PANDA Schools, Bootle
PANDA Schools is a special school for pupils aged 11 to 16 in Bootle.
Data last updated 26 Oct 2026
PANDA Schools in detail
Compared with nearby schools
The nearest other special schools to PANDA Schools are Foundations for LIFE School (0.4 miles); Rowan Park School (0.6 miles); The Motiv8 School (0.7 miles); and Educ8 Liverpool (1.4 miles, Inadequate).
Foundations for LIFE SchoolRowan Park SchoolThe Motiv8 SchoolEduc8 Liverpool
Getting there
The nearest railway station is Aintree Rail Station, about 0.9 miles away in a straight line.
7 bus stops are within a five-minute walk; the closest is Bridle Road (opposite), 100 metres away.
The area around the school
In August 2026, police recorded 287 crimes within a mile of the school, most often violence and sexual offences, anti-social behaviour and public order offences. That is well above the typical figure around schools in Sefton (165), as is usual near a town centre.
Sources: NaPTAN (Department for Transport); English Indices of Deprivation 2025 (MHCLG); data.police.uk street-level crime
Key Information
DfE GIASOfsted Rating
Ofsted · 1 year agoOverall
Ofsted Insights
From Ofsted's October 2025 inspection report.
What This School Does Well
PANDA Schools is designed with exceptional attention to the needs of pupils with special educational needs and disabilities. The leadership team has strong expertise in SEND support, and the school has implemented thoughtful safeguarding and welfare systems specifically tailored to protect vulnerable pupils. Teachers will have resources and training to adapt learning to meet each child's individual needs, with regular monitoring of progress.
Key Strengths
- Comprehensive curriculum with careful consideration of pupils' spiritual, moral, social and cultural development
- Strong safeguarding policies and procedures tailored to the vulnerabilities of pupils with SEND
- Experienced leadership with deep knowledge of supporting pupils with special educational needs
- Thorough assessment and monitoring systems planned for tracking pupils' academic and emotional progress
- Well-designed premises with secure outdoor spaces and appropriate facilities for pupil welfare
Safeguarding
Safeguarding is effective, with in-depth knowledge of statutory responsibilities, appropriate designated safeguarding lead arrangements, comprehensive staff training scheduled, and systems carefully tailored to the additional vulnerabilities of pupils with SEND.
Extracurricular Activities
Trips to local places of interest, school visitors
PANDA Schools is a new independent school set to open in Bootle, designed to support pupils with special educational needs and disabilities. The inspection found the school is likely to meet all independent school standards when it opens.
At a Glance
No
Boarding
No
Nursery
No
Sixth Form
No
Special Measures
How Does This School Compare?
Ranked against 5 nearby schools
Social & online
Keep up with PANDA Schools
Getting There
Bus Stops
Safety and surroundings
Road collisions within 500 m (2021 to 2025)
- Collisions
- 19
- Fatal
- 1
- Serious
- 5
- Children hurt
- 5
Within 500 m of the school's mapped location, police recorded 19 road collisions in which someone was injured in 2021 to 2025: 1 fatal, 5 serious and 13 slight.
5 children aged 0 to 15 were hurt: 1 on a bicycle and 4 in a vehicle or otherwise.
6 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 Sefton is 16 (the median across 116 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 - Bootle
Based on MHCLG Live Table 122 (2024-25, last 5 years) for Bootle
Across Sefton council
Places available
3,321
Applications
2,791
Got 1st preference
89.0%
Got preferred school
97.3%
All secondary applications across Sefton council (2026/27), not just this school.
Inspection History
SEND & SEN Provision
SEN Overview
0
SEN Support
0
EHC Plans
-%
of Total Pupils
2026 academic year
Provision & Specialist Facilities
PANDA Schools is not approved under Section 41 of the Children and Families Act 2014.
Source: GIAS, Department for Education.
Pupils by Need Type
No need-level breakdown available
Pupil Demographics
Key Indicators
0
Total Pupils
0
Boys
0
Girls
2026 academic year
Feeder Primary Schools
Primary schools that likely feed into this school, based on proximity
PANDA Schools
Showing 10 of 15 linked schools
Questions parents ask about PANDA Schools
Does PANDA Schools have specialist SEN provision?
PANDA Schools is not approved under Section 41 of the Children and Families Act 2014.
How do I apply to PANDA Schools?
PANDA Schools is an independent school and runs its own admissions rather than going through the local authority. Contact the school directly for entry requirements, assessment dates, fees and any bursaries.
How many road collisions happen near PANDA Schools?
Within 500 m of the school's mapped location, police recorded 19 road collisions in which someone was injured in 2021 to 2025: 1 fatal, 5 serious and 13 slight. 5 children aged 0 to 15 were hurt: 1 on a bicycle and 4 in a vehicle or otherwise. 6 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 Sefton is 16 (the median across 116 schools, same distance and years).
Where is PANDA Schools?
PANDA Schools is at 75 Captains Lane, Bootle, L30 9SY.
Source: Department for Transport, Road Safety Data (STATS19)