Bickershaw CofE Primary School
Wigan, WN2 4AE · Wigan · primary school
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92nd of 97 primary schools in Wigan we can score, 99 in total — the rest without enough published data. Local and same-phase on purpose: a national table mostly measures who attends.
Its results hold up when the comparison narrows to schools whose pupils have similar backgrounds — 0.2/10 against 1,884 of them, against 0.5/10 nationally. So this is not simply a reflection of who attends. Both figures are results only, without the inspection grade. A lower figure here means a stronger comparison group, not a weaker school.
How this is worked out
| Measure | Percentile | Weight | Adds |
|---|---|---|---|
| Expected standard (RWM) 2024/25 | 27.0 · 2 | 40% | 0.08 |
| Ofsted | 52 | 35% | 1.82 |
| Higher standard (RWM) 2024/25 | 0.0 · 10 | 25% | 0.26 |
Each measure is read as a position among comparable schools, so a school in the middle of the country scores 5. Full method.
Bickershaw CofE Primary School overview
How it's doing
In 2024/25, 27.0% of pupils reached the expected standard in reading, writing, and maths, compared to the national median of 64%. The higher standard was reached by 0.0%, against a national median of 7%. Its results are much the same when the comparison narrows to schools whose pupils have similar backgrounds, so the gap is not explained by intake (0.2 out of 10 against similar schools, 0.5 out of 10 against all schools). Ofsted rated the school Good in September 2025.
Getting in
The published school roll is 138 pupils against a stated capacity of 154. These whole-school figures do not establish entry-year vacancies or the likelihood of an offer. Confirm entry-year availability and admissions criteria with the school or local authority.
Worth asking on a visit
How does the school support pupils who are below the expected standard in core subjects? What specific strategies are used to help students progress towards the higher standard? How does the school maintain its Good Ofsted rating while addressing these attainment gaps?
What Ofsted said about Bickershaw CofE Primary School
Overview
Bickershaw CofE Primary School has “taken effective action to maintain the standards identified at the previous inspection.” The report describes a “caring and nurturing environment” where pupils are happy, feel safe, and demonstrate good manners. The school provides an ambitious curriculum with effective support for pupils with special educational needs and/or disabilities.
Strengths
- Pupils enjoy “warm and nurturing relationships with adults who know them well” and feel supported if they have worries.
- The curriculum is “ambitious,” with staff selecting activities that enable pupils to develop knowledge in a “logical and coherent way.”
- Reading is a high priority; teachers deliver the phonics programme well, and many pupils become “confident, fluent readers.”
- Pupils with SEND benefit from “well-chosen resources and effective adaptations” that help them learn the same curriculum as their peers.
- Governors are “effective in their roles,” providing appropriate challenge and support, while staff are positive about working at the school.
Areas to improve
- Staff must address pupils’ misunderstandings in a timely manner, as some pupils currently “move on to new learning before they are ready.”
- Teachers should ensure activities focus on the most important knowledge, as some current designs do not help pupils develop sufficient depth of understanding.
- The school needs to increase the rigour of its attendance procedures to ensure pupils who do not attend regularly receive the full benefit of the curriculum.
Safeguarding
The report states that “the arrangements for safeguarding are effective.”
Results over time
Expected standard (reading, writing, maths), the years we hold.
| Year | Expected standard (reading, writing, maths) |
|---|---|
| 2022/23 | 52% |
| 2023/24 | 52% |
| 2024/25 | 27% |
| England | 64% |
Source: DfE Explore Education Statistics. “England” is the median of the 14,326 state schools in England we hold a 2024/25 figure for — a school-level median, not the DfE's pupil-weighted national figure.
Your offer chance
—Based on official applications/offers, distance and catchment where we have it. Bands only — never a percentage.
Sibling, faith, looked-after and other criteria can override distance. Always confirm with the school or local authority.
Next dates
- Primary (Reception) application deadline15 Jan 2027
- Primary National Offer Day16 Apr 2027
- Primary (Reception) application deadline15 Jan 2028
- Primary National Offer Day17 Apr 2028
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