Gilbrook School, Woodchurch
Gilbrook School is a special school for pupils aged 4 to 11 in Woodchurch. It was rated Outstanding at its last graded Ofsted inspection, in March 2013. Ofsted's ungraded inspection in March 2025 did not change this grade.
- Ofsted
- Outstanding (2013)
Data last updated 26 Oct 2026
Gilbrook School in detail
Gilbrook School in its own words
In its own words: "Our therapeutic approach changes children's lives. We offer a nurturing environment that supports young people to develop the skills of independence, care and compassion, giving them improved life chances. We always have a positive outlook. We promote the positive attributes in our young people of resilience, confidence, optimism and most importantly a positive mind-set."
From the headteacher's welcome: "We are a maintained special primary school for pupils with Social, Emotional and Mental Health difficulties, and we believe that we provide a nurturing and caring environment to ensure the best possible outcomes for our pupils."
Vision and values (school website)Headteacher's welcome (school website)
Source: The school's own website
Compared with nearby schools
The nearest other special schools to Gilbrook School are Meadowside School (0.3 miles, Requires improvement); Foxfield School (0.8 miles, Good); Hayfield School (1 mile, Good); and Wirral Wrap (1.2 miles, Good).
Who goes there
80% 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 Gilbrook School has an education, health and care plan (60 of 60 in 2026). The most common need among them is social, emotional and mental health needs.
Gilbrook School provides for pupils with social, emotional and mental health needs.
Getting there
The nearest railway station is Upton Rail Station, about 1110 metres away (roughly a 14-minute walk).
11 bus stops are within a five-minute walk; the closest is Whitefield Close (opposite), 110 metres away.
The area around the school
Measured by the 2025 English Indices of Deprivation, the neighbourhood Gilbrook School stands in is among the 10% most deprived neighbourhoods in England. This describes where the school is, not where its pupils live.
Suspensions and exclusions
In 2024/25, Gilbrook School issued 34 suspensions, 54 for every 100 pupils, and 1 permanent exclusion.
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; 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
Ofsted Insights
From Ofsted's March 2025 inspection report.
What This School Does Well
Gilbrook School excels at helping pupils feel valued and happy while building their confidence and independence. Staff know pupils extremely well and build strong, trusting relationships that help pupils manage their emotions and behaviour. The school offers exceptional learning experiences beyond the classroom, from farm work and outdoor adventures to visits to museums and the Royal Liverpool Philharmonic Orchestra, which help pupils develop resilience and a love of learning.
Key Strengths
- Outstanding behaviour and attitudes with a calm, caring ethos where pupils learn to manage their own behaviour well
- Outstanding personal development through rich outdoor learning experiences including camping, hiking and farm work
- Effective phonics teaching with strong support for pupils to become confident, fluent readers
- Tailored curriculum and personal support that helps pupils catch up after periods out of school
- Strong community connections through visits to residential homes, places of worship and local trips to museums and beaches
Areas for Improvement
- A few subjects do not have clear information about key concepts pupils should learn, which hinders teaching and pupil progress
- Some staff teach subjects outside their main expertise and have not received adequate training to deliver the curriculum effectively
Safeguarding
The arrangements for safeguarding are effective with clear policies and an open, positive culture that puts pupils' interests first.
Extracurricular Activities
Farm work with animal care, outdoor learning including camping and hiking, Cubs group with campfires and cooking, museum trips, beach visits, Royal Liverpool Philharmonic Orchestra visits, visits to local residential homes, visits to places of worship, first aid training, water safety lessons with community police
Gilbrook School is a primary special school where pupils thrive and feel valued. The school provides a tailored curriculum for pupils with special educational needs and excellent support for their social, emotional and mental health.
At a Glance
80.0%
Free School Meals
No
Boarding
No
Nursery
No
Sixth Form
SEMH
SEN Provision
No
Special Measures
Primary Performance (KS2)
Academic year 2024/25KS2 Results (% meeting expected standard)
Reading has remained stable at around 6% (2024 to 2025), while maths has remained stable at around 11% (2024 to 2025).
How Does This School Compare?
Ranked against 5 nearby schools
Keep up with Gilbrook School
Getting There
Bus Stops
Free school transport
Check free transport to Gilbrook School from your postcode →
You apply to the council where you live. Gilbrook School is in Wirral; for families living there:
Apply to Wirral for free school transport. Its policy is on the council's website.
Safety and surroundings
Road collisions within 500 m (2021 to 2025)
- Collisions
- 20
- Fatal
- 0
- Serious
- 6
- Children hurt
- 4
Within 500 m of the school's mapped location, police recorded 20 road collisions in which someone was injured in 2021 to 2025: none fatal, 6 serious and 14 slight.
4 children aged 0 to 15 were hurt: 2 on foot and 2 in a vehicle or otherwise.
7 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 Wirral is 15 (the median across 136 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
100%
Full
60 pupils
60 places
No spare places
as recorded on GIAS
Area Demand Pressure - Woodchurch
Based on MHCLG Live Table 122 (2024-25, last 5 years) for Woodchurch
Across Wirral council
Places available
3,889
Applications
3,305
Got 1st preference
95.3%
Got preferred school
99.1%
All secondary applications across Wirral council (2026/27), not just this school.
Inspection History(7)
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
60
EHC Plans
100.0%
of Total Pupils
2026 academic year
Provision & Specialist Facilities
Gilbrook School provides for pupils with social, emotional and mental health needs.
Source: GIAS, Department for Education.
Pupils by Need Type
Pupil Demographics
Ethnicity
2026 academic year
Key Indicators
60
Total Pupils
52
Boys
8
Girls
2026 academic year
Workforce
9
Teachers
6.7:1
Pupil-teacher ratio
£59,894
Mean salary
2026 data
Pupil Absence2024/25
12.1%
Overall absence
39.1%
Persistent absence
64
Enrolments
Absence trend
Source: DfE pupil absence statistics. Persistent absence = pupils missing 10%+ sessions.
Linked Schools
Schools linked by geographic proximity
Gilbrook School
Questions parents ask about Gilbrook School
What are SATs results like at Gilbrook School?
Of the pupils at Gilbrook School who took the 2025 Key Stage 2 assessments, 6% reached the expected standard in reading and 11% did so in maths.
What is Gilbrook School's Ofsted rating?
Gilbrook School's most recent Ofsted inspection, in March 2025, 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 Gilbrook School?
No fixed boundary. When Gilbrook School is oversubscribed, Wirral allocates places by its published criteria, usually ending with home-to-school distance.
How many pupils go to Gilbrook School?
Gilbrook School has around 60 pupils on roll. 80% are eligible for free school meals.
Does Gilbrook School have specialist SEN provision?
Gilbrook School provides for pupils with social, emotional and mental health needs.
What is attendance like at Gilbrook School?
12.1% of sessions were missed at Gilbrook School in 2024/25. 39.1% of pupils were persistently absent (missing 10% or more of sessions).
How do I apply to Gilbrook School?
Apply through Wirral's coordinated admissions process, naming Gilbrook 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 Gilbrook School?
Within 500 m of the school's mapped location, police recorded 20 road collisions in which someone was injured in 2021 to 2025: none fatal, 6 serious and 14 slight. 4 children aged 0 to 15 were hurt: 2 on foot and 2 in a vehicle or otherwise. 7 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 Wirral is 15 (the median across 136 schools, same distance and years).
Where is Gilbrook School?
Gilbrook School is at Glebe Hey Road, Woodchurch, Woodchurch, Merseyside, CH49 8HE.
Source: Department for Transport, Road Safety Data (STATS19)