Hinderton School, Ellesmere Port
Hinderton School is a special school for pupils aged 4 to 11 in Ellesmere Port. It was rated Outstanding at its last graded Ofsted inspection, in March 2013. Ofsted's ungraded inspection in June 2023 did not change this grade.
- Ofsted
- Outstanding (2013)
Data last updated 26 Oct 2026
Hinderton School in detail
Compared with nearby schools
The nearest other special schools to Hinderton School are Archers Brook SEMH School (0.6 miles, Good); The Greenhouse HyFlex Academy (1.7 miles); and Dorin Park School & Specialist SEN College (4 miles, Good).
Archers Brook SEMH SchoolThe Greenhouse HyFlex AcademyDorin Park School & Specialist SEN College
Who goes there
30.6% of pupils are eligible for free school meals, and 1.6% speak English as an additional language, according to the 2026 school census.
The largest ethnic groups are White British (90%) and Mixed (8%).
Almost every pupil at Hinderton School has an education, health and care plan (62 of 62 in 2026). The most common need among them is autism.
Hinderton School provides for pupils with autism.
Getting there
The nearest railway station is Overpool Rail Station, about 1 mile away in a straight line.
9 bus stops are within a five-minute walk; the closest is Hinderton School (outside), 20 metres away.
The area around the school
In August 2026, police recorded 236 crimes within a mile of the school, most often violence and sexual offences, anti-social behaviour and public order offences. That is well above the typical figure around schools in Cheshire West and Chester (71), as is usual near a town centre.
Suspensions and exclusions
Hinderton School recorded no suspensions or permanent exclusions in 2024/25.
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 · 3 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
Latest (ungraded) inspection: The school remains Outstanding.
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
30.6%
Free School Meals
No
Boarding
No
Nursery
No
Sixth Form
Autism
SEN Provision
No
Special Measures
How Does This School Compare?
Ranked against 5 nearby schools
Keep up with Hinderton School
Getting There
Bus Stops
Free school transport
Check free transport to Hinderton School from your postcode →
You apply to the council where you live. Hinderton School is in Cheshire West and Chester; for families living there:
Apply to Cheshire West and Chester for free school transport. Its policy is on the council's website.
Safety and surroundings
Road collisions within 500 m (2021 to 2025)
- Collisions
- 15
- Fatal
- 0
- Serious
- 8
- Children hurt
- 8
Within 500 m of the school's mapped location, police recorded 15 road collisions in which someone was injured in 2021 to 2025: none fatal, 8 serious and 7 slight.
8 children aged 0 to 15 were hurt: 5 on foot and 3 on a bicycle.
5 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 Cheshire West and Chester is 7 (the median across 184 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
62 pupils
61 places
1 pupil over capacity
as recorded on GIAS
Area Demand Pressure - Ellesmere Port
Based on MHCLG Live Table 122 (2024-25, last 5 years) for Ellesmere Port
Across Cheshire West and Chester council
Places available
4,194
Applications
3,482
Got 1st preference
95.0%
Got preferred school
98.9%
All secondary applications across Cheshire West and Chester council (2026/27), not just this school.
Inspection History(6)
SEND & SEN Provision
SEN Overview
0
SEN Support
62
EHC Plans
100.0%
of Total Pupils
2026 academic year
Provision & Specialist Facilities
Hinderton School provides for pupils with autism.
Source: GIAS, Department for Education.
Pupils by Need Type
Pupil Demographics
Ethnicity
2026 academic year
Key Indicators
62
Total Pupils
41
Boys
21
Girls
2026 academic year
Workforce
13
Teachers
4.8:1
Pupil-teacher ratio
£59,218
Mean salary
2026 data
Pupil Absence2024/25
6.3%
Overall absence
17.0%
Persistent absence
47
Enrolments
Absence trend
Source: DfE pupil absence statistics. Persistent absence = pupils missing 10%+ sessions.
Linked Schools
Schools linked by geographic proximity
Questions parents ask about Hinderton School
What is Hinderton School's Ofsted rating?
Hinderton School's most recent Ofsted inspection, in June 2023, 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 Hinderton School?
No fixed boundary. When Hinderton School is oversubscribed, Cheshire West and Chester allocates places by its published criteria, usually ending with home-to-school distance.
How many pupils go to Hinderton School?
Hinderton School has around 62 pupils on roll. 31% are eligible for free school meals.
Does Hinderton School have specialist SEN provision?
Hinderton School provides for pupils with autism.
What is attendance like at Hinderton School?
6.3% of sessions were missed at Hinderton School in 2024/25. 17% of pupils were persistently absent (missing 10% or more of sessions).
How do I apply to Hinderton School?
Apply through Cheshire West and Chester's coordinated admissions process, naming Hinderton 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 Hinderton School?
Within 500 m of the school's mapped location, police recorded 15 road collisions in which someone was injured in 2021 to 2025: none fatal, 8 serious and 7 slight. 8 children aged 0 to 15 were hurt: 5 on foot and 3 on a bicycle. 5 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 Cheshire West and Chester is 7 (the median across 184 schools, same distance and years).
Where is Hinderton School?
Hinderton School is at Capenhurst Lane, Whitby, Ellesmere Port, Cheshire, CH65 7AQ.
Source: Department for Transport, Road Safety Data (STATS19)