West Kirby School and College

Independent special school · All-through, ages 5 to 19 · Mixed · Sixth form

Meols Drive, West Kirby, Wirral, CH48 5DH

0151 632 3201 · School website · Map and directions

OfstedOutstandingInspected 29 January 2013; confirmed 2021
Pupils115Room for 115 Pupil numbers in January of each year: 75 in 2019, 83 in 2021, 96 in 2022, 97 in 2023, 105 in 2024, 110 in 2025, 115 in 2026. Across England, special state school pupil numbers were up 39% from 2019 to 2025.
Free school meals41%of pupils eligible now

Ofsted inspection

Ofsted rated this school Outstanding at the inspection that started on 29 January 2013.

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 educationOutstanding
Outcomes for pupilsOutstanding
Leadership and managementOutstanding

Since then, a shorter ungraded inspection on 9 December 2021: Ofsted found the school was still Outstanding.

Read the full Ofsted reports for this school

Source: Ofsted non-association independent schools inspection data.

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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. DfE has published no A level results for this school. 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: Autism; Social, emotional and mental health needs.

PupilsThis schoolWirralEngland
Eligible for free school meals in the last 6 years 38.6% 59.4%* 51.9%
With an education, health and care plan 100.0% 99.8%* 99.5%
Receiving special educational needs support 0.0% 0.2%* 0.5%
English as an additional language 0.0% 3.2%* 14.4%
Overall absence (sessions missed) 14.1% 12.0%* 12.8%
Persistently absent (missed 10% or more) 36.5% 32.2%* 35.3%
Suspensions per 100 pupils 30.0 27.5 12.3
Pupils suspended at least once 14.5% 9.7% 5.1%
Pupils permanently excluded0 pupils 0.00% 0.17% 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).

Questions parents ask

What is West Kirby School and College's Ofsted rating?

West Kirby School and College was rated Outstanding by Ofsted at its inspection in 29 January 2013. At a shorter ungraded inspection in 9 December 2021, Ofsted found the school was still Outstanding.

Sources

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Page updated 26 September 2026.