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OpenSecondaryOfsted: GoodURN 106523

Bedford High School

Community school · Leigh · WN7 2LU

Ages 11–16 · 1,111 pupils · Wigan

School website

Ofsted

Good

Attainment 8

42.8

Overall absence

9.1%

Admissions demand

0.91 · Balanced demand

Ofsted

Latest published inspection outcomes — not a ranking.

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Headline

Good

Inspection date

2023-10-03

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 8-0.24
−20+2
Attainment 842.8
English & maths grade 5+41%
English & maths grade 4+62%
EBacc entry46%

EBacc APS: 3.8

Source: DfE school and college performance tables

Absence

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

Overall absence9.1%
Persistent absence (10%+)29.5%
Unauthorised3.9%
Authorised absence
5.2%
Severe absence (50%+)
3.1%
Enrolments in measure
1,120

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

0.91 · Balanced demand

1st preferences

188

Places offered

210

1st-preference offers

188

Total preferences (any rank)
507
Preferred offers (top 3)
206
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 fill92%

1,111 pupils · 1,210 places

Pupils on roll
1,111
Boys / girls
556 / 555
School capacity
1,210
Capacity fill
1,111 / 1,210 (92%)
Free school meals
40.2%
FSM pupils
447
Admissions policy
Non-selective
Gender
Mixed
School type
Community school

Age range

Ages 11–16

05111619

Provision

Official GIAS characteristics

0 / 6

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

School characteristics

Special classes
No Special Classes
Governance
Community school
Headteacher
Mr Paul McCaffery

Location

Address
Manchester Road
Postcode
WN7 2LU
Town
Leigh
County
Lancashire
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 community school (secondary), Ages 11–16, in Leigh, Wigan, 1,111 pupils on roll. Notable characteristics: non-selective admissions. Free school meals: 40.2%.

Open schools in Leigh
19
Secondary schools in Leigh
2
Academies among open schools in Leigh
21% (4)
Open schools in WN7
20
Secondary in WN7
2
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 LeighNear WN7

  • 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%

    1.1 miles away

  • 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%

    1.5 miles away

  • Atherton High School

    Ofsted: Good

    Free schools · Secondary

    Atherton · M46 0AY · Wigan

    Ages 11–16

    • Att840.7
    • P80.0
    • EM5+31%
    • Absence9.2%

    1.9 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%

    2.1 miles away

  • Culcheth High School

    Ofsted: School remains Good

    Community school · Secondary

    Warrington · WA3 5HH · Warrington

    Ages 11–16

    • Att848.9
    • P8-0.1
    • EM5+51%
    • Absence8.9%

    2.9 miles away

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

Contact

Headteacher
Mr Paul McCaffery
Telephone
01942909009
Website
http://www.bedfordhighschool.co.uk/

Official links