ADO River Valley School
0.1 miles29 pupils
State-funded · Special school · Greenwich
Willow Dene School
Academy special converter · Ages 2 to 19 · Mixed · 315 pupils
At a glance
- Type
- Academy special converter (state-funded)
- Ages
- 2 to 19
- Gender
- Mixed
- Pupils
- 315 census January 2026
- Capacity
- 264
- Sixth form
- Yes
- Nursery classes
- Yes
- Executive Headteacher
- Ms Rachel Harrison
- Trust
- THE COMPASS PARTNERSHIP OF SCHOOLS
- Address
- Swingate Lane, Plumstead, SE18 2JD
- Borough
- Greenwich
- Telephone
- 02088549841
- DfE reference (URN)
- 143595
- Website
- willowdene.compassps.uk
Source: Department for Education, Get Information About Schools · daily extract as at 2026-10-07 · last checked 9 October 2026
Where leavers went
Official destination measures after GCSEs (key stage 4)
| Staying in education or employment for at least 2 terms after key stage 4 | 100% |
|---|---|
| In a sustained education destination | 100% |
| Going to a school sixth form | 0% |
| Going to a sixth-form college | 0% |
| Going to a further education college or other FE provider | 0% |
| In a sustained apprenticeship | 0% |
| In sustained employment | 0% |
| Whose destination was not sustained | 0% |
Source: Department for Education, Compare school and college performance · 2022/23 cohort · last checked 9 October 2026 · 16 leavers, cohort that left in 2022/23
These are destinations schools have published for past leavers. They describe what happened, not what will happen for any one child. How to read this.
Admissions
Places at special schools are normally arranged through a child's Education, Health and Care Plan, with the local authority naming the school. Speak to your borough's special educational needs team rather than applying on the general admissions form.
Inspection
Ofsted graded inspection, 2 November 2022: overall effectiveness at that inspection was Outstanding
Ofsted stopped giving state schools a single overall grade in September 2024. This grade dates from the inspection shown; it is not a current rating.
- Quality of education
- Outstanding
- Behaviour and attitudes
- Outstanding
- Personal development
- Outstanding
- Leadership and management
- Outstanding
- Early years provision
- Outstanding
Ofsted ungraded inspection, 6 December 2019: School remains Good (Improving) - S5 Next
An ungraded inspection confirms or questions the previous grade; it does not set a new one.
Source: Ofsted, Management information - state-funded schools - latest inspections as at 31 August 2026 · latest inspections as at 2026-08-31 · last checked 9 October 2026
Results
National test and exam measures are not shown for special schools. Most pupils are not entered for them, so the published figures (often 0%) say nothing about the school.
Pupils and context
- Eligible for free school meals
- 58.9% January 2026
- English as an additional language
- 29.1%
- Receiving SEN support
- 1.6%
- With an Education, Health and Care Plan
- 98.4%
- Girls / boys
- 34% / 66%
Source: Department for Education, Compare school and college performance · 2024/25 · last checked 9 October 2026 · school census 2024/25
Attendance and staffing
- Overall absence
- 11.3% 2024/25
- Persistently absent (missed 10% or more)
- 34.4%
- Pupils per teacher
- 6.7 2025/26
Source: Department for Education, Absence rates by school level · 2024/25 · last checked 9 October 2026
Nearby schools
Schools covering the same ages within about a mile, by straight-line distance (not walking or travel time).
Compare with similar schools
Side-by-side comparisons with the nearest schools of the same type. Sourced facts only; no winner is declared.