The mother of the only child in Camden not awarded a secondary school place this year says her autistic son faces a lost year of education after 19 schools declined to offer a place. The 11-year-old, who has learning disabilities and is clinically considered non-verbal, has been without a school since September. The family, who have lived in Kentish Town all their lives, are now taking the council to a tribunal, but do not expect a resolution before Easter.
Delays and refusals from 19 schools
The mother, who asked not to be named due to her son's vulnerabilities, said the council has consistently missed deadlines and failed to challenge school refusals. “Late responses. Late consultations. No challenges from the council to the responses to these consultations. They have consistently missed deadlines. The schools have said they are full. Camden allege that they sent out 19 consultations to the schools. I have asked for the evidence of that, but we haven’t had it. Radio silence,” she said.
The schools approached include mainstream schools with SEND provision. None have offered a place, citing a surge in demand. The mother noted a change in her son's mood: “I’ve definitely noticed a change in his mood. He knows there is no school but it is confusing. Everyone is asking me, ‘still no school?’”
Rising demand and a delayed new school
Camden has seen a more than 50 per cent rise in children requiring autism support since 2019, and around a 33 per cent increase since 2023. To address this, the council pre-purchased places at a new SEND-only school run by Seva Education in Boadicea Street, King’s Cross, on the site of the former Blessed Sacrament RC Primary School, which closed in 2024. However, the school has not opened on time, and some children are receiving home tutoring or remaining in primary schools until it opens.
The mother said the new school is unsuitable for her son: “The problem for me is the environment at that school is incompatible with my son’s profile. He will be frightened of the children there. I know some people reading this will be thinking about me, ‘bloody hell, does she want the moon and stars as well?’ But getting the placement right at this age is so important. It will cost less in the future.”
Family seeks Treehouse placement and criticises council
The mother wants her son to attend Treehouse in Muswell Hill, a school that celebrates neurodivergence and has said it can meet his needs, but it is full. A tribunal judgment could force the school to admit him. She criticised the council's approach: “Camden is pushing SEND families to the brink. They do all these focus groups but it doesn’t feel like they are listening to us.”
She has sat on SEND advisory groups and was due to attend the Labour conference to discuss the issue with ministers. “The whole system, from education to health to social care, it just needs a real shake-up,” she added.
A Camden Council spokesperson said: “The increased demand for specialist provision means that, on occasion, securing the most appropriate provision can take longer than we would like. We are working to secure an appropriate placement as quickly as possible and alternative educational provision is being put in place while longer-term arrangements are progressed. We recognise the frustration and uncertainty this situation has caused the family and we remain in regular contact with them. We will continue to work closely with them to secure the most suitable placement available and keep them updated on progress.”
The council declined to comment on whether it had placements at Seva Education, and the company did not respond to requests. The mother's tribunal case continues, with a hearing not expected until Easter, leaving the boy without a school place for the foreseeable future.
