. Staff are attentive to individual learning requirements and construct a curriculum that is both broad and systematic, ensuring progression and engagement for all students. Recognized strengths include strong leadership, a commitment to communication, and innovative strategies for personal development.

Strengths

• Pupils feel happy and safe at school.
• Leaders provide a broad curriculum with clear learning pathways.
• Staff have high expectations for pupils’ achievement.
• Strong focus on communication and interaction across all sites.
• Effective behaviour management strategies in place.
• Personalised learning tailored to each pupil's education, health and care plan.
• Well-prepared secondary and sixth-form pupils for their next stage of education.
• Regular checks on staff workload and governance support.

In 2024–25 pupils at John F Kennedy Special School attended 84.8% of sessions (the national figure for special schools was 87.2%). 47.2% 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, 1.0% of pupils at John F Kennedy Special 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 John F Kennedy Special School had 5.1 pupils for each teacher (the national figure for special schools was 6.6). Of its teachers in 2024–25, 20.9% 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 John F Kennedy Special School had 201 pupils, 100.0% 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; profound and multiple learning difficulty; social, emotional and mental health; speech, language and communication needs; hearing impairment; vision impairment; multi-sensory 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 2024–25 John F Kennedy Special School received £51,062 and spent £48,921 for each of its 198 pupils. It ended the year with reserves of £33,000 (£166 per pupil).

Across all 13 schools of Learning in Harmony Multi Academy Trust, income was £11,402 and spending £11,631 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 Newham · Newham local authority: places and applications

John F Kennedy Special School is part of Learning in Harmony Multi Academy Trust, which runs 13 schools. The nearest others:

• Upton Cross Primary School London
• Connaught Special School London
• Hartley Primary School London
• Sheringham Primary School London
• Drew Primary School London
• Whitefield School London
• Joseph Clarke 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 John F Kennedy Special School's Ofsted rating?

The latest Ofsted rating for John F Kennedy Special School is Outstanding, from an inspection in February 2023.

When was John F Kennedy Special School last inspected by Ofsted?

John F Kennedy Special School was last inspected in February 2023.

How many pupils does John F Kennedy Special School have?

John F Kennedy Special School has 201 pupils on roll.

What age range does John F Kennedy Special School cover?

John F Kennedy Special School for pupils aged 4 to 19.

What are John F Kennedy Special School's SATs (KS2) results?

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

Where is John F Kennedy Special School?

John F Kennedy Special School is at Pitchford Street, Stratford, London, E15 4RZ.