Kirkham Pear Tree School
Kirkham Pear Tree School is a community special school in Preston for pupils aged 2 to 19. It has 112 pupils on roll. The latest Ofsted rating for Kirkham Pear Tree School is Outstanding, from an inspection in September 2023.
Ofsted inspection: September 2023.
| Type | Special School / Community special school |
| Age Range | 2-19 |
| Religion | Does not apply |
| Address | 29 Station Road Kirkham Preston Lancashire PR4 2HA |
| Phone | 01772683609 |
| Reference Number | 119887 |
General Makeup
| Number of pupils | 112 |
| Boy/Girl ratio |
Boys: 71.43%
Girls: 28.57% |
| Percentage of students eligible for free school meals | 38% |
| Percentage of students where English is not their first language | 5.4% |
Year Groups
| Year | Boys | Girls | Total |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 7 | 3 | 10 |
| 2 | 5 | 4 | 9 |
| 3 | 2 | 3 | 5 |
| 4 | 7 | 3 | 10 |
| 5 | 6 | 2 | 8 |
| 6 | 5 | 2 | 7 |
| 7 | 3 | 1 | 4 |
| 8 | 4 | Unknown | 4 |
| 9 | 7 | 3 | 10 |
| 10 | 7 | 2 | 9 |
| 11 | 8 | 3 | 11 |
| 12 | 11 | 2 | 13 |
| 13 | Unknown | Unknown | Unknown |
Ethnicities
| Ethnicity | Percentage |
|---|---|
| White, British | 78.6% |
| Mixed, Other | 4.5% |
| African | 2.7% |
| White, Other | 1.8% |
| Indian | 1.8% |
| White & Black (Caribbean) | 0.9% |
| Chinese | 0.9% |
| White & Asian | 0.9% |
| Unclassified | 0.9% |
| Asian, Other | 0.9% |
Kirkham Pear Tree School continues to deliver an outstanding educational experience for its pupils. The school is praised for its ambitious and engaging curriculum, which is tailored to meet the individual needs of students with special educational needs and/or disabilities (SEND). The positive learning environment is reflected in the joy that pupils show towards their learning, with many parents noting transformative experiences for their children. Behaviour is excellent, and pupils feel safe and supported, allowing them to thrive in both academic and personal development areas.
| Overall Ofsted Rating | Outstanding |
| Last Report Date | 21 Jun 2023 |
| Date | Report |
|---|---|
| 21 Jun 2023 | School inspection |
| 14 Jun 2017 | Short inspection |
| 30 Apr 2012 | Full inspection: |
| 13 Oct 2008 | Full inspection: |
| 29 Mar 2006 | Full inspection: |
| 22 Jan 2001 | Full inspection |
Strengths
- Highly ambitious curriculum designed to meet individual needs
- Expert staff who understand how pupils with SEND learn best
- Effective behaviour management and support systems in place
- Excellent opportunities for experiential learning and personal development
- Strong emphasis on communication and language development
- Well-prepared pupils for future educational stages and professional opportunities
- Strong culture of safeguarding within the school
In 2024–25 pupils at Kirkham Pear Tree School attended 91.2% of sessions (the national figure for special schools was 87.2%). 23.6% of pupils were persistently absent, missing at least one session in ten (nationally 35.3%).
Sessions missed
Pupils persistently absent
| 2014 | 2015 | 2016 | 2017 | 2018 | 2019 | 2021 | 2022 | 2023 | 2024 | 2025 | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Authorised absence | 6.5% | 5.3% | 8.5% | 7.3% | 7.5% | 7.9% | 15.7% | 8.9% | 8.5% | 7.9% | 7.2% |
| Unauthorised absence | 0.1% | 0.0% | 0.1% | 0.0% | 0.0% | 0.1% | 0.3% | 0.1% | 0.5% | 0.9% | 1.6% |
| Severely absent pupils | 0.0% | 0.0% | 1.6% | 1.5% | 1.5% | 4.5% | 3.8% | 1.2% | 3.8% | 2.6% | 4.5% |
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 Kirkham Pear Tree School were suspended at least once (nationally 5.1%). No pupils were permanently excluded.
