Schools by area › Halton › Sandymoor Ormiston Academy
Sandymoor Ormiston Academy
Secondary · Mixed · Ages 11–18 · Free school
Wharford Lane, Runcorn WA7 1QU · sandymooroa.co.uk · 01928 571217
Overview
- Ofsted
- Good
- 2019 framework · inspected Apr 2024
- GCSEs, 2024/25
- 44.4
- average Attainment 8 score. Halton 42.1, England 46
- Demand for places
- 1.1
- first choices for each place · Year 7, September 2026
- Pupils
- 631
- 1 over 630 places · 100%
- Local authority
- Halton
- Sixth form
- No
- Admissions
- Non-selective
- Free school meals
- 29.2%
- First language not English
- 4.6%
- School census 2025/26
The official school record (Department for Education)
Admissions
For Year 7 in September 2026, 158 families put the school first and 148 places were offered; 93% of those families were offered a place there. Admission depends on the school’s own rules.
First choices against places
| Year 7 | Places | First choices | Per place | % offered |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| September 2026Sept 2026 | 148 | 158 | 1.1▲ | 93% |
| September 2025Sept 2025 | 118 | 125 | 1.1▲ | 90% |
| September 2024Sept 2024 | 115 | 131 | 1.1▲ | 85% |
| September 2023Sept 2023 | 119 | 143 | 1.2▲ | 80% |
| September 2022Sept 2022 | 136 | 133 | 1 | 95% |
Results
In 2024/25 the average Attainment 8 score at GCSE was 44.4, and 43.1% of pupils got grade 5 or above in English and maths. Across Halton it was 42.1, and across England 46.
GCSE results
Attainment 8
| 2024/25 | Trend | School | England |
|---|---|---|---|
| ●44.4 | 46.0 | ||
| ▼43.1% | 45.4% | ||
| ●63.7% | 64.8% | ||
| ▼15.7% | 40.5% | ||
| ▼3.85 | 4.09 |
Some years are for the predecessor school (URN 138198)
Where Year 11 leavers went
| Left in 2023/24 | Since 2021/22 | |
|---|---|---|
| School sixth form | 6 | −1.7 |
| Sixth form college | 28.4 | −15.6 |
| Further education | 48.3 | +10.9 |
| Apprenticeship | 6 | +4.9 |
| Employment | 5.2 | +1.9 |
| Not in a lasting destination | 2.6 | −4 |
| Activity not captured | 3.4 | — |
A levels and other 16 to 18 results
| 2016/17 | Students | Average grade | Progress |
|---|---|---|---|
| Applied general | 22 | — | -0.09 |
Published for the predecessor school (URN 138198)
Where sixth-form leavers went
| Left in 2018/19 | Since 2016/17 | |
|---|---|---|
| University | 17 | −21 |
| Further and other education | 40 | +11 |
| Further education | 13 | — |
| Other education | 26 | — |
| Apprenticeship | 9 | +6 |
| Employment | 22 | +1 |
| Not in a lasting destination | 13 | +8 |
Published for the predecessor school (URN 138198)
Ofsted
Sandymoor Ormiston Academy was judged Good at its last graded inspection, on 17 April 2024, under Ofsted’s 2019 framework.
- Overall
- Good
- Inspected
- 17 Apr 2024
- Graded inspection
Safeguarding effectiveInspection reports
Graded areas
| Quality of education | Good |
|---|---|
| Behaviour and attitudes | Good |
| Personal development | Good |
| Leadership and management | Good |
Previously: Inadequate, graded inspection, Feb 2018
Earlier inspections
Including inspections of the predecessor school (URN 138198), which Ofsted links to this one.
Before September 2019
- Feb 2019Monitoring visitEffective action
Feb 2018Inadequate
Outcomes for pupils Inadequate Quality of teaching, learning and assessment Requires improvement Personal development, behaviour and welfare Requires improvement Leadership and management Requires improvement 16 to 19 study programmes Good Safeguarding Effective Inspection of the predecessor school (URN 138198)
Jan 2014Good
Outcomes for pupils Good Quality of teaching, learning and assessment Good Leadership and management Outstanding Inspection of the predecessor school (URN 138198)
What parents said
79% of the parents who answered Ofsted’s Parent View survey would recommend the school (159 replies, to 7 April 2025).
- Recommend
- 79%
- Replies
- 159
- 27% · 7 Apr 2025
based on the 76% who raised concerns
based on the 33% who had a child bullied
based on 57 parents (36%) with SEND