Ages 
As one parent pointed out, nobody wakes up thinking that they hope their child will go to a special school. Ending up here, with a leader whose calm, humanitarian approach shines through and staff who’ll work tirelessly to make every pupil achieve everything they’re capable of (and sometimes rather more), won’t make things better but will make them as good as they can possibly be. If only – as so often – they could do the same for their life chances once they’ve left, there’d be even greater grounds for hope.
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Overview & data
- Pupil numbers
- 165 ·
- Local authority
- London Borough of Richmond upon Thames
- SEN provision
- · ASD · MLD
Headteacher
Executive headteacher
Niall Dumigan
Since September 2023, Niall Dumigan, executive headteacher of The Auriga Academy Trust group of three special academies: Strathmore School, Clarendon School and Capella House School.
Head of Centre, Clarendon Primary: Since 2002, Angela Mas
Entrance
School caters for moderate learning difficulties, including some complex needs and autism. Has 140 places, 50 in primary, 90 secondary. All pupils will have significant global developmental delay though some (particularly those in reception and ye
Exit
Pupils stay until 16. Link with Richmond College – year 11s study there for a day each week as preparation for moving there in year 12. SEN Connexions officer supports and mentors year 10 and 11 pupils.
For many pupils, progress made in Eng
Latest results
We do not publish results data for special schools. Find out more.
Teaching & learning
School aims high. Website talks of creating a centre of excellence, support and challenge, with pupils achieving full potential, academically, socially, creatively and morally, gaining confidence and making a contribution to society. Ambitious, ye
- Qualifications taken in 2024
- GCSE
Learning support & SEN
Arts & extracurricular
Notable for unusually large range of clubs offered. Fewer in primary – some, like football, at lunchtime - because of travel logistics and sheer exhaustion. Include cookery (very popular). Big range at senior level, from cross-country to dance, li
Sport
Impressively good at sport – trophy cabinets in both senior and primary schools worth a look. Some highly talented individuals, including senior school girl who’s achieved gold and silver in London Youth Games Swimming Gala Sport despite visual im
Ethos & heritage
Secondary Centre – which moved from single deteriorating site in 2018 - is one of three occupying a brand new building in Twickenham, SW London. The new Richmond upon Thames secondary free school (mainstream) will be the largest – so takes the lio
Therapy & staffing
Hot and cold running therapy, as and when you need it and tailored to each child. A huge contrast with mainstream experience, say parents – provision of SALT and OT ‘is fantastic’. Instead of seeing an OT only once a term (if you’re lucky), here i
Pastoral care, inclusivity & discipline
School’s approach is all about valuing the individual and taking at their own pace so ‘can learn and move forward,’ said parent. Essential, given that pupils’ backgrounds can be less than ideal. Some, despite having learning disability, are also c
Pupils & parents
‘These are not children who are backwards in coming forwards,’ says school. In every class and corridor, pupils hurry forward to share their views. Non-verbal children in primary specialist class notable for desire to interact. Another primary pup
The last word
As one parent pointed out, nobody wakes up thinking that they hope their child will go to a special school. Ending up here, with a leader whose calm, humanitarian approach shines through and staff who’ll work tirelessly to make every pupil achieve
