Schools by area › Wirral › The Observatory School
The Observatory School
All-through · Mixed · Ages 7–16 · Community special school
Bidston Village Road, Bidston, Prenton CH43 7QT · theobservatoryschool.wirral.sch.uk · 0151 652 7093
On the mapSearch near CH43 7QT
Overview
- Ofsted
- No overall grade
- 2019 framework · inspected Jan 2025
- GCSEs, 2024/25
- 5.9
- average Attainment 8 score. Wirral 45.3, England 46
- Pupils
- 174
- 14 over 160 places · 109%
- Local authority
- Wirral
- Free school meals
- 66.1%
- First language not English
- 0.6%
- School census 2025/26
The official school record (Department for Education)
Results
In 2024/25 the average Attainment 8 score at GCSE was 5.9, and 0% of pupils got grade 5 or above in English and maths. Across Wirral it was 45.3, and across England 46.
In 2024/25, 0% of pupils reached the expected standard in reading, writing and maths at the end of key stage 2, and 0% the higher standard. Across Wirral it was 56%, and across England 62%.
Key stage 2 results
Expected standard reading, writing and maths
| 2024/25 | Trend | School | England |
|---|---|---|---|
| Reading, writing and maths | |||
| ▼0% | 62% | ||
| ▼0% | 8% | ||
| Average scaled score | |||
| ▼82 | 106 | ||
| ▼84 | 105 | ||
| ▼83 | 105 | ||
GCSE results
Attainment 8
| 2024/25 | Trend | School | England |
|---|---|---|---|
| ▼5.9 | 46.0 | ||
| ▼0.0% | 45.4% | ||
| ▼0.0% | 64.8% | ||
| ▼0.0% | 40.5% | ||
| ▼0.51 | 4.09 |
Where Year 11 leavers went
| Left in 2023/24 | Since 2021/22 | |
|---|---|---|
| Sixth form college | 4.8 | — |
| Further education | 47.6 | −10.7 |
| Not in a lasting destination | 28.6 | +3.6 |
| Activity not captured | 19 | +2.3 |
Ofsted
Ofsted inspected The Observatory School on 14 January 2025 under its 2019 framework. Inspections from September 2024 give no overall grade.
- Overall
- No overall grade
- Inspected
- 14 Jan 2025
- Graded inspection
Safeguarding effectiveInspection reports
Graded areas
| Quality of education | Good |
|---|---|
| Behaviour and attitudes | Good |
| Personal development | Good |
| Leadership and management | Good |
Previously: Good, graded inspection, Nov 2012
Earlier inspections
Before September 2019
Mar 2018Monitoring visit
Safeguarding Effective Nov 2012Good
Outcomes for pupils Good Quality of teaching, learning and assessment Good Leadership and management Good Jan 2010Requires improvement
Outcomes for pupils Requires improvement Quality of teaching, learning and assessment Requires improvement Leadership and management Requires improvement
What parents said
83% of the parents who answered Ofsted’s Parent View survey would recommend the school (12 replies, to 1 September 2025).
- Recommend
- 83%
- Replies
- 12
- 7% · 1 Sept 2025
based on the 92% who raised concerns
based on the 50% who had a child bullied
based on 12 parents (100%) with SEND