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School · SpecialiSource and licenceOfficial record from Get Information about Schools (DfE). Results, attendance, pupil numbers, finance and inspection outcomes are from the Department for Education and Ofsted, as published.Governor records: Get Information about Schools, as at 1 November 2026.Contains public sector information licensed under the Open Government Licence v3.0.Governance Register calculates the connections.How we handle data

The Observatory School

Community special school in Prenton (Wirral).

Pupils
174
on roll
Ofsted
No overall grade
inspected Jan 2025
Attendance rate
70.1%
2024/25 academic year
Pupil : Teacher
7.0
2025/26
Eligible for free school meals
66.1%
school census 15/01/2026
SEN support
1.1%
2025/26
Capacity
109%
174 / 160 pupils
register figure (GIAS)
Teacher turnover
11.9%
2024/25

Location

iSchool location from Get Information about Schools. Nearby schools are coloured by phase. Open Map+ for a full-screen map with neighbourhood deprivation (England only).

About

iWritten by WhatSchool from official school data (Get Information about Schools, DfE and Ofsted).

Mr Chiswell's Welcome I would like to extend a warm virtual welcome to our extraordinary school. The Observatory School is a very special place for both pupils and staff alike. Spanning two campus, just under 3 miles apart, both sites are designed in harmony with nature and to meet the needs of our pupils.

LEARN MORE Mr Chiswell's Welcome I would like to extend a warm virtual welcome to our extraordinary school. LEARN MORE I would like to extend a warm virtual welcome to our extraordinary school.

Enrichment

8 activitiesiFound on the school website by WhatSchool. Not verified by Governance Register; the school website is the authority.
  • Basketball
  • Cooking
  • Football
  • Lego
  • Stem
  • Swimming
  • Table Tennis
  • Tennis

Awards

2 awardsiFound on the school website by WhatSchool. Not verified by Governance Register; the school website is the authority.
  • Eco SchoolsEnvironment
  • Healthy SchoolsHealth and wellbeing

Key facts

URN
127715
Type
Community special school
Phase
Not applicable
Ages
7 to 16
Gender
Mixed
Local authority
Wirral
Constituency
Birkenhead
Setting
Urban: Nearer to a major town or city
Opened
2005

Governing body (11 current, 1 former)

Special schools governing body.

Leadership

NameRoleHow appointedTerm
Mrs Jane Owens Mbe FrsaChair of GovernorsNominated by LA and appointed by GBsince 2021 · until 2029

Full governing body

NameRoleHow appointedTerm
Mr Adrian WhiteleyGovernorAppointed by GB/boardsince 2026 · until 2030
Mrs Joanne McNeilGovernorAppointed by GB/boardsince 2024 · until 2028
Mrs Miranda BirtlesGovernorAppointed by GB/boardsince 2024 · until 2028
Mr Kishan BhalsodGovernorAppointed by GB/boardsince 2024 · until 2028
Mrs Audrey HoughtonGovernorAppointed by GB/boardsince 2023 · until 2027 ends 2027
Jacqui KearneyGovernorAppointed by GB/boardsince 2021 · until 2029
Mr Kevin SmithGovernorAppointed by GB/boardsince 2021 · until 2029
Mr Matthew LordGovernorAppointed by GB/boardsince 2021 · until 2029
Mr Peter Duncan Haworth MbeGovernorAppointed by GB/boardsince 2021 · until 2029
Mr Gregory ChiswellGovernorNominated by LA and appointed by GBsince 2017 · until 2029
Miss Karen Warren FormerGovernorAppointed by GB/boardsince 2022 · term ended 2025

Source: Department for Education, Get Information about Schools (governance records, as at 1 November 2026). Contains public sector information licensed under the Open Government Licence v3.0. Names are shown as published; there are no addresses or contact details. Current and former are worked out from term end dates when the page loads. Object or ask for removal · Report an issue with this record