Ormiston Chadwick Academy
Widnes, WA8 7HU · Halton · secondary school
Check the area around this school
3rd of 8 secondary schools in Halton we can score. Local and same-phase on purpose: a national table mostly measures who attends.
Narrow the comparison to schools whose pupils have similar backgrounds and it does better still — 4.3/10 against 313 of them, against 2.2/10 nationally. Both figures are results only, without the inspection grade. A lower figure here means a stronger comparison group, not a weaker school.
How this is worked out
| Measure | Percentile | Weight | Adds |
|---|---|---|---|
| Ofsted | 52 | 35% | 1.84 |
| Grade 5+ English & maths 2025/26 | 32.0 · 18 | 30% | 0.55 |
| Progress 8 2023/24 | -0.23 · 32 | 25% | 0.81 |
| Attainment 8 2025/26 | 37.0 · 9 | 10% | 0.09 |
Each measure is read as a position among comparable schools, so a school in the middle of the country scores 5. Full method.
Ormiston Chadwick Academy overview
How it's doing
The school was rated Good by Ofsted in July 2024. In 2024/25, 38.5% of pupils achieved Grade 5 or above in English and maths. Attainment 8 was 41.2, compared to the national median of 44.6. Progress 8 was -0.23 in 2023/24, indicating pupils did worse than those nationally who started from the same place. Narrow the comparison to schools whose pupils have similar backgrounds and it does better still (5.8 out of 10 against similar schools, 3.3 out of 10 against all schools).
Beyond the classroom
Pupils can join the Duke of Edinburgh Award and mindfulness and wellbeing club. Sports include rugby, football, cricket, netball, rock climbing, orienteering, and martial arts. Arts and music provision covers instrumental lessons, choir, dance, Shakespeare for School Festival, workshops with professional artists, and live theatre.
Getting in
The published school roll is 884 pupils against a stated capacity of 976. These whole-school figures do not establish entry-year vacancies or the likelihood of an offer. Confirm entry-year availability and admissions criteria with the school or local authority.
Worth asking on a visit
How does the school support pupils to close the gap between their current attainment and the national median? What specific steps are taken to improve progress scores for students starting from similar backgrounds?
What Ofsted said about Ormiston Chadwick Academy
Overview
Ormiston Chadwick Academy is described as a "friendly and caring community" where pupils feel safe and maintain positive relationships with staff and peers. The report highlights that the school has "high expectations for pupils’ learning" and provides a broad, ambitious curriculum that supports personal development and prepares students for life in modern Britain.
Strengths
- The curriculum is "broad and ambitious for all pupils," including those with special educational needs and/or disabilities (SEND), with staff adapting delivery effectively to enable success.
- There is a "strong focus on developing pupils’ vocabulary and their enjoyment of reading," with staff quickly identifying and supporting those who find reading difficult.
- Pupils benefit from a "wide range of extra-curricular opportunities," including sports, drama, and the Duke of Edinburgh’s Award scheme, which broaden their interests and experiences.
- The school fosters a "calm and orderly environment" where pupils demonstrate respectful behaviour and engage purposefully in their activities.
- Staff feel "well supported by the school and the trust," with collaborative opportunities helping to reduce workload and improve subject design.
Areas to improve
- The school should ensure teachers help pupils "bridge the gap between the previous curriculum and the heightened expectations in the revised curriculum" to address knowledge gaps in a few subjects.
- Teachers must use assessment techniques more effectively to check learning "beyond their basic recall of facts," ensuring pupils deepen their understanding over time.
- The school needs to analyse the impact of its attendance strategies to provide appropriate support for pupils with "low attendance rates and poor punctuality."
Safeguarding
The report states that "the arrangements for safeguarding are effective."
Results over time
Attainment 8, the years we hold.
| Year | Attainment 8 |
|---|---|
| 2023/24 | 40.6 |
| 2024/25 | 41.2 |
| 2025/26 | 37.0 |
| England | 44.9 |
Source: DfE Explore Education Statistics. “England” is the median of the 3,682 state schools in England we hold a 2025/26 figure for — a school-level median, not the DfE's pupil-weighted national figure.
Your offer chance
—Based on official applications/offers, distance and catchment where we have it. Bands only — never a percentage.
Sibling, faith, looked-after and other criteria can override distance. Always confirm with the school or local authority.
Next dates
- Secondary application deadline31 Oct 2026
- Secondary National Offer Day1 Mar 2027
- Secondary application deadline31 Oct 2027
- Secondary National Offer Day1 Mar 2028
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