Sandymoor Ormiston Academy, Runcorn

In its own words: "These are our core Sandymoor values and we endeavour to instil in all young people from the moment they join our family."

From the headteacher's welcome: "I am absolutely delighted to have been appointed as the new Principal of Sandymoor Ormiston Academy. It is a true privilege to lead this exceptional school as we move forward in the next exciting stages of its journey of improvement."

The school runs after-school care.

In 2026, pupils at Sandymoor Ormiston Academy averaged an Attainment 8 score of 43.2, the average grade across their best eight GCSEs. The average state school scored 40.1 in Halton and 47 across England.

37% passed English and maths at grade 5 or above, against 34% in Halton and 47% in England.

That is down from 44.4 in 2025.

Its most recent Progress 8 score, for 2024, was -0.48: pupils made below average progress compared with pupils nationally who started secondary school at the same level. Progress 8 was not published for 2026.

Disadvantaged pupils averaged an Attainment 8 of 37.3, against 46.6 for other pupils at the school - a gap of 9.3 points.

Pupils sat GCSEs in 21 subjects; after English and maths, the most popular were Combined Science, History and Geography.

For September 2026 entry, 158 families put Sandymoor Ormiston Academy as their first choice and 312 named it as one of their preferences, for 148 places offered. That is 1.1 first choices for every place. 11 families who put it first were not offered a place there.

The nearest other state secondary schools to Sandymoor Ormiston Academy are Ormiston Bolingbroke Academy (1.8 miles, Requires improvement, Attainment 8 37); The Grange School (2.5 miles, Good, Attainment 8 36); Blessed Carlo Acutis Catholic and Church of England Academy (2.6 miles, Attainment 8 37.5); and Penketh High School (3.1 miles, Good, Attainment 8 47.7).

Sandymoor Ormiston Academy's 2026 results were higher than 3 of these 4 schools.

Sandymoor Ormiston Academy is one of 44 schools run by Ormiston Academies Trust, an academy trust.

Across the trust's secondary schools, pupils averaged an Attainment 8 score of 41 in 2024/25.

Of the 116 pupils who finished Year 11 in 2023/24, 83% stayed in education or training for at least two terms, including 48% to a further education college, 6% to an apprenticeship and 5% into work.

4.6% speak English as an additional language, against 18.8% on average, according to the 2026 school census.

The largest ethnic groups are White British (85%) and Mixed (6%).

The nearest railway station is Runcorn East Rail Station, about 1.2 miles away in a straight line.

4 bus stops are within a five-minute walk; the closest is Wharford Lane, 340 metres away.

Measured by the 2025 English Indices of Deprivation, the neighbourhood Sandymoor Ormiston Academy stands in is among the 20% least deprived neighbourhoods in England. This describes where the school is, not where its pupils live.

In 2024/25, Sandymoor Ormiston Academy issued 75 suspensions, 12.5 for every 100 pupils (the average state school: 6.3), and no permanent exclusions.

The primary schools closest to Sandymoor Ormiston Academy are Windmill Hill Primary School (0.7 miles), Daresbury Primary School (0.9 miles), Moore Primary School (1 mile) and St Berteline's CofE Primary School (1.1 miles). Admission does not depend on which primary a child attends unless the school's policy names feeder schools.