St Edmund Arrowsmith Catholic High School, Ashton-in-Makerfield
Wigan, WN4 9PF · Wigan · secondary school
Check the area around this school
1st of 19 secondary schools in Wigan we can score. Local and same-phase on purpose: a national table mostly measures who attends.
Narrow the comparison to the 783 schools whose pupils have similar backgrounds — a tougher field — and it places 5.1/10 among them, against 6.7/10 nationally. 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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Ofsted | 86 | 35% | 3.03 |
| Grade 5+ English & maths 2025/26 | 53.6 · 70 | 30% | 2.11 |
| Progress 8 2023/24 | 0.16 · 61 | 25% | 1.53 |
| Attainment 8 2025/26 | 50.4 · 71 | 10% | 0.71 |
Each measure is read as a position among comparable schools, so a school in the middle of the country scores 5. Full method.
St Edmund Arrowsmith Catholic High School, Ashton-in-Makerfield overview
How it's doing
In 2024/25, 50.8% of pupils achieved Grade 5 or above in English and maths. Attainment 8 was 49.1, compared to the national median of 44.6. Progress 8 was +0.16 in 2023/24, indicating pupils did better than those nationally who started from the same place. Narrow the comparison to the schools whose pupils have similar backgrounds — a tougher field — and it places 4.4 out of 10 among them, against 6.5 out of 10 nationally. Ofsted inspected the school in March 2026 under the new report-card framework, which grades each area separately and gives no overall grade.
Beyond the classroom
Pupils participate in the Music Festival and Sister Act JR, with trips to Paris and New York planned for 2026.
Getting in
The published school roll is 1,204 pupils against a stated capacity of 1,250. 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 to improve their Progress 8 scores relative to the national baseline? What specific support is available for students aiming to raise their Attainment 8? How does the new Ofsted framework affect current teaching priorities?
What Ofsted said about St Edmund Arrowsmith Catholic High School, Ashton-in-Makerfield
Overview
The report describes a school where leaders have established a "consistent pattern of improvement" and where pupils are "thoroughly prepared and highly motivated for their next steps." It highlights an environment where pupils are "safe, well known by staff and deeply valued," with "exemplary" behaviour and high attendance.
Strengths
- Pupils "achieve consistently well across the curriculum," with outcomes sustained above national averages and disadvantaged pupils achieving "extremely well compared with similar pupils nationally."
- Attendance is a strength, sitting "consistently above national figures," supported by leaders' "sharp, meticulous" monitoring and personalised plans for those at risk.
- Behaviour is "exemplary," with pupils showing "impressive levels of self-regulation" and moving around the school with "purpose" and "courtesy."
- The curriculum is "ambitious, carefully sequenced" and delivered with "expertise," ensuring pupils gain "detailed knowledge" and "genuine independence in their learning."
- Inclusion is effective, with a "comprehensive package of support" that enables pupils with special educational needs and/or disabilities to "excel" and develop a "strong sense of belonging."
Areas to improve
- Leaders should "continue to refine the school’s approach to quality assurance" to ensure all groups of pupils achieve the very best outcomes routinely over time.
Safeguarding
The safeguarding standards are met, with an "open culture in which safeguarding is everyone's responsibility" and concerns actively identified and managed.
Results over time
Attainment 8, the years we hold.
| Year | Attainment 8 |
|---|---|
| 2023/24 | 51.5 |
| 2024/25 | 49.1 |
| 2025/26 | 50.4 |
| England | 44.9 |
Source: DfE Explore Education Statistics. “England” is the median of the 3,682 state schools in England we hold a 2025/26 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
- Secondary application deadline31 Oct 2026
- Secondary National Offer Day1 Mar 2027
- Secondary application deadline31 Oct 2027
- Secondary National Offer Day1 Mar 2028
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