Best secondary schools in Wigan
Wigan schools need postcode anchors; borough labels mislead quickly. This ranking covers 19 secondary schools in the Wigan local authority. Postcode area WA3 has the highest average school score (61.7 across 2 schools), while WN7 sits at the lower end (28.3). 89% of ranked Wigan secondary schools hold an Ofsted Outstanding or Good rating.
Top 10 secondary schools in Wigan on the LocaleIQ model
Ordered by composite score within the Wigan comparison pool. Rankings reflect published data, not editorial opinion.
More secondary schools in Wigan
Positions 11–19 in the Wigan ranking.
| # | School | LocaleIQ | Ofsted | Phase |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 11 | Fred Longworth High School | 40.3 | Good | Secondary |
| 12 | Cansfield High School | 35.3 | Good | Secondary |
| 13 | St John Fisher Catholic High School | 25.3 | Good | Secondary |
| 14 | Outwood Academy Hindley | 23.5 | Good | Secondary |
| 15 | Dean Trust Rose Bridge | 21.9 | Requires improvement | Secondary |
| 16 | Atherton High School | 20.7 | Good | Secondary |
| 17 | The Westleigh School | 14.8 | Good | Secondary |
| 18 | Hawkley Hall High School | 12.9 | Good | Secondary |
| 19 | Dean Trust Wigan | 2.5 | Requires improvement | Secondary |
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Questions about secondary schools in Wigan
What is the best secondary school in Wigan?
Golborne High School is the top-ranked secondary school in Wigan (LocaleIQ score 80.5 out of 100). Ofsted: Outstanding. Attainment 8 50.1. The score combines Ofsted outcome, Progress 8 and Attainment 8, and cohort-weighted percentile ranks within the Wigan secondary pool.
What is the best primary school in Wigan?
Nicol Mere School tops the Wigan primary school ranking (LocaleIQ 99.6). Ofsted: Outstanding. KS2 expected 97% · higher 33%. See the full primary school ranking for Wigan for the complete list.
Which secondary schools in Wigan have the best GCSE results?
Attainment 8 measures average GCSE grades across eight subjects; Progress 8 compares actual grades against predictions based on KS2 — a positive figure means pupils outperformed expectations. Top performers in Wigan: Golborne High School (Attainment 8 50.1); St Peter's Catholic High School (Attainment 8 51.1); St Edmund Arrowsmith Catholic High School, Ashton-in-Makerfield (Attainment 8 49.1). Both metrics feed into the LocaleIQ secondary school score.
Which secondary schools in Wigan are rated Outstanding by Ofsted?
1 secondary school in the Wigan ranking hold an Outstanding Ofsted rating: Golborne High School. Outstanding means Ofsted judged the school exceptional in all inspection areas. LocaleIQ weighs DfE performance data alongside Ofsted, so a Good-rated school can still rank highly.
How many secondary schools are ranked in Wigan?
This ranking covers 19 secondary schools in the Wigan comparison pool. Schools without sufficient published data are excluded but may appear in the LocaleIQ directory.
Which area of Wigan has the best secondary schools?
By average LocaleIQ score across postcode areas, WA3 has the strongest cluster — 61.7 average across 2 ranked secondary schools. WN7 sits at the lower end (28.3 average). Wigan schools need postcode anchors; borough labels mislead quickly. Postcode averages mask individual variation — always review each school's full profile.
Ranking data last computed 29 March 2026.