LIPA School is an all-through mainstream school in Liverpool for children and young people aged 4 to 16. In January 2026, 85 of its 499 pupils (17%) were getting SEN support and 39 (7.8%) had an EHC plan.
- Ages 4–16
- 499 pupils
Special educational needs here
From the school census, January 2026. Compared with state secondary schools across England and in Liverpool.
17% get SEN support
85 of 499 pupils. Help in school without an EHC plan.
About the same as the England average.
7.8% have an EHC plan
39 of 499 pupils. A legal plan from the council, for children who need more help.
Higher than the England average.
Most common needs
- Autism40
- Social, emotional and mental health26
- Specific learning difficulty, such as dyslexia17
- Speech, language and communication15
- Moderate learning difficulty5
Pupils by their main need, on SEN support or with an EHC plan. Needs with fewer than 5 pupils aren’t shown.
Figures show how many children the school supports, not how well. To see how it would support your child, talk to the SENCO and read its SEN information report on the school’s website.
School details
- Type
- Mainstream all-through school
- Run as
- Free school
- Ages
- 4 to 16
- Boys and girls
- Boys and girls
- Pupils
- 499 (places for 572)
- Headteacher
- Claire McKendrick
- Part of
- The Lipa Multi Academy Trust
- Free school meals
- 37.6% of pupils eligible
- Council
- Liverpool
- School reference (URN)
- 141103
How SEN support works
4 steps, from a first chat to an EHC plan
- Talk to the class teacher and the SENCO
If you’re worried about your child, ask for a meeting. Every school has a SENCO (special educational needs co-ordinator). Your child doesn’t need a diagnosis to get help.
- SEN support
The school should work out what your child needs, agree a plan with you, put it in place and review it together, usually each term. This is called SEN support.
- An EHC needs assessment
If your child needs more help than the school can usually give, you or the school can ask Liverpool council for an EHC needs assessment. It can lead to an Education, Health and Care (EHC) plan, which the council must make sure is delivered.
- Free, independent advice
Your local SENDIASS can help at any stage, and can come to meetings with the school with you.
Questions to ask the SENCO
10 questions to tick off as you go
Ticks stay on this device, so you can use them at the meeting.
Ofsted
Special measures. Graded by area, June 2025
Ofsted has placed this school in special measures.
Inspected in June 2025. Inspections from September 2024 to November 2025 graded each area but gave no overall grade.
- Quality of educationInadequate
- Behaviour and attitudesInadequate
- Personal developmentInadequate
- Leadership and managementInadequate
- Early yearsInadequate
- SafeguardingNot effective
Contact and getting there
Upper Duke Street, Liverpool, L1 7BT
Loading the map…
Directions: Walk Public transport Drive
Email me these details
The school’s details, its SEN figures and the questions to ask the SENCO, in your inbox.
Nearby
Specialist schools and SEN units
- Abercromby Nursery School Mainstream + base · Ages 2–5 · Ofsted: Outstanding 0.4 miles
- Pleasant Street Primary School Mainstream + base · Ages 3–11 · Ofsted: Good 0.5 miles
- Princes School Special school · Ages 2–11 · Ofsted: Outstanding 0.6 miles
- Millstead School Special school · Ages 2–11 · Ofsted: Outstanding 1.4 miles
Other mainstream schools
- Liverpool Life Sciences UTC Secondary · Ages 14–19 · SEN support 11.8%, EHC plans 1.9% 0.2 miles
- The Studio School Liverpool Secondary · Ages 14–19 · SEN support 21.6%, EHC plans 3.7% 0.2 miles
- St Vincent de Paul Catholic Primary School Primary · Ages 3–11 · SEN support 28.5%, EHC plans 4.4% 0.3 miles
All mainstream schools in Liverpool SEND schools in Liverpool
Questions about LIPA School
How many pupils at LIPA School have special educational needs?
In the January 2026 school census, 85 of the 499 pupils (17%) were getting SEN support and 39 (7.8%) had an EHC plan. Across England’s state secondary schools it is 14.1% and 3.5%.
What are the most common needs at LIPA School?
Counting pupils on SEN support and with an EHC plan, the most common main needs are autism (40 pupils), social, emotional and mental health (SEMH) needs (26 pupils) and dyslexia and other specific learning difficulties (17 pupils).
Who do I talk to about my child’s needs at LIPA School?
The SENCO (special educational needs co-ordinator). Every school has one, and every school must publish an SEN information report on its website explaining how it supports pupils with SEND.
How do I apply for a place at LIPA School?
Through Liverpool council’s school admissions, in the normal application round or during the year. If your child has an EHC plan, you don’t apply this way: you ask for the school to be named in the plan instead.
Can my child with an EHC plan go to LIPA School?
You can ask for LIPA School to be named in your child’s EHC plan. The council must consult the school and name it, unless it would be unsuitable for your child’s age, ability or needs, or would affect other children’s education or the efficient use of resources.
Does LIPA School have an SEN unit or resourced provision?
Not according to the Department for Education’s register of schools. The nearest mainstream school with one is Abercromby Nursery School, about 0.4 miles away.
Where is LIPA School?
Upper Duke Street, Liverpool, L1 7BT, in Liverpool.
School data: DfE Get Information About Schools, SEN figures from DfE Special educational needs in England (the January school census), 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.