The Westleigh School
91%
Capacity
957
Pupils
1.3x
Demand
About The Westleigh School
The Westleigh School in Wigan has been rated Good in its most recent Ofsted inspection, a significant improvement from its previous Inadequate rating. The school's Progress 8 score, the key measure of secondary school performance, stands at -0.81, which is well below the national average and places it in the bottom 50% of schools nationally. This score also sits below the Wigan local authority average of -0.3, and within the borough, Westleigh ranks 18th out of 19 similar schools. The Attainment 8 score is 34.1, and just 24.4% of pupils achieved a grade 5 or above in English and maths. The school's EBacc average point score is 2.89, with only 5.2% of pupils entered for the full EBacc combination of subjects.
Ofsted's inspection in 2022 found the school Good across all five categories: quality of education, behaviour and attitudes, personal development, and leadership and management. The report noted that the school has made clear progress since its previous inspection, when it was rated Inadequate and leadership and management were judged as Requires Improvement. The school serves a community with high levels of disadvantage, with 41.9% of pupils eligible for free school meals, well above the national average. In terms of exam results, the Progress 8 banding is described as 'well below average', and the school's ranking in the North West region places it at 395th out of 445 schools.
The school is oversubscribed for the 2025/26 academic year, with 259 applications for 195 places, and 145 first-preference offers made. Facilities include a swimming pool, theatre, sports hall, and music rooms, and the school offers a range of extracurricular activities such as martial arts, cricket, and a debate club. Westleigh provides support for a wide range of special educational needs, including dyslexia, autism, and speech and language difficulties. There is no sixth form, so pupils leave at 16. This school may suit families in Wigan who value the significant improvement journey it has been on, but parents should weigh the below-average academic outcomes against the strong pastoral and SEND support on offer.
Key Details
| School Type | Secondary (State) |
| Age Range | 11 to 16 years |
| Gender | Mixed |
| Religious Character | Does not apply |
| Address | Westleigh Lane, Leigh, Wigan, WN7 5NL |
| Headteacher | Carlton Bramwell |
| Local Authority | Wigan |
| Number of Pupils | 957 |
| Free School Meals (FSM) | 41.9% |
| School Capacity | 957 / 1,050 (91% full) |
Ofsted Inspection Breakdown
8 Nov 2022Overall Effectiveness
Good
Source: Ofsted, 15 Dec 2022. Ratings: 1=Outstanding, 2=Good, 3=Requires Improvement, 4=Inadequate.
League Table Position
Based on Progress 8 (-0.81)
2929th of 3,141
Nationally
395th of 445
In North West
18th 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
2022/2362%
of GCSE leavers continue at FE college (cohort: 203 pupils).
- FE college62%
- Sixth form college14%
- Employment9%
- Not sustained8%
- Apprenticeship4%
92% 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
9Facilities may vary. Contact the school for current availability.
Extracurriculars
15Sports
Clubs & Activities
Activities may vary by term. Contact the school for current offerings.
Admissions
2025/26Oversubscribed195
259
Balanced
Applications roughly match available places
145 families put this school as their 1st choice (56% of all applications)
Source: Department for Education, 2025/26. Data reflects national offer day applications and offers.
School day
Teaching hours
08:30 – 15:00
Source: thewestleighschool.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 British72.4%
- Mixed6.4%
- Asian4.4%
- White (other)3.9%
- Black1.0%
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.
7
Total schools
7
Oversubscribed
6
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 The Westleigh 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
Westleigh Lane, Leigh
Wigan, WN7 5NL
Journey to School
Journey times are estimates based on current conditions. Actual times may vary.
Opening Hours
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