Dee Banks School is a council-run special school in Chester, Cheshire West and Chester, for children and young people aged 2 to 19. It supports autism and severe learning.
- Ages 2–19
- 141 pupils
- Ofsted: Good
School details
- Type
- Council special school
- Ages
- 2 to 19
- Boys and girls
- Boys and girls
- Pupils
- 141
- Headteacher
- Mrs Judith McGuinness (Headteacher)
- Free school meals
- 47.1% of pupils eligible
- Council
- Cheshire West and Chester
- School reference (URN)
- 111494
Needs it supports
2 needs: autism, severe learning
As listed by the Department for Education, grouped the way EHC plans describe needs.
Communication and interaction
Cognition and learning
- Severe learning difficulty Other schools for this in Cheshire West and Chester (3)
How to get a place
4 steps, starting with an EHC plan
- An EHC plan
Places at schools like this usually come through an Education, Health and Care (EHC) plan. If your child doesn’t have one yet, you can ask the council for an assessment yourself.
- Visit and ask questions
See whether the school feels right and whether it can meet your child’s needs. Our list of questions below can help.
- Ask for the school to be named
Tell the council that looks after the plan (often Cheshire West and Chester council) that this is the school you want, and ask them to consult it.
- Named in the plan
If the school is named in your child’s plan, it must admit your child. Free home-to-school transport is often part of the arrangement.
Questions to ask when you visit
8 questions to tick off as you go
Ticks stay on this device, so you can use them on the day.
Ofsted
Rated Good, November 2016; school remains Good (March 2022)
Rated Good at its last graded inspection, in November 2016. That was some time ago, so read the latest report for the full picture.
- Leadership and managementGood
- Early yearsRequires improvement
- Sixth formGood
- SafeguardingEffective
Since then: School remains Good (ungraded inspection, March 2022).
Contact and getting there
Dee Banks, Sandy Lane, Chester, CH3 5UX
Loading the map…
Directions: Walk Public transport Drive
Email me these details
The school’s details, how to get a place and the questions to ask, in your inbox.
Other SEND schools nearby
- The Catholic High School, Chester Mainstream + base · Ages 11–18 · Ofsted report card (2026) 0.9 miles
- Maple Grove School Independent · Ages 5–18 1.1 miles
- Abbey School for Exceptional Children Independent · Ages 4–19 · Ofsted: Good 1.1 miles
All SEND schools in Cheshire West and Chester
By need in Cheshire West and Chester: Autism (13) · SEMH (9) · Speech and language (8) · Moderate learning (7) · Severe learning (4) · PMLD (3) · Physical (2)
Questions about Dee Banks School
How do I get a place at Dee Banks School?
There’s no catchment area or application round. Places usually come through an Education, Health and Care (EHC) plan: ask the council that looks after the plan to consult Dee Banks School. If it is named in the plan, the school must admit your child.
What needs does Dee Banks School support?
Autism and severe learning difficulty. Every child is different, so ask the school how it would meet your child’s needs.
What ages does Dee Banks School take?
Aged 2 to 19, boys and girls.
What is Dee Banks School’s Ofsted rating?
Rated Good by Ofsted in March 2022 at its last graded inspection. Newer inspections no longer give a single overall grade, so read the latest report for the full picture.
Where is Dee Banks School?
Dee Banks, Sandy Lane, Chester, CH3 5UX, in Cheshire West and Chester.
School data: DfE Get Information About Schools, under the Open Government Licence. Postcode lookups by postcodes.io: contains OS data © Crown copyright and database right, Royal Mail data © Royal Mail copyright and database right, and National Statistics data © Crown copyright and database right. Distances are as the crow flies. Always check details and admissions with the school and your council.