Nightingale Community Academy

Nightingale Community Academy is a special school for pupils with social, emotional and mental health needs, all of whom have education, health and care plans. Many pupils arrive with significant gaps in learning, previous experiences of disrupted education and high levels of disadvantage. Inspectors found the school performing strongly overall, with safeguarding met. Pupils make excellent progress from low starting points, attendance is high compared with similar schools, and behaviour improves as pupils learn to regulate their emotions and trust staff. Inclusion, leadership and governance, personal development and wellbeing are particular strengths. Leaders use personalised plans, therapy, family work and carefully monitored alternative provision to help pupils re-engage and achieve meaningful outcomes. Trustees and governors provide effective support and challenge, and staff feel well supported. Pupils are well prepared for adulthood through careers guidance, enrichment, work experience and practical learning. Curriculum and teaching, and post-16 provision, are solid but not yet as strong as other areas. Teaching generally supports pupils well, but some teachers do not check prior knowledge efficiently, lessons sometimes start slowly, and handwriting and writing are not consistently systematic across all phases, especially for older pupils. Addressing these points is the main next step for the school.

Strengths

• Pupils make excellent progress from often low starting points.
• Disadvantaged pupils and pupils with SEND achieve well.
• Attendance is high compared with other similar schools, with many previously non-attending pupils improving.
• Behaviour improves and pupils show respect, pride and positive engagement.
• Staff use proactive, consistent approaches to emotional regulation and safety.
• Inclusion is highly personalised, with effective use of EHCPs, therapy and family support.
• Leaders and governors have clear ambition and provide robust support and challenge.
• Safeguarding arrangements are effective and create an open culture of safety.
• Personal development prepares pupils well for adulthood, safety and life beyond school.
• Post-16 provision is broad, individualised and offers strong careers guidance and progression.
• Pupils benefit from small classes, clear routines, enrichment and practical learning.

Areas for Improvement

• Teachers do not always efficiently check what pupils already know, leading to unnecessary recapping.
• Lessons sometimes do not start quickly enough, which can lose learning time.
• Handwriting provision is not systematic or consistent across all phases.
• Writing development is less systematic for older pupils.
• Curriculum and teaching, and post-16 provision, are not yet at the same strong standard as other areas.

• Primary Schools
• Secondary Schools

• Ark Bolingbroke Academy
• Graveney School
• Harris Academy Battersea

Nightingale Community Academy is part of Orchard Hill College Academy Trust, which runs 12 schools. The nearest others:

• The Link School Croydon
• Carew Academy Wallington
• Bedelsford School Kingston Upon Thames
• Dysart School Surbiton
• St Philip's School Chessington
• Addington Valley Academy Croydon
• The PRIDE Academy West Drayton
• Unified Academy Dorking
• Arbour Vale School Slough
• Brantridge School Haywards Heath

What is Nightingale Community Academy's Ofsted rating?

The latest Ofsted rating for Nightingale Community Academy is Expected standard, from an inspection in June 2026.

When was Nightingale Community Academy last inspected by Ofsted?

Nightingale Community Academy was last inspected in June 2026.

How many pupils does Nightingale Community Academy have?

Nightingale Community Academy has 139 pupils on roll.

What age range does Nightingale Community Academy cover?

Nightingale Community Academy for pupils aged 5 to 19.

What are Nightingale Community Academy's GCSE results?

In 2025 its average Attainment 8 score was 16.2, and 0% of pupils achieved grade 5 or above in both English and maths GCSE.

What are Nightingale Community Academy's SATs (KS2) results?

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

Where is Nightingale Community Academy?

Nightingale Community Academy is at Beechcroft Road, Tooting, London, SW17 7DF.