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OpenSecondaryOfsted: GoodURN 138233

Atherton High School

Free schools · Atherton · M46 0AY

Ages 11–16 · 561 pupils · Wigan

School website

Ofsted

Good

Attainment 8

40.7

Overall absence

9.2%

Admissions demand

1.29 · Competitive

Ofsted

Latest published inspection outcomes — not a ranking.

Read full report

Headline

Good

Inspection date

2024-01-24

Overall effectiveness
Good
Quality of education
Good
Behaviour and attitudes
Good
Personal development
Good
Leadership and management
Good
Safeguarding effective
Yes

Source: Ofsted monthly management information

Performance

Official school-level results. Figures are not rankings — suppressed values are omitted.

Key stage 4 (2023/24)

Progress 80.00
−20+2
Attainment 840.7
English & maths grade 5+31%
English & maths grade 4+60%
EBacc entry54%

EBacc APS: 3.5

Source: DfE school and college performance tables

Absence

Academic year 2023/24. Persistent absence means 10%+ of sessions missed. Lower figures are better.

Overall absence9.2%
Persistent absence (10%+)28.3%
Unauthorised4.2%
Authorised absence
4.9%
Severe absence (50%+)
4.3%
Enrolments in measure
554

Absence trend

2021/22

2022/23

2023/24

  • Overall
  • Persistent (10%+)

Source: DfE pupil absence in schools in England

Admissions demand

Coordinated admissions for secondary entry (2024/25 cycle, national offer day). Demand ratio compares families who listed this school 1st with total offers made — not a catchment or distance guarantee.

Demand ratio

1.29 · Competitive

1st preferences

148

Places offered

115

1st-preference offers

114

Total preferences (any rank)
261
Preferred offers (top 3)
115
Applications from outside LA
11
Offers to outside-LA applicants
1
Admissions policy (GIAS)
Non-selective

Source: DfE primary and secondary school applications and offers. Figures reflect offers on national offer day; late applications, appeals and waiting lists are not included.

Size & intake

From the GIAS school census (15 Jan 2026).

Capacity fill102%

561 pupils · 550 places

Pupils on roll
561
Boys / girls
293 / 268
School capacity
550
Capacity fill
561 / 550 (102%)
Free school meals
47.4%
FSM pupils
266
Admissions policy
Non-selective
Gender
Mixed
School type
Free schools

Age range

Ages 11–16

05111619

Provision

Official GIAS characteristics

0 / 6

  • Nursery
  • Sixth form
  • Boarding
  • Special school
  • Independent
  • Academy

School characteristics

Governance
Academy trust: EDUCATION PARTNERSHIP TRUST
Academy trust
EDUCATION PARTNERSHIP TRUST
Sponsor
Education Partnership Trust
Headteacher
Mrs Leanne Turner

Location

Address
Hamilton Street
Postcode
M46 0AY
Town
Atherton
County
Greater Manchester
Local authority
Wigan
District
Wigan
Constituency
Leigh and Atherton
Urban/rural
Urban: Nearer to a major town or city

Local context

How this school sits among open establishments in its area, using official GIAS records. These are counts, not rankings.

Mixed free schools (secondary), Ages 11–16, in Atherton, Wigan, 561 pupils on roll. Notable characteristics: non-selective admissions. Free school meals: 47.4%.

Open schools in Atherton
1
Secondary schools in Atherton
1
Academies among open schools in Atherton
0% (0)
Open schools in M46
11
Secondary in M46
1
Open schools in Wigan LA
144
Secondary in Wigan LA
19

Nearby secondary schools

Open schools within about 3 miles, prioritising the same phase where possible. Distances are approximate from GIAS coordinates.

Compare with theseAll in AthertonNear M46

  • Fred Longworth High School

    Ofsted: School remains Good

    Academy converter · Secondary

    Manchester · M29 8JN · Wigan

    Ages 11–16

    • Att845.5
    • P8-0.3
    • EM5+46%
    • Absence7.9%

    0.8 miles away

  • The Westleigh School

    Ofsted: Good

    Academy sponsor led · Secondary

    Leigh · WN7 5NL · Wigan

    Ages 11–16

    • Att834.1
    • P8-0.8
    • EM5+24%
    • Absence12.3%

    1.6 miles away

  • Bedford High School

    Ofsted: Good

    Community school · Secondary

    Leigh · WN7 2LU · Wigan

    Ages 11–16

    • Att842.8
    • P8-0.2
    • EM5+41%
    • Absence9.1%

    1.9 miles away

  • Westhoughton High School

    Ofsted: Needs attention

    Community school · Secondary

    Bolton · BL5 3BZ · Bolton

    Ages 11–16

    • Att843.1
    • P8-0.6
    • EM5+39%
    • Absence10.5%

    2.1 miles away

  • St Mary's Catholic High School

    Ofsted: Standards maintained

    Voluntary aided school · Secondary

    Manchester · M29 7EE · Wigan

    Ages 11–18

    • Att846.4
    • P8-0.2
    • EM5+46%
    • Absence8.4%

    2.1 miles away

  • Outwood Academy Hindley

    Ofsted: Not judged

    Academy sponsor led · Secondary

    Wigan · WN2 4LG · Wigan

    Ages 11–16

    • Att839.8
    • P8-0.1
    • EM5+32%
    • Absence10.6%

    3.0 miles away

New to reading school data? See Ofsted ratings explained and how to compare schools.

Contact

Headteacher
Mrs Leanne Turner
Telephone
01942885500
Website
http://www.athertonhigh.com/

Official links