Pupils suspended at least once
| 2010 | 2011 | 2012 | 2013 | 2014 | 2015 | 2016 | 2017 | 2018 | 2019 | 2020 | 2021 | 2022 | 2023 | 2024 | 2025 | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Suspensions per 100 pupils | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 |
| Permanent exclusions | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
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 Kirkham Pear Tree School had 7.8 pupils for each teacher (the national figure for special schools was 6.6). Of its teachers in 2024–25, 7.0% were no longer at the school a year later (nationally 14.5%).
Pupils per teacher
Teachers who left the school within a year
| 2011 | 2012 | 2013 | 2014 | 2015 | 2016 | 2017 | 2018 | 2019 | 2020 | 2021 | 2022 | 2023 | 2024 | 2025 | 2026 | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Pupils per adult | 1.7 | 1.7 | 1.6 | 1.7 | 1.7 | 1.6 | 1.5 | 1.4 | 1.4 | 1.5 | 1.4 | 1.4 | 1.4 | 1.4 | 1.5 | 1.4 |
| Teachers who left state teaching | 6.8% | 16.3% | 0.0% | 0.0% | 0.0% | 18.5% | 0.0% | 7.8% | 0.0% | 0.0% | 13.3% | 0.0% | 7.9% | 0.0% | 7.0% | – |
| Teachers who took any sick leave | 66.7% | 50.0% | 58.3% | 76.9% | 42.9% | 78.6% | 75.0% | 38.5% | 75.0% | – | 85.7% | 100.0% | 83.3% | 76.9% | 72.7% | – |
| Sick days per teacher | 3.2 | 1.1 | 2.5 | 4.3 | 1.1 | 3.3 | 3.2 | 1.1 | 2.0 | – | 11.9 | 9.7 | 5.2 | 6.3 | 4.4 | – |
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 Kirkham Pear Tree School had 112 pupils, 100.0% of them with an education, health and care (EHC) plan (nationally 99.5%).
It says it provides for: 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
| EHC plan | |
|---|---|
| Autistic spectrum disorder | 43 |
| Severe learning difficulty | 37 |
| Speech, language and communication needs | 16 |
| Profound and multiple learning difficulty | 7 |
| Physical disability | 6 |
| Specific learning difficulty | 2 |
| Multi-sensory impairment | 1 |
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 Kirkham Pear Tree School received £37,798 and spent £38,322 for each of its 112 pupils. It ended the year with reserves of £319,000 (£2,850 per pupil).
Income per pupil
Spending per pupil
| 2019 | 2020 | 2021 | 2022 | 2023 | 2024 | 2025 | 2026 | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Revenue reserve | £269,000 | £230,000 | £290,000 | £302,000 | £246,000 | £159,000 | £378,000 | £319,000 |
| per pupil | £2,635 | £2,300 | £2,925 | £2,990 | £2,483 | £1,543 | £3,374 | £2,850 |
| In-year balance | £15,000 | -£39,000 | £60,000 | £12,000 | -£56,000 | -£87,000 | £219,000 | -£59,000 |
| per pupil | £146 | -£388 | £601 | £124 | -£568 | -£843 | £1,955 | -£524 |
Source: Department for Education, Financial Benchmarking and Insights Tool. Each year is the one the financial year ends in (2024 is 2023–24).
