Hayfield School, Wirral
Hayfield School is a special school for pupils aged 4 to 11 in Wirral. It was rated Good at its last graded Ofsted inspection, in July 2017. Ofsted's ungraded inspection in June 2023 did not change this grade.
- Ofsted
- Good (2017)
Data last updated 27 Oct 2026
Hayfield School in detail
Compared with nearby schools
The nearest other special schools to Hayfield School are Orrets Meadow School (0.5 miles); Wirral Wrap (0.6 miles, Good); Clare Mount Specialist Sports College (0.9 miles, Outstanding); and Gilbrook School (1 mile, Outstanding).
Orrets Meadow SchoolWirral WrapClare Mount Specialist Sports CollegeGilbrook School
Who goes there
62.3% of pupils are eligible for free school meals, and 2.3% speak English as an additional language, according to the 2026 school census.
The largest ethnic groups are White British (86%) and Mixed (7%).
Almost every pupil at Hayfield School has an education, health and care plan (175 of 175 in 2026). The most common need among them is speech, language and communication needs.
Hayfield School provides for pupils with speech, language and communication needs, autism and moderate learning difficulties.
Getting there
The nearest railway station is Upton Rail Station, about 980 metres away (roughly a 12-minute walk).
7 bus stops are within a five-minute walk; the closest is Loretto Drive (adjacent), 110 metres away.
Suspensions and exclusions
In 2024/25, Hayfield School issued 13 suspensions, 7.7 for every 100 pupils, and no permanent exclusions.
Sources: DfE school census and special educational needs statistics; NaPTAN (Department for Transport); DfE exclusions statistics
Key Information
DfE GIASOfsted Rating
Ofsted · 3 years agoThis judgement is from July 2017, 9 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
From Ofsted's June 2023 inspection report.
What This School Does Well
Hayfield School creates a caring, purposeful learning environment where pupils thrive. The school manages rapid expansion without compromising quality, and every pupil receives tailored support based on their individual education, health and care plan. Parents praise the school for keeping their children happy, safe and engaged in learning.
Key Strengths
- Pupils feel safe, happy and develop strong relationships with staff and friends
- Leaders have created an ambitious curriculum tailored to each pupil's individual needs, helping them achieve well
- Early reading and phonics teaching is consistently strong, with good support for pupils who find reading difficult
- Staff well-being is prioritized by leaders who are mindful of workload and provide regular training
- All pupils receive strong support to meet their EHC plan targets with specialist equipment and adapted materials
Areas for Improvement
- Some newly appointed subject leaders lack the expertise and support needed to help teachers deliver the curriculum as effectively as possible in their subjects
- Inconsistent curriculum delivery in some subject areas means a small number of pupils do not learn as well as they should
Safeguarding
Safeguarding arrangements are effective, with stringent procedures in place, all staff trained and aware of pupils' vulnerabilities, and swift reporting of concerns with prompt action taken.
Extracurricular Activities
Choir, football, board game and dancing clubs, rock climbing, canoeing, zoo and farm visits, seaside trips, community singing, elderly care home visits
Hayfield School is a good special primary school for pupils with SEND, including autism spectrum disorder and speech, language and communication difficulties. The school has recently expanded significantly while maintaining high standards and positive relationships.
At a Glance
62.3%
Free School Meals
No
Boarding
No
Nursery
No
Sixth Form
Speech and language, Autism, MLD
SEN Provision
No
Special Measures
Primary Performance (KS2)
Academic year 2024/25KS2 Results (% meeting expected standard)
Reading has remained stable at around 7% (2024 to 2025), while maths has remained stable at around 3% (2024 to 2025).
How Does This School Compare?
Ranked against 5 nearby schools
Keep up with Hayfield School
Before and after school care
Hayfield School is on the Department for Education's free breakfast clubs programme (list updated July 2026), which pays for a free breakfast club for pupils before school. Source: Free breakfast clubs: schools on the programme, Department for Education Free breakfast clubs in Wirral
Getting There
Bus Stops
Free school transport
Check free transport to Hayfield School from your postcode →
You apply to the council where you live. Hayfield 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
- 11
- Fatal
- 1
- Serious
- 3
- 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: 1 fatal, 3 serious and 7 slight.
2 children aged 0 to 15 were hurt: 1 on foot and 1 in a vehicle or otherwise.
2 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
Area Demand Pressure - Wirral
Based on MHCLG Live Table 122 (2024-25, last 5 years) for Wirral
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(5)
SEND & SEN Provision
SEN Overview
0
SEN Support
175
EHC Plans
100.0%
of Total Pupils
2026 academic year
Provision & Specialist Facilities
Hayfield School provides for pupils with speech, language and communication needs, autism and moderate learning difficulties.
Source: GIAS, Department for Education.
Pupils by Need Type
Pupil Demographics
Ethnicity
2026 academic year
Key Indicators
175
Total Pupils
134
Boys
41
Girls
2026 academic year
Workforce
23
Teachers
7.6:1
Pupil-teacher ratio
£49,891
Mean salary
2026 data
Pupil Absence2024/25
8.4%
Overall absence
24.0%
Persistent absence
171
Enrolments
Absence trend
Source: DfE pupil absence statistics. Persistent absence = pupils missing 10%+ sessions.
Linked Schools
Schools linked by geographic proximity
Hayfield School
Questions parents ask about Hayfield School
What are SATs results like at Hayfield School?
Of the pupils at Hayfield School who took the 2025 Key Stage 2 assessments, 7% reached the expected standard in reading and 3% did so in maths.
What is Hayfield School's Ofsted rating?
Hayfield School's most recent Ofsted inspection, in June 2023, was ungraded, so it gave no overall grade. At its last graded inspection, in July 2017, it was rated Good.
What is the catchment area for Hayfield School?
No fixed boundary. When Hayfield School is oversubscribed, Wirral allocates places by its published criteria, usually ending with home-to-school distance.
How many pupils go to Hayfield School?
Hayfield School has around 175 pupils on roll. 62% are eligible for free school meals.
Does Hayfield School have specialist SEN provision?
Hayfield School provides for pupils with speech, language and communication needs, autism and moderate learning difficulties.
What is attendance like at Hayfield School?
8.4% of sessions were missed at Hayfield School in 2024/25. 24% of pupils were persistently absent (missing 10% or more of sessions).
How do I apply to Hayfield School?
Apply through Wirral's coordinated admissions process, naming Hayfield 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.
Does Hayfield School have a breakfast club or after-school club?
Hayfield School is on the Department for Education's free breakfast clubs programme (list updated July 2026), which pays for a free breakfast club for pupils before school.
How many road collisions happen near Hayfield School?
Within 500 m of the school's mapped location, police recorded 11 road collisions in which someone was injured in 2021 to 2025: 1 fatal, 3 serious and 7 slight. 2 children aged 0 to 15 were hurt: 1 on foot and 1 in a vehicle or otherwise. 2 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 Hayfield School?
Hayfield School is at Manor Drive, Upton, Wirral, Merseyside, CH49 4LN.
Source: Department for Transport, Road Safety Data (STATS19)