Maharishi School - building a brighter future.  Relocation and Expansion

 

“Education is the science and art of unfolding values hidden from view.” 

“The process of education takes place in the field of consciousness; the prerequisite to complete education is therefore the full development of consciousness….”

“This system of Transcendental Meditation, which is an easy approach to mental development and the unfoldment of all latent potentialities, and a direct way to fathom the spiritual values of inner life and glorify material values by the light of the inner self, is the simple and direct technique of education from within.” Maharishi Mahesh Yogi

“The Maharishi Free School is one of our fondest national treasures. The proposed new facilities for the school will herald substantial progress in every single aspect of school life. Let's all pull together and support this timely initiative in whatever way we can.” Dr Peter Warburton - CEO of Maharishi Foundation

Pupils’ attitudes and behaviour are outstanding. They are very keen to learn, they listen well and are able to express their carefully considered views respectfully. Pupils care for each other and make a major contribution to ensuring that their school is cohesive, safe and orderly. Pupils are happy and content. 

The promotion of pupils’ spiritual and personal development is at the core of what this school does so well. Maharishi Free School pupils are good thinkers. They reflect on their world and try to see the world through other people’s eyes. This enables pupils to better understand their own experiences and those of others. Pupils are tolerant, considerate and empathetic. They are able to consider the impact of their actions on other people and on nature. They are ambitious, articulate, confident and engage very well with adults.  Personal development and welfare - Outstanding     Ofsted November 2017

“Pupils are extremely well cared for in this nurturing school. Staff know each pupil individually. This helps staff to tailor support promoting pupils’ positive social, emotional and mental health. Pupils benefit from strong pastoral support. Pupils are happy and play harmoniously together at playtime. They are incredibly proud of their successful fundraising for new playground equipment. In the secondary school’s recreational space pupils are free to explore their creativity. For example, the sound of a guitar and pupils singing softly floats in the air.”  Ofsted July 2025

 

INTRODUCTION

Headteacher Mrs Lisa Edwards, with primary and secondary phase pupils.

How do you unfold the full potential of a child? How do you help a child develop in their knowledge of themselves and of the world?

The Maharishi School in West Lancashire has been working on that since 1986 – but it is now time for an exciting new phase for the school. Having been in operation operation since then, our school is unusual in many ways. It is the only school in the UK, and one of only a handful in the world, to offer the unique system of Consciousness-based Education (CbE),  founded by Maharishi Mahesh Yogi, the founder of Transcendental Meditation (TM). 

This transformative education model develops student’s inner potential leading to strong academic outcomes.

CbE supplements regular education models by actively developing the pupils’ consciousness – their ability to know – with the simple, mental TM technique and an additional curriculum subject which strengthens the pupils’ connection to all disciplines. For more detail see Expansion Project on the school website -  https://maharishischool.com 

Set up in 1985 by a group of meditating TM Community parents who wanted their children to benefit from this comprehensive educational model, the school was initially, by necessity, an independent school with small class sizes. Pupils excelled in many areas, repeatedly winning various national contests, such as the Times Educational Supplement poetry competition, the UK Maths Trust’s Maths Challenge and the Salters’ Chemistry Festival. For the views on the school by former pupils, please follow this link - Alumni | Maharishi School

Prompted by its outstanding academic performance and Ofsted reports, in 2011 the Maharishi School was one of the first 23 state-funded Free Schools approved by the coalition government of the time. As a result, it is also the only state-funded, all-through school in Lancashire, with pupils starting in Reception and continuing straight through to Year 11 and their GCSEs, without the need to reapply for the secondary phase. As there was not enough space on the original site to accommodate the influx of new Free School pupils, in 2012 the school had to separate the primary and secondary phases and started to operate on two distinct sites.

The Maharishi School’s continued success has been despite the smaller than usual class sizes, resulting in limited, pupil-based Department for Education (DfE) funding, and that both the school’s premises do not actually meet the DfE’s recommended school space standards.


From the humble origins of being a very small school, drawing on a largely self-selecting demographic, since becoming a Free School, due to its enviable local popularity and unique educational model, Maharishi School has increased its class size 4 times to the current size of 20 pupils per class. It now enjoys strong waiting lists for most classes (eg: at the time of writing, 25 for year 6, and 41 for year 7) - evidence of its continuing success.

After 40 years of successful operation, the time has come for a change. The goal?

To combine both Primary and Secondary phases onto the same site – a new site, with all the space and facilities enjoyed by other schools. A move that will greatly benefit pupils as well as delivering more efficient staff deployment and cost reductions. This will boost the school’s performance further from its current solid ground. 
 

Why Consciousness-based Education? 

