Ofsted: Good

The Observatory School

verifiedData: DfE 2024/25–2025/26 · Ofsted

personMr Gregory Chiswell

location_onPrenton, CH43 7QT

language Visit Website phone 1516527093

verified

Ofsted

Good

Inspected 2025

groups

Students

116

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Attainment 8

5.9

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GCSE Rank

#26 in Wirral

#4,211 of 4,663 nationally

summarize

The Observatory School is a Community special school school in Prenton, serving ages 7-16. Rated Good by Ofsted.

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School Summary

The Observatory School is a community special school in Prenton, Wirral, admitting pupils aged 7-16. The school has approximately 167 pupils on roll, of whom 74% are eligible for free school meals.

In 2025, pupils achieved an Attainment 8 score of 5.9, placing the school #26 in Wirral and #4,211 of 4,663 nationally. 0.00% of pupils achieved grade 5 or above in English and Maths.

Ofsted last inspected the school in 2025. The school's current overall rating is Good. Inspectors assessed quality of education as Good, behaviour and attitudes Good, personal development Good, and leadership and management Good.

The pupil-to-qualified-teacher ratio is 7.0:1. There are no current teaching vacancies.

In the 2024/25 academic year, there were 2 permanent exclusions. The average suspension rate was 70.0 per 1,000 pupils per term.

verified Source: DfE 2024/25–2025/26 · Ofsted

Academic Performance

verified Data: UK Gov 2024/25

analytics

Secondary Performance Trends (KS4)

2025

Progress 8 Score

Attainment 8

5.9

Grade 5+ E&M

0.00%

Entering EBacc0.00%

EBacc APS0.51

2024

Progress 8 Score

-1.36

vs National Avg

Attainment 8

7.3

Grade 5+ E&M

Entering EBacc0.00%

EBacc APS0.6

2023

Progress 8 Score

-1.93

vs National Avg

Attainment 8

5.1

Grade 5+ E&M

Entering EBacc0%

EBacc APS0.38

2022

Progress 8 Score

-2.56

vs National Avg

Attainment 8

6.7

Grade 5+ E&M

Entering EBacc0%

EBacc APS0.39

2021

Progress 8 Score

Attainment 8

Grade 5+ E&M

Entering EBacc0%

EBacc APS-

2019

Progress 8 Score

-2.7

vs National Avg

Attainment 8

4.2

Grade 5+ E&M

Entering EBacc0%

EBacc APS0.24

2018

Progress 8 Score

-2.67

vs National Avg

Attainment 8

5.2

Grade 5+ E&M

Entering EBacc0%

EBacc APS0.07

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Student Destinations (After Secondary)

This module shows what students did after finishing Key Stage 4 (GCSEs). It reflects how well the school prepares pupils for the real world.

2025

Stayed in Education / Employment

50%

Education (e.g. Sixth Form/College)45%

Apprenticeships5%

Employment0%

Not in Education / Employment (NEET)35%

2024

Stayed in Education / Employment

67%

Education (e.g. Sixth Form/College)58%

Apprenticeships0%

Employment8%

Not in Education / Employment (NEET)25%

2023

Stayed in Education / Employment

71%

Education (e.g. Sixth Form/College)65%

Apprenticeships0%

Employment6%

Not in Education / Employment (NEET)24%

2022

Stayed in Education / Employment

56%

Education (e.g. Sixth Form/College)56%

Apprenticeships0%

Employment0%

Not in Education / Employment (NEET)33%

2021

Stayed in Education / Employment

56%

Education (e.g. Sixth Form/College)50%

Apprenticeships0%

Employment6%

Not in Education / Employment (NEET)44%

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Primary Performance Trends (KS2)

2025

R/W/M Expected Standard

LA 53%

Reading0% LA 69%

Writing0% LA 63%

Maths0% LA 65%

Read SS

Maths SS

GPS SS

Progress (0 = national avg)

Read

Write

Maths

2024

R/W/M Expected Standard

LA 50%England 61%

Reading25% LA 68% · Eng 74%

Writing0% LA 63% · Eng 72%

Maths0% LA 62% · Eng 73%

Read SS

Maths SS

GPS SS

Progress (0 = national avg)

Read

Write

Maths

2023

R/W/M Expected Standard

LA 52%England 60%

Reading11% LA 67% · Eng 73%

Writing0% LA 64% · Eng 71%

Maths11% LA 64% · Eng 73%

Read SS

Maths SS

GPS SS

Progress (0 = national avg)

-7.9

Read

LA -0.2

-13.0 to -2.9

Write

LA -0.8

-7.8

Maths

LA -0.7

-12.5 to -3.1

2019

R/W/M Expected Standard

LA 56%England 65%

Reading0% LA 65% · Eng 73%

Writing0% LA 70% · Eng 78%

Maths0% LA 70% · Eng 79%

Read SS

Maths SS

GPS SS

Progress (0 = national avg)

Read

LA -0.7

-7.8

Write

LA -1.1

-11.7 to -3.8

Maths

LA -0.7

Ofsted History

Publication Timeline

Report Archive

14 January 2025

Inspection Report

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14 March 2018

Inspection Report

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21 November 2012

Inspection Report

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17 June 2011

Inspection Report

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12 January 2010

Inspection Report

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20 June 2007

Inspection Report

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Inspection Report

Inspection History

4 Evaluations

2025-01-14

S5 Inspection EIF

Not Judged

info

Why no overall grade?

