Ormskirk School Review 2026: Large, community-focused secondary with a growing sixth form

A broad, mixed secondary with post-16 provision, Ormskirk School combines the scale of a sizeable 11 to 18 setting with a clear emphasis on belonging and day-to-day routines that support learning. The current headteacher is Mr J Burnham.

The school’s recent external evaluation matters for parents because it is both current and detailed. The February 2025 Ofsted report, following the January 2025 inspection, graded all key areas as Good, including sixth form provision, and confirmed that safeguarding arrangements are effective.

For families comparing options locally, Ormskirk’s GCSE outcomes sit broadly in line with the middle band of schools in England (25th to 60th percentile) on FindMySchool’s rankings, while sixth form outcomes rank lower nationally on the same dataset. That combination tends to suit families who value a conventional secondary experience with a clear route into post-16, and who want realistic expectations about A-level performance and support.

The school positions itself around a simple idea, Proud to Belong, and the messaging is consistent, aspirational, inclusive, and kind are the three headline values it uses to describe how students are expected to approach school life.

As a modern institution, Ormskirk School is also shaped by its governance history. The Ormskirk School Foundation Trust describes the current school as the continuation of a longer local story, including the 2001 joining of the previous Ormskirk Grammar School and Crosshall High School to form Ormskirk School, and the move into a new building on Wigan Road in 2004.

Leadership continuity is one of the practical signals parents often look for. Mr Burnham is named as headteacher on the school’s own website, and governance documentation notes a shift to a headteacher model from February 2023, after an earlier Head of School arrangement from April 2022.

Day-to-day atmosphere is best judged through the combination of routine, expectations, and how the school describes its relationships. The published timetable sets a structured pattern, with tutorial time at the start of each morning and a five-lesson day, which usually supports consistent behaviour and predictable transitions for students.

The most useful takeaway for parents is that Ormskirk School reads as a conventional, rules-led secondary that also tries to maintain a caring tone. That balance typically works well for families who want calm classrooms, strong pastoral messages, and a school that feels anchored to its local community rather than shaped by niche specialisms.

FindMySchool’s results data indicates a mixed profile across key stages.

GCSE performance (FindMySchool ranking based on official data)

Ranked 2305th in England and 4th in Ormskirk for GCSE outcomes, placing it in line with the middle 35% of schools in England (25th to 60th percentile). The combined GCSE and A-level composite rank is 1997th in England on the same FindMySchool dataset.

On outcomes, the average Attainment 8 score is 45.9. Progress 8 is -0.2, which suggests students make slightly below average progress from their starting points, relative to similar pupils nationally. The percentage achieving grades 5 or above in the EBacc at 9.1% is low, and aligns with the school’s stated ambition to increase EBacc uptake over time.

A-level performance (FindMySchool ranking based on official data)

Ranked 2190th in England and 1st in Ormskirk for A-level outcomes, placing it below England average overall (in the bottom 40% on this dataset).

The A-level grade distribution shows 29.6% of entries at A* to B, compared with an England average of 47.2% on the same measure. A* grades are 2.78%, and A grades are 2.78%.

What this means in practice is that Ormskirk School’s main academic strength is likely to be the breadth and consistency of its 11 to 16 offer, while sixth form outcomes, at least in published results, are more of a development area. That said, the school explicitly describes its sixth form curriculum as a mix of A-level and BTEC Level 3 routes, and frames the sixth form as a smaller, more supported environment with tutoring and enrichment, which can be an effective model for many students even when headline results are not high.

Parents comparing schools can use the FindMySchool Local Hub comparison tool to set Ormskirk’s rankings alongside nearby alternatives, then sense-check the fit with a visit.

Curriculum breadth is a recurring theme. The school organises learning across core and wider areas, including English, mathematics, science, humanities, modern foreign languages, creative subjects, and a set of social sciences options such as business, psychology, sociology, and health and social care.

A practical point for families is the school’s direction of travel on language and the English Baccalaureate. Official evaluation highlights an ambition to increase EBacc participation and notes that modern foreign languages have been promoted, with more pupils opting for them. That is relevant if you want your child to have the option set that keeps Russell Group pathways open later, even if the school is not yet at the EBacc participation levels seen in more academically selective areas.

In sixth form, the school describes a model built around subject specialists, smaller teaching groups, and pastoral tutoring. It also emphasises enrichment and opportunities such as EPQ and additional academic extension, which tends to be most valuable for students aiming for competitive university courses but who also want a supportive day-to-day structure.

Where Students Go Next

Ormskirk School’s destinations picture can be described using the published post-16 leaver data and the Oxbridge pipeline data.

