Kilgarth School, Birkenhead
Kilgarth School is a special school for boys aged 11 to 16 in Birkenhead. It was rated Outstanding at its last graded Ofsted inspection, in March 2015. Ofsted's ungraded inspection in November 2024 did not change this grade.
- Ofsted
- Outstanding (2015)
Data last updated 26 Oct 2026
Kilgarth School in detail
Kilgarth School in its own words
In its own words: "Every school needs to plan carefully for the future so that it best meets the needs of all pupils. During planning, Kilgarth held Stakeholder Days to recruit as much expertise from as many different organisations as possible."
From the headteacher's welcome: "I am delighted to introduce you to Kilgarth School. We are an amazing community for young men with additional social, emotional and mental health needs. Judged ‘outstanding’ by Ofsted in 2019, we will work tirelessly to give your child an education that is second to none. Our work is based on building excellent relationships."
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 Kilgarth School are IMPACT Northwest Schools (0.9 miles, Good); Edstart Schools Wirral (1.3 miles, Good); The Observatory School (1.5 miles, Good); and Wirral Wrap (1.7 miles, Good).
IMPACT Northwest SchoolsEdstart Schools WirralThe Observatory SchoolWirral Wrap
What parents say
11 parents answered Ofsted's Parent View survey about Kilgarth School (as of September 2025): 100% would recommend the school, 82% say their child is happy there and 100% of those with a view say bullying is dealt with well.
The strongest agreement was that the school deals with bullying well (among parents with a view) (100%); the weakest, that their child is happy at the school (82%).
Where pupils go next
Of the 8 pupils who finished Year 11 in 2023/24, 25% stayed in education or training for at least two terms, including 25% to a further education college and 13% to an apprenticeship.
Who goes there
87.3% 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 Kilgarth School has an education, health and care plan (63 of 63 in 2026). The most common need among them is social, emotional and mental health needs.
Kilgarth School provides for pupils with social, emotional and mental health needs.
Getting there
The nearest railway station is Birkenhead Park Rail Station, about 390 metres away (roughly a 5-minute walk).
10 bus stops are within a five-minute walk; the closest is Cavendish Street (adjacent), 220 metres away.
The area around the school
Measured by the 2025 English Indices of Deprivation, the neighbourhood Kilgarth School stands in is among the 10% most deprived neighbourhoods in England. This describes where the school is, not where its pupils live.
In August 2026, police recorded 383 crimes within a mile of the school, most often violence and sexual offences, shoplifting and anti-social behaviour. That is well above the typical figure around schools in Wirral (155), as is usual near a town centre.
Suspensions and exclusions
In 2024/25, Kilgarth School issued 86 suspensions, 143.3 for every 100 pupils, and no 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 · 2 years agoThis judgement is from March 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 November 2024 inspection report.
What This School Does Well
Kilgarth School excels at supporting pupils with complex needs in a calm, welcoming environment where they quickly settle and develop strong relationships with staff. The school combines ambitious academic and vocational qualifications with exceptional focus on building pupils' self-esteem, resilience and life skills. Teachers use expert assessment and questioning to identify gaps in knowledge and tailor learning precisely to each pupil's individual needs.
Key Strengths
- Pupils achieve exceptionally well with a thoughtfully designed curriculum tailored to their aspirations, including vocational qualifications in construction, mechanics and catering
- Staff build nurturing, trusting relationships that help pupils develop self-esteem, confidence and excellent behaviour
- Strong focus on reading and spoken language skills, with daily reading in every lesson supporting all pupils to become confident, fluent readers
- Comprehensive support for pupils' broader development including independence, resilience, conflict management and career preparation
- Effective identification and support of additional SEND needs with teachers provided regular information on individual learning requirements
Safeguarding
Safeguarding arrangements are effective and the school has created a positive culture around safeguarding that puts pupils' interests first.
Extracurricular Activities
Rock climbing, fishing, sports tournaments
Kilgarth School is a secondary special school for boys aged 11-16 with social, emotional and mental health needs, autism and other learning needs. The school has maintained outstanding standards with a calm, welcoming environment where all pupils have an Education, Health and Care plan.
At a Glance
87.3%
Free School Meals
No
Boarding
No
Nursery
No
Sixth Form
SEMH
SEN Provision
No
Special Measures
What Parents Think
11 responsesSource: Ofsted Parent View, responses as at September 2025 - % who strongly agree or agree
How Does This School Compare?
Ranked against 5 nearby schools
Keep up with Kilgarth School
Getting There
Train Stations
Bus Stops
Free school transport
Check free transport to Kilgarth School from your postcode →
You apply to the council where you live. Kilgarth 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
- 33
- Fatal
- 0
- Serious
- 5
- Children hurt
- 7
Within 500 m of the school's mapped location, police recorded 33 road collisions in which someone was injured in 2021 to 2025: none fatal, 5 serious and 28 slight.
7 children aged 0 to 15 were hurt: 2 on foot, 3 on a bicycle and 2 in a vehicle or otherwise.
10 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
115%
Over capacity
63 pupils
55 places
8 pupils over capacity
as recorded on GIAS
Area Demand Pressure - Birkenhead
Based on MHCLG Live Table 122 (2024-25, last 5 years) for Birkenhead
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)
SEND & SEN Provision
SEN Overview
0
SEN Support
63
EHC Plans
100.0%
of Total Pupils
2026 academic year
Provision & Specialist Facilities
Kilgarth 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
63
Total Pupils
63
Boys
0
Girls
2026 academic year
Workforce
17
Teachers
3.7:1
Pupil-teacher ratio
£54,461
Mean salary
2026 data
Pupil Absence2024/25
24.7%
Overall absence
57.4%
Persistent absence
61
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
Kilgarth School
Showing 10 of 15 linked schools
Questions parents ask about Kilgarth School
What are GCSE results like at Kilgarth School?
In the 2026 results, pupils at Kilgarth School achieved an Attainment 8 score of 8.6. 0% passed GCSE English and maths at grade 5 or above.
What is Kilgarth School's Ofsted rating?
Kilgarth School's most recent Ofsted inspection, in November 2024, was ungraded, so it gave no overall grade. At its last graded inspection, in March 2015, it was rated Outstanding.
What is the catchment area for Kilgarth School?
No fixed boundary. When Kilgarth School is oversubscribed, Wirral allocates places by its published criteria, usually ending with home-to-school distance.
How many pupils go to Kilgarth School?
Kilgarth School has around 63 pupils on roll. 87% are eligible for free school meals.
Does Kilgarth School have specialist SEN provision?
Kilgarth School provides for pupils with social, emotional and mental health needs.
What is attendance like at Kilgarth School?
24.7% of sessions were missed at Kilgarth School in 2024/25. 57.4% of pupils were persistently absent (missing 10% or more of sessions).
How do I apply to Kilgarth School?
Apply through Wirral's coordinated admissions process, naming Kilgarth 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 Kilgarth School?
Within 500 m of the school's mapped location, police recorded 33 road collisions in which someone was injured in 2021 to 2025: none fatal, 5 serious and 28 slight. 7 children aged 0 to 15 were hurt: 2 on foot, 3 on a bicycle and 2 in a vehicle or otherwise. 10 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 Kilgarth School?
Kilgarth School is at Cavendish Street, Birkenhead, Merseyside, CH41 8BA.
Source: Department for Transport, Road Safety Data (STATS19)