Church Lawton School, Stoke-on-Trent
Church Lawton School is a special school for pupils aged 4 to 19 in Stoke-on-Trent, part of Liberty Academy Trust Ltd.. It was rated Good at its last graded Ofsted inspection, in November 2022.
- Ofsted
- Good (2022)
Data last updated 26 Oct 2026
Church Lawton School in detail
Church Lawton School in its own words
In its own words: "We opened Church Lawton School in 2015 as a free school for autistic children. We provide a complete education all the way from age 4 to age 19, building each child's development week by week, term by term and year by year. We are a local school, educating children from East Cheshire, Staffordshire and Stoke."
Vision and values (school website)
Source: The school's own website
Compared with nearby schools
The nearest other special schools to Church Lawton School are Wonder Star School (0.6 miles); TILT Education (0.7 miles); Bluebell School Ltd (1.6 miles, Outstanding); and Castle Hill School (3.4 miles, Requires improvement).
Wonder Star SchoolTILT EducationBluebell School LtdCastle Hill School
The trust
Church Lawton School is one of 3 schools run by Liberty Academy Trust Ltd., an academy trust.
Where pupils go next
Of the 14 pupils who finished Year 11 in 2023/24, 86% stayed in education or training for at least two terms, including 43% to a further education college.
Who goes there
27.9% of pupils are eligible for free school meals, and 0% speak English as an additional language, according to the 2026 school census.
Almost every pupil at Church Lawton School has an education, health and care plan (86 of 86 in 2026). The most common need among them is autism.
Getting there
The nearest railway station is Alsager Rail Station, about 1.1 miles away in a straight line.
6 bus stops are within a five-minute walk; the closest is Brown Avenue (sw-bound), 160 metres away.
The area around the school
In August 2026, police recorded 32 crimes within a mile of the school, most often violence and sexual offences, drug offences and criminal damage and arson. That is well below the typical figure around schools in Cheshire East (61).
Suspensions and exclusions
In 2024/25, Church Lawton 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); English Indices of Deprivation 2025 (MHCLG); data.police.uk street-level crime; DfE exclusions statistics
Key Information
DfE GIASOfsted Rating
Ofsted · 4 years agoOverall
Quality of Education
Behaviour & Attitudes
Personal Development
Leadership & Management
Sixth Form
Ofsted Insights
Ofsted rated this school Good at its November 2022 inspection.
Rated Good for
Quality of education, Behaviour & attitudes, Personal development, Leadership & management, Sixth form.
At a Glance
27.9%
Free School Meals
No
Boarding
No
Nursery
Yes
Sixth Form
No
Special Measures
Primary Performance (KS2)
Academic year 2025/26KS2 Results (% meeting expected standard)
Reading has improved from 50% to 57% (2024 to 2025), while maths has declined from 33% to 29% (2024 to 2025).
How Does This School Compare?
Ranked against 5 nearby schools
Latest from Church Lawton School
Vaccinations for Children and Young People with SEND
29 Sep 2026
Open Evenings 2026/2027
12 Sep 2025
Church Lawton School - expansion project 2026
10 Feb 2025
Guide to Fake News and Scams
5 Feb 2025
Advanced Autism Accrediation
4 Feb 2025
Children's Mental Health Week
30 Jan 2025
From Church Lawton School's website. School Signal is not affiliated with the school.
Keep up with Church Lawton School
Getting There
Bus Stops
Free school transport
Check free transport to Church Lawton School from your postcode →
You apply to the council where you live. Church Lawton School is in Cheshire East; for families living there:
- Cheshire East's school travel policy: Compulsory school age travel policy
Safety and surroundings
Road collisions within 500 m (2021 to 2025)
No injury road collisions were reported to the police within 500 m of the school's mapped location in 2021 to 2025.
The typical figure for schools in Cheshire East is 6 (the median across 180 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
102%
Over capacity
86 pupils
84 places
2 pupils over capacity
as recorded on GIAS
Area Demand Pressure - Stoke-on-Trent
Based on MHCLG Live Table 122 (2024-25, last 5 years) for Stoke-on-Trent
Across Cheshire East council
Places available
4,404
Applications
4,072
Got 1st preference
93.1%
Got preferred school
98.2%
All secondary applications across Cheshire East council (2026/27), not just this school.
Inspection History(2)
SEND & SEN Provision
SEN Overview
0
SEN Support
86
EHC Plans
100.0%
of Total Pupils
2026 academic year
Provision & Specialist Facilities
Pupils by Need Type
Pupil Demographics
Ethnicity
2026 academic year
Key Indicators
86
Total Pupils
60
Boys
26
Girls
2026 academic year
Workforce
17
Teachers
5.1:1
Pupil-teacher ratio
£54,605
Mean salary
2026 data
Pupil Absence2024/25
10.4%
Overall absence
28.8%
Persistent absence
80
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
Questions parents ask about Church Lawton School
What are GCSE results like at Church Lawton School?
In the 2026 results, pupils at Church Lawton School achieved an Attainment 8 score of 34.9. 14% passed GCSE English and maths at grade 5 or above.
What is Church Lawton School's Ofsted rating?
Church Lawton School was rated Good at its most recent Ofsted inspection in November 2022.
What is the catchment area for Church Lawton School?
No fixed boundary. When Church Lawton School is oversubscribed, Cheshire East allocates places by its published criteria, usually ending with home-to-school distance.
How many pupils go to Church Lawton School?
Church Lawton School has around 86 pupils on roll. 28% are eligible for free school meals.
What is attendance like at Church Lawton School?
10.4% of sessions were missed at Church Lawton School in 2024/25. 28.8% of pupils were persistently absent (missing 10% or more of sessions).
How do I apply to Church Lawton School?
Apply through Cheshire East's coordinated admissions process, naming Church Lawton 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 Church Lawton School?
No injury road collisions were reported to the police within 500 m of the school's mapped location in 2021 to 2025. The typical figure for schools in Cheshire East is 6 (the median across 180 schools, same distance and years).
Where is Church Lawton School?
Church Lawton School is at Cherry Tree Avenue, Church Lawton, Stoke-on-Trent, Staffordshire, ST7 3EL.
Source: Department for Transport, Road Safety Data (STATS19)