Ormiston Bolingbroke Academy

Academy · Secondary, ages 11 to 19 · Mixed · Sixth form

Part of ORMISTON ACADEMIES TRUST

Barnfield Avenue, Murdishaw, Runcorn, WA7 6EP

01928 711643 · School website · Map and directions

Ofsted report card3 expected, 4 needs attentionSafeguarding met · 13 January 2026
Grade 5 or above in English and maths33%England 45% · 2024/25
3rd highest of 5 state secondary schools in Runcorn.
Higher than 24% of 3,259 state secondary schools in England.
Pupils754Room for 1,250 Pupil numbers in January of each year: 1,131 in 2019, 1,176 in 2021, 1,100 in 2022, 1,011 in 2023, 940 in 2024, 829 in 2025, 754 in 2026. Across England, secondary state school pupil numbers were up 10% from 2019 to 2025.
First-choice applications per place1.093 for 96 places, September 2026
3rd highest of 5 state secondary schools in Runcorn.
Higher than 54% of 3,219 state secondary schools in England.

Ofsted inspection

Ofsted report card from the inspection that started on 13 January 2026 , published 28 May 2026.

In short: 3 expected, 4 needs attention, and safeguarding met.

Since November 2025 Ofsted grades each area on a five-point scale instead of giving one overall grade. How report cards work.

AreaGrade
SafeguardingWhether pupils are kept safe. Met or not met. Met
InclusionHow well the school supports disadvantaged pupils and pupils with special educational needs. Expected standard Middle of five grades. Meets the standard Ofsted expects.
Curriculum and teachingWhat pupils are taught and how well they are taught it. Needs attention Fourth of five grades. Below the expected standard; the school needs to improve this.
AchievementHow well pupils learn and the results they get. Needs attention Fourth of five grades. Below the expected standard; the school needs to improve this.
Attendance and behaviourWhether pupils come to school and how they behave. Needs attention Fourth of five grades. Below the expected standard; the school needs to improve this.
Personal development and wellbeingPupils' wider development, character and wellbeing. Expected standard Middle of five grades. Meets the standard Ofsted expects.
Post-16 provisionSixth form or other study after 16. Needs attention Fourth of five grades. Below the expected standard; the school needs to improve this.
Leadership and governanceHow well leaders and governors run the school. Expected standard Middle of five grades. Meets the standard Ofsted expects.

Read the full Ofsted reports for this school

Source: Ofsted state-funded schools inspection data.

What parents say

156 parents answered Ofsted's Parent View survey between 10 November 2025 and 6 April 2026.

StatementThis schoolEngland
My child is happy at this school
Higher than 56% of 442 state secondary schools with comparable Parent View results in England.
81% 83%
My child feels safe at this school
Higher than 55% of 442 state secondary schools with comparable Parent View results in England.
85% 85%
The school makes sure pupils are well behaved
Higher than 67% of 442 state secondary schools with comparable Parent View results in England.
83% 78%
Bullying was dealt with quickly and effectivelyOf 43 parents whose child had been bullied
Higher than 75% of 344 state secondary schools with comparable Parent View results in England.
58% 43%
Concerns were dealt with properlyOf 134 parents who had raised a concern
Higher than 71% of 431 state secondary schools with comparable Parent View results in England.
79% 74%
My child with SEND gets the support they needOf 60 parents of children with SEND
Higher than 70% of 356 state secondary schools with comparable Parent View results in England.
70% 63%
I would recommend this school to another parent
Higher than 65% of 442 state secondary schools with comparable Parent View results in England.
88%said yes 83%

Parents choose whether to take part, so these answers may not represent all families (Ofsted puts the response rate at 19%). Figures are the share who agree or strongly agree. England figures are all parents answering the same questions over the same period, for state-funded schools. The scales run from lower (left) to higher (right) agreement, and the dot marks this school among state schools of the same phase that used the same survey questions. The third it falls in is coloured: green for the top third, amber the middle, red the bottom. Source: Ofsted Parent View management information.

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Results

GCSEs (key stage 4, age 16), 2024/25

135 pupils in this year group.

33% — 6 points below the Halton average, and 12 points below the England average.