Consciousness-based Education (CbE) is a remarkable educational model, which can supplement any traditional, national or regional system of Education. It does not replace existing academic or vocational curricula, but adds another important but usually missing element, which in turn enhances all aspects of whichever style of education is on offer. 

Traditionally, education has focused primarily on the curriculum - imparting as much information as possible to pupils, often accompanied by the difficult need to maintain order in the classroom.  Whereas, the prime concern of CbE is to release the greatest hidden value – the full potential of the students’ consciousness, based on Maharishi Mahesh Yogi’s explanation of the true value of human consciousness.

By developing the consciousness of both students and staff, CbE enables everyone to get the most out of the learning or teaching process. One of the school’s mottos is “Knowledge is Structured in Consciousness”.  With its clear understanding of the structure of knowledge, CbE provides a more profound and meaningful education for all concerned.

 

 

The cornerstone of CbE is the twice daily practice of Transcendental Meditation (TM) – uk.tm.org - by students and staff. This simple, effortless, mental technique is highly effective and brings multiple benefits, many of which are perfectly suited to educational settings. It does not depend on any particular philosophy, faith or belief system, any ethnicity or cultural tradition, or any socio-economic background. It is easy to learn and starts to work very quickly, with benefits in day-to-day life usually being noticed in the first day or two after instruction. In addition, this wonderful technique is backed up with hundreds of research studies showing its benefits, over 200 of them published in peer reviewed medical and scientific journals.

TM allows the mind and body to easily settle down and enjoy a state of restful alertness. This eliminates deep-rooted stress and balances the whole physiology, including the nervous system. This is the basis for improved performance and behaviour in school, and increased enjoyment of life. When the mind quietens during TM, it transcends mental activity and allows the meditator to access the unlimited reservoir of energy, intelligence, creativity and happiness that is deep within our own consciousness, and usually hidden from view.

EEG studies show the brain functioning in a more integrated way during meditation, while other scientific research into the benefits of the TM technique show many areas of improvement that are ideal for students and adults. These include increased intelligence and creativity – resulting in improved academic performance, better memory, improved physical health, less anxiety and better behaviour. Studies show reduced absenteeism and suspensions, a decreased use of recreational drugs and need for medication, as well as greater confidence and self-actualisation.

 

 

EEG tracings recorded during practice of the TM technique. The lines are moving up and down together — brain waves are no longer scattered but "in phase," indicating that neurons are firing in harmony within the same frequency of alpha1.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

The Primary Phase

Maharishi Primary site - The Davies Building

 

Maharishi School’s primary phase currently occupies a converted barn and a purpose-built, timber-framed building housing the Reception class, in a semi-rural location in Lathom, just outside Skelmersdale, Lancashire. At one time the barn housed both the primary and secondary phases, supplemented by two temporary buildings.

Currently the barn houses 6 classrooms, a reception/office, a small library/intervention space in near constant use, the Head and Deputy Head’s shared office and a small staff room. The classrooms are just big enough for the class size of 20 pupils. There is no school hall, gym, dining room/kitchen or spare space. Pupils eat lunch in their classrooms and the before & after school clubs operate from steel storage units

 

 

 

 


The Reception classroom - The Richard Scott Qube

The Reception classroom building also provides an administration office and is supplemented by a garden shed for pupils with special needs. The proposed expansion will address the ongoing, substantial space issues the school faces. In detail the issues at the primary site are:

  •  the school building has exactly the number of classrooms required, but little else for interventions etc,
  •   the classrooms are at capacity, with no scope for future increased numbers (even though the school has substantial waiting lists),
  • there is no school hall, kitchen or dining facility, gym or dedicated intervention rooms,
  •  individuals and small groups have to work in the small library, the undersized staff room (limiting its availability to staff) or in a small garden shed (only big enough for one or two pupils and the staff member),
  • the Head’s office is shared with the Deputy Head and so does not meet Department for Education (DfE) guidelines,
  • the business manager uses a shared office - see below
  •  the admin/finance team office houses 3 staff (including the Business Manager) but it is only big enough for 2,
  • circulation corridors are too narrow,
  •  the out of hours club is housed in a shipping container,
  • there are very limited external sports facilities, impacting what can be achieved on site and requiring significant expenditure on venue hire and transport for most of the year.

 

The Secondary Phase

Maharishi School’s secondary phase occupies a converted sports centre – The Morris Birnbaum Building - in the built-up area of Ashurst in Skelmersdale. It is a straight-line distance of 684 metres from the current primary phase site and a 1 mile drive. We took possession of the building in the Easter of 2012 as part of becoming a Free School, following its conversion by the DfE.

