Life Wirral

Life Wirral School is an independent educational institution located in Wallasey, England, catering specifically to children with special educational needs (SEN). The school aims to provide tailored educational support to secondary school-age children with a variety of neurodiverse conditions and learning disabilities.

In 2023, an undercover investigation by BBC Panorama revealed serious allegations of abuse and misconduct by senior staff at Life Wirral School. An undercover reporter spent nearly seven weeks at the school and documented multiple instances of staff using offensive language, mocking pupils for their neurodiversity or learning disabilities, and physically manhandling them.

Staff were recorded using derogatory terms and making homophobic, sexist and ableist remarks towards students. They mocked students for their disabilities and neurodiverse traits, including their tics and high-pitched noises. The reporter witnessed staff placing students in dangerous headlocks and manhandling them. One staff member was recorded describing how he fantasised about drowning a pupil and referred to him as a "little serial killer."

The school's CEO, Alastair Saverimutto, a former police officer and professional rugby player, admitted to using police-style restraints on children. He had been sacked from the police for gross misconduct. The school's head of operations, Paul Hamill, was recorded making violent and aggressive remarks about students.

Since its opening in 2021, Life Wirral School has received over £2.2 million from Wirral Metropolitan Borough Council. The council paid the school nearly £1 million last year alone. Despite warnings about ongoing problems, the council continued to fund the school.