The Observatory School
Catchment Area, Reviews and Key Information

Primary & Secondary
Special school
PUPILS
142
AGES
7 - 16
GENDER
Mixed
TYPE
Community special school

Can I Get My Child Into This School?

Enter a postcode to see where you live on the map
heatmap example
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Very Likely
Likely
Less Likely

This pupil heat map shows where pupils currently attending the school live.
The concentration of pupils shows likelihood of admission based on distance criteria

Source: All attending pupils National School Census Data, ONS
0151 606 2000

This School Guide heat map has been plotted using official pupil data taken from the last School Census collected by the Department for Education. It is a visualisation of where pupils lived at the time of the annual School Census.

Our heat maps use groups of postcodes, not individual postcodes, and have naturally soft edges. All pupils are included in the mapping (i.e. children with siblings already at the school, high priority pupils and selective and/or religious admissions) but we may have removed statistical ‘outliers’ with more remote postcodes that do not reflect majority admissions.

For some schools, the heat map may be a useful indicator of the catchment area but our heat maps are not the same as catchment area maps. Catchment area maps, published by the school or local authority, are based on geographical admissions criteria and show actual cut-off distances and pre-defined catchment areas for a single admission year.

This information is provided as a guide only. The criteria in which schools use to allocate places in the event that they are oversubscribed can and do vary between schools and over time. These criteria can include distance from the school and sometimes specific catchment areas but can also include, amongst others, priority for siblings, children of a particular faith or specific feeder schools. Living in an area where children have previously attended a school does not guarantee admission to the school in future years. Always check with the school’s own admission authority for the current admission arrangements.

3 steps to help parents gather catchment information for a school:

  1. Look at our school catchment area guide for more information on heat maps. They give a useful indicator of the general areas that admit pupils to the school. This visualisation is based on all attending pupils present at the time of the annual School Census.
  2. Use the link to the Local Authority Contact (above) to find catchment area information based on a single admission year. This is very important if you are considering applying to a school.
  3. On each school page, use the link to visit the school website and find information on individual school admissions criteria. Geographical criteria are only applied after pupils have been admitted on higher priority criteria such as Looked After Children, SEN, siblings, etc.

How Does The School Perform?

Ofsted
NATIONAL AVG. 2.09
Ofsted Inspection
(14/01/2025)
Full Report - All Reports

Special schools provide a unique and distinctive educational environment to meet the needs of the pupils in their community. Undertaking standard tests may not be appropriate and we do not show performance data for special schools.

View exam results via the link below and contact the school to ask about measuring pupil progress.

A Parent's Guide to Choosing a Special School

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75%
NATIONAL AVG. 93%
Happiness Rating
6.0:1
NATIONAL AVG. 19.9:1
Pupil/Teacher ratio
72.9%
NATIONAL AVG. 16.2%
Persistent Absence
0.7%
NATIONAL AVG. 22.8%
Pupils first language
not English
71.8%
NATIONAL AVG. 25.9%
Free school meals
Bidston Village Road
Bidston
Prenton
CH43 7QT
01516527093

School Description

Pupils are happy and enjoy coming to school. Adults develop strong and trusting relationships with pupils. Pupils feel accepted, valued and well cared for. They say that staff help them to make friends, recognise their achievements and help them to learn. The school has high expectations for pupils’ achievement. Pupils know that the school wants them to succeed. Most pupils achieve well. The school harnesses pupils’ interests and talents. For example, pupils can take part in sports, the arts and vocational options. The school supports pupils to achieve their ambitions. Visits, including from ex-pupils, inspire pupils to think about their own future aspirational career choices. Pupils learn about their emotions and understand how this can affect their behaviour. The school helps pupils to learn the strategies they need to regulate their behaviour. Over time, pupils learn to manage their behaviour well.

