Hope High School, Skelmersdale
Hope High School is a special school for pupils aged 11 to 16 in Skelmersdale. It was rated Good at its last graded Ofsted inspection, in January 2015. Ofsted's ungraded inspection in June 2025 did not change this grade.
- Ofsted
- Good (2015)
Data last updated 27 Oct 2026
Hope High School in detail
Hope High School in its own words
In its own words: "We believe that everyone at Hope High School is valued equally and must be treated with dignity and respect. We have high aspirations and expectations for all involved within the learning community, striving for an outstanding learning experience for its pupils. The school celebrates and supports individual talents and provides exceptional care, guidance and support."
From the headteacher's welcome: "A warm welcome to Hope High School; a school for young people aged 11 to 16 who have individual needs based on Social, Emotional and Mental Health difficulties. We are a purpose-built school with facilities designed to support our learners towards success."
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 Hope High School are Elm Tree Community Primary School (1.1 miles, Outstanding); Moss View School (1.6 miles); Kingsbury Primary Special School (2.4 miles, Outstanding); and West Lancashire Community High School (2.5 miles, Good).
Elm Tree Community Primary SchoolMoss View SchoolKingsbury Primary Special SchoolWest Lancashire Community High School
What parents say
36 parents answered Ofsted's Parent View survey about Hope High School (as of September 2025): 83% would recommend the school, 75% say their child is happy there and 67% of those with a view say bullying is dealt with well.
The strongest agreement was that they are kept well informed about progress (86%); the weakest, that the school deals with bullying well (among parents with a view) (67%).
Where pupils go next
Of the 13 pupils who finished Year 11 in 2023/24, 54% stayed in education or training for at least two terms, including 46% to a further education college.
Who goes there
61.1% of pupils are eligible for free school meals, and 0.9% speak English as an additional language, according to the 2026 school census.
The largest ethnic groups are White British (87%) and Mixed (9%).
Almost every pupil at Hope High School has an education, health and care plan (108 of 108 in 2026). The most common need among them is social, emotional and mental health needs.
Hope High School provides for pupils with social, emotional and mental health needs.
Getting there
The nearest railway station is Upholland Rail Station, about 1080 metres away (roughly a 13-minute walk).
5 bus stops are within a five-minute walk; the closest is Birkrig (opposite), 250 metres away.
The area around the school
Measured by the 2025 English Indices of Deprivation, the neighbourhood Hope High School stands in is among the 20% most deprived neighbourhoods in England. This describes where the school is, not where its pupils live.
Suspensions and exclusions
In 2024/25, Hope High School issued 1 suspension, 0.9 for every 100 pupils, and 2 permanent exclusions.
Sources: Ofsted Parent View; 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 · 1 year agoThis judgement is from January 2015, 11 years ago, longer than Ofsted's usual 4-year cycle: the school may have changed since.
Overall
Latest (ungraded) inspection: Standards have been maintained.
Ofsted Insights
From Ofsted's June 2025 inspection report.
What This School Does Well
Hope High School creates a welcoming environment where all pupils feel valued and cared for exceptionally well. Staff have strong subject knowledge in most areas and design activities that help pupils achieve their ambitions. The school prioritises emotional intelligence and personal development, producing well-rounded, resilient young people ready for life after school.
Key Strengths
- Pupils display impeccable conduct and have extremely positive attitudes towards learning
- Strong focus on reading and communication support helps pupils become confident readers
- Comprehensive careers education and personal development programme prepares pupils exceptionally well for adulthood
- Ambitious curriculum with vocational pathways leads to meaningful destinations in further education, apprenticeships or employment
- Extensive staff training and transition support helps quickly identify additional pupil needs
Areas for Improvement
- In some subjects, teaching does not consistently address gaps and misconceptions in pupil knowledge, causing some to move on before ready
- Some learning activities are not matched well enough to individual pupil needs
- Inconsistent identification and addressing of knowledge gaps across subjects
Safeguarding
Safeguarding arrangements are effective with strong systems in place that put pupils' interests first.
Extracurricular Activities
Strategy gaming, outdoor learning, sports clubs, music clubs, theatre trips, zoo trips, local business visits, Stratford-upon-Avon Shakespeare trips, residential stays with outdoor and adventurous activities
Hope High School is a special school for pupils with social, emotional and mental health needs where all pupils flourish in a calm, kind environment with exceptionally positive relationships with staff. The school has maintained the standards from its previous good rating and continues to support pupils to achieve well.
