Located in Prenton, The Observatory School is a not applicable school, serving pupils aged 7 to 16. The school is a community special school and operates as a mixed school. It follows a not applicable admissions policy. It does not have a designated religious character, which may suit families looking for a non-faith school.
The Observatory School currently has around 167 pupils on roll, which is about 104% of its capacity. The gender split is relatively balanced, with approximately 83.2% boys and 16.8% girls. Around 65.3% of pupils are eligible for free school meals, which gives an indication of the socio-economic mix. The student population reflects a mixed community across different backgrounds and needs.
Overall absence at the school is 30.1%. Persistent absence is recorded at 70.6%.
The majority of pupils are from a white british background (89.8%).
Safeguarding was judged to be effective, which is a key consideration for many parents.
Around 46% of pupils move on to sustained destinations after Year 11. Most continue into education (46%) , including 0% who stay in school sixth forms and 46% progressing to further education , while 0% enter apprenticeships .
| Address: | Bidston Village Road, Prenton, CH43 7QT |
| Website: | www.theobservatoryschool.wirral.sch.uk |
| Telephone: | 01516527093 |
| School Type: | Community special school |
| Education phase: | Not applicable |
| Local authority: | Wirral |
| Headteacher / Principal: | Mr Gregory Chiswell |
| Religious character: | Does not apply |
| Admissions policy: | Not applicable |
| Unique reference: | 127715 |
Ofsted inspection date: 14/01/2025
Safeguarding is effective
| Age Range: | 7 - 16 |
| Gender: | Mixed |
| School Capacity: | 160 |
| Number of Pupils: | 167 |
| Number of Boys: | 139 |
| Number of Girls: | 28 |
| School | England state-funded schools: | |
|---|---|---|
| Overall absence: | 30.1% | 4% |
| Persistent absence: | 70.6% | 8.2% |
| White British | 89.80% | 150 |
| Unclassified | 6.60% | 11 |
| Other Mixed | 1.20% | 2 |
| White and Black African | 1.20% | 2 |
| White and Asian | 0.60% | 1 |
| Other White | 0.60% | 1 |
| Irish Traveller (Traveller of Irish heritage) | 0.00% | 0 |
| Chinese | 0.00% | 0 |
| Other (any other ethnic group) | 0.00% | 0 |
| Other Black | 0.00% | 0 |
| African | 0.00% | 0 |
| Caribbean | 0.00% | 0 |
| Pakistani | 0.00% | 0 |
| Other Asian | 0.00% | 0 |
| Bangladeshi | 0.00% | 0 |
| Irish | 0.00% | 0 |
| White and Black Caribbean | 0.00% | 0 |
| Gypsy/Roma | 0.00% | 0 |
| Indian | 0.00% | 0 |
Progress scores show how pupils performed compared with pupils nationally who had similar prior attainment. Scores above 0 are better than average; below 0 are worse than average.
| Ofsted Overall Effectiveness | Distance | Establishment Type | Has Nursery Classes | Gender | More Info | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Castleway Nursery School Castleway North , CH46 1RN | - not rated | 1,615 yd | Local authority nursery school | Yes | Mixed | More About School |
| Ofsted Overall Effectiveness | Distance | Establishment Type | Has Nursery Classes | Gender | More Info | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Vyner Primary School Bidston Village Road , Bidston CH43 7QT | - not rated | 256 yd | Community school | Yes | Mixed | More About School |
| St Oswald's Bidston CofE Primary School Ballantyne Drive , Bidston CH43 7XG | - not rated | 267 yd | Voluntary controlled school | Yes | Mixed | More About School |
| Bidston CofE Infant School Ballantyne Drive , Bidston CH43 7XG | - not rated | 267 yd | Voluntary controlled school | Not Applicable | Mixed | More About School |
| Bidston Village CofE (Controlled) Primary School Ballantyne Drive , Bidston CH43 7XG | 2out of 4 | 267 yd | Voluntary controlled school | Yes | Mixed | More About School |
| Ballantyne Junior School Ballantyne Drive , Bidston CH43 7XG | - not rated | 271 yd | Community school | Not Applicable | Mixed | More About School |
| Ofsted Overall Effectiveness | Distance | Establishment Type | Has Nursery Classes | Gender | More Info | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Oxley School Oxley Avenue , Moreton L46 1QA | - not rated | 1,285 yd | Community school | Not Applicable | Girls | More About School |
| The Kingsway Academy Birket Avenue , Moreton CH46 1RB | - not rated | 1,527 yd | Academy sponsor led | No | Mixed | More About School |
| Wallasey School Birket Avenue , Moreton CH46 1RB | - not rated | 1,527 yd | Community school | No | Mixed | More About School |
| The Henry Meoles School Birket Avenue , Moreton L46 1RA | - not rated | 1,653 yd | Community school | Not Applicable | Boys | More About School |
| The Mosslands School Mosslands Drive , CH45 8PJ | 2out of 4 | 1,975 yd | Community school | No | Boys | More About School |
| Ofsted Overall Effectiveness | Distance | Establishment Type | Has Nursery Classes | Gender | More Info | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Birkenhead Sixth Form College Park Road West , Claughton CH43 8SQ | - not rated | 2,061 yd | Academy 16-19 converter | No | Mixed | More About School |
| Birkenhead Sixth Form College Park Road West , Claughton CH43 8SQ | - not rated | 2,061 yd | Further education | Not Applicable | Mixed | More About School |
| Ofsted Overall Effectiveness | Distance | Establishment Type | Has Nursery Classes | Gender | More Info | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Birkenhead High School Academy 86 Devonshire Place , CH43 1TY | 3out of 4 | 2,851 yd | Academy sponsor led | Yes | Girls | More About School |
| Ofsted Overall Effectiveness | Distance | Establishment Type | Has Nursery Classes | Gender | More Info | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| The Observatory School Bidston Village Road , Bidston CH43 7QT | - not rated | 0 yd | Community special school | Not Applicable | Mixed | More About School |
| Wirral Wrap Summerhill House , Beechwood Drive CH43 9LB | - not rated | 1,184 yd | Other independent special school | Not Applicable | Mixed | More About School |
| Clare Mount Specialist Sports College Birket Avenue , CH46 1RA | 4out of 4 | 1,380 yd | Community special school | Not Applicable | Mixed | More About School |
| Orrets Meadow School Chapelhill Road , Moreton CH46 9QQ | - not rated | 1,682 yd | Community special school | Not Applicable | Mixed | More About School |
| Orrets Meadow School Chapelhill Road , Moreton CH46 9QQ | 4out of 4 | 1,682 yd | Academy special converter | Not Applicable | Mixed | More About School |
School statistics for this postcode are based on Ofsted rankings.