Welcome to Abbot’s Lea School

Abbot’s Lea School is a maintained special school that provides the highest quality of education for just over 270 students aged 3-19 living with Autism and a range of associated communication, interaction, social, imagination, sensory and learning differences.

I feel honoured to be our school’s Headteacher and, together with my team of some 140 staff, we work tirelessly to ensure that we offer the best education and care to our students and support to their families and the wider community.

I have always practised an ‘open door’ policy and so I really encourage you to take advantage of this – please contact me so that I can hear your views and address any issues arising. My PA, Miss McComasky, is the best person for scheduling visits and she can be contacted via: pa@abbotsleaschool.co.uk

I also warmly encourage you to find out more about our school’s daily updates by following us on Twitter and Facebook: @AbbotsLeaSchool and to tune into our Head’s Weekly Newsletter which aims to keep you updated with the life of the school.

For all admission enquiries, please note that we are a maintained school and so, admissions are managed by Liverpool City Council SEND Team – contact: sen.team@liverpool.gov.uk (this applies to all admissions, including those from other local authorities).

For holiday planning (outside of term time, please) and special events at school, please see:

This year, our school is organised as follows:

Teaching and Learning operation:

  • Our Primary Department led by Miss Gibney, Assistant Headteacher (primary@abbotsleaschool.co.uk)
    Early Years and Key Stage One (EY/KS1)
    Key Stage Two (KS2)
  • Our Secondary Department led by Mr Mason, Assistant Headteacher (secondary@abbotsleaschool.co.uk)
    Key Stage Three (KS3)
    Key Stage Four (KS4)
    Key Stage Five (KS5)

Multidisciplinary operation:

  • Safeguarding Team, led by Miss Sharpe, our Safeguarding Manager (safeguarding@abbotsleaschool.co.uk) and is here to help with any welfare matters arising 52 weeks a year.
  • Our Therapies Team led by Miss Welch, Head of Therapies (therapies@abbotsleaschool.co.uk) includes:
    Positive Behaviour Support (PBS) Team
    Speech and Language Therapy
    Occupational Therapy
    Child and Adolescent Psychotherapy

If you have any questions regarding the teaching and learning, care, safeguarding or therapeutic support for the students, please contact my Deputy, Mrs Tobin at deputy@abbotsleaschool.co.uk

School Business Support (SBS) operation led by Mrs Myers, School Business Manager (sbm@abbotsleaschool.co.uk)

If you are keen to be our research and development partner, please contact me directly  at headteacher@abbotsleaschool.co.uk

Our vision is to be an International Centre of Excellence in Autism Education, Research and Professional Development, where every student and member of staff can be the best that they can be – we hope you join us on our journey!

Mrs A Hildrey, FCCT, B.Ed(Hons), M.Ed. NPQH, NPQEL
Headteacher