At a Glance
61.1%
Free School Meals
No
Boarding
No
Nursery
No
Sixth Form
SEMH
SEN Provision
No
Special Measures
What Parents Think
36 responsesSource: Ofsted Parent View, responses as at September 2025 - % who strongly agree or agree
How Does This School Compare?
Ranked against 5 nearby schools
Latest from Hope High School
Hope High School Recognised Among Lancashire's Top 5% of Pol-Ed Schools
15 Jul 2026
Lancashire County Council - Break Time Service
2 Apr 2026
Skelmersdale Youth Zone for Violence Against Women and Girls 'Get the Message Campaign'
27 Mar 2026
Hope High School Fundraiser for Lancashire Mind - In Memory of Leo
2 Feb 2026
Children in Need 2025
17 Nov 2025
LCC Winter HAF 25 Eligibility & Booking Information
12 Nov 2025
From Hope High School's website. School Signal is not affiliated with the school.
Social & online
Keep up with Hope High School
Getting There
Train Stations
Bus Stops
Free school transport
Check free transport to Hope High School from your postcode →
You apply to the council where you live. Hope High School is in Lancashire; for families living there:
- Lancashire's school travel policy: school transport policies
- How to apply: Apply for free home to school transport assistance
Safety and surroundings
Road collisions within 500 m (2021 to 2025)
- Collisions
- 9
- Fatal
- 1
- Serious
- 3
- Children hurt
- 0
Within 500 m of the school's mapped location, police recorded 9 road collisions in which someone was injured in 2021 to 2025: 1 fatal, 3 serious and 5 slight.
No children aged 0 to 15 were among the people hurt.
0 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 Lancashire is 12 (the median across 707 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
120%
Over capacity
108 pupils
90 places
18 pupils over capacity
as recorded on GIAS
Area Demand Pressure - Skelmersdale
Based on MHCLG Live Table 122 (2024-25, last 5 years) for Skelmersdale
Across Lancashire council
Places available
14,702
Applications
13,782
Got 1st preference
87.1%
Got preferred school
97.2%
All secondary applications across Lancashire council (2026/27), not just this school.
Inspection History(12)
SEND & SEN Provision
SEN Overview
0
SEN Support
108
EHC Plans
100.0%
of Total Pupils
2026 academic year
Provision & Specialist Facilities
Hope High 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
108
Total Pupils
85
Boys
23
Girls
2026 academic year
Workforce
20
Teachers
5.4:1
Pupil-teacher ratio
£50,271
Mean salary
2026 data
Pupil Absence2024/25
19.0%
Overall absence
43.0%
Persistent absence
114
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
Hope High School
Showing 10 of 13 linked schools
Questions parents ask about Hope High School
What are GCSE results like at Hope High School?
In the 2026 results, pupils at Hope High School achieved an Attainment 8 score of 6.4. 0% passed GCSE English and maths at grade 5 or above.
What is Hope High School's Ofsted rating?
Hope High School's most recent Ofsted inspection, in June 2025, was ungraded, so it gave no overall grade. At its last graded inspection, in January 2015, it was rated Good.
What is the catchment area for Hope High School?
No fixed boundary. When Hope High School is oversubscribed, Lancashire allocates places by its published criteria, usually ending with home-to-school distance.
How many pupils go to Hope High School?
Hope High School has around 108 pupils on roll. 61% are eligible for free school meals.
Does Hope High School have specialist SEN provision?
Hope High School provides for pupils with social, emotional and mental health needs.
What is attendance like at Hope High School?
19% of sessions were missed at Hope High School in 2024/25. 43% of pupils were persistently absent (missing 10% or more of sessions).
How do I apply to Hope High School?
Apply through Lancashire's coordinated admissions process, naming Hope High 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 Hope High School?
Within 500 m of the school's mapped location, police recorded 9 road collisions in which someone was injured in 2021 to 2025: 1 fatal, 3 serious and 5 slight. No children aged 0 to 15 were among the people hurt. 0 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 Lancashire is 12 (the median across 707 schools, same distance and years).
Where is Hope High School?
Hope High School is at Carfield, Clay Brow, Skelmersdale, Lancashire, WN8 9DP.
Source: Department for Transport, Road Safety Data (STATS19)