Ofsted: Good

Church Lawton School

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

personMr Paul Scales

corporate_fareLIBERTY ACADEMY TRUST LTD.

location_onStoke-on-Trent, ST7 3EL

language Visit Website phone 1270877601

verified

Ofsted

Good

Inspected 2022

groups

Students

trending_up

Attainment 8

39.4

leaderboard

GCSE Rank

#19 in Cheshire East

#2,953 of 4,663 nationally

summarize

Church Lawton School is a Free schools special school in Stoke-on-Trent, serving ages 4-19. Rated Good by Ofsted.

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School Summary

Church Lawton School is a free schools special in Stoke-on-Trent, Cheshire East, admitting pupils aged 4-19. It is part of LIBERTY ACADEMY TRUST LTD.. The school has approximately 84 pupils on roll, of whom 30% are eligible for free school meals.

In 2025, pupils achieved an Attainment 8 score of 39.4, placing the school #19 in Cheshire East and #2,953 of 4,663 nationally. 45.50% of pupils achieved grade 5 or above in English and Maths. 10.4% of all GCSE entries were graded 9–7.

Ofsted last inspected the school in 2022. 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 5.6:1. There are no current teaching vacancies.

In the 2024/25 academic year, there were no permanent exclusions. The average suspension rate was 0.6 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

39.4

Grade 5+ E&M

45.50%

Grade 9–7 (all GCSEs)10.4%

Entering EBacc9.10%

EBacc APS3.82

2024

Progress 8 Score

-1.33

vs National Avg

Attainment 8

20.4

Grade 5+ E&M

Entering EBacc0.00%

EBacc APS1.87

2023

Progress 8 Score

-1.59

vs National Avg

Attainment 8

13.9

Grade 5+ E&M

Entering EBacc0%

EBacc APS0.95

2022

Progress 8 Score

-2.72

vs National Avg

Attainment 8

11.2

Grade 5+ E&M

Entering EBacc0%

EBacc APS1.04

2021

Progress 8 Score

Attainment 8

Grade 5+ E&M

Entering EBacc0%

EBacc APS-

2019

Progress 8 Score

-2.74

vs National Avg

Attainment 8

6.5

Grade 5+ E&M

Entering EBacc0%

EBacc APS0.53

2018

Progress 8 Score

Attainment 8

Grade 5+ E&M

Entering EBacc-%

EBacc APS-

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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

90%

Education (e.g. Sixth Form/College)90%

Apprenticeships0%

Employment0%

Not in Education / Employment (NEET)10%

2024

Stayed in Education / Employment

89%

Education (e.g. Sixth Form/College)89%

Apprenticeships0%

Employment0%

Not in Education / Employment (NEET)11%

2023

Stayed in Education / Employment

88%

Education (e.g. Sixth Form/College)75%

Apprenticeships0%

Employment13%

Not in Education / Employment (NEET)0%

2022

Stayed in Education / Employment

100%

Education (e.g. Sixth Form/College)100%

Apprenticeships0%

Employment0%

Not in Education / Employment (NEET)0%

2021

Stayed in Education / Employment

83%

Education (e.g. Sixth Form/College)83%

Apprenticeships0%

Employment0%

Not in Education / Employment (NEET)17%

school

Primary Performance Trends (KS2)

2025

R/W/M Expected Standard

LA 62%

Reading57% LA 78%

Writing0% LA 72%

Maths29% LA 75%

Read SS

102

Maths SS

GPS SS

Progress (0 = national avg)

Read

Write

Maths

2024

R/W/M Expected Standard

LA 61%England 61%

Reading50% LA 78% · Eng 74%

Writing0% LA 70% · Eng 72%

Maths33% LA 75% · Eng 73%

Read SS

107

Maths SS

GPS SS

Progress (0 = national avg)

Read

Write

Maths

2023

R/W/M Expected Standard

LA 61%England 60%

Reading-% LA 75% · Eng 73%

Writing-% LA 72% · Eng 71%

Maths-% LA 75% · Eng 73%

Read SS

Maths SS

GPS SS

Progress (0 = national avg)

Read

LA 0.7

Write

LA -0.2

Maths

LA 0.3

2019

R/W/M Expected Standard

LA 65%England 65%

Reading38% LA 76% · Eng 73%

Writing0% LA 77% · Eng 78%

Maths13% LA 79% · Eng 79%

Read SS

Maths SS

GPS SS

Progress (0 = national avg)

-5.7

Read

LA 0.0

-10.3 to -1.2

-10.3

Write

LA -1.3

-14.5 to -6.0

-4.4

Maths

LA -0.6

-8.7 to -0.1

2018

R/W/M Expected Standard

14%

LA 67%

Reading29% LA 81%

Writing14% LA 79%

Maths14% LA 77%

Read SS

Maths SS

GPS SS

Progress (0 = national avg)

-6.3

Read

LA 0.3

-11.1 to -1.5

-10.6

Write

LA -1.1

-15.2 to -6

Maths

LA -0.2

Ofsted History

Publication Timeline

Report Archive

16 November 2022

Inspection Report

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29 November 2017

Inspection Report

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Inspection Report

Inspection History

2 Evaluations

2022-11-16

S5 Inspection EIF

Good

Education

Good

Behaviour

Good

Development

Good

Leadership

Good

2017-11-29

S5 Inspection Legacy

Good

Education

No Judgement

Behaviour

No Judgement

Development

No Judgement

Leadership

Good

Wellbeing, SEN & Pastoral Care

gavel

Behaviour & Discipline (Suspensions & Exclusions)

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

Suspension Rate

0.0%per term

sentiment_satisfied Below Average (Good)

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

Pupils Suspended 1+ Times

0.0%(0 pupils)

Spring term 2025

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

Permanent Exclusions

0pupils

verified Excellent (Zero)

National average: 7.398% of pupils excluded per term.