From autumn 2024, Ofsted stopped issuing a single headline grade (Outstanding / Good / RI / Inadequate). Instead, each inspection area is graded individually. This follows a major review after the death of headteacher Ruth Perry in 2023. The overall effectiveness field is left as "Not judged" in the published data.

Education

Good

Behaviour

Good

Development

Good

Leadership

Good

2018-03-14

None Legacy

No Judgement

Education

No Judgement

Behaviour

Development

Leadership

2012-11-21

S5 Inspection Legacy

Good

Education

No Judgement

Behaviour

No Judgement

Development

No Judgement

Leadership

Good

2010-01-12

None EIF

Requires improvement

Education

No Judgement

Behaviour

No Judgement

Development

No Judgement

Leadership

Requires improvement

Wellbeing, SEN & Pastoral Care

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Behaviour & Discipline (Suspensions & Exclusions)

Official Department for Education (DfE) data. Suspensions measure temporary removals due to behavior, while exclusions represent permanent removals.

Suspension Rate

61.1%per term

warning Above Average

National average: 7.3% for this term (secondary).

Pupils Suspended 1+ Times

34.7%(58 pupils)

Spring term 2025

Represents the proportion of unique students suspended at least once in this term.

Permanent Exclusions

1pupils

gavel Exclusion recorded

National average: 7.398% of pupils excluded per term.

Pastoral Context: In the Spring term of 2025, this school served a headcount of 167 pupils. During this period, there were 102 temporary suspensions. The school's suspension rate was 61.1%, which is above the termly national average of 7.3%.

View Historical Disciplinary Records (2017–2025)keyboard_arrow_down

Year / Term	Headcount	Suspensions	Susp. Rate	Nat. Avg	Perm. Excl.
2024/25 (Spring term)	167	102	61.1%	7.3%	1
2024/25 (Autumn term)	166	131	78.9%	7.8%	1
2023/24 (Summer term)	143	61	42.7%	7.4%	1
2023/24 (Spring term)	142	70	49.3%	7.1%	0
2023/24 (Autumn term)	142	102	71.8%	8.2%	1
2022/23 (Summer term)	114	34	29.8%	6.6%	0
2022/23 (Spring term)	116	42	36.2%	6.4%	0
2022/23 (Autumn term)	116	24	20.7%	5.9%	0
2021/22 (Summer term)	107	32	29.9%	4.7%	0
2021/22 (Spring term)	103	43	41.7%	4.9%	1
2021/22 (Autumn term)	101	45	44.6%	4.4%	2
2020/21 (Summer term)	91	29	31.9%	3.6%	0
2020/21 (Spring term)	90	11	12.2%	1.0%	0
2020/21 (Autumn term)	87	38	43.7%	3.9%	0
2019/20 (Summer term)	86	0	0.0%	0.0%	0
2019/20 (Spring term)	86	36	41.9%	3.2%	0
2019/20 (Autumn term)	83	41	49.4%	4.2%	0
2018/19 (Summer term)	88	17	19.3%	3.1%	1
2018/19 (Spring term)	84	49	58.3%	3.8%	0
2018/19 (Autumn term)	74	55	74.3%	3.8%	0
2017/18 (Summer term)	59	20	33.9%	3.4%	1
2017/18 (Spring term)	50	33	66.0%	3.0%	0
2017/18 (Autumn term)	49	27	55.1%	3.7%	0
2016/17 (Summer term)	59	24	40.7%	3.0%	0
2016/17 (Spring term)	58	16	27.6%	3.3%	0
2016/17 (Autumn term)	56	19	33.9%	3.1%	0

Source: DfE Suspensions and Permanent Exclusions in England. Data represents termly statistics as published by the Department for Education.

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Supported Special Educational Needs (SEN)

Primary areas of need currently supported by the school. A high number often indicates specialized internal units or high staff experience in these areas.

Social, Emotional & Mental Health 94 pupils

Other Difficulty/Disability 33 pupils

Autistic Spectrum Disorder 23 pupils

Speech, Language & Communication 11 pupils

Moderate Learning Difficulty 3 pupils

Specific Learning Difficulty 2 pupils

Visual Impairment 1 pupils

The Observatory School

School Summary

Academic Performance

Secondary Performance Trends (KS4)

Student Destinations (After Secondary)

Primary Performance Trends (KS2)

Ofsted History

Publication Timeline

Inspection History

Admissions Insight

How Places Are Allocated

Distance to School

Students & School Environment

School Size

Language Diversity

Inclusive Support

Attendance

Ethnicity Breakdown

Wellbeing, SEN & Pastoral Care

Behaviour & Discipline (Suspensions & Exclusions)

Supported Special Educational Needs (SEN)

Funding & Staffing

Staffing

Teacher Turnover