SchoolScoresSt Edmund Arrowsmith Catholic High School, Ashton-in-Makerfield
Voluntary aided school · Secondary, ages 11 to 16 · Mixed · Roman Catholic
Rookery Avenue, Ashton-in-Makerfield, Wigan, WN4 9PF
01942 728651 · School website · Map and directions
Ofsted inspection
Ofsted report card from the inspection that started on 3 March 2026 , published 5 May 2026.
In short: 6 strong, and safeguarding met.
Since November 2025 Ofsted grades each area on a five-point scale instead of giving one overall grade. How report cards work.
| Area | Grade |
|---|---|
| SafeguardingWhether pupils are kept safe. Met or not met. | Met |
| InclusionHow well the school supports disadvantaged pupils and pupils with special educational needs. | Strong standard Second of five grades. Better than the standard Ofsted expects. |
| Curriculum and teachingWhat pupils are taught and how well they are taught it. | Strong standard Second of five grades. Better than the standard Ofsted expects. |
| AchievementHow well pupils learn and the results they get. | Strong standard Second of five grades. Better than the standard Ofsted expects. |
| Attendance and behaviourWhether pupils come to school and how they behave. | Strong standard Second of five grades. Better than the standard Ofsted expects. |
| Personal development and wellbeingPupils' wider development, character and wellbeing. | Strong standard Second of five grades. Better than the standard Ofsted expects. |
| Leadership and governanceHow well leaders and governors run the school. | Strong standard Second of five grades. Better than the standard Ofsted expects. |
Read the full Ofsted reports for this school
Source: Ofsted state-funded schools inspection data.
What parents say
198 parents answered Ofsted's Parent View survey between 10 November 2025 and 6 April 2026.
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.
| Statement | This school | Wigan | England |
|---|---|---|---|
| My child is happy at this school 4th highest of 5 state secondary schools with comparable Parent View results in Wigan. Higher than 63% of 442 state secondary schools with comparable Parent View results in England. | 84% | 83% | 83% |
| My child feels safe at this school 4th highest of 5 state secondary schools with comparable Parent View results in Wigan. Higher than 62% of 442 state secondary schools with comparable Parent View results in England. | 87% | 87% | 85% |
| The school makes sure pupils are well behaved Joint 3rd highest of 5 state secondary schools with comparable Parent View results in Wigan. Higher than 70% of 442 state secondary schools with comparable Parent View results in England. | 84% | 82% | 78% |
| Bullying was dealt with quickly and effectivelyOf 51 parents whose child had been bullied 2nd highest of 4 state secondary schools with comparable Parent View results in Wigan. Higher than 65% of 344 state secondary schools with comparable Parent View results in England. | 53% | 51% | 43% |
| Concerns were dealt with properlyOf 159 parents who had raised a concern 3rd highest of 5 state secondary schools with comparable Parent View results in Wigan. Higher than 67% of 431 state secondary schools with comparable Parent View results in England. | 77% | 76% | 74% |
| My child with SEND gets the support they needOf 53 parents of children with SEND 2nd highest of 4 state secondary schools with comparable Parent View results in Wigan. Higher than 80% of 356 state secondary schools with comparable Parent View results in England. | 75% | 69% | 63% |
| I would recommend this school to another parent Joint 3rd highest of 5 state secondary schools with comparable Parent View results in Wigan. Higher than 62% of 442 state secondary schools with comparable Parent View results in England. | 87%said yes | 86% | 83% |
Parents choose whether to take part, so these answers may not represent all families (Ofsted puts the response rate at 16%). 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. Source: Ofsted Parent View management information.
Results
GCSEs (key stage 4, age 16), 2024/25
238 pupils in this year group.
51% — 12 points above the Wigan average, and 5 points above the England average.
| Measure | This school | Wigan | England |
|---|---|---|---|
| Grade 5 or above in English and maths | 51% | 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. | 49.1 | 43.4 | 46.1 |
| EBacc average point scoreAverage points across the English Baccalaureate subjects: English, maths, sciences, a language and history or geography. | 4.2 | 3.7 | 4.1 |
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.
230 pupils in this year group.
96% — 5 points above the Wigan average, and 4 points above the England average.
| Measure | This school | Wigan | England |
|---|---|---|---|
| Stayed in education, an apprenticeship or workPupils recorded in sustained education, apprenticeship or employment in the year after finishing Year 11. | 96% | 91% | 92% |
| School sixth form | 2% | 6% | 34% |
| Sixth form college | 58% | 33% | 13% |
| Further education college | 29% | 41% | 37% |
| Apprenticeship | 4% | 5% | 3% |
| Work | 3% | 4% | 3% |
Stayed in education, an apprenticeship or work, over time
| 2023/24 | 2024/25 |
|---|---|
| 96% | 96% |
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 about 1 first-choice applications for every place.
| Places offered | 233 |
|---|---|
| Families who put it first | 258 |
| Of those, offered a place | 224 (87%) |
| Families who listed it at all | 453 |
First-choice applications per place: 2024: 0.9 · 2025: 1.0 · 2026: 1.1
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.
