The Courtyard Islington is a special free school in Islington, London, for children and young people aged 13 to 19. It supports speech and language and autism.
- Ages 13–19
- 76 pupils
- Ofsted: Good
School details
- Type
- Special free school
- Ages
- 13 to 19
- Boys and girls
- Boys and girls
- Pupils
- 76 (places for 72)
- Headteacher
- Headteacher Deborah Shepherd (Headteacher)
- Part of
- The Courtyard Islington
- Opened
- 2 September 2013
- Free school meals
- 56.7% of pupils eligible
- Council
- Islington
- School reference (URN)
- 139418
Needs it supports
2 needs: speech and language, autism
As listed by the Department for Education, grouped the way EHC plans describe needs.
Communication and interaction
- Autism Other schools for this in Islington (3)
- Speech, language and communication Other schools for this in Islington (1)
How to get a place
4 steps, starting with an EHC plan
- An EHC plan
Places at schools like this usually come through an Education, Health and Care (EHC) plan. If your child doesn’t have one yet, you can ask the council for an assessment yourself.
- Visit and ask questions
See whether the school feels right and whether it can meet your child’s needs. Our list of questions below can help.
- Ask for the school to be named
Tell the council that looks after the plan (often Islington council) that this is the school you want, and ask them to consult it.
- Named in the plan
If the school is named in your child’s plan, it must admit your child. Free home-to-school transport is often part of the arrangement.
Questions to ask when you visit
8 questions to tick off as you go
Ticks stay on this device, so you can use them on the day.
Ofsted
Rated Good, May 2017; school remains Good (February 2023)
Rated Good at its last graded inspection, in May 2017. That was some time ago, so read the latest report for the full picture.
- Leadership and managementGood
- Sixth formGood
- SafeguardingEffective
Since then: School remains Good (ungraded inspection, February 2023).
Contact and getting there
Holloway Road, Islington, London, N7 8LT
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Directions: Walk Public transport Drive
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The school’s details, how to get a place and the questions to ask, in your inbox.
Other SEND schools nearby
- Laycock Primary School Mainstream + base · Ages 3–11 · Ofsted: Good 0.3 miles
- New River College Secondary Alternative provision · Ages 11–16 · Ofsted: Good 0.3 miles
- Samuel Rhodes MLD School Special school · Ages 11–19 · Ofsted report card (2026) 0.5 miles
By need in Islington: Autism (4) · PMLD (3) · Speech and language (2) · Moderate learning (2)
Questions about The Courtyard Islington
How do I get a place at The Courtyard Islington?
There’s no catchment area or application round. Places usually come through an Education, Health and Care (EHC) plan: ask the council that looks after the plan to consult The Courtyard Islington. If it is named in the plan, the school must admit your child.
What needs does The Courtyard Islington support?
Speech, language and communication and autism. Every child is different, so ask the school how it would meet your child’s needs.
What ages does The Courtyard Islington take?
Aged 13 to 19, boys and girls.
What is The Courtyard Islington’s Ofsted rating?
Rated Good by Ofsted in February 2023 at its last graded inspection. Newer inspections no longer give a single overall grade, so read the latest report for the full picture.
Where is The Courtyard Islington?
Holloway Road, Islington, London, N7 8LT, in Islington.
School data: DfE Get Information About Schools, 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.