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St Mary's Catholic High School

Secondary · Mixed · Ages 11–18 · Voluntary aided

Manchester Road, Astley, Tyldesley, Manchester M29 7EE · stmaryschs.org.uk · 01942 884144

On the mapSearch near M29 7EE

Overview

Ofsted
Standards maintained
Ungraded inspection · Oct 2024
GCSEs, 2024/25
44.2
average Attainment 8 score. Wigan 43.4, England 46
Last distance offered
1.69 mi
2.73 km · Year 7, September 2026 entry · Criterion 8.3 · Wigan Council
Demand for places
1.0
first choices for each place · Year 7, September 2026
Pupils
1,537
98% of 1,569 places
Local authority
Wigan
Sixth form
Yes
Admissions
Non-selective
Free school meals
20.3%
First language not English
9.6%
School census 2025/26

The official school record (Department for Education)

Admissions

For Year 7 in September 2026, the last place offered under “Criterion 8.3” went to a home 1.69 mi (2.73 km) from the school. Source: Wigan Council’s document.

For Year 7 in September 2026, 262 families put the school first and 256 places were offered; 95% of those families were offered a place there. Admission depends on the school’s own rules.

Demand for places

First choices against places

20222023202420252026September 2022: 291 (Places 254)291September 2023: 239 (Places 268)239September 2024: 270 (Places 265)270September 2025: 252 (Places 258)252September 2026: 262 (Places 256)262Places 256
Year 7PlacesFirst choicesPer place% offered
September 2026Sept 20262562621▲95%
September 2025Sept 2025258252195%
September 2024Sept 20242652701▲95%
September 2023Sept 20232682390.9100%
September 2022Sept 20222542911.1▲83%

Last distance offered

Year 7 – Criterion 8.3Distance
September 20261.69 mi2.73 km

Results

In 2024/25 the average Attainment 8 score at GCSE was 44.2, and 37.9% of pupils got grade 5 or above in English and maths. Across Wigan it was 43.4, and across England 46.

In 2024/25 the average A level result was grade C (30.1 points per entry).

GCSE results

Attainment 8

2019/20 to 2020/21: no school results published15/1616/1717/1818/1921/2222/2323/2424/252016/17: 51.0 (England 46.3)51.02017/18: 47.3 (England 46.5)47.32018/19: 48.5 (England 46.7)48.52021/22: 47.4 (England 48.8)47.42022/23: 46.3 (England 46.3)46.32023/24: 46.4 (England 45.9)46.42024/25: 44.2 (England 46.0)44.2England 46.0
2024/25TrendSchoolEngland
●44.246.0
▼37.9%45.4%
●63.2%64.8%
▼20.6%40.5%
▼3.684.09

Where Year 11 leavers went

2015/162016/172017/182018/192019/202021/222022/232023/24
Left in 2023/24Since 2021/22
School sixth form43.9+3.9
Sixth form college7.4−7.9
Further education34.8+9.7
Apprenticeship4.9−1.4
Employment1.2−3.1
Not in a lasting destination5.3−1.4
Activity not captured2.5+0.5

A levels and other 16 to 18 results

A level average grade

2019/20 to 2020/21: no school results published15/1616/1717/1818/1921/2222/2323/2424/252015/16: 31.7 (England 30.5)C+2016/17: 30.3 (England 31.1)C2017/18: 29.5 (England 32.1)C2018/19: 31.9 (England 32.9)C+2021/22: 33.8 (England 37.9)C+2022/23: 31.9 (England 34.2)C+2023/24: 33.6 (England 34.4)C+2024/25: 30.1 (England 35.0)CEngland 35.0
2024/25TrendAverage gradeProgress
89 studentsC (30.1)Below average -0.44
89 studentsC (30.3)Below average -0.44
91 studentsMerit+ (28)Average +0.04
20%AAB or better
97.1%finished their course
Earlier years: A levelStudentsAverage gradeProgress
2023/2461C+ (33.6)-0.20
2022/2389C+ (31.9)—
2021/22106C+ (33.8)—
2018/1997C+ (31.9)-0.14
2017/18120C (29.5)-0.17
2016/17119C (30.3)-0.04
2015/16155C+ (31.7)-0.04

Where sixth-form leavers went

2015/162016/172017/182018/192019/202021/222022/232023/24
Left in 2023/24Since 2021/22
University39.2−4
Further education2+0.1
Apprenticeship12.7+1
Employment26.5−0.7
Not in a lasting destination14.7+1.7
Activity not captured4.9+1.8

Ofsted

At an ungraded inspection on 9 October 2024, Ofsted’s outcome for St Mary's Catholic High School was: Standards maintained.

Outcome
Standards maintained
Inspected
8 Oct 2024
Ungraded inspection

Safeguarding effectiveInspection reports

Previously: Good, graded inspection, Apr 2019

Earlier inspections

Before September 2019

  • Apr 2019Good
    Outcomes for pupilsRequires improvement
    Quality of teaching, learning and assessmentGood
    Personal development, behaviour and welfareGood
    Leadership and managementGood
    16 to 19 study programmesGood
    SafeguardingEffective
  • Nov 2016Requires improvement
    Outcomes for pupilsRequires improvement
    Quality of teaching, learning and assessmentRequires improvement
    Personal development, behaviour and welfareRequires improvement
    Leadership and managementRequires improvement
    16 to 19 study programmesGood
    SafeguardingEffective
  • Mar 2015Requires improvement
    Outcomes for pupilsRequires improvement
    Quality of teaching, learning and assessmentRequires improvement
    Leadership and managementRequires improvement
    16 to 19 study programmesGood

What parents said

81% of the parents who answered Ofsted’s Parent View survey would recommend the school (155 replies, to 1 September 2025).

Recommend
81%
Replies
155
10% · 1 Sept 2025
Child is happy at school▼80% agreeEngland 89%
Child feels safe▼83% agreeEngland 90%
Pupils are well behaved▼74% agreeEngland 84%
School has high expectations●84% agreeEngland 84%
Child does well▼80% agreeEngland 87%
Told what child will learn▼74% agreeEngland 84%
Told how child is doing▼82% agreeEngland 85%
Good range of subjects●91% agreeEngland 91%
Can join clubs and activities▼86% agreeEngland 91%
Supports personal development▼74% agreeEngland 79%
Concerns are dealt with properly▼66% agreeEngland 77%

based on the 74% who raised concerns

Bullying dealt with quickly▲54% agreeEngland 50%

based on the 37% who had a child bullied

Gets the SEND support they need▼58% agreeEngland 67%

based on 29 parents (19%) with SEND

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