Maharishi Free School, based in Ormskirk, provides all-through education, serving pupils aged 4 to 16. The school is a free schools and operates as a mixed school. It follows a non-selective admissions policy. It has a none religious character.
Maharishi Free School currently has around 224 pupils on roll, which is about 93% of its capacity. The gender split is relatively balanced, with approximately 43.8% boys and 56.3% girls. Around 15.7% of pupils are eligible for free school meals, which gives an indication of the socio-economic mix. The student population reflects a mixed community across different backgrounds and needs.
Overall absence at the school is 9.8%. Persistent absence is recorded at 35.8%.
The majority of pupils are from a white british background (87.1%).
Safeguarding was judged to be effective, which is a key consideration for many parents.
Around 100% of pupils move on to sustained destinations after Year 11. Most continue into education (100%) , including 0% who stay in school sixth forms and 71% progressing to further education , while 0% enter apprenticeships .
| Address: | Cobbs Brow Lane, Ormskirk, L40 6JJ |
| Website: | www.maharishischool.com |
| Telephone: | 01695729912 |
| School Type: | Free schools |
| Education phase: | All-through |
| Local authority: | Lancashire |
| Headteacher / Principal: | Mrs Lisa Edwards |
| Religious character: | None |
| Admissions policy: | Non-selective |
| Unique reference: | 137498 |
Ofsted inspection date: 08/07/2025
Safeguarding is effective
| Age Range: | 4 - 16 |
| Gender: | Mixed |
| School Capacity: | 240 |
| Number of Pupils: | 224 |
| Number of Boys: | 98 |
| Number of Girls: | 126 |
| School | England state-funded schools: | |
|---|---|---|
| Overall absence: | 9.8% | 4% |
| Persistent absence: | 35.8% | 8.2% |
| White British | 87.10% | 195 |
| White and Black African | 3.60% | 8 |
| Other White | 1.80% | 4 |
| White and Asian | 1.80% | 4 |
| Other Mixed | 1.30% | 3 |
| Other (any other ethnic group) | 0.90% | 2 |
| Caribbean | 0.90% | 2 |
| Bangladeshi | 0.90% | 2 |
| Unclassified | 0.90% | 2 |
| Other Asian | 0.40% | 1 |
| Gypsy/Roma | 0.40% | 1 |
| Irish | 0.00% | 0 |
| Pakistani | 0.00% | 0 |
| White and Black Caribbean | 0.00% | 0 |
| Chinese | 0.00% | 0 |
| African | 0.00% | 0 |
| Other Black | 0.00% | 0 |
| Irish Traveller (Traveller of Irish heritage) | 0.00% | 0 |
| Indian | 0.00% | 0 |
Progress scores show how pupils performed compared with pupils nationally who had similar prior attainment. Scores above 0 are better than average; below 0 are worse than average.
| Ofsted Overall Effectiveness | Distance | Establishment Type | Has Nursery Classes | Gender | More Info | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| St James' Catholic Primary School, Skelmersdale Ashurst Road , Ashurst WN8 6TN | 3out of 4 | 972 yd | Voluntary aided school | Yes | Mixed | More About School |
| Cobbs Brow School Manfield , Ashurst WN8 6SU | - not rated | 1,240 yd | Community school | Yes | Mixed | More About School |
| Dalton St Michael's Church of England Primary School Higher Lane , Dalton WN8 7RP | 3out of 4 | 1,402 yd | Voluntary aided school | Yes | Mixed | More About School |
| Fairlie Community Primary School Fairlie , Birch Green WN8 6RG | - not rated | 1,757 yd | Community school | Yes | Mixed | More About School |
| Woodland Community Primary School Heathgate , Birch Green WN8 6QH | 2out of 4 | 1,978 yd | Community school | Yes | Mixed | More About School |
| Ofsted Overall Effectiveness | Distance | Establishment Type | Has Nursery Classes | Gender | More Info | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| St Thoma's the Apostle RC High School Glenburn Road , WN8 6JW | - not rated | 1,113 yd | Voluntary aided school | Not Applicable | Mixed | More About School |
| Our Lady Queen of Peace Catholic High School Glenburn Road , WN8 6JW | - not rated | 1,113 yd | Voluntary aided school | No | Mixed | More About School |
| Tawd Vale High School Glenburn Road , WN8 6JN | - not rated | 1,269 yd | Community school | Not Applicable | Mixed | More About School |
| Lathom High School : A Technology College Glenburn Road , WN8 6JN | 3out of 4 | 1,269 yd | Foundation school | No | Mixed | More About School |
| Glenburn Sports College Yewdale , Southway WN8 6JB | - not rated | 2,720 yd | Foundation school | No | Mixed | More About School |
| Ofsted Overall Effectiveness | Distance | Establishment Type | Has Nursery Classes | Gender | More Info | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| West Lancashire College College Way , WN8 6DX | - not rated | 2,114 yd | Further education | Not Applicable | Mixed | More About School |
| Skelmersdale College Westbank Campus , Yewdale WN8 6JA | - not rated | 2,809 yd | Further education | Not Applicable | Mixed | More About School |
| Ofsted Overall Effectiveness | Distance | Establishment Type | Has Nursery Classes | Gender | More Info | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Maharishi Free School Cobbs Brow Lane , Lathom L40 6JJ | - not rated | 0 yd | Free schools | No | Mixed | More About School |
| Ofsted Overall Effectiveness | Distance | Establishment Type | Has Nursery Classes | Gender | More Info | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Maharishi School of the Age of Enlightenment Cobbs Brow Lane , Lathom L40 6JJ | - not rated | 0 yd | Other independent school | Yes | Mixed | More About School |
| West Lancashire Community High School School Lane , Chapel House WN8 8EH | 3out of 4 | 2,511 yd | Community special school | Not Applicable | Mixed | More About School |
| Kingsbury School School Lane , Chapel House WN8 8EH | - not rated | 2,630 yd | Community special school | Not Applicable | Mixed | More About School |
| Kingsbury Primary Special School School Lane , Chapel House WN8 8EH | 4out of 4 | 2,630 yd | Community special school | Yes | Mixed | More About School |
| Black Moss School School Lane , Chapel House WN8 8EH | - not rated | 2,634 yd | Community special school | Not Applicable | Mixed | More About School |
School statistics for this postcode are based on Ofsted rankings.