MeasureThis schoolHaltonEngland
Grade 5 or above in English and maths 33% 39% 45%
Attainment 8 scoreAverage of each pupil's grades across 8 GCSE-level subjects, with English and maths counted twice. Around 50 means grade 5s on average. 35.9 42.1 46.1
EBacc average point scoreAverage points across the English Baccalaureate subjects: English, maths, sciences, a language and history or geography. 2.7 3.6 4.1
Grade 5 or above in English and maths, over time
10% 20% 30% 40% 50% 60% England 2022/23: 45%England 2023/24: 46%England 2024/25: 45% This school 2022/23: 23%This school 2023/24: 27%This school 2024/25: 33% This school England 45% 2022/23 23% 2023/24 27% 2024/25 33%

Progress 8 isn't shown. DfE didn't publish it for 2024/25 because this year group's key stage 2 tests in 2020 were cancelled, and older progress scores aren't comparable.

Source: DfE key stage 4 performance tables, 2024/25. England figures are for state-funded schools.

After Year 11

Where pupils went next. DfE measures this for pupils who finished in an earlier year, so these figures describe a previous year group.

179 pupils in this year group.

92% — about the same as the Halton average, and about the same as the England average.

Where pupils went after Year 11
This school 36%45%
England 34%13%37%
MeasureThis schoolHaltonEngland
Stayed in education, an apprenticeship or workPupils recorded in sustained education, apprenticeship or employment in the year after finishing Year 11. 92% 92% 92%
School sixth form 36% 6% 34%
Sixth form college 4% 9% 13%
Further education college 45% 69% 37%
Apprenticeship 2% 4% 3%
Work 3% 2% 3%

Stayed in education, an apprenticeship or work, over time

2023/242024/25
90%92%

Source: DfE key stage 4 destination measures, 2024/25 performance tables. England figures are for state-funded schools.

A levels (16 to 18), 2024/25

37 A level students in this year group.

MeasureThis schoolHaltonEngland
Average A level grade C- B- B-
A level exams graded A* or A 8% 8% 26%
A level exams graded A* to B 26% 26% 53%
Average points per A level entryAn A* is 60 points, an A is 50, a B is 40, and so on down to 10 for an E. 25.2 35.0 35
Average points per A level entry, over time
20 25 30 35 40 England 2022/23: 34.2England 2023/24: 34.4England 2024/25: 35 This school 2022/23: 25.7This school 2023/24: 28.7This school 2024/25: 25.2 This school England 35 2022/23 25.7 2023/24 28.7 2024/25 25.2

A level subjects, 2024/25

15 subjects, 72 exams. England figures are for state-funded schools and colleges.

SubjectExamsA*A* or AEngland A* or A
History 10 0% 0% 23%
Art and Design (Photography) 9 0% 0% 26%
Chemistry 7 0% 14% 30%
Art and Design (Fine Art) 6 0% 0% 38%
Mathematics 6 0% 17% 40%
Physics 6 0% 17% 31%

Also taken, with too few exams for DfE to publish grades: Sociology, Geography, Law, Art and Design (Graphics), Biology, Business Studies:Single, Psychology, English Language, Spanish.

Source: DfE 16 to 18 qualification and subject data, 2024/25.

Source: DfE 16 to 18 performance tables, 2024/25. England figures are for state-funded schools.

After sixth form

Where pupils went next. DfE measures this for pupils who finished in an earlier year, so these figures describe a previous year group.

98 students in this year group.

62% — 15 points below the Halton average, and 17 points below the England average.

MeasureThis schoolHaltonEngland
Stayed in education, an apprenticeship or workStudents recorded in sustained education, apprenticeship or employment in the year after finishing 16 to 18 study. 62% 77% 79%
Apprenticeship 11% 9% 7%
Work 18% 29% 28%

Stayed in education, an apprenticeship or work, over time

2023/242024/25
70%62%

Source: DfE 16 to 18 destination measures, 2024/25 performance tables. England figures are for state-funded schools.

Going on to university

Where pupils went next. DfE measures this for pupils who finished in an earlier year, so these figures describe a previous year group.

53 students in this year group.

32% — 15 points below the Halton average, and 28 points below the England average.

MeasureThis schoolHaltonEngland
Went on to a degree or other higher education 32% 47% 60%
Went to one of the most selective third of universitiesDfE's grouping of universities by the typical entry grades of their students. 8% 10% 19%

Went on to a degree or other higher education, over time

2023/242024/25
36%32%

Source: DfE 16 to 18 progression to higher education or training, 2024/25 performance tables. England figures are for state-funded schools.

Admissions

Apply through the council where you live, even if the school is in a different council area. This school is in Halton. The national closing date for secondary applications is 31 October, and offers are sent on 1 March.

