Community school · Wigan

Bedford High School

11–16Ages
1,111Pupils
SecondaryPhase
106523URN

Manchester Road, Leigh, WN7 2LU · 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

2.8per place

0.6 above Wigan median (2.1)

Fewer applicationsMore

This schoolOther secondary schools in Wigan

493 applications for 179 places · 4th of 19 in Wigan

Every year since 2014

Attainment 8 · 2025/26 (provisional)

49.2of 90

Wigan 45.5 England 46.0

4th of 19 in Wigan

All GCSE results

What did Ofsted find?

Ofsted data to 30 September 2026

Overall effectiveness: Good · 3 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

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

2.8applications per place, Year 7

0.6 above Wigan median (2.1) 0.5 above England median (2.2)

493 applications · 179 places offered · 159 named it first

2026 2.8; Wigan median median 2.1
2025 1.9; Wigan median median 2.2
2024 2.4; Wigan median median 2.2
2023 2.3; Wigan median median 2.1
2022 2.3; Wigan median median 2.0
2021 2.2; Wigan median median 2.0
2020 2.2; Wigan median median 1.9
2019 2.3; Wigan median median 2.0
2018 2.2; Wigan median median 2.0
2017 2.3; Wigan median median 2.0
2016 2.9; Wigan median median 2.1
2015 2.0; Wigan median median 2.1
2014 2.4; Wigan median median 2.2

This school
Wigan median

Year 7 applications for September 2027 close 31 October 2026, 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	179	493	2.8	159	0.89
Sep 2025	231	448	1.9	199	0.86
Sep 2024	210	507	2.4	188	0.90
Sep 2023	224	516	2.3	212	0.95
Sep 2022	227	513	2.3	241	1.06
Sep 2021	214	470	2.2	202	0.94
Sep 2020	227	495	2.2	214	0.94
Sep 2019	216	493	2.3	197	0.91
Sep 2018	218	488	2.2	220	1.01
Sep 2017	183	429	2.3	170	0.93
Sep 2016	146	425	2.9	136	0.93
Sep 2015	181	368	2.0	132	0.73
Sep 2014	175	414	2.4	142	0.81

How did pupils do at GCSE?

DfE KS4 · 2025/26 provisional

203 pupils took GCSEs in 2025/26.

Attainment 8 (out of 90)49.24th of 19 in Wigan

Wigan 45.5 England 46.0

Grade 5 or above in English and maths49%4th of 19 in Wigan

Wigan 45% England 45%

Grade 4 or above in English and maths65%

Wigan 65% England 66%

This school
Wigan median
England median

Progress 8 (2023/24, the latest published)−0.24

−20 = national average+2

Every year as a table

Year	Pupils	Attainment 8	5+ Eng & maths	4+ Eng & maths	Progress 8
2025/26 (prov.)	203	49.2	49%	65%	–
2024/25	207	45.5	48%	70%	–
2023/24	200	42.8	41%	62%	−0.24
2022/23	212	37.0	27%	56%	−0.73

Progress 8 is not published for 2024/25 or 2025/26: those pupils had no key stage 2 tests in 2020 and 2021.

Schools nearby

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

Bedford High SchoolThis school
This school

Good2023

2.8applications per place 49.2Attainment 8
St Mary's Catholic High School
1.7 km · Wigan

Standards maintained2024

2.2applications per place 47.1Attainment 8
Fred Longworth High School
2.4 km · Wigan

Remains Good2022

2.0applications per place 47.9Attainment 8
Atherton High School
3.1 km · Wigan

Good2024

2.3applications per place 46.2Attainment 8
The Westleigh School
3.4 km · Wigan

Good2022

1.6applications per place 45.0Attainment 8
Lowton Church of England High School
4.2 km · Wigan

Good2023

2.6applications per place 49.2Attainment 8
Culcheth High School
4.6 km · Warrington

Remains Good2022

1.9applications per place 45.1Attainment 8
Star Salford Academy
6.1 km · Salford

2026

1.6applications per place
The Lowry Academy
6.2 km · Salford

Good2024

1.7applications per place 42.1Attainment 8

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: Community school
Phase: Secondary
URN · DfE number: 106523 · 359/4019
Admissions policy: Non-selective
Capacity: 1,210 pupils · 1,111 on roll
Free school meals: 40.2% of pupils (England median 23%)
Opened: 1 January 1900
Address: Manchester Road, Leigh, WN7 2LU
Local authority: Wigan

Data last changed 19 October 2026 · Report an error · Corrections · Sources