The St Thomas the Apostle College is a mainstream secondary school in Southwark, London, for boys aged 11 to 18. In January 2026, 124 of its 1,140 pupils (10.9%) were getting SEN support and 32 (2.8%) had an EHC plan.
- Ages 11–18
- 1,140 pupils
- Boys only
- Ofsted: Outstanding
Special educational needs here
From the school census, January 2026. Compared with state secondary schools across England and in Southwark.
10.9% get SEN support
124 of 1,140 pupils. Help in school without an EHC plan.
Lower than the England average.
2.8% have an EHC plan
32 of 1,140 pupils. A legal plan from the council, for children who need more help.
Lower than the England average.
Most common needs
- Speech, language and communication58
- Social, emotional and mental health44
- Autism43
- Physical disability7
Pupils by their main need, on SEN support or with an EHC plan. Needs with fewer than 5 pupils aren’t shown.
Figures show how many children the school supports, not how well. To see how it would support your child, talk to the SENCO and read its SEN information report on the school’s website.
School details
- Type
- Mainstream secondary school
- Run as
- Voluntary aided school
- Ages
- 11 to 18
- Boys and girls
- Boys only
- Pupils
- 1,140 (places for 1,000)
- Headteacher
- Mr Eamon Connolly
- Faith
- Roman Catholic
- Free school meals
- 46.4% of pupils eligible
- Council
- Southwark
- School reference (URN)
- 100857
How SEN support works
4 steps, from a first chat to an EHC plan
- Talk to the class teacher and the SENCO
If you’re worried about your child, ask for a meeting. Every school has a SENCO (special educational needs co-ordinator). Your child doesn’t need a diagnosis to get help.
- SEN support
The school should work out what your child needs, agree a plan with you, put it in place and review it together, usually each term. This is called SEN support.
- An EHC needs assessment
If your child needs more help than the school can usually give, you or the school can ask Southwark council for an EHC needs assessment. It can lead to an Education, Health and Care (EHC) plan, which the council must make sure is delivered.
- Free, independent advice
Your local SENDIASS can help at any stage, and can come to meetings with the school with you.
Questions to ask the SENCO
10 questions to tick off as you go
Ticks stay on this device, so you can use them at the meeting.
Ofsted
Rated Outstanding, November 2018; standards maintained (November 2024)
Rated Outstanding at its last graded inspection, in November 2018. That was some time ago, so read the latest report for the full picture.
- Leadership and managementOutstanding
- Sixth formOutstanding
- SafeguardingEffective
Since then: Standards maintained (ungraded inspection, November 2024).
Contact and getting there
Hollydale Road, Nunhead, London, SE15 2EB
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Directions: Walk Public transport Drive
Email me these details
The school’s details, its SEN figures and the questions to ask the SENCO, in your inbox.
Nearby
Specialist schools and SEN units
- Edmund Waller Primary School Mainstream + base · Ages 3–11 · Ofsted: Good 0.4 miles
- Rye Oak Primary School Mainstream + base · Ages 2–11 · Ofsted: Good 0.6 miles
- Cherry Garden School Special school · Ages 2–11 · Ofsted: Outstanding 0.7 miles
- Treasure House (London) CIC Independent · Ages 14–19 · Ofsted: Good 0.8 miles
Other mainstream schools
- John Donne Primary School Primary · Ages 3–11 · SEN support 9.9%, EHC plans 4.2% 0.2 miles
- Hollydale Primary School Primary · Ages 4–11 · SEN support 19.4%, EHC plans 3.9% 0.3 miles
- Kender Primary School Primary · Ages 2–11 · SEN support 16.5%, EHC plans 0.9% 0.4 miles
All mainstream schools in Southwark SEND schools in Southwark
Questions about The St Thomas the Apostle College
How many pupils at The St Thomas the Apostle College have special educational needs?
In the January 2026 school census, 124 of the 1,140 pupils (10.9%) were getting SEN support and 32 (2.8%) had an EHC plan. Across England’s state secondary schools it is 14.1% and 3.5%.
What are the most common needs at The St Thomas the Apostle College?
Counting pupils on SEN support and with an EHC plan, the most common main needs are speech, language and communication needs (58 pupils), social, emotional and mental health (SEMH) needs (44 pupils) and autism (43 pupils).
Who do I talk to about my child’s needs at The St Thomas the Apostle College?
The SENCO (special educational needs co-ordinator). Every school has one, and every school must publish an SEN information report on its website explaining how it supports pupils with SEND.
How do I apply for a place at The St Thomas the Apostle College?
Through Southwark council’s school admissions, in the normal application round or during the year. If your child has an EHC plan, you don’t apply this way: you ask for the school to be named in the plan instead.
Can my child with an EHC plan go to The St Thomas the Apostle College?
You can ask for The St Thomas the Apostle College to be named in your child’s EHC plan. The council must consult the school and name it, unless it would be unsuitable for your child’s age, ability or needs, or would affect other children’s education or the efficient use of resources.
Does The St Thomas the Apostle College have an SEN unit or resourced provision?
Not according to the Department for Education’s register of schools. The nearest mainstream school with one is Edmund Waller Primary School, about 0.4 miles away.
Where is The St Thomas the Apostle College?
Hollydale Road, Nunhead, London, SE15 2EB, in Southwark.
School data: DfE Get Information About Schools, SEN figures from DfE Special educational needs in England (the January school census), under the Open Government Licence. Postcode lookups by postcodes.io: contains OS data © Crown copyright and database right, Royal Mail data © Royal Mail copyright and database right, and National Statistics data © Crown copyright and database right. Distances are as the crow flies. Always check details and admissions with the school and your council.