| Name | Distance |
|
Kirkham and Wesham Primary School
Nelson Street, Kirkham, Preston, Lancashire, PR4 2JP |
0.24 miles |
|
The Willows Catholic Primary School, Kirkham
Victoria Road, Kirkham, Preston, Lancashire, PR4 2BT |
0.26 miles |
|
Kirkham St Michael's Church of England Primary School
School Lane, Kirkham, Preston, Lancashire, PR4 2SL |
0.33 miles |
|
Medlar-with-Wesham Church of England Primary School
Garstang Road North, Wesham, Preston, Lancashire, PR4 3DE |
0.62 miles |
|
St Joseph's Catholic Primary School, Medlar-with-Wesham
Garstang Road North, Medlar-with-Wesham, Wesham, Preston, Lancashire, PR4 3HA |
0.69 miles |
|
Strike Lane Primary School
Strike Lane, Freckleton, Preston, Lancashire, PR4 1HR |
1.57 miles |
|
Ribby with Wrea Endowed CofE Primary School
Dubside, Wrea Green, Preston, Lancashire, PR4 2WQ |
1.68 miles |
|
Freckleton Church of England Primary School
School Lane, Freckleton, Preston, Lancashire, PR4 1PJ |
1.97 miles |
|
Newton Bluecoat Church of England Primary School
School Lane, Newton-with-Scales, Preston, Lancashire, PR4 3RT |
2.02 miles |
|
Treales Church of England Primary School
Church Road, Treales, Near Kirkham, Preston, Lancashire, PR4 3SH |
2.04 miles |
|
Holy Family Catholic Primary School, Warton
Lytham Road, Warton, Preston, Lancashire, PR4 1AD |
2.26 miles |
|
Warton St Paul's Church of England Primary Academy
Lytham Road, Warton, Preston, Lancashire, PR4 1AH |
2.39 miles |
|
Oakfield House School
Station Road, Salwick, Preston, Lancashire, PR4 0YH |
2.46 miles |
|
Aurora Keyes Barn School
Station Rd, Salwick, Preston, PR4 0YH |
2.47 miles |
|
Weeton St Michael's Church of England Voluntary Aided Primary School
Church Road, Weeton, Preston, Lancashire, PR4 3WD |
2.65 miles |
|
St Mary's Catholic Primary School, Lea Town
Darkinson Lane, Lea Town, Preston, Lancashire, PR4 0RJ |
3.54 miles |
|
Weeton Primary School
Minden Road, Weeton, Preston, Lancashire, PR4 3HX |
3.79 miles |
|
St Peter's Catholic Primary School, Lytham
Norfolk Road, Lytham, Lytham St Annes, Lancashire, FY8 4JG |
4.03 miles |
|
Catforth Primary School
School Lane, Catforth, Preston, Lancashire, PR4 0HL |
4.16 miles |
|
Lea Neeld's Endowed Church of England Primary School
Lea Road, Preston, Lancashire, PR4 0RA |
4.19 miles |
| Name | Distance |
|
Kirkham Grammar School
Ribby Road, Preston, PR4 2BH |
0.45 miles |
|
Carr Hill High School
Royal Avenue, Kirkham, Preston, Lancashire, PR4 2ST |
0.46 miles |
|
Linton School
Kirkham Road, Freckleton, PR4 1HX |
1.04 miles |
|
Hope School
Crosses Farm, Square Lane, Catforth, Preston, PR4 0HP |
4.05 miles |
|
St Bede's Catholic High School, Lytham
Talbot Road, Lytham, Lytham St Annes, Lancashire, FY8 4JL |
4.13 miles |
|
Pioneer TEC
Phoenix Park, Wallend Road, Ashton on Ribble, Preston, PR2 2HW |
4.94 miles |
All schools in Preston · Lancashire local authority: places and applications
What is Kirkham Pear Tree School's Ofsted rating?
The latest Ofsted rating for Kirkham Pear Tree School is Outstanding, from an inspection in September 2023.
When was Kirkham Pear Tree School last inspected by Ofsted?
Kirkham Pear Tree School was last inspected in September 2023.
How many pupils does Kirkham Pear Tree School have?
Kirkham Pear Tree School has 112 pupils on roll.
What age range does Kirkham Pear Tree School cover?
Kirkham Pear Tree School for pupils aged 2 to 19.
Where is Kirkham Pear Tree School?
Kirkham Pear Tree School is at 29 Station Road, Kirkham, Preston, Lancashire, PR4 2HA.