Arden College, Southport
Arden College is a special school for pupils aged 16 to 25 in Southport. It was rated Good at its last graded Ofsted inspection, in June 2019. Ofsted's ungraded inspection in January 2025 did not change this grade.
- Ofsted
- Good (2019)
Data last updated 27 Oct 2026
Arden College in detail
Compared with nearby schools
The nearest other special schools to Arden College are Educ8 Southport (0.9 miles); Presfield High School and Specialist College (1.9 miles, Good); Peterhouse School (2 miles, Requires improvement); and Merefield School (4 miles).
Educ8 SouthportPresfield High School and Specialist CollegePeterhouse SchoolMerefield School
Who goes there
Arden College provides for pupils with speech, language and communication needs, autism, social, emotional and mental health needs, moderate learning difficulties and severe learning difficulties. Arden College is approved under Section 41 of the Children and Families Act 2014, so parents can ask for it to be named in their child's education, health and care (EHC) plan.
Getting there
The nearest railway station is Southport Rail Station, about 410 metres away (roughly a 5-minute walk).
15 bus stops are within a five-minute walk; the closest is Sussex Road (adjacent), 60 metres away.
The area around the school
In August 2026, police recorded 367 crimes within a mile of the school, most often violence and sexual offences, public order offences and shoplifting. That is well above the typical figure around schools in Sefton (165), as is usual near a town centre.
Sources: DfE school census and special educational needs statistics; NaPTAN (Department for Transport); English Indices of Deprivation 2025 (MHCLG); data.police.uk street-level crime
Key Information
DfE GIASOfsted Rating
Ofsted · 2 years agoThis judgement is from June 2019, 7 years ago, longer than Ofsted's usual 4-year cycle: the school may have changed since.
Overall
Leadership & Management
Safeguarding: effective
Source: Ofsted, further education and skills inspections and outcomes (Open Government Licence)
Ofsted Insights
From Ofsted's January 2025 inspection report.
What This School Does Well
Arden College excels at creating a safe, supportive environment where young people with complex needs feel cared for and can thrive. The college's highly experienced staff tailor teaching to each student's needs and aspirations, helping them achieve goals they thought were impossible - from living independently to gaining paid employment. Strong partnerships with local employers and therapists ensure students receive both practical skills training and the emotional support needed to succeed in adult life.
Key Strengths
- Staff create caring, nurturing environments where students build trust and develop resilience through personalized learning spaces -
- Well-qualified tutors use effective teaching strategies including therapy dogs, sensory rooms and movement breaks to help students engage and manage emotions -
- Students achieve significant goals including independent living and paid employment, with strong careers guidance and employer relationships supporting next steps -
- Clear person-centred plans based on accurate initial assessment ensure teaching is tailored to individual needs and learning styles -
- Tutors and specialist therapists work closely together using multiple communication methods to help all students express themselves
Areas for Improvement
- Use age-appropriate images in Phase 1 materials that reflect preparing students for adulthood rather than cartoon animals -
- Focus quality improvement activities on the actual impact they have on improving educational outcomes -
- Clarify the governance structure to identify who provides strategic leadership and holds college leaders accountable
Safeguarding
Safeguarding arrangements are effective.
Extracurricular Activities
Therapy dog sessions, sensory rooms, physical exercise programs, internal work placements, accredited courses in English, mathematics, digital and employability skills, work placements with community employers
Arden College is a specialist college for young people aged 16 to 25 with autism and learning disabilities, operating across two sites with 52 students following four different phases of study. The college continues to be judged as good, with students developing confidence, independence and skills to prepare them for their adult lives.
At a Glance
No
Boarding
No
Nursery
Speech and language, Autism, SEMH +2
SEN Provision
Approved
Section 41
No
Special Measures
How Does This School Compare?
Ranked against 4 nearby schools
Keep up with Arden College
Getting There
Train Stations
Bus Stops
Free school transport
Check free transport to Arden College from your postcode →
You apply to the council where you live. Arden College is in Sefton; for families living there:
- Sefton's school travel policy: Home to School Transport Policy ext
- How to apply: Apply for Travel Support
Safety and surroundings
Road collisions within 500 m (2021 to 2025)
- Collisions
- 29
- Fatal
- 0
- Serious
- 5
- Children hurt
- 5
Within 500 m of the school's mapped location, police recorded 29 road collisions in which someone was injured in 2021 to 2025: none fatal, 5 serious and 24 slight.
5 children aged 0 to 15 were hurt: 3 on foot, 1 on a bicycle and 1 in a vehicle or otherwise.
6 of the collisions happened on a weekday between 08:00 and 09:30 or 14:45 and 16:30, holidays included.
The typical figure for schools in Sefton is 16 (the median across 116 schools, same distance and years).
Serious and slight counts use the Department for Transport's severity adjustment, which allows for changes in how police forces record injuries; they are estimates, rounded to whole numbers. Distances are in a straight line. Source: Department for Transport, Road Safety Data (STATS19), Open Government Licence v3.0.
Commute and house prices
Capacity & Demand
Area Demand Pressure - Southport
Based on MHCLG Live Table 122 (2024-25, last 5 years) for Southport
Across Sefton council
Places available
3,321
Applications
2,791
Got 1st preference
89.0%
Got preferred school
97.3%
All secondary applications across Sefton council (2026/27), not just this school.
Inspection History(12)
Special educational needs provision
Arden College provides for pupils with speech, language and communication needs, autism, social, emotional and mental health needs, moderate learning difficulties and severe learning difficulties.
Arden College is approved under Section 41 of the Children and Families Act 2014, so parents can ask for it to be named in their child's education, health and care (EHC) plan.
Source: Get Information about Schools (GIAS), Department for Education.
Questions parents ask about Arden College
What is Arden College's Ofsted rating?
Arden College's most recent Ofsted inspection, in January 2025, was ungraded, so it gave no overall grade. At its last graded inspection, in June 2019, it was rated Good.
What is the catchment area for Arden College?
No fixed boundary. When Arden College is oversubscribed, Sefton allocates places by its published criteria, usually ending with home-to-school distance.
Does Arden College have specialist SEN provision?
Arden College provides for pupils with speech, language and communication needs, autism, social, emotional and mental health needs, moderate learning difficulties and severe learning difficulties. Arden College is approved under Section 41 of the Children and Families Act 2014, so parents can ask for it to be named in their child's education, health and care (EHC) plan.
How do I apply to Arden College?
Apply through Sefton's coordinated admissions process, naming Arden College on your application. The national closing date in England is 31 October for secondary places and 15 January for primary places, in the year before your child starts.
How many road collisions happen near Arden College?
Within 500 m of the school's mapped location, police recorded 29 road collisions in which someone was injured in 2021 to 2025: none fatal, 5 serious and 24 slight. 5 children aged 0 to 15 were hurt: 3 on foot, 1 on a bicycle and 1 in a vehicle or otherwise. 6 of the collisions happened on a weekday between 08:00 and 09:30 or 14:45 and 16:30, holidays included. The typical figure for schools in Sefton is 16 (the median across 116 schools, same distance and years).
Where is Arden College?
Arden College is at 40 Derby Road, Southport, Southport, Merseyside, PR9 0TZ.
Source: Department for Transport, Road Safety Data (STATS19)