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Atherton High School

Secondary · Mixed · Ages 11–16 · Free school

Hamilton Street, Atherton M46 0AY · athertonhigh.com · 01942 885500

On the mapSearch near M46 0AY

Overview

Ofsted
Good
2019 framework · inspected Jan 2024
GCSEs, 2024/25
39.3
average Attainment 8 score. Wigan 43.4, England 46
Last distance offered
1.03 mi
1.66 km · Year 7, September 2026 entry · Criterion 3 · Wigan Council
Demand for places
1.0
first choices for each place · Year 7, September 2026
Pupils
561
11 over 550 places · 102%
Local authority
Wigan
Sixth form
No
Admissions
Non-selective
Free school meals
47.4%
First language not English
6.1%
School census 2025/26
Trust
Education Partnership Trust

The official school record (Department for Education)

Admissions

For Year 7 in September 2026, the last place offered under “Criterion 3” went to a home 1.03 mi (1.66 km) from the school. Source: Wigan Council’s document.

For Year 7 in September 2026, 119 families put the school first and 120 places were offered; 92% 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: 96 (Places 116)96September 2023: 111 (Places 115)111September 2024: 148 (Places 115)148September 2025: 119 (Places 108)119September 2026: 119 (Places 120)119Places 120
Year 7PlacesFirst choicesPer place% offered
September 2026Sept 2026120119192%
September 2025Sept 20251081191.1▲73%
September 2024Sept 20241151481.3▲77%
September 2023Sept 2023115111197%
September 2022Sept 2022116960.890%

Last distance offered

Year 7 – Criterion 3Distance
September 20261.03 mi1.66 km

Results

In 2024/25 the average Attainment 8 score at GCSE was 39.3, and 25.8% of pupils got grade 5 or above in English and maths. Across Wigan it was 43.4, and across England 46.

In 2015/16 the average A level result was grade D+ (22.9 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: 33.9 (England 46.3)33.92017/18: 34.5 (England 46.5)34.52018/19: 36.8 (England 46.7)36.82021/22: 42.5 (England 48.8)42.52022/23: 40.4 (England 46.3)40.42023/24: 40.7 (England 45.9)40.72024/25: 39.3 (England 46.0)39.3England 46.0
2024/25TrendSchoolEngland
▼39.346.0
▼25.8%45.4%
▼51.7%64.8%
▼38.2%40.5%
▼3.484.09

Where Year 11 leavers went

2016/172017/182018/192019/202021/222022/232023/24
Left in 2023/24Since 2021/22
School sixth form1.2—
Sixth form college26.8−3.4
Further education50+8.1
Other education2.4+1.2
Apprenticeship2.4−2.3
Employment6.1+1.4
Not in a lasting destination9.8−5.3
Activity not captured1.2−1.1

A levels and other 16 to 18 results

2016/17StudentsAverage gradeProgress
A level3— +0.17
All academic3— +0.17
Applied general13— -0.03
Earlier years: A levelStudentsAverage gradeProgress
2015/1619D+ (22.9)-0.40

Where sixth-form leavers went

2015/162016/17
Left in 2016/17
University11
Further education11
Apprenticeship11
Employment44
Not in a lasting destination11
Activity not captured11

Ofsted

Atherton High School was judged Good at its last graded inspection, on 24 January 2024, under Ofsted’s 2019 framework.

Overall
Good
Inspected
24 Jan 2024
Graded inspection

Safeguarding effectiveInspection reports

Graded areas

Quality of educationGood
Behaviour and attitudesGood
Personal developmentGood
Leadership and managementGood

Previously: Requires improvement, graded inspection, Oct 2021

Earlier inspections

September 2019 to November 2025

  • Dec 2022Monitoring visitEffective action
  • Oct 2021Requires improvement
    Quality of educationRequires improvement
    Behaviour and attitudesGood
    Personal developmentGood
    Leadership and managementGood
    SafeguardingEffective

Before September 2019

  • Feb 2018Requires improvement
    Outcomes for pupilsRequires improvement
    Quality of teaching, learning and assessmentRequires improvement
    Personal development, behaviour and welfareRequires improvement
    Leadership and managementRequires improvement
    SafeguardingEffective
  • Jun 2014Good
    Outcomes for pupilsGood
    Quality of teaching, learning and assessmentGood
    Leadership and managementGood

What parents said

82% of the parents who answered Ofsted’s Parent View survey would recommend the school (28 replies, to 6 January 2025).

Recommend
82%
Replies
28
5% · 6 Jan 2025
Child is happy at school▼75% agreeEngland 88%
Child feels safe▼79% agreeEngland 89%
Pupils are well behaved▼75% agreeEngland 84%
School has high expectations●82% agreeEngland 84%
Child does well▼75% agreeEngland 87%
Told what child will learn▼79% agreeEngland 83%
Told how child is doing▼79% agreeEngland 85%
Good range of subjects▼79% agreeEngland 90%
Can join clubs and activities▼82% agreeEngland 90%
Supports personal development▼68% agreeEngland 79%
Concerns are dealt with properly▼65% agreeEngland 77%

based on the 71% who raised concerns

Bullying dealt with quickly▲56% agreeEngland 49%

based on the 32% who had a child bullied

Gets the SEND support they need▼40% agreeEngland 67%

based on 10 parents (36%) with SEND

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