Pastoral Context: In the Spring term of 2025, this school served a headcount of 84 pupils. During this period, there were 0 temporary suspensions. The school's suspension rate was 0.0%, which is below the termly national average of 7.3%.

View Historical Disciplinary Records (2017–2025)keyboard_arrow_down

Year / Term	Headcount	Suspensions	Susp. Rate	Nat. Avg
2024/25 (Spring term)	84	0	0.0%	7.3%
2024/25 (Autumn term)	78	1	1.3%	7.8%
2023/24 (Summer term)	78	1	1.3%	7.4%
2023/24 (Spring term)	75	0	0.0%	7.1%
2023/24 (Autumn term)	72	0	0.0%	8.2%
2022/23 (Summer term)	71	2	2.8%	6.6%
2022/23 (Spring term)	71	1	1.4%	6.4%
2022/23 (Autumn term)	70	0	0.0%	5.9%
2021/22 (Summer term)	69	1	1.4%	4.7%
2021/22 (Spring term)	67	0	0.0%	4.9%
2021/22 (Autumn term)	64	0	0.0%	4.4%
2020/21 (Summer term)	68	2	2.9%	3.6%
2020/21 (Spring term)	65	0	0.0%	1.0%
2020/21 (Autumn term)	63	1	1.6%	3.9%
2019/20 (Summer term)	64	0	0.0%	0.0%
2019/20 (Spring term)	64	0	0.0%	3.2%
2019/20 (Autumn term)	63	0	0.0%	4.2%
2018/19 (Summer term)	61	0	0.0%	3.1%
2018/19 (Spring term)	63	0	0.0%	3.8%
2018/19 (Autumn term)	62	1	1.6%	3.8%
2017/18 (Summer term)	60	0	0.0%	3.4%
2017/18 (Spring term)	56	1	1.8%	3.0%
2017/18 (Autumn term)	54	2	3.7%	3.7%
2016/17 (Summer term)	44	0	0.0%	3.0%
2016/17 (Spring term)	45	1	2.2%	3.3%
2016/17 (Autumn term)	44	4	9.1%	3.1%

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

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psychology_alt

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.

Autistic Spectrum Disorder 84 pupils

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Parent View on Pastoral Care

Results from the official Ofsted Parent View survey, reflecting direct parent sentiment regarding the school environment.

My child is happy at this school.

95.0%Positive

My child feels safe at this school.

100.0%Positive

My child has been bullied and the school dealt with the bullying quickly and effectively.

10.0%Positive

View All Survey Responseskeyboard_arrow_down

The school makes sure its pupils are well behaved.

strongly agree55%

agree40%

disagree5%

The school makes me aware of what my child will learn during the year.

strongly agree45%

agree40%

disagree15%

When I have raised concerns with the school they have been dealt with properly

strongly agree50%

agree20%

disagree15%

not applicable15%

Does your child have special educational needs and/or disabilities (SEND)?

yes100%

My child has special educational needs and/or disabilities, and the school gives them the support they need to succeed.

strongly agree70%

agree20%

disagree10%

The school has high expectations for my child.

strongly agree55%

agree35%

strongly disagree5%

don't know5%

My child does well at this school.

strongly agree70%

agree20%

disagree10%

The school lets me know how my child is doing.

strongly agree65%

agree20%

disagree10%

don't know5%

There is a good range of subjects available to my child at this school.

strongly agree50%

agree40%

disagree5%

don't know5%

My child can take part in clubs and activities at this school.

strongly agree55%

agree35%

disagree5%

don't know5%

The school supports my child's wider personal development.

strongly agree70%

agree20%

disagree5%

strongly disagree5%

I would recommend this school to another parent.

yes90%

no10%

Church Lawton 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)

Parent View on Pastoral Care

My child is happy at this school.

My child feels safe at this school.

My child has been bullied and the school dealt with the bullying quickly and effectively.

The school makes sure its pupils are well behaved.

The school makes me aware of what my child will learn during the year.

When I have raised concerns with the school they have been dealt with properly

Does your child have special educational needs and/or disabilities (SEND)?

My child has special educational needs and/or disabilities, and the school gives them the support they need to succeed.

The school has high expectations for my child.

My child does well at this school.

The school lets me know how my child is doing.

There is a good range of subjects available to my child at this school.

My child can take part in clubs and activities at this school.

The school supports my child's wider personal development.

I would recommend this school to another parent.

Funding & Staffing

Staffing

Teacher Turnover