Brookfields School, Widnes
Brookfields School is a special school for pupils aged 2 to 11 in Widnes, part of The Shaw Education Trust. It was rated Outstanding at its last graded Ofsted inspection, in March 2013. Ofsted's ungraded inspection in September 2024 did not change this grade.
- Ofsted
- Outstanding (2013)
Data last updated 26 Oct 2026
Brookfields School in detail
Brookfields School in its own words
From the headteacher's welcome: "Brookfields is a primary special academy situated in Halton. The school is part of the Shaw Education Trust. Our school consists of 2 sites; in Runcorn (lower school) and Widnes (upper school)."
Headteacher's welcome (school website)
Source: The school's own website
Compared with nearby schools
The nearest other special schools to Brookfields School are The Raise Academy (0.4 miles); Poppy Field School (1.2 miles, Outstanding); Chesnut Lodge Special School (1.8 miles, Good); and Ashley High School (1.8 miles, Outstanding).
The Raise AcademyPoppy Field SchoolChesnut Lodge Special SchoolAshley High School
The trust
Brookfields School is one of 31 schools run by The Shaw Education Trust, an academy trust.
What parents say
17 parents answered Ofsted's Parent View survey about Brookfields School (as of September 2025): 88% would recommend the school, 100% say their child is happy there and 50% of those with a view say bullying is dealt with well.
The strongest agreement was that their child is happy at the school (100%); the weakest, that the school deals with bullying well (among parents with a view) (50%).
Who goes there
53.9% of pupils are eligible for free school meals, and 5.7% speak English as an additional language, according to the 2026 school census.
The largest ethnic groups are White British (85%) and Mixed (8%).
Almost every pupil at Brookfields School has an education, health and care plan (141 of 141 in 2026). The most common need among them is autism.
Brookfields School provides for pupils with autism and severe learning difficulties.
Getting there
The nearest railway station is Widnes Rail Station, about 1 mile away in a straight line.
18 bus stops are within a five-minute walk; the closest is Belmont Road, 110 metres away.
The area around the school
Measured by the 2025 English Indices of Deprivation, the neighbourhood Brookfields School stands in is among the 20% most deprived neighbourhoods in England. This describes where the school is, not where its pupils live.
Suspensions and exclusions
Brookfields School recorded no suspensions or permanent exclusions in 2024/25.
Sources: DfE multi-academy trust performance data; Ofsted Parent View; DfE school census and special educational needs statistics; NaPTAN (Department for Transport); English Indices of Deprivation 2025 (MHCLG); data.police.uk street-level crime; DfE exclusions statistics
Key Information
DfE GIASOfsted Rating
Ofsted · 2 years agoThis judgement is from March 2013, 13 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
Early Years
Ofsted's report, in its own words
What is it like to attend this school?
Brookfields School is an inspiring environment, in which pupils flourish. Pupils are proud to be a part of this school. Staff place the pupils' educational, personal, social and emotional development at the core of all that they do. They create a calm atmosphere, where pupils are happy and secure.
Pupils' behaviour is commendable. They feel valued as individuals. Staff are highly skilled in supporting pupils to manage their feelings and emotions. This includes children in the early years. In lessons, pupils persevere with tasks extremely well.
What does the school do well and what does it need to do better?
Exceptional leadership is woven into the fabric of this school. The school, alongside the multi-academy trust and academy council, shares the vision that pupils deserve the very best education. It is relentless in its pursuit to continue to make further improvements to pupils' education, where these are needed. Together with the trust, the school has developed a highly successful staff team, who are focused on meeting the specific needs of all pupils. Staff feel that the school responds very well to their workload and well-being. They particularly appreciate the professional development that they receive. This supports them to deliver the curriculum effectively.
The school has meticulously constructed the curriculum. There is a real focus on ensuring that pupils develop a rich body of knowledge, along with life skills which prepare them well for adulthood. The school has precisely identified the knowledge and skills they want pupils to learn. Learning is sequenced seamlessly from early years to Year 6.
From Ofsted's September 2024 ungraded inspection report: the opening paragraphs of each section, quoted word for word. Read the full report Contains public sector information licensed under the Open Government Licence v3.0.
Ofsted Insights
Ofsted rated this school Outstanding at its March 2013 inspection - unchanged since its previous inspection.
Rated Outstanding for
Leadership & management.
