Schools by area › Wigan › The Byrchall High School
The Byrchall High School
Secondary · Mixed · Ages 11–16 · Academy
Warrington Road, Ashton-in-Makerfield, Wigan WN4 9PQ · byrchall.wigan.sch.uk · 01942 728221
Overview
- Ofsted
- Good
- 2019 framework · inspected Sept 2022
- GCSEs, 2024/25
- 41.3
- average Attainment 8 score. Wigan 43.4, England 46
- Last distance offered
- 2.95 mi
- 4.75 km · Year 7, September 2026 entry · Criterion 3 · Wigan Council
- Demand for places
- 1.3
- first choices for each place · Year 7, September 2026
- Pupils
- 1,138
- 94% of 1,216 places
- Local authority
- Wigan
- Sixth form
- No
- Admissions
- Non-selective
- Free school meals
- 33.7%
- First language not English
- 7.5%
- School census 2025/26
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 2.95 mi (4.75 km) from the school. Source: Wigan Council’s document.
For Year 7 in September 2026, 315 families put the school first and 250 places were offered; 76% of those families were offered a place there. Admission depends on the school’s own rules.
Demand for places
First choices against places
| Year 7 | Places | First choices | Per place | % offered |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| September 2026Sept 2026 | 250 | 315 | 1.3▲ | 76% |
| September 2025Sept 2025 | 251 | 246 | 1 | 93% |
| September 2024Sept 2024 | 256 | 236 | 0.9 | 99% |
| September 2023Sept 2023 | 167 | 128 | 0.8 | 100% |
| September 2022Sept 2022 | 153 | 97 | 0.6 | 100% |
Last distance offered
| Year 7 – Criterion 3 | Distance | |
|---|---|---|
| September 2026 | 2.95 mi4.75 km | |
Results
In 2024/25 the average Attainment 8 score at GCSE was 41.3, and 39% of pupils got grade 5 or above in English and maths. Across Wigan it was 43.4, and across England 46.
GCSE results
Attainment 8
| 2024/25 | Trend | School | England |
|---|---|---|---|
| ▼41.3 | 46.0 | ||
| ▼39.0% | 45.4% | ||
| ▼56.7% | 64.8% | ||
| ▼11.2% | 40.5% | ||
| ▼3.48 | 4.09 |
Where Year 11 leavers went
| Left in 2023/24 | Since 2021/22 | |
|---|---|---|
| School sixth form | 0.8 | −1.6 |
| Sixth form college | 37.2 | −10.7 |
| Further education | 45.6 | +17.2 |
| Other education | 0.4 | — |
| Apprenticeship | 4.4 | −0.3 |
| Employment | 1.2 | −2.4 |
| Not in a lasting destination | 7.2 | −2.9 |
| Activity not captured | 3.2 | +0.2 |
Ofsted
The Byrchall High School was judged Good at its last graded inspection, on 13 September 2022, under Ofsted’s 2019 framework.
- Overall
- Good
- Inspected
- 13 Sept 2022
- Graded inspection
Safeguarding effectiveInspection reports
Graded areas
| Quality of education | Good |
|---|---|
| Behaviour and attitudes | Good |
| Personal development | Good |
| Leadership and management | Good |
Previously: Requires improvement, graded inspection, Mar 2019
Earlier inspections
Before September 2019
Mar 2019Requires improvement
Outcomes for pupils Requires improvement Quality of teaching, learning and assessment Requires improvement Personal development, behaviour and welfare Good Leadership and management Requires improvement Safeguarding Effective Mar 2018Monitoring visit
Safeguarding Effective Mar 2015Good
Outcomes for pupils Good Quality of teaching, learning and assessment Good Leadership and management Good Apr 2013Requires improvement
Outcomes for pupils Requires improvement Quality of teaching, learning and assessment Requires improvement Leadership and management Requires improvement
What parents said
100% of the parents who answered Ofsted’s Parent View survey would recommend the school (39 replies, to 6 April 2026).
- Recommend
- 100%
- Replies
- 39
- 4% · 6 Apr 2026
based on the 67% who raised concerns
based on 9 parents (23%) whose child was bullied
based on 4 parents (10%) with SEND