City of London Academy, Highgate Hill is a mainstream secondary school in Islington, London, for children and young people aged 11 to 18. In January 2026, 101 of its 641 pupils (15.8%) were getting SEN support and 15 (2.3%) had an EHC plan.
- Ages 11–18
- 641 pupils
- Ofsted: Good
Special educational needs here
From the school census, January 2026. Compared with state secondary schools across England and in Islington.
15.8% get SEN support
101 of 641 pupils. Help in school without an EHC plan.
About the same as the England average.
2.3% have an EHC plan
15 of 641 pupils. A legal plan from the council, for children who need more help.
Lower than the England average.
Most common needs
- Speech, language and communication28
- Social, emotional and mental health26
- Autism17
- Moderate learning difficulty17
- Specific learning difficulty, such as dyslexia12
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
- Free school
- Ages
- 11 to 18
- Boys and girls
- Boys and girls
- Pupils
- 641 (places for 900)
- Headteacher
- Mr Prince Gennuh
- Part of
- City of London Academies Trust
- Free school meals
- 63% of pupils eligible
- Council
- Islington
- School reference (URN)
- 143659
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 Islington 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 Good, May 2024
Rated Good at its last graded inspection, in May 2024.
- Quality of educationGood
- Behaviour and attitudesGood
- Personal developmentGood
- Leadership and managementGood
- Sixth formOutstanding
- SafeguardingEffective
Contact and getting there
Holland Walk, Duncombe Road, Archway, London, N19 3EU
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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
- The Bridge Keystone Special school · Ages 4–19 · Ofsted: Good 0.1 miles
- The Harington Scheme Ltd Independent · Ages 16–25 0.6 miles
- Acland Burghley School Mainstream + base · Ages 11–18 · Ofsted: Good 0.9 miles
- Torriano Primary School Mainstream + base · Ages 3–11 · Ofsted: Outstanding 1.3 miles
Other mainstream schools
- Duncombe Primary School Primary · Ages 2–11 · SEN support 18%, EHC plans 10.6% 0.3 miles
- Whitehall Park School Primary · Ages 4–11 · SEN support 19.8%, EHC plans 6.9% 0.4 miles
- St John's Upper Holloway CofE Primary School Primary · Ages 2–11 · SEN support 28.6%, EHC plans 4.4% 0.4 miles
All mainstream schools in Islington SEND schools in Islington
Questions about City of London Academy, Highgate Hill
How many pupils at City of London Academy, Highgate Hill have special educational needs?
In the January 2026 school census, 101 of the 641 pupils (15.8%) were getting SEN support and 15 (2.3%) had an EHC plan. Across England’s state secondary schools it is 14.1% and 3.5%.
What are the most common needs at City of London Academy, Highgate Hill?
Counting pupils on SEN support and with an EHC plan, the most common main needs are speech, language and communication needs (28 pupils), social, emotional and mental health (SEMH) needs (26 pupils) and autism (17 pupils).
Who do I talk to about my child’s needs at City of London Academy, Highgate Hill?
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 City of London Academy, Highgate Hill?
Through Islington 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 City of London Academy, Highgate Hill?
You can ask for City of London Academy, Highgate Hill 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 City of London Academy, Highgate Hill 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 Acland Burghley School, about 0.9 miles away.
Where is City of London Academy, Highgate Hill?
Holland Walk, Duncombe Road, Archway, London, N19 3EU, in Islington.
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.