Meadowside School

Meadowside School is a community special school in Wirral for pupils aged 11 to 19 with complex learning difficulties and SEND; all pupils have an EHC plan, and the school includes a sixth form. Inspectors found a nurturing, inclusive school where pupils feel safe and well cared for, behaviour is calm, and staff know pupils and their needs well. The curriculum has improved since the previous inspection, is highly personalised, and helps pupils achieve well from their individual starting points. Reading is a priority, personal development is central, and pupils are well prepared for adult life, including through sixth-form work-related opportunities. The main areas for improvement are focused rather than widespread. Occasionally, learning activities do not match the curriculum’s intended knowledge closely enough, so some pupils do not secure or deepen their understanding as well as they could. In a small number of subjects, leaders do not evaluate curriculum delivery and impact effectively enough, so important weaknesses are not identified and addressed promptly. Safeguarding is effective, governance is now providing suitable challenge and support, and staff generally feel supported with workload and well-being.

Strengths

• Nurturing and inclusive environment where pupils feel safe and well cared for
• High expectations and a highly personalised curriculum help pupils achieve well from their starting points
• Staff understand pupils’ SEND and interests and adapt learning to individual needs
• Pupils are friendly, respectful and supportive, with calm behaviour in lessons and around school
• Strong preparation for adult life, including sixth-form community café and employment experiences
• Reading is a high priority, with skilful phonics teaching and successful promotion of reading for pleasure
• Personal development is central, with well-considered enrichment, careers education and health education
• Safeguarding arrangements are effective
• Governance provides suitable challenge and support, and staff well-being and workload are generally well supported

Areas for Improvement

• Some learning activities are not well matched to curriculum intent, limiting how securely pupils build and deepen knowledge
• In a small number of subjects, curriculum delivery and impact are not evaluated effectively enough, so weaknesses are not identified and addressed promptly

In 2024–25 pupils at Meadowside School attended 90.0% of sessions (the national figure for special schools was 87.2%). 17.3% of pupils were persistently absent, missing at least one session in ten (nationally 35.3%).

Sessions missed

Pupils persistently absent

Source: Department for Education, Pupil absence in schools in England. Each year is the one the school year ends in (2025 is 2024/25). Persistent absence means missing 10% or more of sessions; severe absence means 50% or more. No figures were published for 2019/20.

In 2024–25, 0.0% of pupils at Meadowside School were suspended at least once (nationally 5.1%). No pupils were permanently excluded.

Pupils suspended at least once

Source: Department for Education, Suspensions and permanent exclusions in England. Each year is the one the school year ends in (2025 is 2024/25). A pupil can be suspended more than once, so suspensions per 100 pupils can be higher than the share of pupils suspended. Very small numbers are hidden by the DfE. Exclusion figures dropped in 2020 and 2021 because of school closures.

In 2025–26 Meadowside School had 7.3 pupils for each teacher (the national figure for special schools was 6.6). Of its teachers in 2024–25, 11.3% were no longer at the school a year later (nationally 14.5%).

Pupils per teacher

Teachers who left the school within a year

Source: Department for Education, School workforce in England. Each year is the one the school year ends in (2025 is 2024/25). Pupils per teacher counts full-time-equivalent pupils and teachers. Turnover is the share of a year's teachers (full-time equivalent) who were not at the school the following year, whether they moved to another school or left state-funded teaching. Turnover and sickness figures run one year behind the ratios. Sick leave is the share of teachers who took at least one day in the year, so it swings widely at small schools, where a few teachers can make it 0% or 100%. The national figures are for all state schools of the same type.

In 2025–26 Meadowside School had 114 pupils, 100.0% of them with an education, health and care (EHC) plan (nationally 99.5%).

It says it provides for: specific learning difficulty; moderate learning difficulty; severe learning difficulty; profound and multiple learning difficulty; social, emotional and mental health; speech, language and communication needs; hearing impairment; vision impairment; multi-sensory impairment; physical disability; autistic spectrum disorder; other difficulty or disability.

Pupils by main type of need

Source: Department for Education, Special educational needs in England (the 2025–26 school census). SEN support is extra help in school without an EHC plan. National figures are for all state-funded special school schools. Counts are as published, with small numbers not hidden.

In 2025–26 Meadowside School received £26,386 and spent £27,837 for each of its 114 pupils. It ended the year with a deficit of £335,000 (-£2,938 per pupil).

Income per pupil

Spending per pupil

Source: Department for Education, Financial Benchmarking and Insights Tool. Each year is the one the financial year ends in (2024 is 2023–24).

• Primary Schools
• Secondary Schools

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What is Meadowside School's Ofsted rating?

The latest Ofsted rating for Meadowside School is Good, from an inspection in April 2025.

When was Meadowside School last inspected by Ofsted?

Meadowside School was last inspected in April 2025.

How many pupils does Meadowside School have?

Meadowside School has 114 pupils on roll.

What age range does Meadowside School cover?

Meadowside School for pupils aged 11 to 19.

Where is Meadowside School?

Meadowside School is at Pool Lane, Woodchurch, Wirral, Merseyside, CH49 5LA.