Showing 1-9 of 17 schools
- Beormund Primary School
- Cherry Garden School
- Evelina Hospital School
- Maudsley and Bethlem Hospital School
- Lift Newlands
- Spa School, Bermondsey
- Spa School Camberwell
- Haymerle School
- Highshore School
- Tuke School
- Cavendish School
- Imperial Oak School
- PhoenixPlace
- The Autism Project - CareTrade
- The Bridge SEN School
- The Park College
- Treasure House
Special Schools in Southwark
There are 17 special schools for children with special educational needs and disabilities in Southwark. Together they support a range of needs, including Autistic Spectrum Disorder, Social, Emotional and Mental Health, Speech, Language and Communication Needs, Moderate Learning Difficulty, Severe Learning Difficulty. Schools listed here span ages 2 to 25.
All special schools by areaHow special-school admissions work in Southwark
Special-school places are allocated through the EHCP process and the local authority, not through academic selection or the standard admissions round. That is why this page presents provision and inspection quality rather than a league-table position.
It starts with an EHCP
Most special-school places require an Education, Health and Care Plan (EHCP). The plan sets out a child’s needs and the support and provision the local authority must arrange.
You express a preference
During the EHCP process you can name the special school you would like your child to attend. The local authority must consider your preference and consult the schools involved.
The local authority names the school
Unlike mainstream admissions, you do not apply directly to the school. The local authority names the agreed school in Section I of the EHCP, and that named school then has a duty to admit your child.
SENDIASS can help
Your local SEND Information, Advice and Support Service (SENDIASS) offers free, impartial guidance on EHCPs, expressing a preference, and what to do if you disagree with a decision.
Special Schools in Southwark
Showing 1-17 of 17 schools
- Beormund Primary School
Borough
FMS Inspection Score 10/10 · Social, Emotional and Mental Health · Ages 5 to 11 · Co-educational · Day
- Cherry Garden School
Peckham
FMS Inspection Score 10/10 · Autistic Spectrum Disorder, Hearing Impairment, Multi-Sensory Impairment, Physical Disability, Profound and Multiple Learning Difficulty, Speech, Language and Communication Needs, Severe Learning Difficulty, Specific Learning Difficulty, Visual Impairment · Ages 2 to 11 · Co-educational · Day
- Evelina Hospital School
South Bank
FMS Inspection Score 10/10 · Ages 2 to 19 · Co-educational · Day
- Maudsley and Bethlem Hospital School
Camberwell
FMS Inspection Score 9.4/10 · Social, Emotional and Mental Health · Ages 4 to 19 · Co-educational · Day
- Lift Newlands
Peckham Rye
FMS Inspection Score 7.8/10 · Social, Emotional and Mental Health · Ages 11 to 16 · Boys · Day
- Spa School, Bermondsey
Bermondsey
FMS Inspection Score 7.7/10 · Autistic Spectrum Disorder · Ages 11 to 19 · Co-educational · Day
- Spa School Camberwell
Camberwell
FMS Inspection Score 7.7/10 · Ages 4 to 16 · Co-educational · Day
- Haymerle School
Peckham
FMS Inspection Score 7/10 · Autistic Spectrum Disorder · Ages 5 to 11 · Co-educational · Day
- Highshore School
Camberwell
FMS Inspection Score 7/10 · Autistic Spectrum Disorder, Hearing Impairment, Moderate Learning Difficulty, Multi-Sensory Impairment, Other Difficulty/Disability, Physical Disability, Profound and Multiple Learning Difficulty, Speech, Language and Communication Needs, Severe Learning Difficulty, Specific Learning Difficulty, Visual Impairment · Ages 11 to 19 · Co-educational · Day
- Tuke School
Peckham
FMS Inspection Score 6.4/10 · Autistic Spectrum Disorder, Multi-Sensory Impairment, Profound and Multiple Learning Difficulty, Severe Learning Difficulty · Ages 11 to 19 · Co-educational · Day
- Cavendish School
Rotherhithe
Social, Emotional and Mental Health · Ages 11 to 16 · Co-educational · Day
- Imperial Oak School
Elephant and Castle
Ages 4 to 11 · Co-educational · Day
- PhoenixPlace
Camberwell
Moderate Learning Difficulty, Social, Emotional and Mental Health, Speech, Language and Communication Needs, Specific Learning Difficulty · Ages 11 to 16 · Girls · Day
- The Autism Project - CareTrade
Walworth
Ages 18 to 25 · Co-educational · Day
- The Bridge SEN School
Old Kent Road
Ages 14 to 25 · Co-educational · Day
- The Park College
Kennington
Ages 19 to 25 · Co-educational · Day
- Treasure House
Peckham
Autistic Spectrum Disorder, Social, Emotional and Mental Health, Specific Learning Difficulty · Ages 14 to 19 · Co-educational · Day
Frequently asked questions
What is a special school?
A special school educates children and young people with special educational needs and disabilities (SEND) who need more support than a mainstream school can usually provide. Most pupils have an Education, Health and Care Plan (EHCP), and schools are organised around specific types of need, such as autism, social and emotional needs, or severe and complex learning difficulties.
How many special schools are in Southwark?
This page currently lists 17 special schools in Southwark, ordered by inspection quality. Use the provision-type filter to narrow the list to the needs that matter most for your child.
How do I apply for a special school place in Southwark?
Special school places are arranged through the Education, Health and Care Plan (EHCP) process, not through the normal school-admissions round. You name your preferred school in the EHCP, and the local authority decides which school to name in Section I after consulting the schools. Your local SENDIASS service offers free, impartial advice on expressing a preference and on the EHCP timeline.
What SEN types are supported in Southwark?
Across Southwark, provision covers needs such as Autistic Spectrum Disorder, Social, Emotional and Mental Health, Speech, Language and Communication Needs and Moderate Learning Difficulty.
Are special schools inspected by Ofsted?
Yes. State-funded special schools are inspected by Ofsted on the same framework as mainstream schools, and independent special schools are inspected by Ofsted or an approved inspectorate. We translate the latest inspection into an FMS Inspection Score so you can compare schools on a single consistent scale.
Do special schools follow the national curriculum and offer GCSEs?
Special schools follow a broad and balanced curriculum, adapted to each pupil. Many enter pupils for GCSEs, Functional Skills, and vocational qualifications where appropriate, while others focus on communication, independence, and life skills. The right mix depends on the school and the needs of its pupils.
How are special schools funded?
State special school places are funded by local authorities through the high-needs block, with additional top-up funding attached to each pupil with an EHCP. Independent and non-maintained special schools may be funded by the local authority where the EHCP names them, or privately by families.