Voluntary aided school · Wigan

St Michael's CofE Primary School, Howe Bridge

4–11Ages
207Pupils
PrimaryPhase
Church of EnglandReligious character
106478URN

Leigh Road, Atherton, Greater Manchester, M46 0PA · School website

Applications per placeCircle size: applicationsThis school

Latest Ofsted

Graded inspection · Oct 2023 Previous framework

Good

Quality of education
Behaviour and attitudes
Personal development
Leadership and management

What Ofsted found

Applications per place · Sept 2026

2.9per place

1.0 above Wigan median (1.9)

Fewer applicationsMore

This schoolOther primary schools in Wigan

84 applications for 29 places · 10th of 96 in Wigan

Every year since 2014

SATs · reading, writing and maths · 2024/25

67%met the expected standard

Wigan 67% England 64%

Reading, writing and maths

What did Ofsted find?

Ofsted data to 30 September 2026

Overall effectiveness: Good · 31 October 2023Ofsted's previous 4-point scale (to August 2024)
Area	Outstanding	Good	Requires improvement	Inadequate
Quality of education		Good
Behaviour and attitudes		Good
Personal development		Good
Leadership and management		Good
Early years provision		Good

Full reports on the Ofsted website · How to read Ofsted grades

About these grades

Ofsted's report cards (from November 2025) grade each area on five steps and give no overall grade. Earlier grades come from a different framework; Ofsted says the two cannot be compared, so they are never converted here. Ofsted: "We normally inspect schools every 4 years or at any time if we have concerns." Methodology.

How hard is it to get a place?

DfE · Sept 2026 entry

2.9applications per place, Reception

1.0 above Wigan median (1.9) 0.7 above England median (2.2)

84 applications · 29 places offered · 38 named it first

FaithMay give priority to families of the faith.

2026 2.9; Wigan median median 1.9
2025 1.8; Wigan median median 1.9
2024 2.7; Wigan median median 2.1
2023 2.1; Wigan median median 2.1
2022 2.9; Wigan median median 2.0
2021 2.8; Wigan median median 2.0
2020 2.5; Wigan median median 2.1
2019 3.0; Wigan median median 2.1
2018 2.6; Wigan median median 2.2
2017 3.0; Wigan median median 2.3
2016 3.6; Wigan median median 2.3
2015 3.7; Wigan median median 2.3
2014 3.8; Wigan median median 2.4

This school
Wigan median

Reception applications for September 2027 close 15 January 2027, through your council

How this is measured

Applications per place: every application naming the school at any preference, divided by places offered on National Offer Day. It is not your chance of a place. Methodology.

Entry	Places	Applications	Per place	First preferences	First-pref. ratio
Sep 2026	29	84	2.9	38	1.31
Sep 2025	30	55	1.8	28	0.93
Sep 2024	30	82	2.7	38	1.27
Sep 2023	30	62	2.1	34	1.13
Sep 2022	30	87	2.9	27	0.90
Sep 2021	30	84	2.8	32	1.07
Sep 2020	30	76	2.5	31	1.03
Sep 2019	30	90	3.0	32	1.07
Sep 2018	30	78	2.6	27	0.90
Sep 2017	30	89	3.0	27	0.90
Sep 2016	30	108	3.6	33	1.10
Sep 2015	30	112	3.7	39	1.30
Sep 2014	30	114	3.8	34	1.13

How did pupils do in SATs?

DfE KS2 · 2024/25

Reading 70% · Writing 83% · Maths 70% → all three 67% met the expected standard, End of Year 6

Reading, writing and maths: expected standard67%45th of 97 in Wigan

Wigan 67% England 64%

Reading

Expected standard70%

Wigan 77% England 78%

Higher standard33%

Wigan 33% England 33%

Average scaled score 105 (100 = expected standard)

Writing

Expected standard83%

Wigan 76% England 75%

Greater depth23%

Wigan 14% England 12%

Maths

Expected standard70%

Wigan 80% England 77%

Higher standard13%

Wigan 26% England 24%

Average scaled score 104 (100 = expected standard)

This school
Wigan median
England median

Every year as a table

Year	Expected standard	Higher standard	Reading score	Maths score
2024/25	67%	10%	105	104
2023/24	77%	12%	106	104
2022/23	87%	13%	109	108

Subject results are published for the latest year only. Scaled scores run from 80 to 120.

Schools nearby

The 8 nearest primary schools in a straight line, in any local authority

St Michael's CofE Primary School, Howe BridgeThis school
This school

Good2023

2.9applications per place 67%met the SATs standard
Parklee Primary School
1.1 km · Wigan

Graded · no overall grade2025

3.5applications per place
Atherton St George's CofE Primary School
1.1 km · Wigan

Good2023

1.6applications per place 56%met the SATs standard
St Richard's Roman Catholic Primary School Atherton
1.3 km · Wigan

2026

2.3applications per place 54%met the SATs standard
Meadowbank Primary School
1.4 km · Wigan

Good2023

1.8applications per place 70%met the SATs standard
Sacred Heart RC Primary School
1.5 km · Wigan

2026

2.6applications per place 61%met the SATs standard
Chowbent Primary School
1.6 km · Wigan

Standards maintained2025

2.2applications per place 36%met the SATs standard
Hindsford CofE Primary School
1.6 km · Wigan

Graded · no overall grade2024

2.7applications per place 77%met the SATs standard
Westleigh St Paul's CofE Primary School
1.7 km · Wigan

Standards maintained2024

1.6applications per place 55%met the SATs standard

Exceptional
Strong standard
Expected standard
Needs attention
Urgent improvement
Does not apply

Eight dots, one per area: inclusion, curriculum, achievement, attendance, personal development, early years, post-16, leadership. Colours follow Ofsted's report card scale; Schoolfile is independent of Ofsted.

School details

Type: Voluntary aided school
Phase: Primary
URN · DfE number: 106478 · 359/3370
Religious character: Church of England
Capacity: 210 pupils · 207 on roll
Free school meals: 21.3% of pupils (England median 23%)
Address: Leigh Road, Atherton, Greater Manchester, M46 0PA
Local authority: Wigan

Data last changed 3 October 2026 · Report an error · Corrections · Sources