Maharishi Free School, Ormskirk
Data last updated 11 Sept 2026
Key Information
DfE GIASOfsted Rating
Ofsted · 1 year agoOverall
Quality of Education
Behaviour & Attitudes
Personal Development
Leadership & Management
Early Years
Ofsted Insights
What This School Does Well
This school excels at creating a warm, caring environment where every child feels known and valued. Teachers are knowledgeable and explain things clearly, helping most pupils achieve well across the curriculum. The school also does excellent work supporting children with additional needs, ensuring they progress alongside their peers.
Key Strengths
- Pupils are exceptionally well cared for in a nurturing environment with strong pastoral support and positive social-emotional development
- Teachers have strong subject knowledge and use effective teaching strategies, with excellent support for pupils with SEND
- School has a culture of mutual respect with polite, well-behaved pupils and well-established routines in early years
- Pupils are well prepared for life in modern Britain with understanding of different religions, online safety, and career opportunities
Areas for Improvement
- Teachers do not always check pupils' prior knowledge sufficiently, meaning some knowledge gaps are missed and pupils struggle to remember learning over time
- Reading support is not effective enough - some primary pupils cannot keep up with phonics pace, and secondary phase has no proper reading strategy
- School attendance strategy is not working well enough - some pupils still do not attend frequently enough and miss important learning
Safeguarding
The arrangements for safeguarding are effective.
Extracurricular Activities
Dodgeball, multisport, football, Duke of Edinburgh's Award scheme, reading and rhyme activities, recreational creative space
Maharishi Free School is a nurturing all-through school where pupils are extremely well cared for and happy. The school maintains good standards across all key areas including quality of education, behaviour, personal development, and leadership.
At a Glance
19.7%
Free School Meals
No
Boarding
No
Nursery
No
Sixth Form
No
Special Measures
What Parents Think
80 responsesSource: Ofsted Parent View - % who strongly agree or agree
Primary Performance (KS2)
Academic year 2025/26KS2 Results (% meeting expected standard)
Reading has declined from 75% to 60%. Maths has declined from 70% to 65%. Writing has declined from 65% to 60%.
Class Sizes
18.7
Avg class size
20.0
Infant (KS1)
17.0
KS2
12
Total classes
2024/25 academic year
Getting There
Bus Stops
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Capacity & Demand
School Occupancy
95%
Near capacity
229 pupils
240 capacity
11 spare places available
Area Demand Pressure - Ormskirk
Based on MHCLG housing supply data for Ormskirk
Admissions Demand - Lancashire
Places available
14,786
Applications
13,820
Got 1st preference
86.3%
Got preferred school
96.8%
Secondary admissions across Lancashire (2025/26)
Inspection History(4)
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.
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.
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.
School Funding
Annual funding per pupil, total budget, pupil premium grants, and how the school's resources compare to similar schools nationally.
Pupil Absence2024/25
10.73911%
Overall absence
33.62445%
Persistent absence
229
Enrolments
Absence trend
Source: DfE pupil absence statistics. Persistent absence = pupils missing 10%+ sessions.
Reviews
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Feeder Primary Schools
Primary schools that likely feed into this school, based on proximity
Maharishi Free School
St James' Catholic Primary School, Skelmersdale
Cobbs Brow School
Dalton St Michael's Church of England Primary School
Woodland Community Primary School
Crow Orchard Primary School
Newburgh Church of England Primary School
St Edmund's Catholic Primary School
Trinity Church of England/Methodist School
St John's Catholic Primary School, Skelmersdale
Brookfield Park Primary School
Showing 10 of 15 linked schools
Nearby Schools
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