The Raise Academy
The Raise Academy is a free schools special in Widnes for pupils aged 11 to 16. It has 60 pupils on roll.
| Type | Special School / Free schools special |
| Age Range | 11-16 |
| Religion | Unknown |
| Address | Naylor Road Widnes Cheshire WA8 0BS |
| Reference Number | 150794 |
General Makeup
| Number of pupils | 60 |
| Boy/Girl ratio |
Boys: 71.67%
Girls: 28.33% |
| Percentage of students eligible for free school meals | 75% |
| Percentage of students where English is not their first language | 0% |
Year Groups
| Year | Boys | Girls | Total |
|---|---|---|---|
| 7 | 13 | 2 | 15 |
| 8 | 13 | 3 | 16 |
| 9 | 10 | 6 | 16 |
| 10 | 4 | 4 | 8 |
| 11 | 3 | 2 | 5 |
Ethnicities
| Ethnicity | Percentage |
|---|---|
| White, British | 95% |
| White, Other | 1.7% |
| White & Black (Caribbean) | 1.7% |
| White & Black (African) | 1.7% |
| Overall Ofsted Rating | |
| Last Report Date | This school has not had an inspection yet. |
| Date | Report |
|---|
In 2024–25 pupils at The Raise Academy attended 67.5% of sessions (the national figure for special schools was 87.2%). 65.9% of pupils were persistently absent, missing at least one session in ten (nationally 35.3%).
Sessions missed
Pupils persistently absent
| 2025 | |
|---|---|
| Authorised absence | 17.4% |
| Unauthorised absence | 15.0% |
| Severely absent pupils | 29.5% |
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, 76.9% of pupils at The Raise Academy were suspended at least once (nationally 5.1%). No pupils were permanently excluded.
Pupils suspended at least once
| 2025 | |
|---|---|
| Suspensions per 100 pupils | 223.1 |
| Permanent exclusions | 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 The Raise Academy had 6.1 pupils for each teacher (the national figure for special schools was 6.6). Of its teachers in 2024–25, 0.0% were no longer at the school a year later (nationally 14.5%).
Pupils per teacher
Teachers who left the school within a year
| 2025 | 2026 | |
|---|---|---|
| Pupils per adult | 2.5 | 2.6 |
| Teachers who left state teaching | 0.0% | – |
| Teachers who took any sick leave | 55.6% | – |
| Sick days per teacher | 5.8 | – |
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 The Raise Academy had 60 pupils, 96.7% of them with an education, health and care (EHC) plan (nationally 99.5%).
It says it provides for: social, emotional and mental health.
Pupils by main type of need
| EHC plan | |
|---|---|
| Social, emotional and mental health | 39 |
| Autistic spectrum disorder | 8 |
| Other difficulty or disability | 3 |
| Specific learning difficulty | 2 |
| Moderate learning difficulty | 2 |
| Speech, language and communication needs | 2 |
| Hearing impairment | 1 |
| Physical disability | 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 2024–25 The Raise Academy received £42,173 and spent £41,303 for each of its 39 pupils. It ended the year with reserves of £34,000 (£880 per pupil).
Across all 3 schools of Youth Engagement Schools Trust, income was £35,727 and spending £32,625 per pupil.
Income per pupil
Spending per pupil
| 2025 | |
|---|---|
| Revenue reserve | £34,000 |
| per pupil | £880 |
| In-year balance | £34,000 |
| per pupil | £870 |
Source: Department for Education, Financial Benchmarking and Insights Tool. Each year is the one the financial year ends in (2024 is 2023–24). Academy figures include a share of the trust's central services, shared out by pupil numbers, and are rounded to the nearest £1,000. Premises costs were defined differently from 2024, so compare them across that gap with care.
| Name | Distance |
|
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0.07 miles |
|
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|
Brookfields School
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0.36 miles |
|
Fairfield Primary School
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|
Moorfield Primary School
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|
St Bede's Catholic Infant School
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|
St Gerard's Catholic Primary and Nursery School
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|
St Bede's Catholic Junior School
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|
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|
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|
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|
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1.34 miles |
|
Ditton Primary School
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|
Aspiring Foundations Federated Nursery Schools - Ditton Nursery School
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|
Widnes Academy
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|
St Edward's Catholic Primary School
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|
Runcorn All Saints CofE Primary School
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|
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|
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| Name | Distance |
|
Poppy Field School
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0.93 miles |
|
Wade Deacon High School
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1.01 miles |
|
Riverside College Halton
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Saints Peter and Paul Catholic High School
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|
Chesnut Lodge Special School
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|
Ashley High School
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|
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1.96 miles |
|
The Grange School
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|
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|
Weston Point College
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2.9 miles |
|
Penketh High School
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2.92 miles |
|
Great Sankey High School
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2.94 miles |
|
Sandymoor Ormiston Academy
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|
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3.08 miles |
|
Tower College
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3.19 miles |
|
The Heath School
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3.19 miles |
|
Ash Meadow School
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3.23 miles |
|
Rainhill High School
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3.32 miles |
|
Hope Corner School
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3.36 miles |
|
The Cavendish High Academy
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3.57 miles |
All schools in Widnes · Halton local authority: places and applications
The Raise Academy is part of Youth Engagement Schools Trust, which runs 3 schools. The nearest others:
- The Axis Academy Crewe
- The Keystone Academy Shrewsbury
How many pupils does The Raise Academy have?
The Raise Academy has 60 pupils on roll.
What age range does The Raise Academy cover?
The Raise Academy for pupils aged 11 to 16.
Where is The Raise Academy?
The Raise Academy is at Naylor Road, Widnes, Cheshire, WA8 0BS.