Best Secondary Schools in Wigan 2026

Ranked by Ofsted rating, exam results, attendance, and class sizes. 18 schools across Wigan. Updated with 2025–26 data.

Wigan has 18 open secondary schools. Of the 18 with a published Ofsted inspection, 1 (6%) held a historic grade of Outstanding and 83% held Good or Outstanding — these are the last single-word grades from before Ofsted retired them on 10 November 2025 (how we treat Ofsted data). On our composite Schools Near Me score, Golborne High School currently leads the local rankings. Closed schools are excluded from every list on this page.

Use the ranked table below to compare schools side by side, then open any school for the full picture. Application deadlines in Wigan follow the national calendar: 31 October for Year 7 secondary entry and 15 January for Reception primary entry, with offers on 1 March and 16 April respectively.

18
Total schools
1
Outstanding (historic grade)
6%
of inspected schools (pre-Nov-2025)
66%
Avg KS2 SATs
38
Avg GCSE A8
All schools Primary Secondary
Rank School Ofsted (historic) SNM Score
🥇 Golborne High School
Secondary
 Outstanding 73 View school
🥈 St Peter's Catholic High School
Secondary
 Good 66 View school
🥉 Standish Community High School
Secondary
 Good 65 View school
4. St Edmund Arrowsmith Catholic High School, Ashton-in-Makerfield
Secondary
 Good 64 View school
5. Shevington High School
Secondary
 Good 64 View school
6. Lowton Church of England High School
Secondary
 Good 62 View school
7. Fred Longworth High School
Secondary
 Good 60 View school
8. The Deanery Church of England High School and Sixth Form College
Secondary
 Good 60 View school
9. Bedford High School
Secondary
 Good 59 View school
10. Cansfield High School
Secondary
 Good 58 View school
11. St Mary's Catholic High School
Secondary
 Good 58 View school
12. St John Fisher Catholic High School
Secondary
 Good 54 View school
13. The Byrchall High School
Secondary
 Good 54 View school
14. The Westleigh School
Secondary
 Good 48 View school
15. Hawkley Hall High School
Secondary
 Good 38 View school
16. Outwood Academy Hindley
Secondary
 Inadequate 37 View school
17. Dean Trust Rose Bridge
Secondary
 Requires Improvement 37 View school
18. Dean Trust Wigan
Secondary
 Requires Improvement 34 View school

Ranked by the Schools Near Me score. Ofsted grades shown are each school's last single-word grade from before 10 November 2025, when Ofsted retired single-word overall judgements — they are historic and not comparable to the new report cards. How we use Ofsted data. Closed schools are excluded.

Related lists for Wigan

Best primary schools in WiganTop-ranked Reception–Year 6 Best secondary schools in WiganTop-ranked Year 7 onwards All schools in WiganPrimary & secondary combined Primary schools in WiganReception–Year 6 only How the Schools Near Me score worksOur ranking methodology, explained

Nearby areas

Schools in BoltonCompare neighbouring authoritySchools in St. HelensCompare neighbouring authoritySchools in WarringtonCompare neighbouring authoritySchools in SalfordCompare neighbouring authority

See full data for any school in Wigan

Catchment distances, exam trends, SEN data, attendance, and more — all in one place.

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Frequently asked questions

How many secondary schools are there in Wigan?
There are 18 open secondary schools in Wigan (closed schools are excluded). 1 of the 18 with a published inspection held a historic Ofsted grade of Outstanding (the last single-word grade before single-word grades were retired on 10 November 2025).
What are the best-rated secondary schools in Wigan?
On our Schools Near Me score, the top-ranked secondary school in Wigan is Golborne High School. The full ranked table above lists the top 18 schools with their score and last historic Ofsted grade. We never list closed schools.
How is the Schools Near Me score calculated?
The Schools Near Me score is a 0–100 composite combining the school's last historic Ofsted grade, published exam and assessment results, attendance and pupil–teacher ratio. It is not an Ofsted rating. Full methodology: https://schoolsnearme.ai/methodology#score
Are Ofsted single-word grades still current in Wigan?
No. Ofsted retired single-word overall grades (Outstanding, Good, Requires Improvement, Inadequate) on 10 November 2025 and replaced them with report cards. Any single-word grade shown on this page is the school's last historic grade from before that date and is not comparable to the new report cards. See https://schoolsnearme.ai/methodology#ofsted
How do I apply for a school place in Wigan?
Primary and secondary applications in Wigan are coordinated by the local authority on the national timetable: apply by 31 October for Year 7 secondary entry and by 15 January for Reception primary entry, with offers on 1 March and 16 April respectively. Check the Wigan council website for local forms and any in-year rules.

Data sourced from Ofsted, Department for Education, and ISI. School rankings reflect the Schools Near Me composite score combining Ofsted ratings, exam results, attendance, and pupil-teacher ratios. Last updated April 2026.