Vanguard School

  • Special
  • Free school
  • Ages 11 to 19
Ofsted judgements: Good

Lollard Street, Kennington, London, SE11 6QHOpen in maps (opens in a new tab)

Vanguard School is a special school in Lambeth for ages 11 to 19. It is one of the 97 schools in Lambeth. Its latest Ofsted inspection, in July 2025, graded each key judgement and gave no overall Ofsted rating.

Ofsted inspection

Inspected 1 July 2025, report published 18 September 2025

This inspection graded each key judgement and gave no overall effectiveness grade.

Quality of education
Good
Behaviour and attitudes
Good
Personal development
Good
Leadership and management
Good
Sixth form provision
Good
Safeguarding
Met

What Ofsted said

From the inspection on 1 July 2025

Due to several changes in leadership, pupils at this school have experienced a period of disruption that has affected their learning and progress. Following recent improvements, things have now settled. A caring and supportive culture has been established. Pupils work hard and demonstrate positive attitudes to their learning. The school has high expectations and ambitions for pupils. While there are still some inconsistencies in how the curriculum is delivered, most pupils are showing significant improvement in their learning across subjects. Pupils have ample opportunities to develop their talents. These include a range of clubs, such as basketball and drumming. The clubs support pupils in developing the essential skills of communication and resilience. Pupils further develop these qualities through work experience with local theatres and employers. Pupils talk excitedly about these activities. Pupils feel safe because staff are vigilant and supervise them closely and sensitively. Relationships between staff and pupils are positive. Staff get to know pupils well and genuinely have their best interests at heart. Pupils describe the school as 'fantastic' and 'safe', reflecting a strong sense of belonging and pride in their community. Their eagerness to speak positively about their experiences demonstrates high levels of investment in the school's culture.

What the school should improve

  • In some subjects, the curriculum does not set out what pupils need to know in sufficient detail. This means that, on occasion, pupils are not taught concepts in a logical order to help build their knowledge and understanding over time. The school should clarify the knowledge and vocabulary that pupils should learn in these subjects and the order that this should be taught.
  • Leaders should ensure that their vision and strategic direction are clearly understood by the whole community. While improvements have been made, not all staff and parents are aware of the school's progress or the rationale behind recent changes. Communication strategies should be strengthened to build confidence and shared purpose across the school community.

Exam results

GCSE results (key stage 4), 2024/25

13 pupils in the year group

Attainment 8 score21.2

21.2, 24.9 below the England average of 46.1.

Grade 5 or above in English and maths15.4%

15.4%, 30 percentage points below the England average of 45.4%.

Grade 4 or above in English and maths15.4%

15.4%, 49.4 percentage points below the England average of 64.8%.

Pupils entering the EBacc0%

0%, 40.5 percentage points below the England average of 40.5%.

EBacc average point score1.46

1.46, 2.63 below the England average of 4.09.

Pupil numbers and mix

71 pupils on roll, with places for 78

Eligible for free school meals56.3%

56.3%, 29.8 percentage points above the England average of 26.5%.

English as an additional language23.9%

23.9%, 2.3 percentage points above the England average of 21.6%.

Special educational needs support0%

0%, 14.8 percentage points below the England average of 14.8%.

Education, health and care plan100%

100%, 94 percentage points above the England average of 6%.

Schools near Vanguard School

SchoolDistanceOfstedResults
Octavia House Schools, London0.1 milesNo Ofsted inspectionAttainment 8: 1.6
Evelina Hospital School0.6 milesOfsted: OutstandingNot published
Imperial Oak School0.8 milesReport card: Needs attention to expected standardNot published
Fairley House School0.9 milesNo Ofsted inspectionAttainment 8: 32.4
Highshore School1 mileOfsted: GoodNot published

School details

School type
Free schools special
Sector
Free school
Trust
LIBERTY ACADEMY TRUST LTD.
Age range
11 to 19
Gender
Mixed
Headteacher
Mrs Rachael Clements
Address
Lollard Street, Kennington, London, SE11 6QH
Local authority
Lambeth
URN
142928

School details from Get Information about Schools, 17 September 2026. Ofsted outcomes published to 31 August 2026. Exam results for 2024/25 from the Department for Education. Pupil mix from the school census, 2025/26.