Atherton High School
99%
Capacity
547
Pupils
2.7x
Demand
About Atherton High School
Atherton High School is a mixed 11-16 secondary in Wigan that is running very close to full capacity, with 547 pupils on roll against a school capacity of 550. The school serves a community with significant economic disadvantage: 45.9% of pupils are eligible for free school meals, well above the national average. Demand for places is strong — for the 2025/26 intake, the school received 296 total applications for 108 places, an oversubscription ratio of 2.74. Of those, 119 were first-preference applications, and 87 first-preference offers were made. This level of competition suggests the school is a popular choice locally, and its intake reflects a genuine cross-section of the area, with a high proportion of pupils from lower-income households.
Academically, Atherton High School is performing solidly. Its Progress 8 score is exactly zero, meaning pupils achieve broadly in line with the national average, and this is well above the Wigan local authority average of -0.3. The school ranks 2nd out of 19 schools in the borough on this measure, placing it in the top 11% locally. Attainment 8 sits at 40.7, and 59.8% of pupils achieved a grade 4 or above in English and maths, compared with 30.5% achieving grade 5 or above. The EBacc entry rate is 53.7%, though only 12.2% of pupils achieved the EBacc at grade 4 or above. In its most recent Ofsted inspection in January 2024, the school was rated Good overall, with Good in every category — a significant improvement from its previous Requires Improvement rating in 2021. Progress in English is slightly positive at +0.08, while maths is slightly negative at -0.21.
The school offers a wide range of facilities including a swimming pool, astro turf, sports hall, theatre, and science labs, and runs clubs from Debate to Model UN. It has a substantial SEND provision, supporting pupils with specific learning difficulties, autism, speech and language needs, and physical disabilities among others. There is no sixth form or nursery provision. For families in Wigan looking for a well-subscribed, improving secondary that serves a diverse intake and delivers solid academic outcomes in line with national averages, Atherton High School is a strong local option. Its oversubscription rate and first-preference data suggest it is increasingly seen as a first-choice school in the area.
Key Details
| School Type | Secondary (State) |
| Age Range | 11 to 16 years |
| Gender | Mixed |
| Religious Character | None |
| Address | Hamilton Street, Atherton, Wigan, M46 0AY |
| Headteacher | Leanne Turner |
| Local Authority | Wigan |
| Number of Pupils | 547 |
| Free School Meals (FSM) | 45.9% |
| School Capacity | 547 / 550 (99% full) |
Ofsted Inspection Breakdown
24 Jan 2024Overall Effectiveness
Good
Source: Ofsted, 14 May 2024. Ratings: 1=Outstanding, 2=Good, 3=Requires Improvement, 4=Inadequate.
League Table Position
Based on Progress 8 (+0.00)
1519th of 3,141
Nationally
160th of 445
In North West
2nd of 19
In Wigan
Source: Classpot analysis of DfE Progress 8 data
GCSE Results
2023/24Progress 8 Score
Students make similar progress to students nationally with the same starting point
Attainment 8 (vs national avg)
Students achieve significantly higher grades than the national average
Source: Department for Education, 2023/24. Progress 8 compares to students with similar Key Stage 2 results.
Where GCSE leavers go
2022/231%
of GCSE leavers stay on for sixth form at this school (cohort: 87 pupils).
- FE college53%
- Sixth form college20%
- Not sustained8%
- Apprenticeship7%
- Employment7%
- School sixth form (stay)1%
87% of leavers had a sustained destination 6 months on.
Source: DfE Compare School & College Performance, KS4 pupil destinations 2022/23 (revised). Only state-funded schools are required to report.
SEND Support
Source: Department for Education, 2024/25. Support availability based on current student population.
Facilities
11Facilities may vary. Contact the school for current availability.
Extracurriculars
17Sports
Clubs & Activities
Activities may vary by term. Contact the school for current offerings.
Admissions
2025/26Oversubscribed108
296
Good Demand
Popular school with more applications than places
119 families put this school as their 1st choice (40% of all applications)
Source: Department for Education, 2025/26. Data reflects national offer day applications and offers.
Class profile
2024/25Better than 75% of schools in England.
Better than 75% of schools in England.
Lower is generally better — fewer pupils per teacher or per class means more individual attention. Sources: DfE School Workforce Census & Schools, pupils and their characteristics, 2024/25.
Pupils & demographics
2024/25Among the highest-disadvantage schools.
Lower than the national median (10%) — mostly English as first language.
Ethnic background
- White British87.0%
- Mixed4.4%
- Asian2.8%
- White (other)1.8%
- Black0.2%
Source: DfE Schools, pupils and their characteristics (2024/25). Percentages may not sum to 100% — pupils classified as “unclassified”, “refused” or minor categories are not shown.
Attendance & Behaviour
2024/2575% of schools in England do better than this.
75% of schools in England do better than this.
Pupils missing 10% or more of sessions.
75% of schools in England do better than this.
A pupil temporarily sent home for behaviour.
Permanent exclusion is rare — most schools have none in a given year.
Ranks vs all state-funded schools in England. Source: DfE Pupil absence in schools & Suspensions and permanent exclusions.
Catchment & Local Competition
No catchment data published for this school
The dashed grey ring is a generic 1-mile reference area — it's not an admission boundary. Real catchment depends on year, demand, and council criteria. We currently have real data for about 6% of UK schools and are actively expanding the database.
⚠ This school is oversubscribed — without published cutoff data we can't show how far places reach. Check your council's admissions page.
Schools within 1 mile (reference area)
1 mile is a fixed reference, not this school's catchment.
11
Total schools
10
Oversubscribed
9
Primary
Don’t use the dashed grey ring as a catchment boundary — it’s a reference area for counting nearby schools only. Real admission boundaries depend on year-by-year demand and council criteria; ask the school or council for authoritative info.
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Frequently Asked Questions About Atherton High School
Helpful Guides for Parents
Ofsted Ratings Explained
Understand the 4 Ofsted ratings and what they mean
Understanding Progress 8
Learn how Progress 8 measures pupil progress from primary to GCSE
SEN & EHCP: A Parent's Guide
Understanding SEN support, EHC Plans and your legal rights
Understanding School Catchment Areas
How admission distances work and tips for maximising your choices
Contact Information
Hamilton Street, Atherton
Wigan, M46 0AY
Journey to School
Journey times are estimates based on current conditions. Actual times may vary.
Opening Hours
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