SchoolScoresThe Byrchall High School
Academy · Secondary, ages 11 to 16 · Mixed
Part of MAKERFIELD ACADEMY TRUST
Warrington Road, Ashton-in-Makerfield, Wigan, WN4 9PQ
01942 728221 · School website · Map and directions
Ofsted inspection
Ofsted rated this school Good at the inspection that started on 13 September 2022.
This inspection used Ofsted's older format with four grades: Outstanding, Good, Requires improvement and Inadequate. Newer inspections use report cards. What changed.
| Area | Grade |
|---|---|
| Quality of education | Good |
| Behaviour and attitudes | Good |
| Personal development | Good |
| Leadership and management | Good |
| Safeguarding | Effective |
Read the full Ofsted reports for this school
Source: Ofsted state-funded schools inspection data.
What parents say
39 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 1st highest of 5 state secondary schools with comparable Parent View results in Wigan. Higher than 94% of 442 state secondary schools with comparable Parent View results in England. | 97% | 83% | 83% |
| My child feels safe at this school 2nd highest of 5 state secondary schools with comparable Parent View results in Wigan. Higher than 90% of 442 state secondary schools with comparable Parent View results in England. | 97% | 87% | 85% |
| The school makes sure pupils are well behaved 2nd highest of 5 state secondary schools with comparable Parent View results in Wigan. Higher than 84% of 442 state secondary schools with comparable Parent View results in England. | 90% | 82% | 78% |
| Concerns were dealt with properlyOf 26 parents who had raised a concern 2nd highest of 5 state secondary schools with comparable Parent View results in Wigan. Higher than 90% of 431 state secondary schools with comparable Parent View results in England. | 88% | 76% | 74% |
| I would recommend this school to another parent Joint 1st highest of 5 state secondary schools with comparable Parent View results in Wigan. Higher than 95% of 442 state secondary schools with comparable Parent View results in England. | 100%said yes | 86% | 83% |
Parents choose whether to take part, so these answers may not represent all families (Ofsted puts the response rate at 4%). 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
187 pupils in this year group.
39% — about the same as the Wigan average, and 6 points below the England average.
| Measure | This school | Wigan | England |
|---|---|---|---|
| Grade 5 or above in English and maths | 39% | 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. | 41.3 | 43.4 | 46.1 |
| EBacc average point scoreAverage points across the English Baccalaureate subjects: English, maths, sciences, a language and history or geography. | 3.5 | 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.
168 pupils in this year group.
90% — about the same as the Wigan average, and 2 points below 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. | 90% | 91% | 92% |
| School sixth form | 1% | 6% | 34% |
| Sixth form college | 43% | 33% | 13% |
| Further education college | 36% | 41% | 37% |
| Apprenticeship | 4% | 5% | 3% |
| Work | 4% | 4% | 3% |
Stayed in education, an apprenticeship or work, over time
| 2023/24 | 2024/25 |
|---|---|
| 90% | 90% |
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 1.5 first-choice applications for every place.
| Places offered | 250 |
|---|---|
| Families who put it first | 315 |
| Of those, offered a place | 240 (76%) |
| Families who listed it at all | 721 |
First-choice applications per place: 2024: 0.9 · 2025: 1.0 · 2026: 1.3
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.
Pupils, staff and SEND
Specialist SEND provision: this school has a SEN unit with 8 places for specific learning difficulties (such as dyslexia); Severe learning difficulties; Profound and multiple learning difficulties. These places are usually allocated through the council's SEND team.
| Pupils | This school | Wigan | England |
|---|---|---|---|
| Eligible for free school meals in the last 6 years 3rd highest of 13 state secondary schools in Wigan. Higher than 71% of 3,448 state secondary schools in England. | 36.8% | 29.5%* | 28.9% |
| With an education, health and care plan 8th highest of 13 state secondary schools in Wigan. Higher than 41% of 3,448 state secondary schools in England. | 2.6% | 3.0%* | 3.1% |
| Receiving special educational needs support 5th highest of 13 state secondary schools in Wigan. Higher than 61% of 3,448 state secondary schools in England. | 15.3% | 15.1%* | 13.4% |
| English as an additional language 5th highest of 13 state secondary schools in Wigan. Higher than 38% of 3,448 state secondary schools in England. | 8.4% | 8.4%* | 19.2% |
| Overall absence (sessions missed) 12th lowest of 13 state secondary schools in Wigan. Lower than 32% of 3,411 state secondary schools in England. | 9.4% | 8.4%* | 8.4% |
| Persistently absent (missed 10% or more) 10th lowest of 13 state secondary schools in Wigan. Lower than 42% of 3,411 state secondary schools in England. | 25.1% | 22.9%* | 23.4% |
| Suspensions per 100 pupils 6th lowest of 13 state secondary schools in Wigan. Lower than 76% of 3,445 state secondary schools in England. | 6.7 | 14.1 | 21.2 |
| Pupils suspended at least once 7th lowest of 13 state secondary schools in Wigan. Lower than 72% of 3,445 state secondary schools in England. | 4.2% | 6.2% | 7.3% |
| Pupils permanently excluded1 pupil | 0.09% | 0.38% | 0.23% |
| Pupils per teacher 7th highest of 13 state secondary schools in Wigan. Higher than 39% of 3,442 state secondary schools in England. | 16.3 | 16.3 | 16.7 |
| Pupils per adult (teachers and support staff) 6th highest of 13 state secondary schools in Wigan. Higher than 40% of 3,445 state secondary schools in England. | 11.4 | 11.0 | 11.8 |
| Teachers who left during the year 2nd highest of 13 state secondary schools in Wigan. Higher than 72% of 3,430 state secondary schools in England. | 17.8% | 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.
SEND provision: Get Information about Schools (DfE).
Nearby secondary schools
- St Edmund Arrowsmith Catholic High School, Ashton-in-Makerfield 0.1 miles · Ofsted: Report card 2026: 6 strong · 51% grade 5+ English and maths
- Cansfield High School 0.9 miles · Ofsted: Good (2024) · 41% grade 5+ English and maths
- Hope Academy 1.5 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 2.9 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 The Byrchall High School's Ofsted rating?
The Byrchall High School was rated Good by Ofsted at its inspection in 13 September 2022.
How did The Byrchall High School do in its GCSEs?
In 2024/25, 39% of pupils grade 5 or above in English and maths, 6 points below the England average of 45%.
Would parents recommend The Byrchall High School?
100% of the 39 parents who answered Ofsted's Parent View survey between 10 November 2025 and 6 April 2026 said they would recommend The Byrchall High School to another parent. Parents choose whether to respond, so this may not represent all families.
Is The Byrchall High School oversubscribed?
For the September 2026 intake, 315 families put The Byrchall High School as their first choice for 250 places: about 1.5 first-choice applications for every place. 240 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 138699.
- 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.