The Bridge School, Runcorn
The Bridge School is a pru school for pupils aged 11 to 16 in Runcorn. It was rated Good at its last graded Ofsted inspection, in January 2017. Ofsted's ungraded inspection in July 2023 did not change this grade.
- Ofsted
- Good (2017)
Data last updated 26 Oct 2026
The Bridge School in detail
The Bridge School in its own words
In its own words: "When a pupil is having difficulties in a mainstream school and might be (or has been) permanently excluded they may be referred to a Pupil Referral Unit. The Bridge is a Key Stage 3 and 4 Pupil Referral Unit supporting students, families and schools across Halton."
Vision and values (school website)
Source: The school's own website
Where pupils go next
Of the 31 pupils who finished Year 11 in 2023/24, 52% stayed in education or training for at least two terms, including 39% to a further education college and 3% into work.
Who goes there
82.4% of pupils are eligible for free school meals, and 0% speak English as an additional language, according to the 2026 school census.
The largest ethnic groups are White British (90%) and Mixed (6%).
In 2026, 61 pupils (89.7%) received SEN support and 7 (10.3%) 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 Runcorn Rail Station, about 1.7 miles away in a straight line.
8 bus stops are within a five-minute walk; the closest is Brindley Road, 170 metres away.
The area around the school
Measured by the 2025 English Indices of Deprivation, the neighbourhood The Bridge School stands in is among the 10% most deprived neighbourhoods in England. This describes where the school is, not where its pupils live.
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 · 3 years agoThis judgement is from January 2017, 9 years ago, longer than Ofsted's usual 4-year cycle: the school may have changed since.
Overall
Latest (ungraded) inspection: The school remains Good.
Ofsted Insights
Ofsted rated this school Good at its January 2017 inspection - up from Requires Improvement.
Rated Good for
Leadership & management.
At a Glance
82.4%
Free School Meals
No
Boarding
No
Nursery
No
Sixth Form
No
Special Measures
Keep up with The Bridge School
Getting There
Bus Stops
Free school transport
Check free transport to The Bridge School from your postcode →
You apply to the council where you live. The Bridge School is in Halton; for families living there:
Apply to Halton for free school transport. Its policy is on the council's website.
Safety and surroundings
Road collisions within 500 m (2021 to 2025)
- Collisions
- 13
- Fatal
- 0
- Serious
- 1
- Children hurt
- 0
Within 500 m of the school's mapped location, police recorded 13 road collisions in which someone was injured in 2021 to 2025: none fatal, 1 serious and 12 slight.
No children aged 0 to 15 were among the people hurt.
3 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 Halton is 9.5 (the median across 70 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
113%
Over capacity
68 pupils
60 places
8 pupils over capacity
as recorded on GIAS
Area Demand Pressure - Runcorn
Based on MHCLG Live Table 122 (2024-25, last 5 years) for Runcorn
Across Halton council
Places available
1,690
Applications
1,471
Got 1st preference
96.2%
Got preferred school
99.2%
All secondary applications across Halton council (2026/27), not just this school.
Inspection History(8)
SEND & SEN Provision
SEN Overview
61
SEN Support
7
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
68
Total Pupils
41
Boys
27
Girls
2026 academic year
Workforce
10
Teachers
6.8:1
Pupil-teacher ratio
£57,842
Mean salary
2026 data
Feeder Primary Schools
Primary schools that likely feed into this school, based on proximity
The Bridge School
Showing 10 of 15 linked schools
Questions parents ask about The Bridge School
What is The Bridge School's Ofsted rating?
The Bridge School's most recent Ofsted inspection, in July 2023, was ungraded, so it gave no overall grade. At its last graded inspection, in January 2017, it was rated Good.
What is the catchment area for The Bridge School?
No fixed boundary. When The Bridge School is oversubscribed, Halton allocates places by its published criteria, usually ending with home-to-school distance.
How many pupils go to The Bridge School?
The Bridge School has around 68 pupils on roll. 82% are eligible for free school meals.
How do I apply to The Bridge School?
Apply through Halton's coordinated admissions process, naming The Bridge 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 The Bridge School?
Within 500 m of the school's mapped location, police recorded 13 road collisions in which someone was injured in 2021 to 2025: none fatal, 1 serious and 12 slight. No children aged 0 to 15 were among the people hurt. 3 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 Halton is 9.5 (the median across 70 schools, same distance and years).
Where is The Bridge School?
The Bridge School is at Chadwick Road, Astmoor, Runcorn, Cheshire, WA7 1PW.
Source: Department for Transport, Road Safety Data (STATS19)