The Cavendish High Academy

Special academy · Secondary, ages 11 to 19 · Mixed · Sixth form

Part of THE CAVENDISH HIGH ACADEMY

Lincoln Close, Runcorn, WA7 4YX

01928 561706 · School website · Map and directions

OfstedOutstandingInspected 23 February 2011, before conversion; confirmed 2023
Pupils110Room for 90 Pupil numbers in January of each year: 92 in 2019, 94 in 2021, 104 in 2022, 101 in 2023, 108 in 2024, 107 in 2025, 110 in 2026. Across England, special state school pupil numbers were up 39% from 2019 to 2025.
Free school meals61%of pupils eligible now

Ofsted inspection

Ofsted rated this school Outstanding at the inspection that started on 23 February 2011. This inspection was of the school before it changed to its current form (for example, before becoming an academy).

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 managementOutstanding
Sixth formOutstanding

Since then, a shorter ungraded inspection on 28 June 2023: Ofsted found the school was still Outstanding.

Read the full Ofsted reports for this school

Source: Ofsted state-funded schools inspection data.

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Results

After Year 11

Where pupils went next. DfE measures this for pupils who finished in an earlier year, so these figures describe a previous year group.

11 pupils in this year group.

100% — 8 points above the Halton average, and 8 points above the England average.

MeasureThis schoolHaltonEngland
Stayed in education, an apprenticeship or workPupils recorded in sustained education, apprenticeship or employment in the year after finishing Year 11. 100% 92% 92%
School sixth form 0% 6% 34%
Sixth form college 0% 9% 13%
Further education college 18% 69% 37%
Apprenticeship 0% 4% 3%
Work 0% 2% 3%

Stayed in education, an apprenticeship or work, over time

2023/242024/25
100%100%

Source: DfE key stage 4 destination measures, 2024/25 performance tables. England figures are for state-funded schools.

Admissions

Apply through the council where you live, even if the school is in a different council area. This school is in Halton. The national closing date for secondary applications is 31 October, and offers are sent on 1 March.

Admissions dates and schools in Halton

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: Severe learning difficulties.

PupilsThis schoolHaltonEngland
Eligible for free school meals in the last 6 years 68.8% 62.9%* 51.9%
With an education, health and care plan 98.1% 99.4%* 99.5%
Receiving special educational needs support 1.9% 0.6%* 0.5%
English as an additional language 2.8% 2.7%* 14.4%
Overall absence (sessions missed) 12.0% 12.7%* 12.8%
Persistently absent (missed 10% or more) 35.8% 32.6%* 35.3%
Suspensions per 100 pupils 1.9 20.4 12.3
Pupils suspended at least once 1.9% 7.7% 5.1%
Pupils permanently excluded1 pupil 0.93% 0.20% 0.08%
Pupils per teacher 7.3 7.5 6.6
Pupils per adult (teachers and support staff) 2.8 2.6 2.3
Teachers who left during the year 13.3% 5.9%* 14.3%*

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; DfE school workforce census 2025/26; DfE teacher turnover 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 The Cavendish High Academy's Ofsted rating?

The Cavendish High Academy was rated Outstanding by Ofsted at its inspection in 23 February 2011. At a shorter ungraded inspection in 28 June 2023, Ofsted found the school was still Outstanding.

Sources

Spotted a mistake? Report it and we'll check it against the source.

Page updated 26 September 2026.