Maharishi School Secondary phase – The Morris Birnbaum Building

 


The secondary building provides 5 classrooms, including a science lab, two small offices for the secretary and Deputy Head, and a very small staff room. As with the primary site, there is no school hall, gym, dining room/kitchen or spare space, and pupils eat their lunch in classrooms. The staff room is often used for meetings and interventions, and also, like at the primary phase, garden sheds are used for small group work. Pupils currently go to sport offsite, at great expense.
At the secondary site the issues are as follows:

  • the school building comprises only 5 classrooms, including the science lab and the art room, which means that all classrooms are always in use,
  • the classrooms are at capacity, with no scope for future increased numbers (even though the school has substantial waiting lists),  
  • there is no school hall, kitchen or dining facility, sports hall or separate intervention rooms. Without these, or a dedicated examination space, the largest classroom, Room 1, which usually serves as the art and DT room, is used for external exams. This means that the whole school must teach and learn in complete silence for the duration of each exam. Art and DT lessons have to move to a normal classroom with the curriculum adapted to allow for this change,
  • small scale activities take place in two garden sheds (one of these is only big enough for one-to-one work), the boiler room and occasionally the staff room,
  • the staff room, reception office and the deputy head’s office (which is shared with other staff when necessary) are too small and well below DfE size guidelines,
  •  the playground is far too small, limiting the range of activities available for pupils during their recreation time.
  •  there are no external sports facilities, requiring significant expenditure on venue hire and transport.

The vision - a new Maharishi School - one site, unlimited potential

From its conception over 40 years ago Maharishi School has enjoyed success and made great strides forward, against the odds,, despite its small size. Starting as an independent school with just 14 pupils in a living room, it has been able to obtain a site requiring the existing primary phase building to be redeveloped, to grow and achieve outstanding GCSE results, to own a share in a second building on a separate site, and then to be one of the first 23 state-funded Free Schools to open in 2011. As part of the Free School award, the school obtained full ownership of the second building, which was converted to provide the existing secondary phase facility. Since then, Maharishi School has continued to grow, get good Ofsted reports, increased its class sizes by 33%, and have enviable class waiting lists. It has also made four successful applications to the Department for Education Condition Improvement Fund (CIF).

Now is the time for Maharishi School to achieve another progressive milestone - a purpose-built home designed for the future.

Our initial intention for the proposal is to acquire land in the locality, of sufficient size to accommodate both primary and secondary phases of the school together in a new purpose-built facility, which will resolve the myriad space issues currently faced by the school. The addition of suitable play and sports facilities will also enable the school to fulfil its obligations more effectively, while also saving money and allowing potential income streams from lettings. The inclusion of car parking will address the health and safety concerns around parking, especially at the Primary site, and contribute to the possibility of safely letting out areas of the site for local community use.

We have reviewed the few potential development sites in the area and have a favourite which we are focussed on. Developing this preferred site will provide a building with sufficient internal facilities, external play spaces for both phases, sports facilities for both phases, a whole-school car park with drop off facility, and bicycle storage. 

It would also enable the school to include a nursery and ultimately increase pupil numbers when the current population dip is reversed and the local school age population allows. Although the school has routinely filled the Reception class each year, the addition of a nursery to the new site will provide a feeder to ensure this continues, including if and when class sizes can be increased.

 

Why relocate/expand now?

It has become clear after some years as a Free School that Maharishi School’s facilities do not meet the DfE building guidelines document (BB103). This also means that it does not have enough space to fulfill the requirements of a growing state-funded school, or to fully support the profile of many pupils now being admitted. Also, over the last 10-15 years, schools have been expected to take on further responsibilities beyond just education, supporting an increasing number of pupils with special educational needs and becoming a sort of social service for disadvantaged children and their families. Consequently, we have had to make creative use of otherwise unlikely resources in terms of space, but have continued to be compromised on the facilities at our disposal. Operating in such an environment is unsustainable in the long term if we are to continue to offer an excellent education.

The timing is critical. Aside from the urgent need to resolve the space issues listed, the timing of this project has two other main drivers. Firstly, if the school is to move premises this will have to be close to the existing locations. We are aware that other parties are interested in our preferred site, meaning we cannot take for granted that it will always be available. And secondly, as the school celebrates 40 years since it opened, we see this as a fitting milestone with which to undertake a project to provide for at least the next four decades. 

We are therefore embarking on a drive to raise the funds necessary to procure a site suitable for both phases and all the necessary facilities. This will unify the school and provide a legacy for the next 40 years. 

 

Actions completed to date 

 We have had meetings with local Parish Councils and at the school with the local MP and the Lancashire County Council cabinet member for education, Matthew Salter. Both were interested in what Maharishi School has to offer and were very supportive of the proposed expansion project. We will be regularly updating Councillor Salter on our progress.

