Academy sponsor led · Wigan

The Westleigh School

11–16Ages
976Pupils
SecondaryPhase
146087URN

Westleigh Lane, Leigh, WN7 5NL · School website

Applications per placeCircle size: applicationsThis school

Latest Ofsted

Graded inspection · Nov 2022 Previous framework

Good

Quality of education
Behaviour and attitudes
Personal development
Leadership and management

What Ofsted found

Applications per place · Sept 2026

1.6per place

0.5 below Wigan median (2.1)

Fewer applicationsMore

This schoolOther secondary schools in Wigan

295 applications for 188 places · 15th of 19 in Wigan

Every year since 2014

Attainment 8 · 2025/26 (provisional)

45.0of 90

Wigan 45.5 England 46.0

13th of 19 in Wigan

All GCSE results

What did Ofsted find?

Ofsted data to 30 September 2026

Overall effectiveness: Good · 8 November 2022Ofsted'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

1.6applications per place, Year 7

0.5 below Wigan median (2.1) 0.7 below England median (2.2)

295 applications · 188 places offered · 154 named it first

2026 1.6; Wigan median median 2.1
2025 1.3; Wigan median median 2.2
2024 1.7; Wigan median median 2.2
2023 1.9; Wigan median median 2.1
2022 1.3; Wigan median median 2.0
2021 1.6; Wigan median median 2.0
2020 1.8; Wigan median median 1.9
2019 1.8; Wigan median median 2.0
2018 2.1; Wigan median median 2.0; as the previous school
2017 1.9; Wigan median median 2.0; as the previous school
2016 2.0; Wigan median median 2.1; as the previous school
2015 2.5; Wigan median median 2.1; as the previous school
2014 2.4; Wigan median median 2.2; as the previous school

More applications per place than the Wigan median in 0 of 8 years.

This school
Wigan median

Dashed bars: as Westleigh High School (URN 106524), the previous school.

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	188	295	1.6	154	0.82
Sep 2025	195	259	1.3	145	0.74
Sep 2024	163	280	1.7	128	0.79
Sep 2023	154	287	1.9	137	0.89
Sep 2022	206	277	1.3	140	0.68
Sep 2021	159	253	1.6	143	0.90
Sep 2020	174	306	1.8	148	0.85
Sep 2019	150	262	1.8	123	0.82
Sep 2018 *	141	297	2.1	133	0.94
Sep 2017 *	202	376	1.9	172	0.85
Sep 2016 *	209	413	2.0	194	0.93
Sep 2015 *	150	378	2.5	159	1.06
Sep 2014 *	151	366	2.4	151	1.00

How did pupils do at GCSE?

DfE KS4 · 2025/26 provisional

180 pupils took GCSEs in 2025/26.

Attainment 8 (out of 90)45.013th of 19 in Wigan

Wigan 45.5 England 46.0

Grade 5 or above in English and maths43%11th of 19 in Wigan

Wigan 45% England 45%

Grade 4 or above in English and maths63%

Wigan 65% England 66%

This school
Wigan median
England median

Progress 8 (2023/24, the latest published)−0.81

−20 = national average+2

Every year as a table

Year	Pupils	Attainment 8	5+ Eng & maths	4+ Eng & maths	Progress 8
2025/26 (prov.)	180	45.0	43%	63%	–
2024/25	189	36.4	21%	43%	–
2023/24	172	34.1	24%	42%	−0.81
2022/23	160	34.3	19%	43%	−0.75

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

The Westleigh SchoolThis school
This school

Good2022

1.6applications per place 45.0Attainment 8
Atherton High School
2.5 km · Wigan

Good2024

2.3applications per place 46.2Attainment 8
Outwood Academy Hindley
3.0 km · Wigan

Graded · no overall grade2024

1.6applications per place 44.3Attainment 8
Fred Longworth High School
3.4 km · Wigan

Remains Good2022

2.0applications per place 47.9Attainment 8
Bedford High School
3.4 km · Wigan

Good2023

2.8applications per place 49.2Attainment 8
Westhoughton High School
3.9 km · Bolton

Requires significant improvement 2026

1.4applications per place 40.2Attainment 8
Lowton Church of England High School
4.5 km · Wigan

Good2023

2.6applications per place 49.2Attainment 8
St Mary's Catholic High School
4.8 km · Wigan

Standards maintained2024

2.2applications per place 47.1Attainment 8
Golborne High School
5.4 km · Wigan

Outstanding2023

1.9applications per place 45.1Attainment 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: Academy sponsor led
Phase: Secondary
URN · DfE number: 146087 · 359/4011
Trust: The Shaw Education Trust
Admissions policy: Non-selective
Capacity: 1,050 pupils · 976 on roll
Free school meals: 44.1% of pupils (England median 23%)
Opened: 1 August 2018
Replaced: Westleigh High School (URN 106524)
Address: Westleigh Lane, Leigh, WN7 5NL
Local authority: Wigan

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