Finch Woods Academy is a special academy in Liverpool, Knowsley, for children and young people aged 9 to 16. It supports SEMH.
- Ages 9–16
- 88 pupils
- Ofsted report card (2026)
School details
- Type
- Special academy
- Ages
- 9 to 16
- Boys and girls
- Boys and girls
- Pupils
- 88 (places for 92)
- Headteacher
- Mr Adrian Larkin
- Part of
- Manor Hall Academy Trust
- Opened
- 1 September 2014
- Free school meals
- 84.1% of pupils eligible
- Council
- Knowsley
- School reference (URN)
- 141033
Needs it supports
1 need: SEMH
As listed by the Department for Education, grouped the way EHC plans describe needs.
Social, emotional and mental health
- Social, emotional and mental health Other schools for this in Knowsley (1)
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 Knowsley 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
Report card, March 2026: Expected standard in 5 of 6 areas
Inspected in March 2026 under Ofsted’s new report cards, which grade each area separately, from Exceptional to Urgent improvement, instead of one overall grade.
- InclusionExpected standard
- Curriculum and teachingExpected standard
- AchievementExpected standard
- Attendance and behaviourExpected standard
- Personal development and wellbeingExpected standard
- Leadership and governanceStrong standard
- SafeguardingMet
Contact and getting there
Bailey's Lane, Halewood, Liverpool, L26 0TY
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Directions: Walk Public transport Drive
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The school’s details, how to get a place and the questions to ask, in your inbox.
Other SEND schools nearby
- Yew Tree Primary Academy Mainstream + base · Ages 3–11 · Ofsted: Good 0.7 miles
- Oakfield Community Primary School Mainstream + base · Ages 3–11 · Ofsted report card (2026) 2.0 miles
- St Basil's Catholic Primary School Mainstream + base · Ages 3–11 · Ofsted: Good 2.1 miles
By need in Knowsley: Autism (5) · Speech and language (4) · Moderate learning (3) · Severe learning (3) · Dyslexia and SpLD (3) · Vision (3) · SEMH (2) · PMLD (2) · Hearing (2) · Physical (2)
Questions about Finch Woods Academy
How do I get a place at Finch Woods Academy?
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 Finch Woods Academy. If it is named in the plan, the school must admit your child.
What needs does Finch Woods Academy support?
Social, emotional and mental health. Every child is different, so ask the school how it would meet your child’s needs.
What ages does Finch Woods Academy take?
Aged 9 to 16, boys and girls.
What is Finch Woods Academy’s Ofsted rating?
Rated Inadequate by Ofsted in March 2026 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 Finch Woods Academy?
Bailey's Lane, Halewood, Liverpool, L26 0TY, in Knowsley.
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.