Lift Beacon High is a mainstream secondary school in Islington, London, for children and young people aged 11 to 16. In January 2026, 78 of its 414 pupils (18.8%) were getting SEN support and 35 (8.5%) had an EHC plan.
- Ages 11–16
- 414 pupils
- Ofsted: Good
Special educational needs here
From the school census, January 2026. Compared with state secondary schools across England and in Islington.
18.8% get SEN support
78 of 414 pupils. Help in school without an EHC plan.
Higher than the England average.
8.5% have an EHC plan
35 of 414 pupils. A legal plan from the council, for children who need more help.
Higher than the England average.
Most common needs
- Social, emotional and mental health47
- Specific learning difficulty, such as dyslexia21
- Autism20
- Speech, language and communication10
- Moderate learning difficulty6
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
- Academy
- Ages
- 11 to 16
- Boys and girls
- Boys and girls
- Pupils
- 414 (places for 600)
- Headteacher
- Mr Aaron Collingwoode-Williams
- Part of
- Lift Schools
- Free school meals
- 73.5% of pupils eligible
- Council
- Islington
- School reference (URN)
- 152337
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, November 2022
Rated Good at its last graded inspection, in November 2022.
- Quality of educationGood
- Behaviour and attitudesGood
- Personal developmentGood
- Leadership and managementGood
- SafeguardingEffective
Contact and getting there
Hilldrop Road, Islington, London, N7 0JG
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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
- Torriano Primary School Mainstream + base · Ages 3–11 · Ofsted: Outstanding 0.3 miles
- The Bridge School Special school · Ages 2–19 · Ofsted: Outstanding 0.3 miles
- Kentish Town Church of England Primary School Mainstream + base · Ages 3–11 · Ofsted: Outstanding 0.5 miles
- Harmood School Special school · Ages 11–16 · Ofsted: Good 1.0 mile
Other mainstream schools
- Tufnell Park Primary School Primary · Ages 2–11 · SEN support 25.2%, EHC plans 4.9% 0.1 miles
- Hungerford School Primary · Ages 3–11 · SEN support 13.6%, EHC plans 50.7% 0.3 miles
- Brecknock Primary School Primary · Ages 2–11 · SEN support 20.9%, EHC plans 7.1% 0.4 miles
All mainstream schools in Islington SEND schools in Islington
Questions about Lift Beacon High
How many pupils at Lift Beacon High have special educational needs?
In the January 2026 school census, 78 of the 414 pupils (18.8%) were getting SEN support and 35 (8.5%) had an EHC plan. Across England’s state secondary schools it is 14.1% and 3.5%.
What are the most common needs at Lift Beacon High?
Counting pupils on SEN support and with an EHC plan, the most common main needs are social, emotional and mental health (SEMH) needs (47 pupils), dyslexia and other specific learning difficulties (21 pupils) and autism (20 pupils).
Who do I talk to about my child’s needs at Lift Beacon High?
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 Lift Beacon High?
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 Lift Beacon High?
You can ask for Lift Beacon High 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 Lift Beacon High 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 Torriano Primary School, about 0.3 miles away.
Where is Lift Beacon High?
Hilldrop Road, Islington, London, N7 0JG, 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.