Holmeswood Methodist School, Ormskirk

Primary
Voluntary controlled school
Mixed
Methodist
Ages 311

Data last updated 11 Sept 2026

Location

Very likely (~2.1km)Possible (~3.0km)Unlikely (~3.9km)Confidence: high

Estimated admission likelihood based on school density and oversubscription data

Key Information

DfE GIAS
Head:Mr Relph Higson
Pupils:55 / 42 capacity
LA:Lancashire
Phone:01704821360
Address:Chapel Lane, Holmeswood, Ormskirk, L40 1UD
Admissions:Not applicable
Status:open

Ofsted Rating

Ofsted · 5 months ago

Report card - no overall grade (new Ofsted framework from Sep 2024)

Achievement
Needs Attention
Behaviour
Expected Standard
Personal Development
Strong Standard
Leadership
Expected Standard
Early Years
Expected Standard
Inspected 14 April 2026View full report
URN:119403
UKPRN:10078129
Diocese:Not applicable
Constituency:Southport
Urban/Rural:Smaller rural: Nearer to a major town or city

Ofsted Insights

What This School Does Well

This small school offers a big experience for pupils with a carefully planned personal development curriculum that includes financial education, encounters with different faith leaders, and annual residential visits. The caring culture means pupils behave exceptionally well, attend regularly, and feel they belong. Teachers are particularly skilled at teaching reading and mathematics, quickly identifying and correcting errors so pupils achieve well from their starting points.

Key Strengths

  • Excellent personal development programme with strong focus on wellbeing, British values, and preparing pupils for life beyond school
  • Outstanding behaviour and attendance, with a caring culture where bullying is extremely rare
  • Strong teaching in reading and mathematics with effective identification and correction of errors
  • Very inclusive approach ensuring pupils with SEND access the same rich curriculum as their peers
  • Well-attended enrichment activities and annual school performances that engage all pupils

Areas for Improvement

  • Writing achievement lags behind reading and mathematics due to gaps in basic transcriptional knowledge and handwriting not being addressed with enough precision
  • Some subjects lack the secure knowledge pupils need, though leaders are taking action
  • Actions taken to improve writing have not yet had time to show impact on pupil work

Safeguarding

Safeguarding standards are met with an open and positive culture where leaders and governors fulfil their responsibilities and all pupils feel safe.

Extracurricular Activities

School choir, annual school performances, 3D printing technology club, sporting activities, annual residential visits to multicultural cities

Holmeswood Methodist School is a small school with a strong personal development offer and caring culture where pupils flourish and behave well. The main area for improvement is in writing, where pupils have gaps in basic knowledge that are not being addressed quickly enough.

At a Glance

3.7%

Free School Meals

No

Boarding

Yes

Nursery

No

Sixth Form

No

Special Measures

Primary Performance (KS2)

Academic year 2025/26

KS2 Results (% meeting expected standard)

2024
2025
Reading-10ppMaths-10ppWriting-38pp

Reading has declined from 67% to 57%. Maths has declined from 67% to 57%. Writing has declined from 67% to 29%.

Class Sizes

17.0

Avg class size

15.0

KS2

3

Total classes

2024/25 academic year

Getting There

Bus Stops

Smithy Lane (opp)
57m · 1 min walk
Sandy Lane (adj)
860m · 14 min walk
Woodlands Caravan Park (opp)
1.3km · 20 min walk
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Capacity & Demand

School Occupancy

131%

Over capacity

55 pupils

42 capacity

13 places over capacity

Area Demand Pressure - Ormskirk

Low pressure
New homes approved:1,116
Projected new pupils:279

Based on MHCLG housing supply data for Ormskirk

Admissions Demand - Lancashire

Low demand0.77x oversubscription

Places available

15,664

Applications

12,136

Got 1st preference

93.0%

Got preferred school

98.8%

Primary admissions across Lancashire (2025/26)

Inspection History(7)

14 April 2026Report card
Achievement
Behaviour
Personal Development
Leadership
Early Years
9 February 2022
10 January 2017
Leadership & ManagementGood

House Prices

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SEN Provision

How many pupils have special educational needs, what types of support the school provides, and how it compares to similar schools.

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Pupil Demographics

The school's pupil mix - ethnicity breakdown, free school meals eligibility, and English as an additional language. Useful context when evaluating school fit.

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Teachers & Staff

Teacher qualification rates, pupil-to-teacher ratio, staff turnover, and salary data. Shows how well-resourced and stable the school's workforce is.

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School Funding

Annual funding per pupil, total budget, pupil premium grants, and how the school's resources compare to similar schools nationally.

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Pupil Absence
2024/25

3.82387%

Overall absence

9.52381%

Persistent absence

42

Enrolments

Authorised2.67156%
Unauthorised1.15231%
Persistent (10%+)9.52381%
Severe (50%+)0%

Absence trend

3.72759%
18/19
1.66268%
20/21
4.09554%
21/22
4.41745%
22/23
4.96238%
23/24
3.82387%
24/25
Overall absence rate

Source: DfE pupil absence statistics. Persistent absence = pupils missing 10%+ sessions.

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