A.R.T.S. Education
167a Ormskirk Road, Rainford, St Helens, Rainford, WA11 8HROpen in maps (opens in a new tab)
A.R.T.S. Education is a special school in Rainford for ages 11 to 17. It is one of the 76 schools in St. Helens. Its latest Ofsted rating is Good, from an inspection in February 2025.
Ofsted inspection
Inspected 25 February 2025, report published 2 April 2025
- Overall effectiveness
- Good
- Quality of education
- Good
- Behaviour and attitudes
- Good
- Personal development
- Good
- Leadership and management
- Good
- Safeguarding
- Met
What Ofsted said
From the inspection on 25 February 2025
Pupils have a strong sense of belonging at this warm and inclusive school. This is a place where difference is celebrated, and pupils feel that they are valued members of the school community. Pupils enjoy strong, nurturing relationships with staff, who care deeply about their well-being. This helps pupils to feel happy and secure. They trust that there is always a member of staff available to help them if they are worried. They know they are in safe hands. The school has high expectations of pupils' learning. Pupils are taught by teachers who know them well. The thoughtfully designed curriculum prepares pupils, all of whom have special educational needs and/or disabilities (SEND), well for the next steps in their education and adult life. Pupils are respectful of others. They conduct themselves well around school. Staff notice when pupils experience distress and respond sensitively to pupils' emotional needs. They are successful in helping pupils to manage their behaviour and feelings. Pupils enjoy the varied 'enterprise' activities that they can be involved in. For example, they planned a school 'prom' evening. Pupils were given budgets to organise the venue and decorations, as well as the music, food, and drink. These opportunities enable pupils to gain a wealth of skills and to build their confidence and independence.
What the school should improve
- In a small number of subjects, the school has not fully considered exactly what pupils should learn and in what order. This hinders some pupils from achieving as highly as they could. The school should finalise the curriculum content in these subjects to ensure that teachers know exactly what knowledge pupils must learn and when they should learn it.
- In a small number of subjects, the delivery of the curriculum is not as secure as it could be. Where this is the case, some of the activities chosen do not always help pupils to learn the intended curriculum well. The school should ensure that teachers have the knowledge and skills that they need to implement these subject curriculums successfully.
Exam results
GCSE results (key stage 4), 2024/25
8 pupils in the year group
Pupil numbers and mix
22 pupils on roll, with places for 40
Schools near A.R.T.S. Education
| School | Distance | Ofsted | Results |
|---|---|---|---|
| Hope High School | 3 miles | Ofsted: Good | Attainment 8: 13.1 |
| Kingsbury Primary Special School | 3 miles | Ofsted: Outstanding | 0% met the expected standard |
| West Lancashire Community High School | 3 miles | Ofsted: Good | Attainment 8: 0.2 |
| Elm Tree Community Primary School | 3 miles | Ofsted: Outstanding | 0% met the expected standard |
| Progress Arc Billinge School | 4 miles | Ofsted: Good | Attainment 8: 0.6 |
School details
- School type
- Other independent special school
- Sector
- Independent
- Age range
- 11 to 17
- Gender
- Mixed
- Headteacher
- Mrs Annmarie Read
- Phone
- 07749846945
- Address
- 167a Ormskirk Road, Rainford, St Helens, Rainford, WA11 8HR
- Local authority
- St. Helens
- URN
- 148840
School details from Get Information about Schools, 17 September 2026. Ofsted outcomes published to 31 August 2026. Exam results for 2024/25 from the Department for Education. Pupil mix from the school census, 2025/26.