St Michael's CofE Primary School, Howe Bridge

About St Michael's CofE Primary School, Howe Bridge

St Michael's CofE Primary School in Howe Bridge is running at full capacity with 210 pupils, matching its school capacity exactly. The proportion of pupils eligible for free school meals stands at 17.6%, which is worth noting against the national primary average of around 23%, suggesting a slightly less disadvantaged intake than the country as a whole. Demand for places is strong: for the 2025/26 academic year, the school received 55 applications for 30 places, with 28 of those coming as first preferences. Only 27 first-preference offers were made, meaning a number of families who wanted a place here were disappointed. The oversubscription ratio of 1.83 confirms this is a sought-after local option. As a Church of England primary, the school has a religious character, though the data doesn't specify whether faith criteria are used in admissions. Headteacher Sarah Dring leads a mixed-gender, state-funded primary for children aged 4 to 11.

Academically, St Michael's performs well above the local authority average. In the 2023/24 Key Stage 2 assessments, 77% of pupils reached the expected standard in reading, writing and maths combined, compared with a Wigan average of 65%. That places the school 18th out of 98 primaries in the borough, comfortably inside the top 25% nationally. Individual subject scores are solid: 92% met expectations in both reading and writing, and 81% in maths. At the higher standard, 12% achieved the top marks across all three subjects. Average scaled scores were 106 in reading and 104 in maths. The school's most recent Ofsted inspection, in October 2023, rated it Good overall, with all five categories — quality of education, behaviour and attitudes, personal development, leadership and management, and early years provision — all judged Good. This is a step down from its previous Outstanding rating in 2009, but the school remains a strong performer locally.

The school offers a good range of facilities including a library, ICT suite, sensory room, music rooms, forest school area, gymnasium, chapel and an outdoor playground. Sports on offer include dance, swimming, cricket, cross country and rounders, while clubs cover science, chess, choir, gardening, film and coding. SEND provision is well-documented, with support for specific learning difficulties like dyslexia, speech and language needs, autistic spectrum disorder, and social, emotional and mental health needs. With the school full and oversubscribed, families living closest to the school or with a church connection may have an advantage. For those who don't get a place, the nearest Outstanding-rated alternative is Hindsford CofE Primary School, 1.6 km away. This is a school that suits families who value strong academic results in a faith-based setting with a broad extracurricular offer.

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