Hope High School
Carfield, Clay Brow, Skelmersdale, WN8 9DPOpen in maps (opens in a new tab)
Hope High School is a special school in Skelmersdale for ages 11 to 16. It is one of the 692 schools in Lancashire. Its latest Ofsted rating is Good, from an inspection in January 2015.
Ofsted inspection
Inspected 27 January 2015, report published 17 February 2015
- Overall effectiveness
- Good
- Leadership and management
- Good
What Ofsted said
From the inspection on 3 June 2025
Pupils flourish at this school. They are calm, kind and courteous. Pupils value the extremely positive relationships that they have with staff, who care for them exceptionally well. Pupils are first-rate ambassadors for their school. They represent their school with a high level of pride. Pupils are happy. All of the pupils at this school have special educational needs and/or disabilities (SEND). The school makes the promotion of their social and emotional development a priority. As a result, most pupils rise to the high aspirations that the school has for their achievement. Pupils display conduct that is consistently impeccable. Pupils make the most of the opportunities that the school provides for them. Activities such as strategy gaming, outdoor learning, sports and music clubs help pupils to further their talents and interests. Trips to the theatre, the zoo and local businesses help pupils to develop their understanding of the world. Pupils deepen their understanding of the subjects that they study through cultural visits. For example, pupils learn about Shakespeare when they make an overnight visit to Stratford-upon-Avon. During residential stays, pupils take part in outdoor and adventurous activities, which help them to develop confidence and independence.
What the school should improve
- At times, the school designs activities that do not help pupils to develop a secure knowledge of the subjects that they study. This prevents some pupils from achieving as well as they could. The school should ensure that it supports staff to design learning activities that prepare pupils well for each step in their education.
- Occasionally, in some subjects, the school does not identify and address gaps and misconceptions in pupils' knowledge as well as it could. When this happens, pupils move on to new learning before they are ready. The school should ensure that teaching identifies and addresses any gaps or misconceptions in pupils' learning consistently well so that pupils build their knowledge securely over time.
Exam results
GCSE results (key stage 4), 2024/25
20 pupils in the year group
Pupil numbers and mix
108 pupils on roll, with places for 90
Schools near Hope High School
| School | Distance | Ofsted | Results |
|---|---|---|---|
| Elm Tree Community Primary School | 1 mile | Ofsted: Outstanding | 0% met the expected standard |
| Kingsbury Primary Special School | 2 miles | Ofsted: Outstanding | 0% met the expected standard |
| West Lancashire Community High School | 3 miles | Ofsted: Good | Attainment 8: 0.2 |
| A.R.T.S. Education | 3 miles | Ofsted: Good | Attainment 8: 12.0 |
| Progress Arc Billinge School | 3 miles | Ofsted: Good | Attainment 8: 0.6 |
School details
- School type
- Community special school
- Sector
- Local authority maintained
- Age range
- 11 to 16
- Gender
- Mixed
- Headteacher
- Mrs Helen Dunbavin
- Phone
- 01695721066
- Address
- Carfield, Clay Brow, Skelmersdale, WN8 9DP
- Local authority
- Lancashire
- URN
- 119898
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.