This is a Roman Catholic school. When it has more applicants than places it can give priority to families of the faith, for example those who can show regular worship. Check the school's admissions policy to see how places are allocated.
Pupils, staff and SEND
| Pupils | This school | Wigan | England |
|---|---|---|---|
| Eligible for free school meals in the last 6 years 12th highest of 13 state secondary schools in Wigan. Higher than 13% of 3,448 state secondary schools in England. | 13.7% | 29.5%* | 28.9% |
| With an education, health and care plan 2nd highest of 13 state secondary schools in Wigan. Higher than 72% of 3,448 state secondary schools in England. | 4.0% | 3.0%* | 3.1% |
| Receiving special educational needs support 12th highest of 13 state secondary schools in Wigan. Higher than 8% of 3,448 state secondary schools in England. | 6.7% | 15.1%* | 13.4% |
| English as an additional language 7th highest of 13 state secondary schools in Wigan. Higher than 32% of 3,448 state secondary schools in England. | 6.7% | 8.4%* | 19.2% |
| Overall absence (sessions missed) 3rd lowest of 13 state secondary schools in Wigan. Lower than 73% of 3,411 state secondary schools in England. | 7.0% | 8.4%* | 8.4% |
| Persistently absent (missed 10% or more) 2nd lowest of 13 state secondary schools in Wigan. Lower than 79% of 3,411 state secondary schools in England. | 17.1% | 22.9%* | 23.4% |
| Suspensions per 100 pupils 5th lowest of 13 state secondary schools in Wigan. Lower than 77% of 3,445 state secondary schools in England. | 6.6 | 14.1 | 21.2 |
| Pupils suspended at least once 6th lowest of 13 state secondary schools in Wigan. Lower than 73% of 3,445 state secondary schools in England. | 4.1% | 6.2% | 7.3% |
| Pupils permanently excluded2 pupils | 0.17% | 0.38% | 0.23% |
| Pupils per teacher Joint 8th highest of 13 state secondary schools in Wigan. Higher than 35% of 3,442 state secondary schools in England. | 16.1 | 16.3 | 16.7 |
| Pupils per adult (teachers and support staff) 5th highest of 13 state secondary schools in Wigan. Higher than 42% of 3,445 state secondary schools in England. | 11.5 | 11.0 | 11.8 |
| Teachers who left during the year 11th highest of 13 state secondary schools in Wigan. Higher than 9% of 3,430 state secondary schools in England. | 6.2% | 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
- The Byrchall High School 0.1 miles · Ofsted: Good (2022) · 39% grade 5+ English and maths
- Cansfield High School 0.8 miles · Ofsted: Good (2024) · 41% grade 5+ English and maths
- Hope Academy 1.6 miles · Ofsted: No overall grade (2024) · 33% grade 5+ English and maths
- Outwood Academy Haydock 1.9 miles · Ofsted: No overall grade (2024) · 30% grade 5+ English and maths
- Golborne High School 2.2 miles · Ofsted: Outstanding (2023) · 46% grade 5+ English and maths
- Hawkley Hall High School 2.8 miles · Ofsted: No overall grade (2024) · 37% grade 5+ English and maths
Straight-line distance. Distance isn't the same as a catchment area.
Questions parents ask
What is St Edmund Arrowsmith Catholic High School, Ashton-in-Makerfield's Ofsted rating?
St Edmund Arrowsmith Catholic High School, Ashton-in-Makerfield was inspected under Ofsted's report card format in 3 March 2026. Report cards grade each area on a five-point scale instead of giving one overall grade. Its grades were 6 strong, and safeguarding was met.
How did St Edmund Arrowsmith Catholic High School, Ashton-in-Makerfield do in its GCSEs?
In 2024/25, 51% of pupils grade 5 or above in English and maths, 5 points above the England average of 45%.
Would parents recommend St Edmund Arrowsmith Catholic High School, Ashton-in-Makerfield?
87% of the 198 parents who answered Ofsted's Parent View survey between 10 November 2025 and 6 April 2026 said they would recommend St Edmund Arrowsmith Catholic High School, Ashton-in-Makerfield to another parent. Parents choose whether to respond, so this may not represent all families.
Is St Edmund Arrowsmith Catholic High School, Ashton-in-Makerfield oversubscribed?
For the September 2026 intake, 258 families put St Edmund Arrowsmith Catholic High School, Ashton-in-Makerfield as their first choice for 233 places: about 1 first-choice applications for every place. 224 of those families were offered a place. Whether you get a place depends on the school's admissions rules and where you live.
Sources
- School details: Get Information about Schools (DfE), 26 September 2026. URN 106540.
- Inspections: Ofsted management information, data to 31 August 2026.
- Parent views: Ofsted Parent View, 10 November 2025 to 6 April 2026.
- Results: DfE school performance tables, GCSEs 2024/25, After Year 11 2024/25.
Spotted a mistake? Report it and we'll check it against the source.
Page updated 26 September 2026.