Learn 4 Life School
64a Rectory Road, Ashton in Makerfield, Wigan, Skelmersdale, WN4 0QDOpen in maps (opens in a new tab)
Learn 4 Life School is a special school in Skelmersdale for ages 11 to 16. It is one of the 76 schools in St. Helens. Its latest Ofsted rating is Good, from an inspection in April 2025.
Ofsted inspection
Inspected 29 April 2025, report published 27 May 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 29 April 2025
Pupils enjoy coming to this welcoming, friendly school. They are cared for in a safe and nurturing environment. Staff spend time when pupils arrive to understand their individual special educational needs and/or disabilities (SEND) and how best to support pupils with their emotions and behaviour. Pupils value the support that they receive from staff. After a long time out of education for most pupils, they settle well. They begin to attend school more often than they did previously. Pupils' behaviour improves over the time that they are at the school. Staff use a variety of support strategies to ensure that pupils remain focused in lessons. It is rare for learning to be disrupted by other pupils. The school has high expectations for pupils' achievement. In many subjects, the school has ensured that this vision is realised. Pupils are working towards more formal qualifications such as GCSEs. Alongside this, pupils are gaining knowledge and skills through their vocational placements. Overall, pupils achieve well in the different subjects that they study. Pupils have opportunities outside of lessons to develop their understanding of the world around them and how they can make a positive contribution to their community. For example, they visit and help out at a local foodbank which gives them an understanding of how some people in society are less fortunate than others.
What the school should improve
- From time-to-time, pupils do not use accurate grammar, punctuation and spelling in their writing. Sometimes, this can impact how well their writing communicates its intended meaning. The school should ensure that it supports pupils more effectively to use accurate grammar, punctuation and spelling in their writing.
- The school does not sufficiently analyse incidents which involve pupils' unacceptable language. This means that the school is not able to fully identify any patterns or trends in how pupils behave. The school should strengthen this aspect of its strategic oversight so that it can identify and address any patterns in pupils' behaviour.
Exam results
GCSE results (key stage 4), 2024/25
7 pupils in the year group
Pupil numbers and mix
16 pupils on roll, with places for 16
Schools near Learn 4 Life School
| School | Distance | Ofsted | Results |
|---|---|---|---|
| Martha H School | 0.3 miles | No Ofsted inspection | Not published |
| Landgate School, Bryn | 1 mile | Ofsted judgements: Outstanding | 0% met the expected standard |
| Hope School | 2 miles | Ofsted judgements: Good to outstanding | 0% met the expected standard |
| Progress Arc Billinge School | 2 miles | Ofsted: Good | Attainment 8: 0.6 |
| Willow Grove Primary School | 2 miles | Ofsted: Good | 0% met the expected standard |
School details
- School type
- Other independent special school
- Sector
- Independent
- Age range
- 11 to 16
- Gender
- Mixed
- Headteacher
- Mr James McAlpine
- Phone
- 01942466318
- Address
- 64a Rectory Road, Ashton in Makerfield, Wigan, Skelmersdale, WN4 0QD
- Local authority
- St. Helens
- URN
- 129571
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.