Dean Trust Wigan

Academy · Secondary, ages 11 to 16 · Mixed

Part of THE DEAN TRUST

Greenhey, Orrell, Wigan, WN5 0DQ

01942 511987 · School website · Map and directions

OfstedRequires improvementInspected 17 October 2023
Grade 5 or above in English and maths23%England 45% · 2024/25
13th highest of 13 state secondary schools in Wigan.
Higher than 6% of 3,259 state secondary schools in England.
Pupils715Room for 1,025 Pupil numbers in January of each year: 665 in 2019, 725 in 2021, 750 in 2022, 791 in 2023, 808 in 2024, 770 in 2025, 715 in 2026. Across England, secondary state school pupil numbers were up 10% from 2019 to 2025.
First-choice applications per place0.8110 for 140 places, September 2026
11th highest of 13 state secondary schools in Wigan.
Higher than 24% of 3,219 state secondary schools in England.

Ofsted inspection

Ofsted rated this school Requires improvement at the inspection that started on 17 October 2023.

This inspection used Ofsted's older format with four grades: Outstanding, Good, Requires improvement and Inadequate. Newer inspections use report cards. What changed.

AreaGrade
Quality of educationRequires improvement
Behaviour and attitudesRequires improvement
Personal developmentRequires improvement
Leadership and managementRequires improvement
SafeguardingEffective

Read the full Ofsted reports for this school

Source: Ofsted state-funded schools inspection data.

What parents say

38 parents answered Ofsted's Parent View survey between 4 September 2023 and 2 September 2024.

Wigan comparisons use the 5 of its 13 state secondary schools with comparable results. The other 8 have no published Parent View results (Ofsted only publishes a survey once at least 10 parents answer) or used Ofsted's newer questions, which we don't compare with the older ones.

StatementThis schoolWiganEngland
My child is happy at this school
5th highest of 5 state secondary schools with comparable Parent View results in Wigan.
Higher than 11% of 1,763 state secondary schools with comparable Parent View results in England.
61% 72% 88%
My child feels safe at this school
5th highest of 5 state secondary schools with comparable Parent View results in Wigan.
Higher than 9% of 1,763 state secondary schools with comparable Parent View results in England.
63% 79% 90%
The school makes sure pupils are well behaved
5th highest of 5 state secondary schools with comparable Parent View results in Wigan.
Higher than 7% of 1,763 state secondary schools with comparable Parent View results in England.
42% 63% 84%
Bullying was dealt with quickly and effectivelyOf 15 parents whose child had been bullied
4th highest of 5 state secondary schools with comparable Parent View results in Wigan.
Higher than 12% of 1,665 state secondary schools with comparable Parent View results in England.
33% 44% 49%
Concerns were dealt with properlyOf 30 parents who had raised a concern
4th highest of 5 state secondary schools with comparable Parent View results in Wigan.
Higher than 17% of 1,736 state secondary schools with comparable Parent View results in England.
53% 60% 75%
I would recommend this school to another parent
5th highest of 5 state secondary schools with comparable Parent View results in Wigan.
Higher than 10% of 1,763 state secondary schools with comparable Parent View results in England.
50%said yes 66% 84%

Parents choose whether to take part, so these answers may not represent all families. Figures are the share who agree or strongly agree. England figures are all parents answering the same questions over the same period, for state-funded schools. Wigan figures pool parents at the Wigan schools compared, from each school's latest survey, so survey dates differ between schools. The scales run from lower (left) to higher (right) agreement, and the dot marks this school among state schools of the same phase that used the same survey questions. The third it falls in is coloured: green for the top third, amber the middle, red the bottom. This survey used Ofsted's previous Parent View questions, which changed in November 2025. Source: Ofsted Parent View management information.

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Results

GCSEs (key stage 4, age 16), 2024/25

159 pupils in this year group.

23% — 16 points below the Wigan average, and 23 points below the England average.

MeasureThis schoolWiganEngland
Grade 5 or above in English and maths 23% 39% 45%
Attainment 8 scoreAverage of each pupil's grades across 8 GCSE-level subjects, with English and maths counted twice. Around 50 means grade 5s on average. 33.1 43.4 46.1
EBacc average point scoreAverage points across the English Baccalaureate subjects: English, maths, sciences, a language and history or geography. 3.1 3.7 4.1
Grade 5 or above in English and maths, over time
0% 10% 20% 30% 40% 50% 60% England 2022/23: 45%England 2023/24: 46%England 2024/25: 45% This school 2022/23: 14%This school 2023/24: 19%This school 2024/25: 23% This school England 45% 2022/23 14% 2023/24 19% 2024/25 23%

Progress 8 isn't shown. DfE didn't publish it for 2024/25 because this year group's key stage 2 tests in 2020 were cancelled, and older progress scores aren't comparable.

Source: DfE key stage 4 performance tables, 2024/25. England figures are for state-funded schools.

After Year 11

Where pupils went next. DfE measures this for pupils who finished in an earlier year, so these figures describe a previous year group.

