Orrell Holgate Academy

About Orrell Holgate Academy

Parents at Orrell Holgate Academy are overwhelmingly positive about their experience. In the most recent Parent View survey, covering September 2024 to September 2025, 98% of respondents said they would recommend the school to other parents. That level of satisfaction is backed up by strong individual scores: 94% of parents strongly agreed that their child is happy at the school, and 96% strongly agreed that their child feels safe. The school is clearly popular locally too. For the 2025/26 reception intake, it received 73 applications for just 20 places, giving an oversubscription ratio of 3.65 to one. Every one of those 20 places went to a first-preference applicant, which tells you how highly it is regarded by families in the area. Parents also feel well informed: 85% strongly agreed that the school lets them know how their child is doing, and the same proportion strongly agreed that there is a good range of subjects available.

Academically, Orrell Holgate performs well above the local average. In the 2023/24 Key Stage 2 assessments, 83% of pupils met the expected standard in reading, writing and maths combined, compared with a Wigan local authority average of 65%. That result places the school 11th out of 98 primary schools in the borough, putting it in the top 12% locally. Looking at individual subjects, the picture is even stronger. Every single pupil reached the expected standard in reading, and 53% achieved the higher standard. In maths, 90% met the expected level and 37% reached the higher standard. The school's most recent Ofsted inspection, an ungraded visit in January 2025, found that the school had improved significantly since its previous graded inspection. It continues to hold a Good rating overall, with Good marks for early years provision, leadership and management, and the quality of education.

The school is a mixed, non-religious primary for children aged 4 to 11, with a current roll of 200 pupils against a capacity of 210. It offers a range of facilities including art studios, music rooms, a sports hall and a dining hall. Sport is a notable feature, with clubs and teams in cross country, swimming, football, athletics, gymnastics, tennis and rounders. There are also clubs for gardening, art and coding. For families with children who have additional needs, the school lists support for specific learning difficulties including dyslexia, moderate learning difficulties, speech and language needs, hearing impairment, social and emotional mental health needs, and autistic spectrum disorder. With 17% of pupils eligible for free school meals, the school serves a broadly representative community. Given its strong academic results, high parent satisfaction and oversubscribed intake, this is a school that suits families who want a well-regarded local primary with a proven track record.

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