Maharishi Free School is an all-through mainstream school in Ormskirk, Lancashire, for children and young people aged 4 to 16. In January 2026, 42 of its 229 pupils (18.3%) were getting SEN support and 6 (2.6%) had an EHC plan.
- Ages 4–16
- 229 pupils
Special educational needs here
From the school census, January 2026. Compared with state secondary schools across England and in Lancashire.
18.3% get SEN support
42 of 229 pupils. Help in school without an EHC plan.
Higher than the England average.
2.6% have an EHC plan
6 of 229 pupils. A legal plan from the council, for children who need more help.
Lower than the England average.
Most common needs
- Autism14
- Social, emotional and mental health5
Pupils by their main need, on SEN support or with an EHC plan. Needs with fewer than 5 pupils aren’t shown.
Figures show how many children the school supports, not how well. To see how it would support your child, talk to the SENCO and read its SEN information report on the school’s website.
School details
- Type
- Mainstream all-through school
- Run as
- Free school
- Ages
- 4 to 16
- Boys and girls
- Boys and girls
- Pupils
- 229 (places for 240)
- Headteacher
- Mrs Lisa Edwards
- Part of
- Maharishi School Trust LTD
- Free school meals
- 19.7% of pupils eligible
- Council
- Lancashire
- School reference (URN)
- 137498
How SEN support works
4 steps, from a first chat to an EHC plan
- Talk to the class teacher and the SENCO
If you’re worried about your child, ask for a meeting. Every school has a SENCO (special educational needs co-ordinator). Your child doesn’t need a diagnosis to get help.
- SEN support
The school should work out what your child needs, agree a plan with you, put it in place and review it together, usually each term. This is called SEN support.
- An EHC needs assessment
If your child needs more help than the school can usually give, you or the school can ask Lancashire council for an EHC needs assessment. It can lead to an Education, Health and Care (EHC) plan, which the council must make sure is delivered.
- Free, independent advice
Your local SENDIASS can help at any stage, and can come to meetings with the school with you.
Questions to ask the SENCO
10 questions to tick off as you go
Ticks stay on this device, so you can use them at the meeting.
Ofsted
Graded by area, July 2025; school remains Good (Concerns) - S5 Next (October 2023)
Inspected in July 2025. Inspections from September 2024 to November 2025 graded each area but gave no overall grade.
- Quality of educationGood
- Behaviour and attitudesGood
- Personal developmentGood
- Leadership and managementGood
- Early yearsGood
- SafeguardingEffective
Since then: School remains Good (Concerns) - S5 Next (ungraded inspection, October 2023).
Contact and getting there
Cobbs Brow Lane, Lathom, Ormskirk, L40 6JJ
Loading the map…
Directions: Walk Public transport Drive
Email me these details
The school’s details, its SEN figures and the questions to ask the SENCO, in your inbox.
Nearby
Specialist schools and SEN units
- West Lancashire Community High School Special school · Ages 11–19 · Ofsted: Good 1.3 miles
- Kingsbury Primary Special School Special school · Ages 2–11 · Ofsted: Outstanding 1.3 miles
- Delph Side Community Primary School Mainstream + base · Ages 3–11 1.6 miles
- St Francis of Assisi Catholic Primary School Mainstream + base · Ages 2–11 2.2 miles
Other mainstream schools
- Our Lady Queen of Peace Catholic High School Secondary · Ages 11–16 · SEN support 17.8%, EHC plans 1.8% 0.5 miles
- Lathom High School : A Technology College Secondary · Ages 11–16 · SEN support 12%, EHC plans 5.8% 0.6 miles
- Cobbs Brow School Primary · Ages 2–11 · SEN support 17.2%, EHC plans 2.3% 0.6 miles
All mainstream schools in Lancashire SEND schools in Lancashire
Questions about Maharishi Free School
How many pupils at Maharishi Free School have special educational needs?
In the January 2026 school census, 42 of the 229 pupils (18.3%) were getting SEN support and 6 (2.6%) had an EHC plan. Across England’s state secondary schools it is 14.1% and 3.5%.
What are the most common needs at Maharishi Free School?
Counting pupils on SEN support and with an EHC plan, the most common main needs are autism (14 pupils) and social, emotional and mental health (SEMH) needs (5 pupils).
Who do I talk to about my child’s needs at Maharishi Free School?
The SENCO (special educational needs co-ordinator). Every school has one, and every school must publish an SEN information report on its website explaining how it supports pupils with SEND.
How do I apply for a place at Maharishi Free School?
Through Lancashire council’s school admissions, in the normal application round or during the year. If your child has an EHC plan, you don’t apply this way: you ask for the school to be named in the plan instead.
Can my child with an EHC plan go to Maharishi Free School?
You can ask for Maharishi Free School to be named in your child’s EHC plan. The council must consult the school and name it, unless it would be unsuitable for your child’s age, ability or needs, or would affect other children’s education or the efficient use of resources.
Does Maharishi Free School have an SEN unit or resourced provision?
Not according to the Department for Education’s register of schools. The nearest mainstream school with one is Delph Side Community Primary School, about 1.6 miles away.
Where is Maharishi Free School?
Cobbs Brow Lane, Lathom, Ormskirk, L40 6JJ, in Lancashire.
School data: DfE Get Information About Schools, SEN figures from DfE Special educational needs in England (the January school census), under the Open Government Licence. Postcode lookups by postcodes.io: contains OS data © Crown copyright and database right, Royal Mail data © Royal Mail copyright and database right, and National Statistics data © Crown copyright and database right. Distances are as the crow flies. Always check details and admissions with the school and your council.