137 pupils in this year group.

83% — 8 points below the Wigan average, and 9 points below the England average.

MeasureThis schoolWiganEngland
Stayed in education, an apprenticeship or workPupils recorded in sustained education, apprenticeship or employment in the year after finishing Year 11. 83% 91% 92%
School sixth form 0% 6% 34%
Sixth form college 20% 33% 13%
Further education college 52% 41% 37%
Apprenticeship 6% 5% 3%
Work 4% 4% 3%

Stayed in education, an apprenticeship or work, over time

2023/242024/25
84%83%

Source: DfE key stage 4 destination measures, 2024/25 performance tables. England figures are for state-funded schools.

Admissions

Apply through the council where you live, even if the school is in a different council area. This school is in Wigan. The national closing date for secondary applications is 31 October, and offers are sent on 1 March.

How hard is it to get in?

For the September 2026 intake there were fewer first-choice applications than places.

Places offered140
Families who put it first110
Of those, offered a place110 (100%)
Families who listed it at all166

First-choice applications per place: 2024: 0.7 · 2025: 0.5 · 2026: 0.8

This isn't your chance of getting a place. That depends on the school's admissions rules (for example siblings, distance or faith) and where you live. Source: DfE applications and offers, September 2026 intake.

Admissions dates and schools in Wigan

Pupils, staff and SEND

PupilsThis schoolWiganEngland
Eligible for free school meals in the last 6 years
2nd highest of 13 state secondary schools in Wigan.
Higher than 95% of 3,448 state secondary schools in England.
57.3% 29.5%* 28.9%
With an education, health and care plan
13th highest of 13 state secondary schools in Wigan.
Higher than 12% of 3,448 state secondary schools in England.
1.3% 3.0%* 3.1%
Receiving special educational needs support
2nd highest of 13 state secondary schools in Wigan.
Higher than 97% of 3,448 state secondary schools in England.
25.6% 15.1%* 13.4%
English as an additional language
3rd highest of 13 state secondary schools in Wigan.
Higher than 48% of 3,448 state secondary schools in England.
11.3% 8.4%* 19.2%
Overall absence (sessions missed)
10th lowest of 13 state secondary schools in Wigan.
Lower than 38% of 3,411 state secondary schools in England.
9.0% 8.4%* 8.4%
Persistently absent (missed 10% or more)
12th lowest of 13 state secondary schools in Wigan.
Lower than 37% of 3,411 state secondary schools in England.
26.1% 22.9%* 23.4%
Suspensions per 100 pupils
1st lowest of 13 state secondary schools in Wigan.
Lower than 85% of 3,445 state secondary schools in England.
4.4 14.1 21.2
Pupils suspended at least once
2nd lowest of 13 state secondary schools in Wigan.
Lower than 82% of 3,445 state secondary schools in England.
3.1% 6.2% 7.3%
Pupils permanently excluded3 pupils 0.39% 0.38% 0.23%
Pupils per teacher
12th highest of 13 state secondary schools in Wigan.
Higher than 12% of 3,442 state secondary schools in England.
14.6 16.3 16.7
Pupils per adult (teachers and support staff)
13th highest of 13 state secondary schools in Wigan.
Higher than 7% of 3,445 state secondary schools in England.
9.4 11.0 11.8
Teachers who left during the year
3rd highest of 13 state secondary schools in Wigan.
Higher than 66% of 3,430 state secondary schools in England.
16.4% 12.4%* 14.2%*

Comparisons are with secondary schools. Scales run from lower (left) to higher (right) figures. For absence and suspensions lower is better, so their scales run green to red; blue scales describe the school's pupils and staff and aren't good or bad. * Calculated by SchoolScores from the council's or England's schools, weighted by pupils (or teachers, for turnover); other figures are published by DfE. Sources: DfE school census 2024/25; DfE pupil absence 2024/25; DfE suspensions and permanent exclusions 2024/25; DfE school workforce census 2025/26; DfE teacher turnover 2024/25.

Nearby secondary schools

Straight-line distance. Distance isn't the same as a catchment area.

Questions parents ask

What is Dean Trust Wigan's Ofsted rating?

Dean Trust Wigan was rated Requires improvement by Ofsted at its inspection in 17 October 2023.

How did Dean Trust Wigan do in its GCSEs?

In 2024/25, 23% of pupils grade 5 or above in English and maths, 23 points below the England average of 45%.

Would parents recommend Dean Trust Wigan?

50% of the 38 parents who answered Ofsted's Parent View survey between 4 September 2023 and 2 September 2024 said they would recommend Dean Trust Wigan to another parent. Parents choose whether to respond, so this may not represent all families.

Is Dean Trust Wigan oversubscribed?

For the September 2026 intake, 110 families put Dean Trust Wigan as their first choice for 140 places: fewer first-choice applications than places. 110 of those families were offered a place. Whether you get a place depends on the school's admissions rules and where you live.

Sources

Spotted a mistake? Report it and we'll check it against the source.

Page updated 26 September 2026.