For the 2023 to 2024 leavers cohort, 71% progressed to university, 6% went to further education, and 12% entered employment. The cohort size reported is 34. Apprenticeships are recorded as 0% for that year group.

For highly competitive routes, the Oxbridge data indicates 2 applications in the measurement period, with 1 offer and 1 acceptance, all recorded under Cambridge, and no Oxford figures recorded period.

The sensible interpretation is that Ormskirk School supports a mainstream university pathway for most sixth form students, with a smaller number pursuing Oxbridge. For families, that can be a good match if you want a school that keeps elite routes open without being dominated by them.

Year 7 entry is Lancashire coordinated

For September 2026 entry, Lancashire County Council states that applications open on 01 September 2025 and close on 31 October 2025, with offers issued on 02 March 2026 (because 01 March falls on a weekend or bank holiday in some years).

Ormskirk School’s own admissions page also signals that open evenings typically take place in September each year, and it directs families to the local authority route for applications.

For families planning Year 6 to Year 7 transition, the school publishes a clear set of transition touchpoints for the 2026 intake, including a Meet the Headteacher evening in March 2026, transition days on 02 and 03 July 2026, and summer school on 17 and 18 August 2026.

Because the last distance offered figure is not available in the provided dataset, it is especially important to use precise mapping and realistic travel planning. Families considering Ormskirk as a first preference should use the FindMySchool Map Search to check their home-to-school distance, then compare it with the most recent published local authority allocation information.

Ormskirk School’s public messaging places wellbeing alongside achievement, and it uses the language of safety, support, and belonging consistently.

From an external assurance standpoint, safeguarding being judged effective in the most recent inspection is an important baseline for parental confidence, and behaviour and attitudes being graded Good suggests lessons are generally calm and purposeful.

The most practical pastoral question for many families is how a large school ensures individual visibility. The structure of daily tutorial, predictable lesson timings, and the emphasis on relationship-building in the school’s messaging all point toward a model where pastoral systems sit alongside academic oversight rather than being an add-on.

Ormskirk School publishes a detailed clubs list for 2025 to 2026, which is a helpful signal because it shows the programme is planned and staffed, not simply aspirational.

For students drawn to performance and creative production, Musical Theatre is listed as an after-school option, and there is also provision around drama activity. For many students, that sort of structured performance route helps confidence and communication, and it provides a social anchor during the tricky first year of secondary.

For those who prefer STEM or academic extension, the clubs list includes a Science, Space and STEM club, alongside a Computer Club and Chess Club. The implication is straightforward, students who want to go beyond classwork have defined routes to do so, which can be particularly important in a large school where the default experience can otherwise feel anonymous.

The list also includes French Cinema Club, Music Tech Club, Vocal Work, and Global Citizens, as well as student voice via Student Council. This combination tends to suit students who want variety, and it also helps parents because it provides multiple ways for a child to find their place socially.

The published school day runs Monday to Friday, starting at 08:45 and ending at 15:15, with tutorial time from 08:50 to 09:10 and five one-hour lessons. The school states it is open 32.5 hours per week.

There is no published wraparound care model in the same way you would expect for a primary school, but the timetable and the range of after-school clubs indicate students can often stay beyond the formal end of day for supervised activities, depending on year group and club schedule.

For transport planning, the local authority explicitly prompts families to consider how children will get to school when applying, and the school’s transition information references school bus services information being available.

• Sixth form results are a current challenge. FindMySchool’s A-level ranking places the school below England average overall, and A* to B outcomes are lower than the England benchmark. Families should ask how support, subject choice, and study skills are tailored for different starting points in Year 12.

• EBacc entry looks low in published outcomes. With 9.1% achieving grades 5 or above in EBacc subjects, pupils aiming for a strongly academic, language-rich pathway should explore how modern languages and EBacc options are being expanded.

• Large-school fit varies by child. With a substantial roll and a structured day, some students will thrive on the pace and variety, while others may need parents to be proactive about tutoring support, extracurricular belonging, and early communication with pastoral staff.

• Attendance remains a priority area for some groups. Formal evaluation highlights improvement overall, but also points to ongoing work for disadvantaged pupils and pupils with SEND; this matters because missed learning time compounds quickly at GCSE.

Ormskirk School offers a mainstream, structured secondary education with a clearly signposted values framework and a growing post-16 route. GCSE outcomes sit broadly in line with the middle band in England on FindMySchool’s rankings, while sixth form results remain the area families should interrogate carefully alongside support and subject-fit.

Best suited to students who want a large, organised school with clear routines, a wide menu of clubs, and a sixth form option that keeps university progression realistic, including occasional Oxbridge success. The key decision point is whether your child will benefit from the scale and breadth, and whether the sixth form offer matches their academic profile and ambitions.