Ascent Autism Specialist College, St Helens
Ascent Autism Specialist College is a special school for pupils aged 16 to 25 in St Helens. It was rated Good at its last graded Ofsted inspection, in September 2019. Ofsted's ungraded inspection in March 2025 did not change this grade.
- Ofsted
- Good (2019)
Data last updated 1 Nov 2026
Ascent Autism Specialist College in detail
Ascent Autism Specialist College in its own words
In its own words: "Ascent College is dedicated to providing expert specialist education to students with autism, our focus is upon achieving the very best outcomes. Ascent college supports autistic individuals to fulfil their own unique potential, we provide this through safe and nurturing education environments that meet the full range of young people’s needs."
Vision and values (school website)
Source: The school's own website
Compared with nearby schools
The nearest other special schools to Ascent Autism Specialist College are Willow Grove Primary School (1.5 miles, Good); Learn 4 Life School (1.7 miles, Good); Martha H School (1.8 miles); and Landgate School, Bryn (2 miles, Good).
Willow Grove Primary SchoolLearn 4 Life SchoolMartha H SchoolLandgate School, Bryn
Who goes there
Ascent Autism Specialist 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 Garswood Rail Station, about 1.4 miles away in a straight line.
7 bus stops are within a five-minute walk; the closest is Haydock Park Gardens (adjacent), 250 metres away.
The area around the school
In August 2026, police recorded 18 crimes within a mile of the school, most often violence and sexual offences, burglary and vehicle crime. That is well below the typical figure around schools in St. Helens (144).
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 September 2019, 7 years ago, longer than Ofsted's usual 4-year cycle: the school may have changed since.
Overall
Quality of Education
Behaviour & Attitudes
Personal Development
Leadership & Management
Safeguarding: effective
Source: Ofsted, further education and skills inspections and outcomes (Open Government Licence)
Ofsted Insights
From Ofsted's March 2025 inspection report.
What This School Does Well
Ascent Autism Specialist College creates a welcoming, supportive environment where students with autism develop real employability and life skills through hands-on work experience with local businesses. Teachers tailor learning to each student's individual needs and help them achieve meaningful qualifications. Students gain confidence and independence through a thoughtfully designed personal development programme that combines academic learning with practical work experience and enriching activities.
Key Strengths
- Highly personalised learning programmes designed around each student's EHC plan outcomes - teachers carefully sequence learning to build skills over time
- Strong integration of therapies including behavioral support and assessment, helping students regulate behavior and develop independent living skills
- Excellent careers guidance from qualified advisers, with proactive support from local authorities to prepare students for positive destinations including work and further study
- Wide range of engaging work experience opportunities with real employers including farms, racecourses, hotels and catering - students gain practical employability skills
- Well-planned personal development programme including Duke of Edinburgh's Award, swimming, gym access and residential trips that build student confidence
Areas for Improvement
- Some students not sufficiently challenged in lessons - teachers sometimes focus too much on task completion rather than developing deeper skills and knowledge
- Staff occasionally give students verbal prompts too quickly, not allowing them adequate time to process information and develop their own responses
- Governors need stronger expertise in the further education sector to provide more effective support and challenge to college leaders
Safeguarding
Safeguarding arrangements are effective, with students feeling safe and confident to raise concerns with readily available supportive staff.
Extracurricular Activities
Duke of Edinburgh's Award, swimming, local gym access, residential trips, work experience at local farms, racecourses, hotels and catering venues
Ascent Autism Specialist College is a good provider for young people aged 16 to 25 with autism and special educational needs. The college offers personalised learning programmes across foundation and mainframe pathways, with a recently developed supported internship programme.
At a Glance
No
Boarding
No
Nursery
Approved
Section 41
No
Special Measures
How Does This School Compare?
Ranked against 5 nearby schools
Latest from Ascent Autism Specialist College
Ascent College Achieves Prestigious National Autistic Society Award
14 Sep 2026
Ascent Winners of Prestigious Skills Builder Award
31 Jul 2026
Winners of Prestigious National Teaching Award
19 Jun 2026
A Huge Thank You to GBG for Their Generous Donation
8 May 2026
Ascent Autism Advice Forum - February 2026 Session
8 Jan 2026
A Heartfelt Thank You to Speedy
8 Dec 2025
From Ascent Autism Specialist College's website. School Signal is not affiliated with the school.
Social & online
Keep up with Ascent Autism Specialist College
Nurseries
The nearest nurseries and pre-schools to Ascent Autism Specialist College, with their latest published grades:
- Over The Rainbow - Day nursery, 0.4 milesOfsted, 23 June 2022: Good overall; safeguarding is effective
- NURSERYANDM.E LTD - Pre-school, 0.5 milesOfsted, 31 January 2025: Good overall; safeguarding is effective
- CareLoveLearn at St Oswald's - Day nursery, 0.6 milesOfsted report card, 17 September 2026: Expected standard in 6 areas; safeguarding standards met
- Kip McGrath, Ashton in Makerfield - Day nursery, 0.6 miles
- Hilton Street Childcare - Day nursery, 0.7 milesOfsted, 7 June 2022: Good overall; safeguarding is effective
Getting There
Bus Stops
Free school transport
Check free transport to Ascent Autism Specialist College from your postcode →
You apply to the council where you live. Ascent Autism Specialist College is in St. Helens; for families living there:
Apply to St. Helens for free school transport. Its policy is on the council's website.
Safety and surroundings
Road collisions within 500 m (2021 to 2025)
- Collisions
- 4
- Fatal
- 0
- Serious
- 0
- Children hurt
- 0
Within 500 m of the school's mapped location, police recorded 4 road collisions in which someone was injured in 2021 to 2025: none fatal, 0 serious and 4 slight.
1 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 St. Helens is 11.5 (the median across 80 schools, same distance and years).
Serious and slight are DfT estimates (severity adjustment). Source: Department for Transport, Road Safety Data (STATS19), Open Government Licence v3.0.
Commute and house prices
Capacity & Demand
Across St. Helens council
Places available
2,109
Applications
1,849
Got 1st preference
93.3%
Got preferred school
98.4%
All secondary applications across St. Helens council (2026/27), not just this school.
Inspection History(5)
Special educational needs provision
Ascent Autism Specialist 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 Ascent Autism Specialist College
What is Ascent Autism Specialist College's Ofsted rating?
Ascent Autism Specialist College's most recent Ofsted inspection, in March 2025, was ungraded. At its last graded inspection, in September 2019, it was rated Good.
Does Ascent Autism Specialist College have specialist SEN provision?
Ascent Autism Specialist 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 many road collisions happen near Ascent Autism Specialist College?
Within 500 m of the school's mapped location, police recorded 4 road collisions in which someone was injured in 2021 to 2025: none fatal, 0 serious and 4 slight. 1 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 St. Helens is 11.5 (the median across 80 schools, same distance and years).
Where is Ascent Autism Specialist College?
Ascent Autism Specialist College is at 11 the Parks, St Helens, Merseyside, WA12 0JQ.
Source: Department for Transport, Road Safety Data (STATS19)