The Deanery CofE High School and Sixth Form College

Voluntary aided school · Secondary, ages 11 to 18 · Mixed · Church of England · Sixth form

Frog Lane, Wigan, WN1 1HQ

01942 768801 · School website · Map and directions

Ofsted report card1 strong, 6 expectedSafeguarding met · 9 June 2026
Grade 5 or above in English and maths40%England 45% · 2024/25
7th highest of 13 state secondary schools in Wigan.
Higher than 41% of 3,259 state secondary schools in England.
Pupils1,365Room for 1,389 Pupil numbers in January of each year: 1,368 in 2019, 1,448 in 2021, 1,422 in 2022, 1,432 in 2023, 1,401 in 2024, 1,372 in 2025, 1,365 in 2026. Across England, secondary state school pupil numbers were up 10% from 2019 to 2025.
First-choice applications per place1.1275 for 245 places, September 2026
3rd highest of 13 state secondary schools in Wigan.
Higher than 76% of 3,219 state secondary schools in England.

Ofsted inspection

Ofsted report card from the inspection that started on 9 June 2026 , published 14 July 2026.

In short: 1 strong, 6 expected, 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.

AreaGrade
SafeguardingWhether pupils are kept safe. Met or not met. Met
InclusionHow well the school supports disadvantaged pupils and pupils with special educational needs. Expected standard Middle of five grades. Meets the standard Ofsted expects.
Curriculum and teachingWhat pupils are taught and how well they are taught it. Expected standard Middle of five grades. Meets the standard Ofsted expects.
AchievementHow well pupils learn and the results they get. Expected standard Middle of five grades. Meets the standard Ofsted expects.
Attendance and behaviourWhether pupils come to school and how they behave. Expected standard Middle of five grades. Meets 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.
Post-16 provisionSixth form or other study after 16. Expected standard Middle of five grades. Meets the standard Ofsted expects.
Leadership and governanceHow well leaders and governors run the school. Expected standard Middle of five grades. Meets the standard Ofsted expects.

Read the full Ofsted reports for this school

Source: Ofsted state-funded schools inspection data.

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Results

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

249 pupils in this year group.

40% — 2 points above the Wigan average, and 5 points below the England average.

MeasureThis schoolWiganEngland
Grade 5 or above in English and maths 40% 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. 45.7 43.4 46.1
EBacc average point scoreAverage points across the English Baccalaureate subjects: English, maths, sciences, a language and history or geography. 3.8 3.7 4.1
Grade 5 or above in English and maths, over time
20% 30% 40% 50% 60% England 2022/23: 45%England 2023/24: 46%England 2024/25: 45% This school 2022/23: 30%This school 2023/24: 38%This school 2024/25: 40% This school England 45% 2022/23 30% 2023/24 38% 2024/25 40%

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.

251 pupils in this year group.

95% — 4 points above the Wigan average, and 3 points above the England average.

Where pupils went after Year 11
This school 26%29%32%
England 34%13%37%
MeasureThis schoolWiganEngland
Stayed in education, an apprenticeship or workPupils recorded in sustained education, apprenticeship or employment in the year after finishing Year 11. 95% 91% 92%
School sixth form 26% 6% 34%
Sixth form college 29% 33% 13%
Further education college 32% 41% 37%
Apprenticeship 3% 5% 3%
Work 4% 4% 3%

Stayed in education, an apprenticeship or work, over time

2023/242024/25
91%95%

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

A levels (16 to 18), 2024/25

48 A level students in this year group.

MeasureThis schoolWiganEngland
Average A level grade C- B- B-
A level exams graded A* or A 7% 12% 26%
A level exams graded A* to B 29% 32% 53%
Average points per A level entryAn A* is 60 points, an A is 50, a B is 40, and so on down to 10 for an E. 27.2 36.4 35
Average points per A level entry, over time
20 25 30 35 40 England 2022/23: 34.2England 2023/24: 34.4England 2024/25: 35 This school 2022/23: 25.1This school 2023/24: 25.8This school 2024/25: 27.2 This school England 35 2022/23 25.1 2023/24 25.8 2024/25 27.2

A level subjects, 2024/25

16 subjects, 92 exams. England figures are for state-funded schools and colleges.

SubjectExamsA*A* or AEngland A* or A
History 12 0% 0% 23%
Psychology 11 0% 0% 19%
Design and Technology (Engineering) 8 0% 13% 10%
Geography 8 0% 0% 23%
Mathematics 8 13% 25% 40%
Physical Education / Sports Studies 8 0% 0% 17%
Chemistry 6 0% 17% 30%
English Literature 6 0% 0% 23%
Media/Film/Tv Studies 6 0% 0% 14%

Also taken, with too few exams for DfE to publish grades: English Language, Physics, Sociology, Biology, Art and Design, Mathematics (Further), Religious Studies.

