Launchpad Centre, St Helens
Launchpad Centre is a pru school for pupils aged 11 to 16 in St Helens. Its most recent Ofsted inspection, in September 2026, ended in a report card: 3 strong standard and 3 expected standard. Before that it was rated Good at its last graded inspection, in March 2017.
- Ofsted report card
- 3 of 6 areas strong or better
Data last updated 26 Oct 2026
Launchpad Centre in detail
What Ofsted's report card says
Ofsted's report card from its 15 September 2026 inspection grades Launchpad Centre on 6 areas: 3 strong standard and 3 expected standard. Report cards replaced single-word judgements in November 2025, on a five-point scale from exceptional to urgent improvement.
Inclusion - Strong standard. "Leaders ensure that the school is well informed by parents and carers, previous schools and wider professionals about pupils' lives."
Leadership and governance - Strong standard. "Since the previous inspection, the school's new leadership has re-established very successfully what it means for the Launchpad Centre to be a forward-thinking school."
Personal development and wellbeing - Strong standard. "Leaders and staff recognise the disaffection, frustration and disappointment that some pupils may have experienced in their earlier education."
Achievement - Expected standard. "From their varied starting points, pupils make important strides forward in their grasp of the basics of reading, speaking and listening and mathematics."
Attendance and behaviour - Expected standard. "Leaders understand the issues that can affect pupils' attendance and behaviour."
Curriculum and teaching - Expected standard. "Leaders take seriously their oversight of the quality of education that the school provides."
Safeguarding standards were met.
Ofsted's next steps for the school: "Leaders should build on their successful improvements to the curriculum, teaching and pupils' attendance, so that even more pupils attend school regularly and achieve well".
Read the full report card on Ofsted's site (school website)
Source: Ofsted report card (Open Government Licence), quoted
Where pupils go next
Of the 30 pupils who finished Year 11 in 2023/24, 27% stayed in education or training for at least two terms, including 27% to a further education college and 10% into work.
Who goes there
74.2% of pupils are eligible for free school meals, and 1.5% speak English as an additional language, according to the 2026 school census.
In 2026, 61 pupils (92.4%) received SEN support and 5 (7.6%) had an education, health and care plan. The most common need among them is social, emotional and mental health needs.
Getting there
The nearest railway station is St Helens Central Rail Station, about 600 metres away (roughly a 8-minute walk).
24 bus stops are within a five-minute walk; the closest is Crab Street (adjacent), 50 metres away.
The area around the school
Measured by the 2025 English Indices of Deprivation, the neighbourhood Launchpad Centre 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 499 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 St. Helens (144), as is usual near a town centre.
Sources: 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
Key Information
DfE GIASOfsted Rating
Ofsted · 1 month agoReport card - no single overall grade (Ofsted's framework since November 2025)
Safeguarding standards met
- InclusionStrong standard
- Leadership and governanceStrong standard
- Personal development and wellbeingStrong standard
- AchievementExpected standard
- Attendance and behaviourExpected standard
- Curriculum and teachingExpected standard
Ofsted's report card, in its own words
What it's like to be a pupil at Launchpad Centre
Pupils join the Launchpad Centre after they have struggled at one or more previous secondary schools. At this school, specialist, highly expert leaders and staff strive to understand pupils' feelings, behaviour and how they learn. Pupils share their aspirations and frustrations, joys and disappointments with leaders and staff. Pupils feel heard, noticed and acknowledged. This is because leaders and staff make no assumptions or judgements about pupils. As a result, pupils' self-esteem, ambition and character emerge, often after being deeply buried. Generally, pupils learn subject content successfully. They benefit from the changes that staff make to teaching, while leaders and staff keep expectations of pupils' achievement high. Pupils make positive strides forward in their subject knowledge and achieve well. Where pupils think that they face immovable obstacles to their success, leaders and staff take well-considered action to help pupils. While several pupils may only spend a few months at the school, leaders waste no time to improve pupils' learning and behaviour. Building pupils' personal skills and improving their readiness for the next stage of education and life are taken seriously by leaders, staff and pupils alike. Pupils' true skills and abilities begin to shine. In the main, pupils' behaviour at school is positive. If they arrive with difficulties in managing their own feelings or behaviour, staff provide pupils with skilful, individual support. Bullying is not tolerated. This is a school where pupils want to be, and their attendance positively increases over their time here. Staff notice when pupils are at risk of harm. They act to ensure that pupils receive timely guidance and support. Pupils feel safe and learn how to act safely at home and in the community. Pupils learn how to be responsible, respectful British citizens. They understand how to play their part in society, such as to work against inequality and prejudice.
What Ofsted says the school should do next
- Leaders should build on their successful improvements to the curriculum, teaching and pupils' attendance, so that even more pupils attend school regularly and achieve well.