A draft site plan has been developed for our preferred site ( showing the buildings, sports fields, playgrounds and car parking, together with more detailed building plans, accommodation schedules and costings, and other supporting statements. With these we have submitted a Pre-Application advice request to the planning department at West Lancashire Borough Council. After a visit to the site with the planning officer, and a subsequent meeting with the planning team, we have received their formal advice. This detailed the challenges which any proposed development on the site would face, but also indicated the strengths in the school’s position, which will assist us in a future formal planning application. We have also developed a good relationship with the land owners, who have shared information with us from their files relevant to the Pre-Application advice.

 

Project operation and management

This project is progressing with a small, volunteer team overseen by a project management committee comprising members with substantial experience and reporting to the Maharishi School finance committee. They are:

Dr Ian Birnbaum OBE - currently Chair of the Maharishi School governing body and finance committee, formerly Head of Children’s Services and Chief Executive of Sutton Borough Council (London)

Mrs Lisa Edwards - Maharishi School Headteacher

Mr James Scott - currently on the Maharishi School board of Members and finance committee, formerly Vice President at Arma Partners LLP

Dr Chris Hodkinson - currently a member of the Maharishi School finance committee, formerly a communications and public affairs consultant and tutor at Lancaster University

The team also consult Dr Peter Warburton the CEO of Maharishi Foundation, who wholeheartedly supports Maharishi School and this relocation/expansion project. 

The school has the support of the specialist educational team at E3 Cube, a successful building consultancy, who are working on this project with us on a no-win no-fee basis, and have previously been instrumental in helping the school obtain funding from the DfE Condition Improvement Fund (CIF). 


Our Strategic Funding Roadmap

The estimated land cost is £1,000,000. Once the land acquisition is complete, the second stage is to develop the site with sports fields and a car park, and to install the services required for a new building. For this we must raise another £1,500,000.  Total initial target £2,500,000.

Although Maharishi School is state-funded for day to day operational purposes, we must raise funds ourselves for major projects such as this. The CIF may be a later source of funding when we have raised most of what is needed, but is not an option at this starting stage. 

We have already raised over £10,000 with minimal outreach—a testament to the commitment of our supporters. Now, we invite you to help us reach our initial target of £2.5 million to secure the land and develop the essential infrastructure for our students’ future.

To bring this project to life, we are pursuing a multi-faceted funding strategy that combines community generosity, philanthropic partnerships, and government grants.

  • Philanthropic Partnerships: We are connecting with visionary individuals within the international TM community and national philanthropic circles who share our commitment to innovative education.
  • High-Profile Endorsements: We are engaging with well-known TM practitioners to champion our cause through benefit events and public advocacy.
  • Trusts and Foundations: Using resources like the Directory for Social Change, we are identifying commercial and charitable organizations that align with our mission.
  • Government Support (CIF): The Department for Education’s Condition Improvement Fund (CIF) is a vital resource. Having already secured four successful CIF bids, we are well-positioned to apply for expansion funding once we reach our private fundraising milestones. 

For all of the first three routes above where substantial donations are made, Maharishi School is happy to discuss naming the building or significant elements of the development after donors. Major donors will also be invited to an annual reception and receive updates on the school’s progress.

Thank you for your consideration of our ambitious but important expansion project. We respectfully request your support for this endeavour, which when fully realised will enable Maharishi School to enhance and exceed its already impressive track record.  We will also be ready to be able to offer this unique system of Consciousness-based Education to even more deserving young people, improving their chances of a successful, fulfilling life by operating in a future-proofed, modern learning environment.

Donors of significant amounts are warmly invited to visit the school by arrangement before committing. All financial donations, whether large one-off payments, or smaller, regular amounts will be gratefully received and much appreciated.

Any collected donations will only be used for this project. All contributions will be treated confidentially, unless otherwise specified by the donors. The funds raised will be treated as applicable for any aspect of fulfilling this project. Other forms of help are also welcome, such as professional assistance, donations of products and services, and contacts to potential donors. For larger donations, which you may wish to keep yourself until they are actually required by the school, please request a pledge form from expansion@maharishischool.com


Our bank details are: Account name - Maharishi School Trust Ltd, Account number – 34302068, Sort code – 305466, or make a donation at our Crowdfunder page - Maharishi School building a brighter future . Regular payments can be set up via Crowdfunder and most online bank accounts, but if you require a hard copy standing order mandate please contact the school at expansion@maharishischool.com. 

The school has a designated high interest-bearing bank account for holding any funds raised as part of this appeal. The proceeds from the sale of the existing sites will also be put into this project but will not be available until after the move onto the new site.

For more detailed information, please see the Expansion Project section of the school website - maharishischool.com

Any queries about either the project, or about receipt/use of any monies being contributed, should be directed to expansion@maharishischool.com

Join us in this journey. By supporting this project, you aren’t just funding a building - you are investing in a sustainable, high-quality education that will empower our children for decades to come.

Thank you