At a Glance
53.9%
Free School Meals
No
Boarding
Yes
Nursery
No
Sixth Form
Autism, SLD
SEN Provision
No
Special Measures
What Parents Think
17 responsesSource: Ofsted Parent View, responses as at September 2025 - % who strongly agree or agree
Primary Performance (KS2)
Academic year 2024/25KS2 Results (% meeting expected standard)
How Does This School Compare?
Ranked against 5 nearby schools
Latest from Brookfields School
Summer Holiday Fun
4 Aug 2026
Super Hero Funday Lunch
19 May 2026
Screentime project launches!
4 May 2026
Spring Newsletter 2026
14 Apr 2026
Amazing Performance!
25 Mar 2026
Autumn Term Newsletter 2025
19 Dec 2025
From Brookfields School's website. School Signal is not affiliated with the school.
Social & online
Keep up with Brookfields School
Getting There
Bus Stops
Free school transport
Check free transport to Brookfields School from your postcode →
You apply to the council where you live. Brookfields School is in Halton; for families living there:
Apply to Halton for free school transport. Its policy is on the council's website.
Safety and surroundings
Road collisions within 500 m (2021 to 2025)
- Collisions
- 11
- Fatal
- 0
- Serious
- 4
- Children hurt
- 2
Within 500 m of the school's mapped location, police recorded 11 road collisions in which someone was injured in 2021 to 2025: none fatal, 4 serious and 7 slight.
2 children aged 0 to 15 were hurt.
3 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 Halton is 9.5 (the median across 70 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
School Occupancy
153%
Over capacity
141 pupils
92 places
49 pupils over capacity
as recorded on GIAS
Area Demand Pressure - Widnes
Based on MHCLG Live Table 122 (2024-25, last 5 years) for Widnes
Across Halton council
Places available
1,690
Applications
1,471
Got 1st preference
96.2%
Got preferred school
99.2%
All secondary applications across Halton council (2026/27), not just this school.
Inspection History(3)
Ungraded inspection: The school remains Outstanding, but Ofsted raised concerns; its next inspection will be a full graded one.
SEND & SEN Provision
SEN Overview
0
SEN Support
141
EHC Plans
100.0%
of Total Pupils
2026 academic year
Provision & Specialist Facilities
Brookfields School provides for pupils with autism and severe learning difficulties.
Source: GIAS, Department for Education.
Pupils by Need Type
Pupil Demographics
Ethnicity
2026 academic year
Key Indicators
141
Total Pupils
100
Boys
41
Girls
2026 academic year
Workforce
18
Teachers
7.8:1
Pupil-teacher ratio
£52,630
Mean salary
2026 data
Pupil Absence2024/25
7.0%
Overall absence
20.2%
Persistent absence
114
Enrolments
Absence trend
Source: DfE pupil absence statistics. Persistent absence = pupils missing 10%+ sessions.
Linked Schools
Schools linked by geographic proximity
Brookfields School
Questions parents ask about Brookfields School
What are SATs results like at Brookfields School?
Of the pupils at Brookfields School who took the 2025 Key Stage 2 assessments, 0% reached the expected standard in reading and 0% did so in maths.
What is Brookfields School's Ofsted rating?
Brookfields School's most recent Ofsted inspection, in September 2024, was ungraded, so it gave no overall grade. At its last graded inspection, in March 2013, it was rated Outstanding.
What is the catchment area for Brookfields School?
No fixed boundary. When Brookfields School is oversubscribed, Halton allocates places by its published criteria, usually ending with home-to-school distance.
How many pupils go to Brookfields School?
Brookfields School has around 141 pupils on roll. 54% are eligible for free school meals.
Does Brookfields School have specialist SEN provision?
Brookfields School provides for pupils with autism and severe learning difficulties.
What is attendance like at Brookfields School?
7% of sessions were missed at Brookfields School in 2024/25. 20.2% of pupils were persistently absent (missing 10% or more of sessions).
How do I apply to Brookfields School?
Apply through Halton's coordinated admissions process, naming Brookfields School 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 Brookfields School?
Within 500 m of the school's mapped location, police recorded 11 road collisions in which someone was injured in 2021 to 2025: none fatal, 4 serious and 7 slight. 2 children aged 0 to 15 were hurt. 3 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 Halton is 9.5 (the median across 70 schools, same distance and years).
Where is Brookfields School?
Brookfields School is at Moorfield Road, Widnes, Cheshire, WA8 3JA.
Source: Department for Transport, Road Safety Data (STATS19)