Ormiston Bolingbroke Academy, Runcorn

Requires Improvement
Secondary
Academy sponsor led
Mixed
Ages 1119

Data last updated 11 Sept 2026

Location

Very likely (~2.0km)Possible (~2.8km)Unlikely (~3.7km)Confidence: medium

Estimated admission likelihood based on school density and oversubscription data. Admissions policy: Non-selective

Key Information

DfE GIAS
Head:Mrs Kathryn Evans
Pupils:754 / 1,250 capacity
LA:Halton
Phone:01928711643
Address:Barnfield Avenue, Runcorn, WA7 6EP
Trust:ORMISTON ACADEMIES TRUST
Admissions:Non-selective
Status:open
Opened:1 September 2010

Ofsted Rating

Ofsted · 8 months ago

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

Achievement
Expected Standard
Behaviour
Expected Standard
Personal Development
Expected Standard
Leadership
Expected Standard
Sixth Form
Expected Standard
Inspected 13 January 2026View full report
URN:136185
UKPRN:10031139
Diocese:Not applicable
Constituency:Runcorn and Helsby
Urban/Rural:Urban: Nearer to a major town or city

Ofsted Insights

What This School Does Well

The school has created a positive community where pupils feel supported and behave well. Staff work closely with families to understand barriers to learning and attendance, and the school offers a range of clubs and activities to help pupils develop confidence. Pastoral teams are responsive to pupil wellbeing concerns and provide timely support.

Key Strengths

  • Safeguarding is effective with an open culture where concerns are actively managed
  • Positive behaviour and respectful relationships between staff and pupils, with reduced suspensions
  • Strong pastoral support through house system and tutor arrangements
  • Leaders are committed to inclusion and supporting disadvantaged pupils
  • Wide range of enrichment activities to develop confidence and resilience

Areas for Improvement

  • Attendance remains below national averages with persistent absence still too high
  • Overall pupil achievement is inconsistent with too many not making secure progress
  • Teaching does not consistently identify and address gaps in pupil understanding during lessons
  • Sixth form outcomes remain weak and below national averages
  • Support for pupils with special educational needs and disabilities remains variable

Safeguarding

Safeguarding standards are met - leaders have established an open culture where safeguarding is everyone's responsibility and pupils feel safe.

Extracurricular Activities

Physical activities, creative activities, leadership activities, outdoor learning

Ormiston Bolingbroke Academy is working to improve across most areas of the school, with particular focus needed on student achievement, attendance, and teaching quality. While safeguarding is effective and the school has a positive culture, inconsistent progress and below-average outcomes remain key concerns.

At a Glance

61.5%

Free School Meals

No

Boarding

No

Nursery

Yes

Sixth Form

No

Special Measures

What Parents Think

118 responses
Would recommend92%
Child is happy92%
Well taught96%
Good progress93%
Feels safe93%
Well behaved92%
Bullying dealt with24%
Kept informed95%
Handles concerns66%
Wider development93%

Source: Ofsted Parent View - % who strongly agree or agree

Class Sizes

17.9

Avg class size

45

Total classes

3 classes with more than 30 pupils

2024/25 academic year

Getting There

Train Stations

Runcorn East Rail Station
984m · 16 min walk

Bus Stops

Ormiston Bolingbroke Academy
52m · 1 min walk
Halton Arms
315m · 5 min walk
The Hove
342m · 6 min walk
Barnfield Avenue
368m · 6 min walk
Brookvale
448m · 7 min walk
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Capacity & Demand

School Occupancy

60%

Available places

754 pupils

1,250 capacity

496 spare places available

Area Demand Pressure - Runcorn

Low pressure
New homes approved:671
Projected new pupils:121

Based on MHCLG housing supply data for Runcorn

Admissions Demand - Halton

Low demand0.87x oversubscription

Places available

1,640

Applications

1,432

Got 1st preference

96.4%

Got preferred school

99.5%

Secondary admissions across Halton (2025/26)

Inspection History(9)

13 January 2026Report card
Achievement
Behaviour
Personal Development
Leadership
Sixth Form
10 May 2023
Requires ImprovementReport
Quality of EducationRequires Improvement
Behaviour & AttitudesRequires Improvement
Personal DevelopmentRequires Improvement
Leadership & ManagementGood
Sixth FormRequires Improvement
5 July 2022

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

13.16186%

Overall absence

37.61714%

Persistent absence

747

Enrolments

Authorised5.16468%
Unauthorised7.99718%
Persistent (10%+)37.61714%
Severe (50%+)5.89023%

Absence trend

7.79574%
18/19
7.1901%
20/21
12.52368%
21/22
12.45271%
22/23
13.39798%
23/24
13.16186%
24/25
Overall absence rate

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

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