Maypole School has three school sites, in Streatham (SW16 2QA), Sunbury-on-Thames (TW16 6QE) and Croydon (SW16 2QA). Looking ahead we are  planning to open a 4th school in the Croydon area, for pupils in Key Stages 3 / 4, in early 2027.

Our schools are for pupils with social, emotional and mental health (SEMH) difficulties, and most of our pupils will also have some combination of additional complex needs, such as Anxiety, ASD, severe / profound ASD, ADHD, FASD, PDA, OCD, ODD, Toxic Childhood Stress / Adverse Childhood Experiences (ACEs), Attachment difficulties, Developmental Trauma or Delay, Speech and Language difficulties incl severe (non / pre-verbal), Cognition and Learning difficulties, Specific Learning Difficulties such as Dyslexia and Dyspraxia; and more.

Many of our young people will have displayed challenging behaviour at their previous schools. But most no longer do this at Maypole, because they feel safe, and understood. Each of our classes caters for different needs; and we  have separate classes for children who should not be in a challenging environment.  

We’re passionate about helping these children to succeed at Maypole School, in spite of their very complex needs, and their difficulties at previous schools.

We are family-owned and family-run, and we pride ourselves on delivering better outcomes than other schools manage with similar children, and at lower cost to LAs.  Our intent is to provide the best SEMH schools in the South London / SE region.

We say this with confidence because we have a very experienced leadership team, with a proven record of growing highly successful SEMH schools, and of succeeding with children with really complex needs, where all previous schools had been unable to do so.

"I would not want to send her anywhere else … she's come so far at Maypole! She loves it here. I want her to stay … I don't have a bad word to say."

Parent, Maypole School (Sunbury), Jan 2026. 

"Maypole has been life-changing for (my daughter), as well as me and her Dad. I can't thank the team enough.  Staff understand her, and it's clear you all put the child first. She's calmed down, and changed completely."

Parent, Maypole School (Pathways to Employment), Dec 2025.

"The development of pupils as individuals is exceptional .... (and) the support for pupils' behaviour is excellent." 

Ofsted Report, Maypole School (Leigham Court), June 2024

"This is a fledgling school that contradicts its age in the experiences it is already offering its pupils. This is mostly down to the dedication and hard work of staff, no matter what their role. All involved in the school… understand the complexities of pupils with special educational needs… and go out of their way to recognise the additional barriers some pupils face … . This creates an environment that enables pupils to thrive, many of whom have been out of education for long periods of time prior to joining."

Ofsted Report, Maypole School (Sunbury), June 2024.