Knowsley Central School, Liverpool
Knowsley Central School is a special school for pupils aged 4 to 11 in Liverpool. It was rated Outstanding at its last graded Ofsted inspection, in October 2014. Ofsted's ungraded inspection in March 2025 did not change this grade.
- Ofsted
- Outstanding (2014)
Data last updated 26 Oct 2026
Knowsley Central School in detail
Knowsley Central School in its own words
From the headteacher's welcome: "It provides educational provision for pupils that have an Education, Health and Social Care Plan due to having severe learning difficulties and/ or complex autism. Knowsley Central School is recognised as an Outstanding school. Our school has been accredited by NAS (National Autistic Society) and we are extremely proud of the achievements of all members of our school community."
Headteacher's welcome (school website)
Source: The school's own website
Compared with nearby schools
The nearest other special schools to Knowsley Central School are Alt Bridge School (under 0.1 miles, Good); Lawrence House School (0.6 miles, Good); Lakeside School (1.6 miles, Outstanding); and St Vincent's School - A Specialist School for Sensory Impairment and Other Needs (2 miles, Requires improvement).
Alt Bridge SchoolLawrence House SchoolLakeside SchoolSt Vincent's School - A Specialist School for Sensory Impairment and Other Needs
What parents say
43 parents answered Ofsted's Parent View survey about Knowsley Central School (as of September 2025): 95% would recommend the school, 98% say their child is happy there and 0% of those with a view say bullying is dealt with well.
The strongest agreement was that their child is happy at the school (98%); the weakest, that the school deals with bullying well (among parents with a view) (0%).
Who goes there
47.9% of pupils are eligible for free school meals, and 1.4% speak English as an additional language, according to the 2026 school census.
Almost every pupil at Knowsley Central School has an education, health and care plan (142 of 142 in 2026). The most common need among them is autism.
Knowsley Central School provides for pupils with specific learning difficulties such as dyslexia, visual impairment, speech, language and communication needs, autism, social, emotional and mental health needs, moderate learning difficulties, severe learning difficulties and profound and multiple learning difficulties.
Getting there
The nearest railway station is Huyton Rail Station, about 0.8 miles away in a straight line.
14 bus stops are within a five-minute walk; the closest is Midway Road (opposite), 180 metres away.
The area around the school
Measured by the 2025 English Indices of Deprivation, the neighbourhood Knowsley Central 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
Knowsley Central School recorded no suspensions or permanent exclusions in 2024/25.
Sources: Ofsted Parent View; 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 October 2014, 12 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 March 2025 inspection report.
What This School Does Well
This is a place where all pupils thrive. The school combines an ambitious curriculum with expert staff who deeply understand each child's complex needs and adapt teaching beautifully to help them succeed. Every aspect of school life - from reading and learning routines to developing independence and resilience - is carefully designed to prepare pupils for life beyond school, with parents consistently praising the school's commitment to their children's wellbeing.
Key Strengths
- Exceptional relationships between staff and pupils, with pupils feeling safe, happy and cared for deeply
- Highly effective and ambitious curriculum tailored to individual needs, with communication and interaction skills at the forefront
- Expert staff who are frequently trained and share best practice across the local authority
- Strong focus on developing pupils' personal development, confidence, independence and life skills
- Parents describe staff as 'amazing' and going 'above and beyond' for their children and families
Safeguarding
Safeguarding arrangements are effective, with the school creating an open and positive culture that puts pupils' interests first.
Extracurricular Activities
Residential trips for older pupils, clubs based on pupils' interests, enterprise activities to raise money for charities, life skills experiences (visits to cafes, supermarkets, cinema)
Knowsley Central School is a special school for pupils aged 4-11 with complex needs including severe learning difficulties and autism. The school has maintained outstanding standards since its last inspection, with pupils flourishing in a caring environment where staff have high aspirations for all learners.
At a Glance
47.9%
Free School Meals
No
Boarding
No
Nursery
No
Sixth Form
SpLD, Vision, Speech and language +5
SEN Provision
No
Special Measures
What Parents Think
43 responsesSource: Ofsted Parent View, responses as at September 2025 - % who strongly agree or agree
Primary Performance (KS2)
Academic year 2024/25KS2 Results (% meeting expected standard)
How Does This School Compare?
