The Courtyard Islington
A fresh identity for inclusive education
The Challenge
The Courtyard Islington is a specialist school for students aged 13–19 with Autism Spectrum Condition (ASC). After separating from an academy trust, the school needed a new identity, one that reflected its independence and created a sense of calm, clarity, and belonging.
The old brand felt inherited and mismatched, with colours and visuals that didn’t reflect the school’s values. Blue — used prominently in the identity — signalled sadness in the ‘Zones of Regulation’ framework, commonly used in ASC settings. The new brand needed to be welcoming, professional, and supportive, rooted in who the school is today.
We created a refreshed visual identity and website that reposition The Courtyard as a nurturing, confident space for learning.
Outcomes
A green-led palette replaced blue to evoke calm and growth, while a new oak tree logo symbolises strength and development.
The updated website improves clarity for prospective families and better reflects the school’s mission and values. The new identity brings warmth and structure, designed to resonate with both students and staff.
Thank you so much! Mettle have been really wonderful to work with and have captured perfectly what the school means to our community.
Deborah Shepherd
Headteacher at The Courtyard Islington
Our process was collaborative from the start.
Workshops with staff and students helped shape the direction, revealing a shared desire for clarity, simplicity, and representation.
Project Summary
We refined the brand system around those insights, replacing outdated visuals with clean typography, supportive colours, and structured layouts that feel both human and professional. The result is a brand that feels true to The Courtyard’s inclusive ethos, and built to support its next chapter as an independent school.