The Observatory School Parent Reviews



83% Parents Recommend This School
Strongly Agree 42% Agree 33% Disagree 0% Strongly Disagree 8% Don't Know 17% {"strongly_agree"=>42, "agree"=>33, "disagree"=>0, "strongly_disagree"=>8, "dont_know"=>17} Figures based on 12 responses up to 14-01-2025
Strongly Agree 42% Agree 33% Disagree 17% Strongly Disagree 8% Don't Know 0% {"strongly_agree"=>42, "agree"=>33, "disagree"=>17, "strongly_disagree"=>8, "dont_know"=>0} Figures based on 12 responses up to 14-01-2025
Strongly Agree 33% Agree 42% Disagree 0% Strongly Disagree 8% Don't Know 17% {"strongly_agree"=>33, "agree"=>42, "disagree"=>0, "strongly_disagree"=>8, "dont_know"=>17} Figures based on 12 responses up to 14-01-2025
My Child Has Not Been Bullied 50% Strongly Agree 17% Agree 25% Disagree 0% Strongly Disagree 8% Don't Know 0% {"my_child_has_not_been_bullied"=>50, "strongly_agree"=>17, "agree"=>25, "disagree"=>0, "strongly_disagree"=>8, "dont_know"=>0} Figures based on 12 responses up to 14-01-2025
Strongly Agree 33% Agree 33% Disagree 8% Strongly Disagree 8% Don't Know 17% {"strongly_agree"=>33, "agree"=>33, "disagree"=>8, "strongly_disagree"=>8, "dont_know"=>17} Figures based on 12 responses up to 14-01-2025
I Have Not Raised Any Concerns 8% Strongly Agree 33% Agree 33% Disagree 8% Strongly Disagree 8% Don't Know 8% {"i_have_not_raised_any_concerns"=>8, "strongly_agree"=>33, "agree"=>33, "disagree"=>8, "strongly_disagree"=>8, "dont_know"=>8} Figures based on 12 responses up to 14-01-2025
Strongly Agree 58% Agree 25% Disagree 0% Strongly Disagree 8% Don't Know 8% {"strongly_agree"=>58, "agree"=>25, "disagree"=>0, "strongly_disagree"=>8, "dont_know"=>8} Figures based on 12 responses up to 14-01-2025
Strongly Agree 42% Agree 33% Disagree 8% Strongly Disagree 0% Don't Know 17% {"strongly_agree"=>42, "agree"=>33, "disagree"=>8, "strongly_disagree"=>0, "dont_know"=>17} Figures based on 12 responses up to 14-01-2025
Strongly Agree 50% Agree 25% Disagree 0% Strongly Disagree 8% Don't Know 17% {"strongly_agree"=>50, "agree"=>25, "disagree"=>0, "strongly_disagree"=>8, "dont_know"=>17} Figures based on 12 responses up to 14-01-2025
Strongly Agree 50% Agree 50% Disagree 0% Strongly Disagree 0% Don't Know 0% {"strongly_agree"=>50, "agree"=>50, "disagree"=>0, "strongly_disagree"=>0, "dont_know"=>0} Figures based on 12 responses up to 14-01-2025
Strongly Agree 42% Agree 33% Disagree 8% Strongly Disagree 0% Don't Know 17% {"strongly_agree"=>42, "agree"=>33, "disagree"=>8, "strongly_disagree"=>0, "dont_know"=>17} Figures based on 12 responses up to 14-01-2025
Strongly Agree 33% Agree 25% Disagree 0% Strongly Disagree 17% Don't Know 25% {"strongly_agree"=>33, "agree"=>25, "disagree"=>0, "strongly_disagree"=>17, "dont_know"=>25} Figures based on 12 responses up to 14-01-2025
Strongly Agree 67% Agree 17% Disagree 0% Strongly Disagree 8% Don't Know 8% {"strongly_agree"=>67, "agree"=>17, "disagree"=>0, "strongly_disagree"=>8, "dont_know"=>8} Figures based on 12 responses up to 14-01-2025
Yes 83% No 17% {"yes"=>83, "no"=>17} Figures based on 12 responses up to 14-01-2025

Responses taken from Ofsted Parent View

Your rating:
Review guidelines
  • Do explain who you are and your relationship to the school e.g. ‘I am a parent…’
  • Do back up your opinion with examples or clear reasons but, remember, it’s your opinion not fact.
  • Don’t use bad or aggressive language.
  • Don't go in to detail about specific staff or pupils. Individual complaints should be directed to the school.
  • Do go to the relevant authority is you have concerns about a serious issue such as bullying, drug abuse or bad management.
Read the full review guidelines and where to find help if you have serious concerns about a school.
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