Maharishi Free School
93%
Capacity
224
Pupils
2.0x
Demand
About Maharishi Free School
Maharishi Free School is a small, all-through state school in West Lancashire, currently home to 224 pupils against a capacity of 240. That leaves a little breathing room, but demand is clearly there: for primary-phase entry in 2025/26, the school received 41 applications for just 20 places, with 22 of those applicants listing it as their first preference. That works out at just over two applicants per place. The proportion of pupils eligible for free school meals sits at 15.7%, which is broadly in line with the national average for secondary schools and suggests a genuinely mixed intake. The school is non-denominational and co-educational, taking children from age 4 right through to 16, though it does not have a sixth form. Headteacher Lisa Edwards leads a school that, on paper, looks like a popular local option that families are actively choosing.
Academically, Maharishi Free School punches above the local average. Its Progress 8 score of 0.28 means pupils here make around a quarter of a grade more progress per subject than the national average, and well above the Lancashire local authority average of -0.11. That places it 2nd out of 8 schools in West Lancashire and in the top 20% nationally. The Attainment 8 score of 46.6 is solid, and 75% of pupils achieved a grade 4 or above in both English and maths. The school also encourages a broad curriculum: 81.3% of pupils entered the EBacc suite of subjects, and 43.8% achieved the benchmark grade 4 or above across all five pillars. Progress in maths is particularly strong at 0.6, while English sits at 0.27. In its most recent Ofsted inspection in 2025, the school was rated Good across every category inspected, including behaviour, personal development, and leadership.
The school offers a decent range of facilities for its size, including a swimming pool, gymnasium, tennis courts, and an astro turf pitch, plus a library and dining hall. Sports provision is broad, with football, hockey, rugby, martial arts, and badminton among the options, and there are clubs for art, drama, choir, the Duke of Edinburgh's Award, and Model United Nations. SEND support is listed for specific learning difficulties like dyslexia, moderate learning difficulties, social and emotional mental health needs, and autistic spectrum disorder. Parent View responses, however, show a divided picture: while 64% of respondents would recommend the school, only 51% strongly agreed that their child is happy, and 36% strongly disagreed that SEND children get the support they need. This is a school that suits families who value strong academic progress and a broad curriculum, but it's worth visiting to see if the atmosphere matches your child's needs.
Key Details
| School Type | Secondary (State) |
| Age Range | 4 to 16 years |
| Gender | Mixed |
| Religious Character | None |
| Address | Cobbs Brow Lane, Ormskirk, West Lancashire, L40 6JJ |
| Headteacher | Lisa Edwards |
| Local Authority | Lancashire |
| Number of Pupils | 224 |
| Free School Meals (FSM) | 15.7% |
| School Capacity | 224 / 240 (93% full) |
Ofsted Inspection Breakdown
8 Jul 2025Quality of Education
Good
Since Sep 2024, Ofsted no longer assigns a single overall grade
Additional Provisions
Source: Ofsted, 25 Sept 2025. Ratings: 1=Outstanding, 2=Good, 3=Requires Improvement, 4=Inadequate.
League Table Position
Based on Progress 8 (+0.28)
876th of 3,141
Nationally
88th of 445
In North West
2nd of 8
In West Lancashire
Source: Classpot analysis of DfE Progress 8 data
GCSE Results
2023/24Progress 8 Score
Students make more progress than similar students nationally
Attainment 8 (vs national avg)
Students achieve significantly higher grades than the national average
Source: Department for Education, 2023/24. Progress 8 compares to students with similar Key Stage 2 results.
Where GCSE leavers go
2022/2312%
of GCSE leavers stay on for sixth form at this school (cohort: 17 pupils).
- Sixth form college59%
- FE college24%
- School sixth form (stay)12%
94% of leavers had a sustained destination 6 months on.
Source: DfE Compare School & College Performance, KS4 pupil destinations 2022/23 (revised). Only state-funded schools are required to report.
Ofsted Parent View
80 responsesWould Recommend This School
Source: Ofsted Parent View (GOV.UK statistical data), Sep – Sep 2025
SEND Support
Source: Department for Education, 2024/25. Support availability based on current student population.
Facilities
7Facilities may vary. Contact the school for current availability.
Extracurriculars
15Sports
Clubs & Activities
Activities may vary by term. Contact the school for current offerings.
Admissions
2025/26Oversubscribed20
41
Good Demand
Popular school with more applications than places
22 families put this school as their 1st choice (54% of all applications)
Source: Department for Education, 2025/26. Data reflects national offer day applications and offers.
School day
Teaching hours
09:00 – 16:00
Source: maharishischool.com. Extracted automatically — confirm with the school before relying on these times.
Class profile
2024/25Better than 75% of schools in England.
Better than 75% of schools in England.
Lower is generally better — fewer pupils per teacher or per class means more individual attention. Sources: DfE School Workforce Census & Schools, pupils and their characteristics, 2024/25.
Pupils & demographics
2024/25Below the national average (25%).
Below most schools — predominantly English as first language.
Ethnic background
- White British87.1%
- Mixed6.7%
- White (other)1.8%
- Asian1.3%
Source: DfE Schools, pupils and their characteristics (2024/25). Percentages may not sum to 100% — pupils classified as “unclassified”, “refused” or minor categories are not shown.
Attendance & Behaviour
2024/2575% of schools in England do better than this.
75% of schools in England do better than this.
Pupils missing 10% or more of sessions.
75% of schools in England do better than this.
A pupil temporarily sent home for behaviour.
Permanent exclusion is rare — most schools have none in a given year.
Ranks vs all state-funded schools in England. Source: DfE Pupil absence in schools & Suspensions and permanent exclusions.
Catchment & Local Competition
No catchment data published for this school
The dashed grey ring is a generic 1-mile reference area — it's not an admission boundary. Real catchment depends on year, demand, and council criteria. We currently have real data for about 6% of UK schools and are actively expanding the database.
⚠ This school is oversubscribed — without published cutoff data we can't show how far places reach. Check your council's admissions page.
Schools within 1 mile (reference area)
1 mile is a fixed reference, not this school's catchment.
6
Total schools
6
Oversubscribed
3
Primary
Don’t use the dashed grey ring as a catchment boundary — it’s a reference area for counting nearby schools only. Real admission boundaries depend on year-by-year demand and council criteria; ask the school or council for authoritative info.
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Frequently Asked Questions About Maharishi Free School
Helpful Guides for Parents
Ofsted Ratings Explained
Understand the 4 Ofsted ratings and what they mean
Understanding Progress 8
Learn how Progress 8 measures pupil progress from primary to GCSE
SEN & EHCP: A Parent's Guide
Understanding SEN support, EHC Plans and your legal rights
Understanding School Catchment Areas
How admission distances work and tips for maximising your choices
Contact Information
Cobbs Brow Lane, Ormskirk
West Lancashire, L40 6JJ
Journey to School
Journey times are estimates based on current conditions. Actual times may vary.
Opening Hours
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