From Ofsted's report card (inspection 15 September 2026). Read the full report Contains public sector information licensed under the Open Government Licence v3.0.
Ofsted Insights
From Ofsted's September 2026 inspection report.
What This School Does Well
Launchpad Centre specializes in helping pupils who have struggled at other schools. The caring, expert staff take time to understand each pupil's individual needs and work hard to rebuild their confidence and love of learning. Pupils quickly settle into school, feel genuinely valued, and develop the personal skills and knowledge they need for their next steps in education or work.
Key Strengths
- Exceptional support for pupils with special educational needs and disabilities, with tailored help that enables them to achieve academically and emotionally
- Creates a safe, welcoming environment where pupils feel valued and develop strong belonging
- Expert staff who understand pupils' individual needs and rebuild confidence in those with negative past school experiences
- Strong focus on personal development and wellbeing, preparing pupils well for life after school
- Rapid improvements in pupil attendance and behaviour through positive staff-pupil relationships
Areas for Improvement
- Continue to refine teaching quality to further improve pupil achievement across all subjects
- Maintain focus on narrowing any remaining gaps in pupils' knowledge
- Sustain and build upon improvements in attendance and behaviour
Safeguarding
Safeguarding standards are met. The school has created an open and positive culture of safeguarding where all legal requirements are met, concerns are actively identified and acted upon, and pupils feel safe.
Launchpad Centre is a specialist secondary school that helps pupils who have struggled at previous schools. The school has strong leadership that has successfully re-established a forward-thinking approach focused on inclusion, personal development, and helping vulnerable pupils thrive.
At a Glance
74.2%
Free School Meals
No
Boarding
No
Nursery
No
Sixth Form
No
Special Measures
How Does This School Compare?
Ranked against 2 nearby schools
Keep up with Launchpad Centre
Getting There
Train Stations
Bus Stops
Free school transport
Check free transport to Launchpad Centre from your postcode →
You apply to the council where you live. Launchpad Centre is in St. Helens; for families living there:
Apply to St. Helens for free school transport. Its policy is on the council's website.
Safety and surroundings
Road collisions within 500 m (2021 to 2025)
- Collisions
- 67
- Fatal
- 0
- Serious
- 21
- Children hurt
- 8
Within 500 m of the school's mapped location, police recorded 67 road collisions in which someone was injured in 2021 to 2025: none fatal, 21 serious and 46 slight.
8 children aged 0 to 15 were hurt: 2 on foot and 6 in a vehicle or otherwise.
16 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 St. Helens is 11.5 (the median across 80 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 - St Helens
Based on MHCLG Live Table 122 (2024-25, last 5 years) for St Helens
Across St. Helens council
Places available
2,109
Applications
1,849
Got 1st preference
93.3%
Got preferred school
98.4%
All secondary applications across St. Helens council (2026/27), not just this school.
Inspection History(9)
SEND & SEN Provision
SEN Overview
61
SEN Support
5
EHC Plans
100.0%
of Total Pupils
2026 academic year
Provision & Specialist Facilities
Pupils by Need Type
Pupil Demographics
Ethnicity
2026 academic year
Key Indicators
66
Total Pupils
44
Boys
22
Girls
2026 academic year
Workforce
15
Teachers
4.4:1
Pupil-teacher ratio
£49,026
Mean salary
2026 data
Feeder Primary Schools
Primary schools that likely feed into this school, based on proximity
Launchpad Centre
Showing 10 of 15 linked schools
Questions parents ask about Launchpad Centre
What is Launchpad Centre's Ofsted rating?
Launchpad Centre's most recent Ofsted inspection, in September 2026, produced a report card, which grades each area but gives no overall grade. At its last graded inspection, in March 2017, it was rated Good.
What is the catchment area for Launchpad Centre?
No fixed boundary. When Launchpad Centre is oversubscribed, St. Helens allocates places by its published criteria, usually ending with home-to-school distance.
How many pupils go to Launchpad Centre?
Launchpad Centre has around 66 pupils on roll. 74% are eligible for free school meals.
How do I apply to Launchpad Centre?
Apply through St. Helens's coordinated admissions process, naming Launchpad Centre 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 Launchpad Centre?
Within 500 m of the school's mapped location, police recorded 67 road collisions in which someone was injured in 2021 to 2025: none fatal, 21 serious and 46 slight. 8 children aged 0 to 15 were hurt: 2 on foot and 6 in a vehicle or otherwise. 16 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 St. Helens is 11.5 (the median across 80 schools, same distance and years).
Where is Launchpad Centre?
Launchpad Centre is at College Street, St Helens, Merseyside, WA10 1UH.
Source: Department for Transport, Road Safety Data (STATS19)