Free schools · Halton

Sandymoor Ormiston Academy

11–18Ages
631Pupils
SecondaryPhase
147683URN

Sandymoor Ormiston Academy, Wharford Lane, Runcorn, WA7 1QU · School website

Applications per placeCircle size: applicationsThis school

Latest Ofsted

Graded inspection · Apr 2024 Previous framework

Good

Quality of education
Behaviour and attitudes
Personal development
Leadership and management

What Ofsted found

Applications per place · Sept 2026

2.1per place

close to Halton median (2.0)

Fewer applicationsMore

This schoolOther secondary schools in Halton

312 applications for 148 places · 4th of 7 in Halton

Every year since 2014

Attainment 8 · 2025/26 (provisional)

43.2of 90

Halton 37.5 England 46.0

2nd of 8 in Halton

All GCSE results

What did Ofsted find?

Ofsted data to 30 September 2026

Overall effectiveness: Good · 17 April 2024Ofsted's previous 4-point scale (to August 2024)
Area	Outstanding	Good	Requires improvement	Inadequate
Quality of education		Good
Behaviour and attitudes		Good
Personal development		Good
Leadership and management		Good

Full reports on the Ofsted website · How to read Ofsted grades

About these grades

Ofsted's report cards (from November 2025) grade each area on five steps and give no overall grade. Earlier grades come from a different framework; Ofsted says the two cannot be compared, so they are never converted here. Ofsted: "We normally inspect schools every 4 years or at any time if we have concerns." Methodology.

How hard is it to get a place?

DfE · Sept 2026 entry

2.1applications per place, Year 7

close to Halton median (2.0) close to England median (2.2)

312 applications · 148 places offered · 158 named it first

2026 2.1; Halton median median 2.0
2025 2.2; Halton median median 2.0
2024 2.0; Halton median median 1.8
2023 2.2; Halton median median 1.8
2022 1.7; Halton median median 1.7
2021 1.7; Halton median median 1.7
2020 1.7; Halton median median 1.7
2019 1.4; Halton median median 1.3; as the previous school
2018 1.4; Halton median median 1.6; as the previous school
2017 2.1; Halton median median 1.6; as the previous school
2016 2.1; Halton median median 1.6; as the previous school
2015 2.2; Halton median median 1.9; as the previous school
2014 2.1; Halton median median 1.9; as the previous school

This school
Halton median

Dashed bars: as Sandymoor (URN 138198), the previous school.

Year 7 applications for September 2027 close 31 October 2026, through your council

How this is measured

Applications per place: every application naming the school at any preference, divided by places offered on National Offer Day. It is not your chance of a place. Methodology.

Entry	Places	Applications	Per place	First preferences	First-pref. ratio
Sep 2026	148	312	2.1	158	1.07
Sep 2025	118	260	2.2	125	1.06
Sep 2024	115	229	2.0	131	1.14
Sep 2023	119	263	2.2	143	1.20
Sep 2022	136	227	1.7	133	0.98
Sep 2021	117	203	1.7	133	1.14
Sep 2020	91	151	1.7	75	0.82
Sep 2019 *	106	143	1.4	76	0.72
Sep 2018 *	118	166	1.4	101	0.86
Sep 2017 *	87	181	2.1	77	0.89
Sep 2016 *	84	179	2.1	76	0.90
Sep 2015 *	87	191	2.2	83	0.95
Sep 2014 *	57	121	2.1	53	0.93

How did pupils do at GCSE?

DfE KS4 · 2025/26 provisional

122 pupils took GCSEs in 2025/26.

Attainment 8 (out of 90)43.22nd of 8 in Halton

Halton 37.5 England 46.0

Grade 5 or above in English and maths37%2nd of 8 in Halton

Halton 32% England 45%

Grade 4 or above in English and maths57%

Halton 55% England 66%

This school
Halton median
England median

Progress 8 (2023/24, the latest published)−0.48

−20 = national average+2

Every year as a table

Year	Pupils	Attainment 8	5+ Eng & maths	4+ Eng & maths	Progress 8
2025/26 (prov.)	122	43.2	37%	57%	–
2024/25	102	44.4	43%	64%	–
2023/24	116	42.5	40%	53%	−0.48
2022/23	101	42.7	39%	61%	−0.50

Progress 8 is not published for 2024/25 or 2025/26: those pupils had no key stage 2 tests in 2020 and 2021.

Schools nearby

The 8 nearest secondary schools in a straight line, in any local authority

Sandymoor Ormiston AcademyThis school
This school

Good2024

2.1applications per place 43.2Attainment 8
Ormiston Bolingbroke Academy
2.9 km · Halton

2026

1.7applications per place 37.0Attainment 8
The Grange School
4.1 km · Halton

2026

2.0applications per place 36.0Attainment 8
Blessed Carlo Acutis Catholic and Church of England Academy
4.2 km · Halton

Graded · no overall grade2025

1.9applications per place 37.5Attainment 8
Penketh High School
5.0 km · Warrington

Standards maintained2025

2.4applications per place 47.7Attainment 8
The Heath School
5.2 km · Halton

Graded · no overall grade2025

1.7applications per place 41.0Attainment 8
Bridgewater High School
5.7 km · Warrington

Good2022

1.8applications per place 55.0Attainment 8
St Gregory's Catholic High School
5.7 km · Warrington

Remains Good2024

2.7applications per place 53.8Attainment 8
Great Sankey High School
6.3 km · Warrington

Remains Good2023

1.8applications per place 49.9Attainment 8

Exceptional
Strong standard
Expected standard
Needs attention
Urgent improvement
Does not apply

Eight dots, one per area: inclusion, curriculum, achievement, attendance, personal development, early years, post-16, leadership. Colours follow Ofsted's report card scale; Schoolfile is independent of Ofsted.

School details

Type: Free schools
Phase: Secondary
URN · DfE number: 147683 · 876/4005
Trust: Ormiston Academies Trust
Admissions policy: Non-selective
Capacity: 630 pupils · 631 on roll
Free school meals: 29.2% of pupils (England median 23%)
Opened: 1 December 2019
Replaced: Sandymoor (URN 138198)
Address: Sandymoor Ormiston Academy, Wharford Lane, Runcorn, WA7 1QU
Local authority: Halton

Data last changed 19 October 2026 · Report an error · Corrections · Sources