Ian Mikardo High School

Ian Mikardo School is performing well overall, rated 'Good' across several domains with 'Outstanding' ratings in behaviour and attitudes, as well as personal development. The school effectively supports boys with social, emotional, and mental health difficulties, creating a trusting environment that fosters positive relationships between staff and students. The focused curriculum helps pupils catch up on lost education and prepares them for adult life through practical experiences. However, the school faces challenges in implementing recent curriculum changes, which require further training for teachers to effectively address gaps in pupils' learning.

Strengths

• Staff understand and support pupils' complex needs effectively.
• High expectations of pupils contribute to a family-like school environment.
• Personal development and emotional support are prioritized, helping pupils manage their behaviour.
• The curriculum is well-organized to facilitate long-term learning and skill acquisition.
• Pupils gain significant knowledge about future career options through diverse experiences.

Areas for Improvement

• Teachers need more training on new curriculum materials to address students' learning gaps.

In 2024–25 pupils at Ian Mikardo High School attended 78.7% of sessions (the national figure for special schools was 87.2%). 56.1% 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, 6.0% of pupils at Ian Mikardo High 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 Ian Mikardo High School had 6.1 pupils for each teacher (the national figure for special schools was 6.6). Of its teachers in 2024–25, 20.0% 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 Ian Mikardo High School had 67 pupils, 94.0% 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 2023–24 Ian Mikardo High School received £68,933 and spent £66,364 for each of its 49 pupils. It ended the year with reserves of £1,413,000 (£28,830 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 Tower Hamlets · Tower Hamlets local authority: places and applications

Ian Mikardo High School is part of The Beckmead Trust, which runs 9 schools. The nearest others:

• Wells Park School Chigwell
• Beckmead College London
• Beckmead Park Academy Beckenham
• Chaffinch Brook School Croydon
• The Greenwell Academy Harlow
• The Sir Geoff Hurst Academy Chelmsford
• The Ropemakers' Academy Hailsham
• The Flagship School Hastings

What is Ian Mikardo High School's Ofsted rating?

The latest Ofsted rating for Ian Mikardo High School is Good, from an inspection in September 2023.

When was Ian Mikardo High School last inspected by Ofsted?

Ian Mikardo High School was last inspected in September 2023.

How many pupils does Ian Mikardo High School have?

Ian Mikardo High School has 67 pupils on roll.

What age range does Ian Mikardo High School cover?

Ian Mikardo High School for pupils aged 11 to 18.

Where is Ian Mikardo High School?

Ian Mikardo High School is at 60 William Guy Gardens, Talwin Street, London, E3 3LF.