Wigan and Leigh College

About Wigan and Leigh College

Wigan and Leigh College serves students from age 16 to 99, which immediately sets it apart from the typical secondary school in the borough. Its most recent A-level data shows a value-added score of -0.18, which is notably better than the Wigan local authority average Progress 8 score of -0.3 for secondary schools. While these metrics aren't directly comparable — Progress 8 measures GCSE performance and this college's figure is for A-level value added — the contrast is still striking. The college's progress banding is rated 'Average', and its best three A-levels grade sits at C+, with a points per entry grade of C. Given that the LA average Progress 8 is negative, Wigan and Leigh College appears to be performing broadly in line with or slightly above the typical outcomes for the area, though it doesn't reach the heights of the top-ranked local schools like St Edmund Arrowsmith Catholic High School, which has a ranking score of 0.16.

Looking more closely at the academic data, the college's A-level results are based on 36 pupils, a relatively small cohort. The average points per entry is 29.28, which translates to a grade of C, and the best three A-levels average points sit at 33.97, also a C+. The value-added score of -0.18 falls within a confidence interval ranging from -0.42 to 0.05, meaning the true figure could be slightly lower or higher, but the overall banding remains 'Average'. There is no data on maths or English progress at this level, and the percentage of students taking level 3 maths is not recorded. For context, the LA has 22 secondary schools of the same type, with only one rated Outstanding, so the college's 'Average' banding places it in the middle of the pack locally. Parents should note that this is a post-16 institution, so there are no KS2 SATs or GCSE results to compare against the LA average.

The college offers a wide range of facilities including an Astro Turf pitch, swimming pool, gymnasium, art studios, and a chapel, which is unusual for a state-funded institution. Sports provision covers tennis, rowing, netball, and football among others, and there are over a dozen clubs from art and book club to debate, choir, and a newspaper. With an age range extending to 99, this is clearly not a traditional secondary school but a further education college catering to adult learners as well as school leavers. The headteacher is Anna Dawe, and the religious character is listed as 'Does not apply'. For families considering post-16 options in Wigan, this college offers a broad curriculum and extensive extracurricular activities, though its A-level outcomes are modest compared with the strongest local schools. It may suit students who value a diverse, inclusive environment with plenty of enrichment opportunities over a purely academic focus.

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