Dean Trust Rose Bridge
93%
Capacity
699
Pupils
1.1x
Demand
About Dean Trust Rose Bridge
Dean Trust Rose Bridge, a mixed secondary school in Wigan for pupils aged 11 to 16, received a Requires Improvement rating from Ofsted in its most recent graded inspection in March 2025. However, the picture is more nuanced than that single label suggests. The inspection judged behaviour and attitudes, personal development, and leadership and management all as Good, with only the quality of education rated as Requires Improvement. The most telling academic metric is the school’s Progress 8 score of -0.6, which places it well below average nationally and ranks it 17th out of 19 secondary schools in Wigan. This means that, on average, pupils leave with around half a grade less per subject than their peers across the country, given similar starting points. The school’s Attainment 8 score sits at 37.4, and just 25.6% of pupils achieved a grade 5 or above in English and maths.
The school’s EBacc entry rate is relatively high at 66.2%, but only 9% of pupils achieved the EBacc at a grade 5 or above, and the EBacc average point score is 3.28. The local authority’s average Progress 8 score is -0.3, so Dean Trust Rose Bridge sits below the Wigan average. In the North West region, the school ranks 359th out of 445 schools, and nationally it is in the bottom 13% of all schools. The parent view is notably more positive than the headline results might suggest: 94% of the 243 respondents would recommend the school, and strong majorities agreed that their child is happy, feels safe, and does well. Ofsted noted that the school has improved since its previous inspection in March 2023, when it was also rated Requires Improvement, with personal development, behaviour, and leadership all moving up from Requires Improvement to Good.
The school is oversubscribed for 2025/26, with 157 applications for 136 places and 86 first-preference offers, suggesting local demand is strong. It has a high proportion of pupils eligible for free school meals at 58.2%, well above the national average. Facilities include science labs, a sports hall, art studios, tennis courts, playing fields, and an astro turf. The school offers a range of clubs including Science Club, Eco Club, Chess, and the Duke of Edinburgh’s Award, and sports include rowing, hockey, and gymnastics. SEND provisions cover a wide range of needs, including dyslexia, autistic spectrum disorder, and speech, language and communication needs. Parents of SEND children were particularly positive: 99% agreed the school gives them the support they need. There is no sixth form or nursery provision. This school may suit families who value the strong pastoral and behavioural environment, and who are comfortable with academic outcomes that are below the local average but improving in key areas.
Key Details
| School Type | Secondary (State) |
| Age Range | 11 to 16 years |
| Gender | Mixed |
| Religious Character | None |
| Address | Holt Street, Wigan, Wigan, WN1 3HD |
| Headteacher | Lucy Cropper |
| Local Authority | Wigan |
| Number of Pupils | 699 |
| Free School Meals (FSM) | 58.2% |
| School Capacity | 699 / 750 (93% full) |
Ofsted Inspection Breakdown
25 Mar 2025Quality of Education
Requires improvement
Since Sep 2024, Ofsted no longer assigns a single overall grade
Source: Ofsted, 13 May 2025. Ratings: 1=Outstanding, 2=Good, 3=Requires Improvement, 4=Inadequate.
League Table Position
Based on Progress 8 (-0.60)
2737th of 3,141
Nationally
359th of 445
In North West
17th of 19
In Wigan
Source: Classpot analysis of DfE Progress 8 data
GCSE Results
2023/24Progress 8 Score
Students make significantly less progress than similar students nationally
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: 149 pupils).
- FE college62%
- Sixth form college16%
- Apprenticeship12%
- Not sustained7%
- Employment2%
- School sixth form (stay)1%
93% 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.
Ofsted Parent View
243 responsesWould Recommend This School
Source: Ofsted Parent View (GOV.UK statistical data), Sep – Sep 2025
SEND Support
Source: Department for Education, 2024/25. Support availability based on current student population.
Facilities
9Facilities may vary. Contact the school for current availability.
Extracurriculars
13Sports
Clubs & Activities
Activities may vary by term. Contact the school for current offerings.
Admissions
2025/26Oversubscribed136
157
Balanced
Applications roughly match available places
86 families put this school as their 1st choice (55% of all applications)
Source: Department for Education, 2025/26. Data reflects national offer day applications and offers.
School day
Teaching hours
08:40 – 15:10
Source: deantrustrosebridge.co.uk. Extracted automatically — confirm with the school before relying on these times.
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.
Above the national median (10%) — a meaningful share speak English as an additional language.
Ethnic background
- White British74.1%
- White (other)6.4%
- Asian4.8%
- Mixed2.9%
- Black0.7%
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 Dean Trust Rose Bridge
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
Holt Street, Wigan
Wigan, WN1 3HD
Journey to School
Journey times are estimates based on current conditions. Actual times may vary.
Opening Hours
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