The Acorns School, Ormskirk
The Acorns School is a pru school for pupils aged 11 to 16 in Ormskirk. It was rated Good at its last graded Ofsted inspection, in January 2013. Ofsted's ungraded inspection in September 2023 did not change this grade.
- Ofsted
- Good (2013)
Data last updated 26 Oct 2026
The Acorns School in detail
Where pupils go next
Of the 30 pupils who finished Year 11 in 2023/24, 40% stayed in education or training for at least two terms, including 40% to a further education college, 3% to an apprenticeship and 7% into work.
Who goes there
64.9% of pupils are eligible for free school meals, and 1.4% speak English as an additional language, according to the 2026 school census.
In 2026, 23 pupils (31.1%) received SEN support and 9 (12.2%) had an education, health and care plan. The most common need among them is social, emotional and mental health needs.
Getting there
The nearest railway station is Ormskirk Rail Station, about 660 metres away (roughly a 8-minute walk).
5 bus stops are within a five-minute walk; the closest is Pinfold Road (by), 290 metres away.
The area around the school
Measured by the 2025 English Indices of Deprivation, the neighbourhood The Acorns School stands in is among the 20% least deprived neighbourhoods in England. This describes where the school is, not where its pupils live.
Sources: DfE destination measures; DfE school census and special educational needs statistics; NaPTAN (Department for Transport); English Indices of Deprivation 2025 (MHCLG); data.police.uk street-level crime
Key Information
DfE GIASOfsted Rating
Ofsted · 3 years agoThis judgement is from January 2013, 13 years ago, longer than Ofsted's usual 4-year cycle: the school may have changed since.
Overall
Latest (ungraded) inspection: The school remains Good.
Ofsted Insights
Ofsted rated this school Good at its January 2013 inspection - down from Outstanding.
Rated Good for
Leadership & management.
At a Glance
64.9%
Free School Meals
No
Boarding
No
Nursery
No
Sixth Form
No
Special Measures
Latest from The Acorns School
Empowering pupils to make healthy choices
30 Sep 2026
Mayor of West Lancashire visits The Acorns School
14 Jul 2026
Year 10 pupil gains a head start in hairdressing
18 Jun 2026
Capturing the spirit of our school
19 May 2026
Pupils showcase culinary creativity in BTEC Level 2 practical assessments
5 May 2026
Year 11 pupil builds a bright future
20 Apr 2026
From The Acorns School's website. School Signal is not affiliated with the school.
Social & online
Keep up with The Acorns School
Getting There
Train Stations
Bus Stops
Free school transport
Check free transport to The Acorns School from your postcode →
You apply to the council where you live. The Acorns School is in Lancashire; for families living there:
- Lancashire's school travel policy: school transport policies
- How to apply: Apply for free home to school transport assistance
Safety and surroundings
Road collisions within 500 m (2021 to 2025)
- Collisions
- 22
- Fatal
- 0
- Serious
- 7
- Children hurt
- 5
Within 500 m of the school's mapped location, police recorded 22 road collisions in which someone was injured in 2021 to 2025: none fatal, 7 serious and 15 slight.
5 children aged 0 to 15 were hurt: 3 on foot and 2 in a vehicle or otherwise.
5 of the collisions happened on a weekday between 08:00 and 09:30 or 14:45 and 16:30, holidays included.
The typical figure for schools in Lancashire is 12 (the median across 707 schools, same distance and years).
Serious and slight counts use the Department for Transport's severity adjustment, which allows for changes in how police forces record injuries; they are estimates, rounded to whole numbers. Distances are in a straight line. Source: Department for Transport, Road Safety Data (STATS19), Open Government Licence v3.0.
Commute and house prices
Capacity & Demand
Area Demand Pressure - Ormskirk
Based on MHCLG Live Table 122 (2024-25, last 5 years) for Ormskirk
Across Lancashire council
Places available
14,702
Applications
13,782
Got 1st preference
87.1%
Got preferred school
97.2%
All secondary applications across Lancashire council (2026/27), not just this school.
Inspection History(5)
SEND & SEN Provision
SEN Overview
23
SEN Support
9
EHC Plans
43.2%
of Total Pupils
2026 academic year
Provision & Specialist Facilities
Pupils by Need Type
Pupil Demographics
Ethnicity
2026 academic year
Key Indicators
74
Total Pupils
42
Boys
32
Girls
2026 academic year
Workforce
11
Teachers
6.7:1
Pupil-teacher ratio
£57,627
Mean salary
2026 data
Feeder Primary Schools
Primary schools that likely feed into this school, based on proximity
Questions parents ask about The Acorns School
What is The Acorns School's Ofsted rating?
The Acorns School's most recent Ofsted inspection, in September 2023, was ungraded, so it gave no overall grade. At its last graded inspection, in January 2013, it was rated Good.
What is the catchment area for The Acorns School?
No fixed boundary. When The Acorns School is oversubscribed, Lancashire allocates places by its published criteria, usually ending with home-to-school distance.
How many pupils go to The Acorns School?
The Acorns School has around 74 pupils on roll. 65% are eligible for free school meals.
How do I apply to The Acorns School?
Apply through Lancashire's coordinated admissions process, naming The Acorns School on your application. The national closing date in England is 31 October for secondary places and 15 January for primary places, in the year before your child starts.
How many road collisions happen near The Acorns School?
Within 500 m of the school's mapped location, police recorded 22 road collisions in which someone was injured in 2021 to 2025: none fatal, 7 serious and 15 slight. 5 children aged 0 to 15 were hurt: 3 on foot and 2 in a vehicle or otherwise. 5 of the collisions happened on a weekday between 08:00 and 09:30 or 14:45 and 16:30, holidays included. The typical figure for schools in Lancashire is 12 (the median across 707 schools, same distance and years).
Where is The Acorns School?
The Acorns School is at 43 Ruff Lane, Ormskirk, Lancashire, L39 4QX.
Source: Department for Transport, Road Safety Data (STATS19)