Ernest Cookson School is located on a large campus that it shares with other Liverpool schools and a college. It can admit up to 58 boys aged between 5 and 16, but has not admitted any pupils in Key Stage 4 for some considerable time. All pupils have a statement of special educational needs in respect of their social, emotional and behavioural difficulties. Some have additional learning difficulties and disabilities associated with communication difficulties and autistic spectrum conditions. Informal arrangements for mutual support are in place between the school and other education services in Liverpool. Ernest Cookson School offers outreach to other local authority primary and secondary schools and three teachers are employed specifically to undertake this service. Pupils can arrive at any stage in their school career up to age 14 and currently the great majority are of White British origin. In excess of 95% are supported by the pupil premium that provides additional funding for children in the care of the local authority and those pupils known to be eligible for free school meals. Music, modern foreign languages, cookery and swimming are taught through peripatetic services offered by the local authority. The school employs the services of private visiting instructors with the aim of helping pupils develop their self-esteem and self-confidence. A very few pupils attend part time at two alternative education provisions: Harmonize Academy, and Cornerstone Training. The headteacher was promoted from his previous post as deputy in the school in September 2013. The school recently renewed the Basic Skills Quality Mark (2013) and gained the Dyslexia Friendly Award (2014).