Lift Wishmore, Woking
Lift Wishmore is a special school for boys aged 7 to 16 in Woking, part of Lift Schools. It was rated Requires improvement at its last graded Ofsted inspection, in September 2018. Ofsted's ungraded inspection in September 2024 did not change this grade.
- Ofsted
- Requires improvement (2018)
Data last updated 26 Oct 2026
Lift Wishmore in detail
Lift Wishmore in its own words
The school runs a breakfast club and after-school care.
Wraparound care (school website)
Source: The school's own website
Compared with nearby schools
The nearest other special schools to Lift Wishmore are Fernways School (3.1 miles, Good); The Park School (3.2 miles); Meath School (3.2 miles, Outstanding); and Compass Community School Hampshire (3.2 miles, Good).
Fernways SchoolThe Park SchoolMeath SchoolCompass Community School Hampshire
The trust
Lift Wishmore is one of 62 schools run by Lift Schools, an academy trust.
Where pupils go next
Of the 11 pupils who finished Year 11 in 2023/24, 36% stayed in education or training for at least two terms, including 27% to a further education college.
Who goes there
64.1% of pupils are eligible for free school meals, and 2.2% speak English as an additional language, according to the 2026 school census.
The largest ethnic groups are White British (77%) and Mixed (7%).
Almost every pupil at Lift Wishmore has an education, health and care plan (92 of 92 in 2026). The most common need among them is social, emotional and mental health needs.
Lift Wishmore provides for pupils with social, emotional and mental health needs.
Getting there
The nearest railway station is Longcross Rail Station, about 2.3 miles away in a straight line.
5 bus stops are within a five-minute walk; the closest is Delta Road (s-bound), 150 metres away.
The area around the school
In August 2026, police recorded 35 crimes within a mile of the school, most often violence and sexual offences, anti-social behaviour and criminal damage and arson. That is well below the typical figure around schools in Surrey (76).
Suspensions and exclusions
In 2024/25, Lift Wishmore issued 65 suspensions, 76.5 for every 100 pupils, and no permanent exclusions.
Sources: DfE multi-academy trust performance data; 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 September 2018, 8 years ago, longer than Ofsted's usual 4-year cycle: the school may have changed since.
Overall
Quality of Education
Behaviour & Attitudes
Personal Development
Leadership & Management
Ofsted's report, in its own words
What is it like to attend this school?
Pupils are mostly positive about their school. Those who have attended for longer acknowledge the improvements made since the last inspection. Pupils have a favourable view of their school. They particularly appreciate the patience of staff.
This is an all-boys school for pupils with special educational needs and/or disabilities (SEND). They are sometimes off-task or disengaged from learning, but staff deal with this well. Pupils readily acknowledge behaviour is not always perfect. However, those who talked to inspectors said they feel safe here, not least because staff understand them and give them space when needed. One older pupil was blunt when he told an inspector, 'It's a small school for boys with SEND, so obviously there are complications with relationships at times'. Others agreed but were also keen to point out that the school has helped them to become more aware and understanding of the impact of their actions on others.
What does the school do well and what does it need to do better?
Much has been achieved since the school's last inspection. Leaders at all levels are effective in their work to improve the quality of provision. The support and strategic oversight of the multi-academy trust has been central in moving the school forward. Staff appreciate the professional development opportunities available to them. They are overwhelmingly positive, indicating a growing pride in the school and confidence in the direction it is travelling.
The school's curriculum offer has appropriate breadth and is meeting the needs of pupils who all have SEND increasingly well. Vulnerable pupils from disadvantaged backgrounds benefit from targeted support that meets their needs. A significant minority of pupils also access the school's online curriculum offer that is supporting them to re-engage with education. Others are following tailored curriculums that support pupils with additional complex needs well, including those who struggle to attend school.
From Ofsted's September 2024 ungraded inspection report: the opening paragraphs of each section, quoted word for word. Read the full report Contains public sector information licensed under the Open Government Licence v3.0.