How hard is it to get in?

For the September 2026 intake there were about one first-choice application for every place.

Places offered96
Families who put it first93
Of those, offered a place93 (100%)
Families who listed it at all162

First-choice applications per place: 2024: 0.8 · 2025: 1.0 · 2026: 1.0

This isn't your chance of getting a place. That depends on the school's admissions rules (for example siblings, distance or faith) and where you live. Source: DfE applications and offers, September 2026 intake.

Admissions dates and schools in Halton

Pupils, staff and SEND

PupilsThis schoolHaltonEngland
Eligible for free school meals in the last 6 years
2nd highest of 5 state secondary schools in Runcorn.
Higher than 96% of 3,448 state secondary schools in England.
58.3% 42.3%* 28.9%
With an education, health and care plan
3rd highest of 5 state secondary schools in Runcorn.
Higher than 55% of 3,448 state secondary schools in England.
3.1% 3.5%* 3.1%
Receiving special educational needs support
1st highest of 5 state secondary schools in Runcorn.
Higher than 90% of 3,448 state secondary schools in England.
21.1% 14.9%* 13.4%
English as an additional language
5th highest of 5 state secondary schools in Runcorn.
Higher than 5% of 3,448 state secondary schools in England.
1.9% 4.4%* 19.2%
Overall absence (sessions missed)
5th lowest of 5 state secondary schools in Runcorn.
Lower than 4% of 3,411 state secondary schools in England.
13.2% 9.8%* 8.4%
Persistently absent (missed 10% or more)
4th lowest of 5 state secondary schools in Runcorn.
Lower than 5% of 3,411 state secondary schools in England.
37.6% 28.4%* 23.4%
Suspensions per 100 pupils
4th lowest of 5 state secondary schools in Runcorn.
Lower than 23% of 3,445 state secondary schools in England.
30.4 20.1 21.2
Pupils suspended at least once
4th lowest of 5 state secondary schools in Runcorn.
Lower than 20% of 3,445 state secondary schools in England.
11.8% 8.5% 7.3%
Pupils permanently excluded10 pupils 1.21% 0.50% 0.23%
Pupils per teacher
4th highest of 5 state secondary schools in Runcorn.
Higher than 4% of 3,442 state secondary schools in England.
13.4 16.2 16.7
Pupils per adult (teachers and support staff)
5th highest of 5 state secondary schools in Runcorn.
Higher than 3% of 3,445 state secondary schools in England.
8.7 10.7 11.8
Teachers who left during the year
1st highest of 5 state secondary schools in Runcorn.
Higher than 79% of 3,430 state secondary schools in England.
19.7% 13.0%* 14.2%*

Comparisons are with secondary schools. Scales run from lower (left) to higher (right) figures. For absence and suspensions lower is better, so their scales run green to red; blue scales describe the school's pupils and staff and aren't good or bad. * Calculated by SchoolScores from the council's or England's schools, weighted by pupils (or teachers, for turnover); other figures are published by DfE. Sources: DfE school census 2024/25; DfE pupil absence 2024/25; DfE suspensions and permanent exclusions 2024/25; DfE school workforce census 2025/26; DfE teacher turnover 2024/25.

Nearby secondary schools

Straight-line distance. Distance isn't the same as a catchment area.

Questions parents ask

What is Ormiston Bolingbroke Academy's Ofsted rating?

Ormiston Bolingbroke Academy was inspected under Ofsted's report card format in 13 January 2026. Report cards grade each area on a five-point scale instead of giving one overall grade. Its grades were 3 expected, 4 needs attention, and safeguarding was met.

How did Ormiston Bolingbroke Academy do in its GCSEs?

In 2024/25, 33% of pupils grade 5 or above in English and maths, 12 points below the England average of 45%.

Would parents recommend Ormiston Bolingbroke Academy?

88% of the 156 parents who answered Ofsted's Parent View survey between 10 November 2025 and 6 April 2026 said they would recommend Ormiston Bolingbroke Academy to another parent. Parents choose whether to respond, so this may not represent all families.

Is Ormiston Bolingbroke Academy oversubscribed?

For the September 2026 intake, 93 families put Ormiston Bolingbroke Academy as their first choice for 96 places: about one first-choice application for every place. 93 of those families were offered a place. Whether you get a place depends on the school's admissions rules and where you live.

Sources

Spotted a mistake? Report it and we'll check it against the source.

Page updated 26 September 2026.