Ashley High School is a council-run special school in Widnes, Halton, for children and young people aged 11 to 19. It supports speech and language and autism.
- Ages 11–19
- 137 pupils
- Ofsted: Outstanding
School details
- Type
- Council special school
- Ages
- 11 to 19
- Boys and girls
- Boys and girls
- Pupils
- 137 (places for 112)
- Headteacher
- Miss D Wilson (Headteacher)
- Free school meals
- 55% of pupils eligible
- Council
- Halton
- School reference (URN)
- 111515
Needs it supports
2 needs: speech and language, autism
As listed by the Department for Education, grouped the way EHC plans describe needs.
Communication and interaction
- Autism Other schools for this in Halton (5)
- Speech, language and communication Other schools for this in Halton (9)
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 Halton 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 Outstanding, March 2015; standards maintained (February 2025)
Rated Outstanding at its last graded inspection, in March 2015. That was some time ago, so read the latest report for the full picture.
- Leadership and managementOutstanding
- Sixth formGood
Since then: Standards maintained (ungraded inspection, February 2025).
Contact and getting there
Cawfield Avenue, Widnes, WA8 7HG
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
- Chesnut Lodge Special School Special school · Ages 2–16 · Ofsted: Good 0.1 miles
- Saints Peter and Paul Catholic High School Mainstream + base · Ages 11–16 · Ofsted: Good 0.6 miles
- Oakfield Community Primary School Mainstream + base · Ages 3–11 · Ofsted report card (2026) 0.9 miles
By need in Halton: Speech and language (10) · Autism (6) · SEMH (6) · Severe learning (4) · Moderate learning (2)
Questions about Ashley High School
How do I get a place at Ashley High 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 Ashley High School. If it is named in the plan, the school must admit your child.
What needs does Ashley High School support?
Speech, language and communication and autism. Every child is different, so ask the school how it would meet your child’s needs.
What ages does Ashley High School take?
Aged 11 to 19, boys and girls.
What is Ashley High School’s Ofsted rating?
Rated Outstanding by Ofsted in February 2025 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 Ashley High School?
Cawfield Avenue, Widnes, WA8 7HG, in Halton.
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.