Ofsted Insights
Ofsted rated this school Requires Improvement at its September 2018 inspection - down from Good.
Areas Ofsted flagged
Leadership & management (Requires Improvement).
At a Glance
64.1%
Free School Meals
No
Boarding
No
Nursery
No
Sixth Form
SEMH
SEN Provision
No
Special Measures
Primary Performance (KS2)
Academic year 2025/26KS2 Results (% meeting expected standard)
How Does This School Compare?
Ranked against 5 nearby schools
Social & online
Keep up with Lift Wishmore
Getting There
Bus Stops
Free school transport
Check free transport to Lift Wishmore from your postcode →
You apply to the council where you live. Lift Wishmore is in Surrey; for families living there:
- Surrey's school travel policy: Travel Assistance Policy for under 16s
- How to apply: Apply online for under 16 travel help
Safety and surroundings
Road collisions within 500 m (2021 to 2025)
- Collisions
- 14
- Fatal
- 0
- Serious
- 3
- Children hurt
- 1
Within 500 m of the school's mapped location, police recorded 14 road collisions in which someone was injured in 2021 to 2025: none fatal, 3 serious and 11 slight.
1 child aged 0 to 15 was hurt: 1 on a bicycle.
1 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 Surrey is 13 (the median across 521 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
98%
Near capacity
92 pupils
94 places
2 spare places
as recorded on GIAS
Area Demand Pressure - Woking
Based on MHCLG Live Table 122 (2024-25, last 5 years) for Woking
Across Surrey council
Places available
12,569
Applications
11,986
Got 1st preference
81.3%
Got preferred school
96.2%
All secondary applications across Surrey council (2026/27), not just this school.
Inspection History(5)
SEND & SEN Provision
SEN Overview
0
SEN Support
92
EHC Plans
100.0%
of Total Pupils
2026 academic year
Provision & Specialist Facilities
Lift Wishmore 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
92
Total Pupils
92
Boys
0
Girls
2026 academic year
Workforce
13
Teachers
7.1:1
Pupil-teacher ratio
£52,422
Mean salary
2026 data
Pupil Absence2024/25
49.6%
Overall absence
80.9%
Persistent absence
94
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
Questions parents ask about Lift Wishmore
What are GCSE results like at Lift Wishmore?
In the 2026 results, pupils at Lift Wishmore achieved an Attainment 8 score of 3.1. 0% passed GCSE English and maths at grade 5 or above.
What is Lift Wishmore's Ofsted rating?
Lift Wishmore's most recent Ofsted inspection, in September 2024, was ungraded, so it gave no overall grade. At its last graded inspection, in September 2018, it was rated Requires Improvement.
What is the catchment area for Lift Wishmore?
No fixed boundary. When Lift Wishmore is oversubscribed, Surrey allocates places by its published criteria, usually ending with home-to-school distance.
How many pupils go to Lift Wishmore?
Lift Wishmore has around 92 pupils on roll. 64% are eligible for free school meals.
Does Lift Wishmore have specialist SEN provision?
Lift Wishmore provides for pupils with social, emotional and mental health needs.
What is attendance like at Lift Wishmore?
49.6% of sessions were missed at Lift Wishmore in 2024/25. 80.9% of pupils were persistently absent (missing 10% or more of sessions).
How do I apply to Lift Wishmore?
Apply through Surrey's coordinated admissions process, naming Lift Wishmore 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 Lift Wishmore?
Within 500 m of the school's mapped location, police recorded 14 road collisions in which someone was injured in 2021 to 2025: none fatal, 3 serious and 11 slight. 1 child aged 0 to 15 was hurt: 1 on a bicycle. 1 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 Surrey is 13 (the median across 521 schools, same distance and years).
Where is Lift Wishmore?
Lift Wishmore is at 55 Alpha Road, Chobham, Woking, Surrey, GU24 8NE.
Source: Department for Transport, Road Safety Data (STATS19)