The David Lewis Centre, Alderley Edge
The David Lewis Centre is a special school for pupils aged 16 to 25 in Alderley Edge. It was rated Outstanding at its last graded Ofsted inspection, in May 2017. Ofsted's ungraded inspection in March 2023 did not change this grade.
- Ofsted
- Outstanding (2017)
Data last updated 26 Oct 2026
The David Lewis Centre in detail
Compared with nearby schools
The nearest other special schools to The David Lewis Centre are David Lewis School (under 0.1 miles, Good); Adelaide Heath Academy (3 miles, Good); Aurora Summerfields School (4.5 miles, Good); and Oak Cottage (4.9 miles).
David Lewis SchoolAdelaide Heath AcademyAurora Summerfields SchoolOak Cottage
Who goes there
The David Lewis Centre is approved under Section 41 of the Children and Families Act 2014, so parents can ask for it to be named in their child's education, health and care (EHC) plan.
Getting there
The nearest railway station is Chelford Rail Station, about 1.2 miles away in a straight line.
The area around the school
In August 2026, police recorded 5 crimes within a mile of the school, most often public order offences, anti-social behaviour and violence and sexual offences. That is well below the typical figure around schools in Cheshire East (61).
Sources: 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 · 4 years agoThis judgement is from May 2017, 9 years ago, longer than Ofsted's usual 4-year cycle: the school may have changed since.
Overall
Leadership & Management
Safeguarding: effective
Source: Ofsted, further education and skills inspections and outcomes (Open Government Licence)
Ofsted Insights
Ofsted rated this school Outstanding at its May 2017 inspection.
Rated Outstanding for
Leadership & management.
At a Glance
No
Boarding
No
Nursery
Approved
Section 41
No
Special Measures
How Does This School Compare?
Ranked against 5 nearby schools
Keep up with The David Lewis Centre
Getting There
Bus Stops
Free school transport
Check free transport to The David Lewis Centre from your postcode →
You apply to the council where you live. The David Lewis Centre is in Cheshire East; for families living there:
- Cheshire East's school travel policy: Compulsory school age travel policy
Safety and surroundings
Road collisions within 500 m (2021 to 2025)
No injury road collisions were reported to the police within 500 m of the school's mapped location in 2021 to 2025.
The typical figure for schools in Cheshire East is 6 (the median across 180 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 - Alderley Edge
Based on MHCLG Live Table 122 (2024-25, last 5 years) for Alderley Edge
Across Cheshire East council
Places available
4,404
Applications
4,072
Got 1st preference
93.1%
Got preferred school
98.2%
All secondary applications across Cheshire East council (2026/27), not just this school.
Inspection History(10)
Special educational needs provision
The David Lewis Centre is approved under Section 41 of the Children and Families Act 2014, so parents can ask for it to be named in their child's education, health and care (EHC) plan.
Source: Get Information about Schools (GIAS), Department for Education.
Questions parents ask about The David Lewis Centre
What is The David Lewis Centre's Ofsted rating?
The David Lewis Centre's most recent Ofsted inspection, in March 2023, was ungraded, so it gave no overall grade. At its last graded inspection, in May 2017, it was rated Outstanding.
What is the catchment area for The David Lewis Centre?
No fixed boundary. When The David Lewis Centre is oversubscribed, Cheshire East allocates places by its published criteria, usually ending with home-to-school distance.
Does The David Lewis Centre have specialist SEN provision?
The David Lewis Centre is approved under Section 41 of the Children and Families Act 2014, so parents can ask for it to be named in their child's education, health and care (EHC) plan.
How do I apply to The David Lewis Centre?
Apply through Cheshire East's coordinated admissions process, naming The David Lewis 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 The David Lewis Centre?
No injury road collisions were reported to the police within 500 m of the school's mapped location in 2021 to 2025. The typical figure for schools in Cheshire East is 6 (the median across 180 schools, same distance and years).
Where is The David Lewis Centre?
The David Lewis Centre is at Mill Lane, Warford, Alderley Edge, Cheshire, SK9 7UD.
Source: Department for Transport, Road Safety Data (STATS19)