ES Independent School

ES Independent School is an independent school for pupils with social, emotional and mental health needs, most of whom have education, health and care plans. Inspectors found the school performing at the expected standard overall, with inclusion judged a strength and safeguarding standards met. All independent school standards are met. Many pupils arrive with disrupted education, low confidence and poor attendance, and the school is effective in helping them feel safe, valued and ready to learn again. The school’s strongest work is in inclusion and relationships. Staff know pupils well, identify barriers accurately and provide personalised support, including through ‘The Nest’ and strong pastoral care for families. Pupils benefit from a curriculum tailored to their needs, practical English and mathematics qualifications, personal development, careers and post-16 provision. Behaviour is calm and positive, pupils feel safe, and many improve their attendance, confidence and engagement. Leadership is ambitious, staff are well supported, and the proprietor maintains rigorous oversight. Two main areas for improvement remain. In a few subjects, curriculum planning lacks the precise detail and sequencing needed to deepen pupils’ subject knowledge consistently over time. Attendance is still challenging because many pupils join with long histories of absence, and leaders have been asked to refine their strategies to further improve attendance for pupils facing barriers. The report also notes that the school is registered for 60 pupils but had 82 on roll at the time of inspection.

Strengths

• Inclusion is a strength, with staff accurately identifying barriers and providing personalised support.
• Strong, trusting relationships between staff and pupils underpin daily school life.
• The Nest provision successfully builds pupils’ confidence and readiness for formal learning.
• Pastoral support for pupils and families is highly valued by parents and carers.
• Pupils who previously disengaged often re-engage, attend lessons and gain qualifications.
• Attendance support is determined and personalised, helping many pupils improve from very low starting points.
• Behaviour around school is calm and positive, and pupils feel safe and respected.
• The curriculum is tailored to pupils’ needs, linking learning to real-life experiences and employability.
• Personal development is central, offering wide experiences in careers, volunteering, enterprise and community projects.
• Post-16 provision prepares students well for adulthood, employment and further learning, with careers education a growing strength.
• Leadership is ambitious and caring, with high-quality staff development and strong proprietor oversight.
• All independent school standards are met, and safeguarding standards are met.

Areas for Improvement

• A few subject areas lack detailed curriculum planning, which occasionally limits how deeply pupils build subject knowledge over time.
• Attendance remains a challenge for many pupils; strategies should be refined to further improve attendance for those facing barriers.

In 2025–26, 27.9% of pupils at ES Independent School were on SEN support (nationally 18.4%) and 72.1% had an education, health and care (EHC) plan (nationally 7.9%).

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 independent school schools. Counts are as published, with small numbers not hidden.

• Primary Schools
• Secondary Schools

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What is ES Independent School's Ofsted rating?

The latest Ofsted rating for ES Independent School is Expected standard, from an inspection in September 2026.

When was ES Independent School last inspected by Ofsted?

ES Independent School was last inspected in September 2026.

How many pupils does ES Independent School have?

ES Independent School has 43 pupils on roll.

What age range does ES Independent School cover?

ES Independent School for pupils aged 11 to 19.

Where is ES Independent School?

ES Independent School is at 52 Wellington Street, Garston, Liverpool, Merseyside, L19 2LX.