London Nautical, City of London Academy

About London Nautical, City of London Academy

Just over half of parents who responded to the most recent Ofsted survey said they would recommend London Nautical, City of London Academy to another parent, a figure that sits alongside the school’s current Requires Improvement rating. The school is significantly oversubscribed, with a capacity of 720 but only 545 pupils on roll, suggesting that while demand exists, the school is not yet filling its available places. This boys’ secondary in Lambeth serves a notably high proportion of disadvantaged pupils, with 49.3% eligible for free school meals, well above the national average. The headteacher, Michael Schofield, leads a school that has seen some positive shifts in its latest inspection, though overall effectiveness remains a concern. The parent view, while not overwhelmingly positive, does indicate a core of families who see value in what the school offers, particularly given its nautical specialism and central London location.

Academically, the school’s most recent Ofsted inspection in June 2023 rated overall effectiveness as Requires Improvement, a repeat of the previous inspection in 2019. However, there were notable improvements in two key areas: personal development and behaviour and attitudes both moved up to Good, suggesting that pupils’ wider character and conduct are now strengths. The quality of education and leadership and management both remain Requires Improvement, as does the sixth-form provision. The school’s Progress 8 score is not provided in the data, but the local authority average for Lambeth is 0.07, meaning the typical pupil in the borough makes slightly more progress than the national average. Without the school’s own score, it is difficult to say how London Nautical compares, but the Ofsted judgement implies that academic outcomes are not yet where they need to be. The sixth form is also rated Requires Improvement, which may be a factor for families considering the school for post-16 study.

The school offers a broad range of facilities including a swimming pool, tennis courts, playing fields, a theatre, and a sixth-form centre, which is unusual for a central London state school. Sports provision includes rowing, football, cricket, and athletics, and there is a strong extracurricular offer with clubs such as the Duke of Edinburgh’s Award, Model UN, and Young Enterprise. SEND support is comprehensive, covering specific learning difficulties like dyslexia, moderate learning difficulties, social and emotional mental health needs, speech and language communication needs, hearing impairment, and autistic spectrum disorder, plus a resourced provision. The school is a City of London Academy, which may appeal to families looking for a specialist nautical ethos in a boys-only environment. Given its Requires Improvement rating, it is likely to suit families who are willing to engage closely with the school’s improvement journey, particularly those who value the strong personal development and behaviour noted by inspectors. The nearest Outstanding school is Oasis Academy South Bank, 0.9 km away, which may be a more straightforward choice for families prioritising academic outcomes.

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