Source: DfE 16 to 18 qualification and subject data, 2024/25.

Source: DfE 16 to 18 performance tables, 2024/25. England figures are for state-funded schools.

After sixth form

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

89 students in this year group.

81% — about the same as the Wigan average, and 2 points above the England average.

MeasureThis schoolWiganEngland
Stayed in education, an apprenticeship or workStudents recorded in sustained education, apprenticeship or employment in the year after finishing 16 to 18 study. 81% 82% 79%
Apprenticeship 15% 11% 7%
Work 31% 27% 28%

Stayed in education, an apprenticeship or work, over time

2023/242024/25
84%81%

Source: DfE 16 to 18 destination measures, 2024/25 performance tables. England figures are for state-funded schools.

Going on to university

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

71 students in this year group.

39% — 18 points below the Wigan average, and 21 points below the England average.

MeasureThis schoolWiganEngland
Went on to a degree or other higher education 39% 57% 60%
Went to one of the most selective third of universitiesDfE's grouping of universities by the typical entry grades of their students. 4% 17% 19%

Went on to a degree or other higher education, over time

2023/242024/25
66%39%

Source: DfE 16 to 18 progression to higher education or training, 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 offered245
Families who put it first275
Of those, offered a place232 (84%)
Families who listed it at all745

First-choice applications per place: 2024: 1.2 · 2025: 1.2 · 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 Church of England 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.

Admissions dates and schools in Wigan

Pupils, staff and SEND

PupilsThis schoolWiganEngland
Eligible for free school meals in the last 6 years
6th highest of 13 state secondary schools in Wigan.
Higher than 59% of 3,448 state secondary schools in England.
30.6% 29.5%* 28.9%
With an education, health and care plan
9th highest of 13 state secondary schools in Wigan.
Higher than 40% of 3,448 state secondary schools in England.
2.5% 3.0%* 3.1%
Receiving special educational needs support
9th highest of 13 state secondary schools in Wigan.
Higher than 38% of 3,448 state secondary schools in England.
12.2% 15.1%* 13.4%
English as an additional language
4th highest of 13 state secondary schools in Wigan.
Higher than 42% of 3,448 state secondary schools in England.
9.6% 8.4%* 19.2%
Overall absence (sessions missed)
8th lowest of 13 state secondary schools in Wigan.
Lower than 42% of 3,411 state secondary schools in England.
8.8% 8.4%* 8.4%
Persistently absent (missed 10% or more)
8th lowest of 13 state secondary schools in Wigan.
Lower than 45% of 3,411 state secondary schools in England.
24.4% 22.9%* 23.4%
Suspensions per 100 pupils
11th lowest of 13 state secondary schools in Wigan.
Lower than 53% of 3,445 state secondary schools in England.
13.5 14.1 21.2
Pupils suspended at least once
10th lowest of 13 state secondary schools in Wigan.
Lower than 59% of 3,445 state secondary schools in England.
5.8% 6.2% 7.3%
Pupils permanently excluded5 pupils 0.36% 0.38% 0.23%
Pupils per teacher
13th highest of 13 state secondary schools in Wigan.
Higher than 10% of 3,442 state secondary schools in England.
14.4 16.3 16.7
Pupils per adult (teachers and support staff)
Joint 8th highest of 13 state secondary schools in Wigan.
Higher than 25% of 3,445 state secondary schools in England.
10.7 11.0 11.8
Teachers who left during the year
9th highest of 13 state secondary schools in Wigan.
Higher than 15% of 3,430 state secondary schools in England.
7.6% 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 The Deanery CofE High School and Sixth Form College's Ofsted rating?

The Deanery CofE High School and Sixth Form College was inspected under Ofsted's report card format in 9 June 2026. Report cards grade each area on a five-point scale instead of giving one overall grade. Its grades were 1 strong, 6 expected, and safeguarding was met.

How did The Deanery CofE High School and Sixth Form College do in its GCSEs?

In 2024/25, 40% of pupils grade 5 or above in English and maths, 5 points below the England average of 45%.

Is The Deanery CofE High School and Sixth Form College oversubscribed?

For the September 2026 intake, 275 families put The Deanery CofE High School and Sixth Form College as their first choice for 245 places: about 1 first-choice applications for every place. 232 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.