Maharishi Free School vs St James' Catholic Primary School, Skelmersdale
A head-to-head comparison of two schools in North West, England, 890 m apart, using official English 2025 data. The better value in each row is highlighted.
Maharishi Free School
Ormskirk · Academy all-through · Ages 4–16
229 students
St James' Catholic Primary School, Skelmersdale
Skelmersdale · Local authority primary · Ages 2–11
229 students
| Measure | Maharishi Free School Ormskirk, North West | St James' Catholic Primary School, Skelmersdale Skelmersdale, North West |
|---|---|---|
| Success Index (England) | 48 Lower 50% | 73 Top 25% |
| Region rank | #241 of 536 | #403 of 2,286 |
| National rank | #2087 of 4,090 | #3426 of 15,697 |
| Sector | Academy | Local authority |
| Type | All-through | Primary |
| Year range | Ages 4–16 | Ages 2–11 |
| Students | 229 | 229 |
| Pupils on roll | 229 | 229 |
| Free school meals | 19.7% | 16.6% |
| Capacity filled | 95.4% | 109% |
| KS2 expected standard (RWM) | 50% | 78% |
| KS2 higher standard (RWM) | 0% | 9% |
| KS2 reading progress | – | – |
| KS2 writing progress | – | – |
| KS2 maths progress | – | – |
| Attainment 8 | 54.1 | – |
| Progress 8 | – | – |
| Grade 5+ English & maths | 55% | – |
| Grade 4+ English & maths | 80% | – |
| EBacc average points | 5.35 | – |
| A level points per entry | – | – |
| town | Ormskirk | Skelmersdale |
| region | North West | North West |
| Website | www.maharishischool.com | www.st-james-pri.lancs.sch.uk |
The verdict
- •St James' Catholic Primary School, Skelmersdale scores higher on the Success Index (England) (72.5 vs 47.7).
- •St James' Catholic Primary School, Skelmersdale does better on ks2: reading, writing & maths expected standard (78% vs 50%).
- •St James' Catholic Primary School, Skelmersdale does better on ks2: higher standard (9% vs 0%).
- •Maharishi Free School is a academy school while St James' Catholic Primary School, Skelmersdale is a local authority school, so fees and admission rules differ.
The Success Index (England) summarises published results and context from official data. It does not measure teaching quality or fit. Methodology.
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Frequently asked questions
Is Maharishi Free School better than St James' Catholic Primary School, Skelmersdale?
On the Success Index (England), St James' Catholic Primary School, Skelmersdale ranks higher (72.5 vs 47.7 out of 100). The index is built from published results and context data, not from teaching quality or fit, so visit both schools before deciding.
How far apart are Maharishi Free School and St James' Catholic Primary School, Skelmersdale?
About 890 m in a straight line, between Ormskirk and Skelmersdale in North West.
Which has the better Pupils on roll?
Maharishi Free School: 229. St James' Catholic Primary School, Skelmersdale: 229. Number of pupils in the latest school census.
How do Maharishi Free School and St James' Catholic Primary School, Skelmersdale rank in North West?
Maharishi Free School is 241st of 536 and St James' Catholic Primary School, Skelmersdale is 403rd of 2,286 among all-through schools in North West on the 2025 Success Index (England).