The Russett School, Northwich
The Russett School is a special school for pupils aged 2 to 19 in Northwich, part of The Shaw Education Trust. It was rated Outstanding at its last graded Ofsted inspection, in July 2014. Ofsted's ungraded inspection in December 2023 did not change this grade.
- Ofsted
- Outstanding (2014)
Data last updated 26 Oct 2026
The Russett School in detail
Compared with nearby schools
The nearest other special schools to The Russett School are Rosebank School (1.3 miles, Good); Elmy Hall School (1.6 miles); Cloughwood Academy (1.7 miles, Outstanding); and Greenbank School (1.8 miles, Requires improvement).
Rosebank SchoolElmy Hall SchoolCloughwood AcademyGreenbank School
The trust
The Russett School is one of 31 schools run by The Shaw Education Trust, an academy trust.
Where pupils go next
Of the 9 pupils who finished Year 11 in 2023/24, 100% stayed in education or training for at least two terms.
Who goes there
50% of pupils are eligible for free school meals, and 7.3% speak English as an additional language, according to the 2026 school census.
Almost every pupil at The Russett School has an education, health and care plan (150 of 150 in 2026). The most common need among them is autism.
The Russett School provides for pupils with severe learning difficulties.
Getting there
The nearest railway station is Hartford Rail Station, about 1.3 miles away in a straight line.
8 bus stops are within a five-minute walk; the closest is Forster Avenue (near), 80 metres away.
The area around the school
In August 2026, police recorded 25 crimes within a mile of the school, most often violence and sexual offences, shoplifting and criminal damage and arson. That is well below the typical figure around schools in Cheshire West and Chester (71).
Suspensions and exclusions
The Russett School recorded no suspensions or permanent exclusions in 2024/25.
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 · 3 years agoThis judgement is from July 2014, 12 years ago, longer than Ofsted's usual 4-year cycle: the school may have changed since.
Overall
Latest (ungraded) inspection: The school remains Outstanding.
Ofsted Insights
Ofsted rated this school Outstanding at its July 2014 inspection - up from Good.
Rated Outstanding for
Leadership & management.
At a Glance
50.0%
Free School Meals
No
Boarding
Yes
Nursery
Yes
Sixth Form
SLD
SEN Provision
No
Special Measures
Primary Performance (KS2)
Academic year 2024/25KS2 Results (% meeting expected standard)
How Does This School Compare?
Ranked against 5 nearby schools
Keep up with The Russett School
Getting There
Bus Stops
Free school transport
Check free transport to The Russett School from your postcode →
You apply to the council where you live. The Russett School is in Cheshire West and Chester; for families living there:
Apply to Cheshire West and Chester for free school transport. Its policy is on the council's website.
Safety and surroundings
Road collisions within 500 m (2021 to 2025)
- Collisions
- 2
- Fatal
- 0
- Serious
- 0
- Children hurt
- 1
Within 500 m of the school's mapped location, police recorded 2 road collisions in which someone was injured in 2021 to 2025: none fatal, 0 serious and 2 slight.
1 child aged 0 to 15 was hurt.
2 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 Cheshire West and Chester is 7 (the median across 184 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
158%
Over capacity
150 pupils
95 places
55 pupils over capacity
as recorded on GIAS
Area Demand Pressure - Northwich
Based on MHCLG Live Table 122 (2024-25, last 5 years) for Northwich
Across Cheshire West and Chester council
Places available
4,194
Applications
3,482
Got 1st preference
95.0%
Got preferred school
98.9%
All secondary applications across Cheshire West and Chester council (2026/27), not just this school.
Inspection History(3)
SEND & SEN Provision
SEN Overview
0
SEN Support
150
EHC Plans
100.0%
of Total Pupils
2026 academic year
Provision & Specialist Facilities
The Russett School provides for pupils with severe learning difficulties.
Source: GIAS, Department for Education.
Pupils by Need Type
Pupil Demographics
Ethnicity
2026 academic year
Key Indicators
150
Total Pupils
120
Boys
30
Girls
2026 academic year
Workforce
18
Teachers
8.3:1
Pupil-teacher ratio
£52,319
Mean salary
2026 data
Pupil Absence2024/25
10.8%
Overall absence
30.6%
Persistent absence
121
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
The Russett School
Showing 10 of 11 linked schools
Questions parents ask about The Russett School
What are SATs results like at The Russett School?
Of the pupils at The Russett School who took the 2025 Key Stage 2 assessments, 0% reached the expected standard in reading and 0% did so in maths.
What is The Russett School's Ofsted rating?
The Russett School's most recent Ofsted inspection, in December 2023, was ungraded, so it gave no overall grade. At its last graded inspection, in July 2014, it was rated Outstanding.
What is the catchment area for The Russett School?
No fixed boundary. When The Russett School is oversubscribed, Cheshire West and Chester allocates places by its published criteria, usually ending with home-to-school distance.
How many pupils go to The Russett School?
The Russett School has around 150 pupils on roll. 50% are eligible for free school meals.
Does The Russett School have specialist SEN provision?
The Russett School provides for pupils with severe learning difficulties.
What is attendance like at The Russett School?
10.8% of sessions were missed at The Russett School in 2024/25. 30.6% of pupils were persistently absent (missing 10% or more of sessions).
How do I apply to The Russett School?
Apply through Cheshire West and Chester's coordinated admissions process, naming The Russett 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 Russett School?
Within 500 m of the school's mapped location, police recorded 2 road collisions in which someone was injured in 2021 to 2025: none fatal, 0 serious and 2 slight. 1 child aged 0 to 15 was hurt. 2 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 Cheshire West and Chester is 7 (the median across 184 schools, same distance and years).
Where is The Russett School?
The Russett School is at Middlehurst Avenue, Weaverham, Northwich, Cheshire, CW8 3BW.
Source: Department for Transport, Road Safety Data (STATS19)