Chesnut Lodge Special School, Widnes
Chesnut Lodge Special School is a special school for pupils aged 2 to 16 in Widnes. It was rated Good at its last graded Ofsted inspection, in November 2013. Ofsted's ungraded inspection in April 2023 did not change this grade.
- Ofsted
- Good (2013)
Data last updated 26 Oct 2026
Chesnut Lodge Special School in detail
Compared with nearby schools
The nearest other special schools to Chesnut Lodge Special School are Ashley High School (under 0.1 miles, Outstanding); Poppy Field School (1.1 miles, Outstanding); The Raise Academy (1.6 miles); and Brookfields School (1.8 miles, Outstanding).
Ashley High SchoolPoppy Field SchoolThe Raise AcademyBrookfields School
Where pupils go next
Of the 9 pupils who finished Year 11 in 2023/24, 100% stayed in education or training for at least two terms, including 33% to a further education college.
Who goes there
63.5% of pupils are eligible for free school meals, and 3.5% speak English as an additional language, according to the 2026 school census.
The largest ethnic groups are White British (91%) and Mixed (6%).
Almost every pupil at Chesnut Lodge Special School has an education, health and care plan (85 of 85 in 2026). The most common need among them is a profound and multiple learning difficulty.
Chesnut Lodge Special School has a resourced provision for physical disability, moderate learning difficulties, severe learning difficulties and profound and multiple learning difficulties: 89 places, 84 pupils on roll.
Getting there
The nearest railway station is Widnes Rail Station, about 1 mile away in a straight line.
12 bus stops are within a five-minute walk; the closest is Ball O Ditton, 210 metres away.
Suspensions and exclusions
In 2024/25, Chesnut Lodge Special School issued 1 suspension, 1.2 for every 100 pupils, and no permanent exclusions.
Sources: DfE destination measures; DfE school census and special educational needs statistics; NaPTAN (Department for Transport); DfE exclusions statistics
Key Information
DfE GIASOfsted Rating
Ofsted · 4 years agoThis judgement is from November 2013, 12 years ago, longer than Ofsted's usual 4-year cycle: the school may have changed since.
Overall
Latest (ungraded) inspection: The school remains Good.
Ofsted Insights
Ofsted rated this school Good at its November 2013 inspection - unchanged since its previous inspection.
Rated Good for
Leadership & management.
At a Glance
63.5%
Free School Meals
No
Boarding
Yes
Nursery
No
Sixth Form
Resourced provision: Physical, MLD, SLD +1
SEN Provision
No
Special Measures
How Does This School Compare?
Ranked against 5 nearby schools
Keep up with Chesnut Lodge Special School
Getting There
Bus Stops
Free school transport
Check free transport to Chesnut Lodge Special School from your postcode →
You apply to the council where you live. Chesnut Lodge Special 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
- 19
- Fatal
- 0
- Serious
- 7
- Children hurt
- 1
Within 500 m of the school's mapped location, police recorded 19 road collisions in which someone was injured in 2021 to 2025: none fatal, 7 serious and 12 slight.
1 child aged 0 to 15 was hurt: 1 on foot.
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 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
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(6)
SEND & SEN Provision
SEN Overview
0
SEN Support
85
EHC Plans
100.0%
of Total Pupils
2026 academic year
Provision & Specialist Facilities
Chesnut Lodge Special School has a resourced provision for physical disability, moderate learning difficulties, severe learning difficulties and profound and multiple learning difficulties: 89 places, 84 pupils on roll.
Source: GIAS, Department for Education.
Pupils by Need Type
Pupil Demographics
Ethnicity
2026 academic year
Key Indicators
85
Total Pupils
49
Boys
36
Girls
2026 academic year
Workforce
12
Teachers
7.1:1
Pupil-teacher ratio
£53,484
Mean salary
2026 data
Pupil Absence2024/25
16.2%
Overall absence
36.6%
Persistent absence
82
Enrolments
Absence trend
Source: DfE pupil absence statistics. Persistent absence = pupils missing 10%+ sessions.
Feeder Primary Schools
Primary schools that likely feed into this school, based on proximity
Chesnut Lodge Special School
Showing 10 of 15 linked schools
Questions parents ask about Chesnut Lodge Special School
What is Chesnut Lodge Special School's Ofsted rating?
Chesnut Lodge Special School's most recent Ofsted inspection, in April 2023, was ungraded, so it gave no overall grade. At its last graded inspection, in November 2013, it was rated Good.
What is the catchment area for Chesnut Lodge Special School?
No fixed boundary. When Chesnut Lodge Special School is oversubscribed, Halton allocates places by its published criteria, usually ending with home-to-school distance.
How many pupils go to Chesnut Lodge Special School?
Chesnut Lodge Special School has around 85 pupils on roll. 64% are eligible for free school meals.
Does Chesnut Lodge Special School have specialist SEN provision?
Chesnut Lodge Special School has a resourced provision for physical disability, moderate learning difficulties, severe learning difficulties and profound and multiple learning difficulties: 89 places, 84 pupils on roll.
What is attendance like at Chesnut Lodge Special School?
16.2% of sessions were missed at Chesnut Lodge Special School in 2024/25. 36.6% of pupils were persistently absent (missing 10% or more of sessions).
How do I apply to Chesnut Lodge Special School?
Apply through Halton's coordinated admissions process, naming Chesnut Lodge Special 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 Chesnut Lodge Special School?
Within 500 m of the school's mapped location, police recorded 19 road collisions in which someone was injured in 2021 to 2025: none fatal, 7 serious and 12 slight. 1 child aged 0 to 15 was hurt: 1 on foot. 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 Halton is 9.5 (the median across 70 schools, same distance and years).
Where is Chesnut Lodge Special School?
Chesnut Lodge Special School is at Green Lane, Ditton, Widnes, Cheshire, WA8 7HF.
Source: Department for Transport, Road Safety Data (STATS19)