Chaigeley School

Independent special school · All-through, ages 8 to 16 · Mixed

Lymm Road, Thelwall, Warrington, WA4 2TE

01925 752357 · School website · Map and directions

OfstedGoodInspected 12 February 2014; confirmed 2024
Pupils54Room for 75 Pupil numbers in January of each year: 30 in 2019, 35 in 2021, 41 in 2022, 41 in 2023, 50 in 2024, 53 in 2025, 54 in 2026. Across England, special state school pupil numbers were up 39% from 2019 to 2025.
Free school meals94%of pupils eligible now

Ofsted inspection

Ofsted rated this school Good at the inspection that started on 12 February 2014.

This inspection used Ofsted's older format with four grades: Outstanding, Good, Requires improvement and Inadequate. Newer inspections use report cards. What changed.

AreaGrade
Quality of educationGood
Outcomes for pupilsGood
Leadership and managementGood

Since then, a shorter ungraded inspection on 24 January 2024: Ofsted found the school was still Good.

Read the full Ofsted reports for this school

Source: Ofsted non-association independent schools inspection data.

What parents say

10 parents answered Ofsted's Parent View survey between 1 January 2024 and 6 January 2025.

StatementThis schoolEngland
My child is happy at this school 80% 88%
My child feels safe at this school 70% 90%
The school makes sure pupils are well behaved 50% 84%
I would recommend this school to another parent 70%said yes 84%

Parents choose whether to take part, so these answers may not represent all families. Figures are the share who agree or strongly agree. England figures are all parents answering the same questions over the same period, for state-funded schools. The scales run from lower (left) to higher (right) agreement, and the dot marks this school among state schools of the same phase that used the same survey questions. The third it falls in is coloured: green for the top third, amber the middle, red the bottom. This survey used Ofsted's previous Parent View questions, which changed in November 2025. Source: Ofsted Parent View management information.

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Results

We don't show GCSE or primary results for independent schools. DfE's tables often leave out the IGCSEs and other qualifications many independent schools use, so their published figures can look far lower than pupils' real results. Ask the school for its results.

Admissions

Independent schools run their own admissions and set their own fees. Contact the school directly.

Pupils, staff and SEND

This is a special school for children with an education, health and care plan (EHCP). Places are arranged through the council's SEND team, not the normal admissions round. It caters for: Social, emotional and mental health needs.

PupilsThis schoolWarringtonEngland
Eligible for free school meals in the last 6 years 100.0% 49.8%* 51.9%
With an education, health and care plan 98.1% 100.0%* 99.5%
Receiving special educational needs support 1.9% 0.0%* 0.5%
English as an additional language 0.0% 7.6%* 14.4%
Overall absence (sessions missed) 25.9% 11.8%* 12.8%
Persistently absent (missed 10% or more) 66.1% 30.9%* 35.3%
Suspensions per 100 pupils 122.6 25.5 12.3
Pupils suspended at least once 32.1% 10.1% 5.1%
Pupils permanently excluded0 pupils 0.00% 0.00% 0.08%

Comparisons are with special schools. * Calculated by SchoolScores from the council's or England's schools, weighted by pupils (or teachers, for turnover); other figures are published by DfE. Sources: DfE school census 2024/25; DfE pupil absence 2024/25; DfE suspensions and permanent exclusions 2024/25.

SEND provision: Get Information about Schools (DfE).

Nearby special schools

Straight-line distance. Distance isn't the same as a catchment area.

Questions parents ask

What is Chaigeley School's Ofsted rating?

Chaigeley School was rated Good by Ofsted at its inspection in 12 February 2014. At a shorter ungraded inspection in 24 January 2024, Ofsted found the school was still Good.

Would parents recommend Chaigeley School?

70% of the 10 parents who answered Ofsted's Parent View survey between 1 January 2024 and 6 January 2025 said they would recommend Chaigeley School to another parent. Parents choose whether to respond, so this may not represent all families.

Sources

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Page updated 26 September 2026.