Ormskirk School

About Ormskirk School

Ormskirk School is a large mixed secondary in West Lancashire that receives strong endorsement from its parent community, with 72% of respondents to the Parent View survey saying they would recommend the school. That survey, which ran between September 2024 and September 2025 and collected 155 responses, also shows that 80% of parents agree or strongly agree that their child is happy at the school, and 83% feel their child is safe. The school is clearly popular with local families: for the 2025/26 academic year, it received 489 applications for 207 places, giving an oversubscription ratio of 2.36. Of those applications, 161 were first-preference choices, and all 161 first-preference applicants were offered a place. Parents also broadly agree that the school offers a good range of subjects (88% agree or strongly agree) and that their child can take part in clubs and activities (89% agree or strongly agree). However, the picture is more mixed on SEND support, where only 33% of parents agree that the school gives children with special educational needs the support they need, while 56% disagree.

Academically, Ormskirk School sits in a middling position locally. Its Progress 8 score for the 2023/24 academic year was -0.2, which is below the Lancashire local authority average of -0.11 and places it 44th out of 90 similar schools in the county. Nationally, it ranks in the bottom half of schools on this measure, at the 64th percentile. The school’s Attainment 8 score is 45.9, and 51.5% of pupils achieved a grade 5 or above in English and maths, compared with 72.7% achieving a grade 4 or above. The EBacc entry rate is low at 14.3%, and only 9.1% of pupils entered the EBacc and achieved a grade 5 or above. At A-level, the picture is similarly modest: the school’s value-added score is -0.57, rated as below average, and the average points per entry is 25.65, equivalent to a C- grade. The school’s most recent Ofsted inspection in January 2025 judged it Good across all areas, including behaviour and attitudes, personal development, and leadership. This is a significant improvement from its previous inspection in 2019, when it was rated Inadequate.

The school offers a wide range of facilities, including a swimming pool, theatre, astro turf, music rooms, and a sixth form centre, and runs clubs such as the Duke of Edinburgh’s Award, chess, debate, and a newspaper club. Sports on offer include football, rugby, hockey, netball, and gymnastics. SEND provision covers eight categories, including autistic spectrum disorder, speech and language communication needs, and social, emotional and mental health support. With 19.9% of pupils eligible for free school meals, the school serves a relatively diverse intake. Ormskirk School is a good fit for families who want a large, oversubscribed secondary with a strong sense of community and a wide range of extracurricular opportunities, but who are comfortable with academic results that are slightly below the local average. The sixth form is small, with just 38 students in the most recent A-level cohort, so families considering post-16 options may want to explore what’s on offer carefully.

Key Details

Frequently Asked Questions About Ormskirk School

Helpful Guides for Parents