Ranked against 5 nearby schools
Keep up with Knowsley Central School
Before and after school care
Knowsley Central 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 Knowsley
Getting There
Bus Stops
Free school transport
Check free transport to Knowsley Central School from your postcode →
You apply to the council where you live. Knowsley Central School is in Knowsley; for families living there:
Apply to Knowsley for free school transport. Its policy is on the council's website.
Safety and surroundings
Road collisions within 500 m (2021 to 2025)
- Collisions
- 27
- Fatal
- 1
- Serious
- 3
- Children hurt
- 7
Within 500 m of the school's mapped location, police recorded 27 road collisions in which someone was injured in 2021 to 2025: 1 fatal, 3 serious and 23 slight.
7 children aged 0 to 15 were hurt: 5 on foot, 1 on a bicycle and 1 in a vehicle or otherwise.
12 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 Knowsley is 14 (the median across 63 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
129%
Over capacity
142 pupils
110 places
32 pupils over capacity
as recorded on GIAS
Area Demand Pressure - Liverpool
Based on MHCLG Live Table 122 (2024-25, last 5 years) for Liverpool
Across Knowsley council
Places available
1,290
Applications
1,828
Got 1st preference
78.1%
Got preferred school
93.5%
All secondary applications across Knowsley council (2026/27), not just this school.
Inspection History(6)
SEND & SEN Provision
SEN Overview
0
SEN Support
142
EHC Plans
100.0%
of Total Pupils
2026 academic year
Provision & Specialist Facilities
Knowsley Central School provides for pupils with specific learning difficulties such as dyslexia, visual impairment, speech, language and communication needs, autism, social, emotional and mental health needs, moderate learning difficulties, severe learning difficulties and profound and multiple learning difficulties.
Source: GIAS, Department for Education.
Pupils by Need Type
Pupil Demographics
Ethnicity
2026 academic year
Key Indicators
142
Total Pupils
107
Boys
35
Girls
2026 academic year
Workforce
22
Teachers
6.5:1
Pupil-teacher ratio
£53,933
Mean salary
2026 data
Pupil Absence2024/25
6.9%
Overall absence
23.9%
Persistent absence
109
Enrolments
Absence trend
Source: DfE pupil absence statistics. Persistent absence = pupils missing 10%+ sessions.
Linked Schools
Schools linked by geographic proximity
Knowsley Central School
Questions parents ask about Knowsley Central School
What are SATs results like at Knowsley Central School?
Of the pupils at Knowsley Central School who took the 2025 Key Stage 2 assessments, 0% reached the expected standard in reading and 0% did so in maths.
What is Knowsley Central School's Ofsted rating?
Knowsley Central School's most recent Ofsted inspection, in March 2025, was ungraded, so it gave no overall grade. At its last graded inspection, in October 2014, it was rated Outstanding.
What is the catchment area for Knowsley Central School?
No fixed boundary. When Knowsley Central School is oversubscribed, Knowsley allocates places by its published criteria, usually ending with home-to-school distance.
How many pupils go to Knowsley Central School?
Knowsley Central School has around 142 pupils on roll. 48% are eligible for free school meals.
Does Knowsley Central School have specialist SEN provision?
Knowsley Central School provides for pupils with specific learning difficulties such as dyslexia, visual impairment, speech, language and communication needs, autism, social, emotional and mental health needs, moderate learning difficulties, severe learning difficulties and profound and multiple learning difficulties.
What is attendance like at Knowsley Central School?
6.9% of sessions were missed at Knowsley Central School in 2024/25. 23.9% of pupils were persistently absent (missing 10% or more of sessions).
How do I apply to Knowsley Central School?
Apply through Knowsley's coordinated admissions process, naming Knowsley Central 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 Knowsley Central School have a breakfast club or after-school club?
Knowsley Central 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 Knowsley Central School?
Within 500 m of the school's mapped location, police recorded 27 road collisions in which someone was injured in 2021 to 2025: 1 fatal, 3 serious and 23 slight. 7 children aged 0 to 15 were hurt: 5 on foot, 1 on a bicycle and 1 in a vehicle or otherwise. 12 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 Knowsley is 14 (the median across 63 schools, same distance and years).
Where is Knowsley Central School?
Knowsley Central School is at Mossbrow Road, Huyton, Liverpool, Merseyside, L36 7SY.
Source: Department for Transport, Road Safety Data (STATS19)