Greenbank School

  • Special
  • Local authority maintained
  • Ages 11 to 18
Ofsted judgements: Good to outstanding

Greenbank Lane, Hartford, Northwich, CW8 1LDOpen in maps (opens in a new tab)

Greenbank School is a special school in Northwich for ages 11 to 18. It is one of the 181 schools in Cheshire West and Chester. Its latest Ofsted inspection, in January 2025, graded each key judgement and gave no overall Ofsted rating.

Ofsted inspection

Inspected 21 January 2025, report published 11 March 2025

This inspection graded each key judgement and gave no overall effectiveness grade.

Quality of education
Good
Behaviour and attitudes
Outstanding
Personal development
Good
Leadership and management
Good
Sixth form provision
Good
Safeguarding
Met

What Ofsted said

From the inspection on 21 January 2025

Pupils behave exceptionally well and display impeccable manners. They greet each other with a 'good morning' each day. They chat warmly to staff and are polite and friendly to visitors in school. They understand that all the pupils in school are unique. They accept each other's commonalities and differences. Pupils display kindness and empathy and look after each other. The school's happy and supportive ethos shines through. The school has high expectations for all pupils. Pupils rise to these and achieve well. Pupils enjoy learning. The adults around them offer encouragement and support as well as challenge for pupils to aim high. Pupils value the reward points that they earn during the week. They enjoy choosing a reward activity on Friday afternoons. Pupils enjoy time with their friends. They particularly enjoy breaktimes to play football, use the fitness equipment or have a chat. Pupils develop strong positive relationships with staff. They feel that staff always look at the positives and help pupils to do the same. Pupils' personal development is well considered. Pupils have opportunities to develop their organisation and leadership skills. For example, whole-school events are organised by students in the sixth form. Pupils benefit from events to celebrate different cultures and religions. For instance, pupils and their families joined with members of the local community and former pupils to enjoy music, food and dancing at the school's recent diversity festival.

What the school should improve

  • In key stage 4, pupils do not study a sufficiently broad and rich curriculum. This limits pupils' options for their next steps. The school should provide a wide range of subjects that equip pupils with the skills and knowledge that they need for the future.
  • A number of pupils do not have opportunities to share their views about the school. This means that these pupils feel that their opinions are not considered when leaders and staff make decisions. The school should enable pupils to share their views about different aspects of school life.

Exam results

GCSE results (key stage 4), 2024/25

22 pupils in the year group

Attainment 8 score1.6

1.6, 44.5 below the England average of 46.1.

Grade 5 or above in English and maths0%

0%, 45.4 percentage points below the England average of 45.4%.

Grade 4 or above in English and maths0%

0%, 64.8 percentage points below the England average of 64.8%.

Pupils entering the EBacc0%

0%, 40.5 percentage points below the England average of 40.5%.

EBacc average point score0.12

0.12, 3.97 below the England average of 4.09.

Pupil numbers and mix

129 pupils on roll, with places for 133

Eligible for free school meals44.2%

44.2%, 17.7 percentage points above the England average of 26.5%.

English as an additional language6.2%

6.2%, 15.4 percentage points below the England average of 21.6%.

Special educational needs support0%

0%, 14.8 percentage points below the England average of 14.8%.

Education, health and care plan100%

100%, 94 percentage points above the England average of 6%.

Schools near Greenbank School

SchoolDistanceOfstedResults
Cloughwood Academy0.3 milesReport card: Expected standard to strong standardAttainment 8: 5.5
Adventure Wellbeing School1 mileReport card: Expected standardNot published
The Russett School2 milesOfsted: Outstanding0% met the expected standard
Rosebank School2 milesOfsted: Good0% met the expected standard
Oaklands School4 milesOfsted: OutstandingAttainment 8: 4.4

School details

School type
Community special school
Sector
Local authority maintained
Age range
11 to 18
Gender
Mixed
Headteacher
Mr Michael McCann
Address
Greenbank Lane, Hartford, Northwich, CW8 1LD
URN
111503

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.