The Deanery Church of England High School and Sixth Form College

The Deanery Church of England High School and Sixth Form College is a larger-than-average secondary school with sixth form provision, located in an area of well-above-average deprivation. The school was inspected in June 2026 and safeguarding standards were met, with inspectors finding an open and positive culture of safeguarding. The school's personal development and wellbeing programme is a standout strength, rated 'strong standard' and described as the 'jewel in its crown', with a bespoke 'Reach' curriculum that develops pupils morally and spiritually and provides extensive pastoral support. Pupils behave with maturity and respect, classrooms are calm, and pupils report feeling safe and free from discrimination. The school also offers a wide range of clubs, activities and trips, and older pupils act as role models for younger ones. Overall, the school is performing at the 'expected standard' across achievement, attendance and behaviour, curriculum and teaching, inclusion, leadership and governance, and post-16 provision.

Strengths

• Personal development and wellbeing programme is highly impactful and tailored to pupils and the local community
• Pupils demonstrate deep understanding of respectful citizenship and support local charities
• Bespoke pastoral support systems effectively help pupils overcome wellbeing barriers
• Wide range of inclusive clubs, activities and trips adapted to pupils' interests, including for SEND and disadvantaged pupils
• Careers education is skilfully woven through the curriculum, with personalised work experience in Year 12
• Pupils have warm relationships with staff, behave maturely, and classrooms are calm and focused
• Bullying and unkindness are not tolerated and incidents are dealt with swiftly
• Disadvantaged pupils' attainment in national examinations has recently improved to above national average
• Pupils with SEND typically attain in line with national outcomes and are well supported
• Sixth form curriculum meets students' individual needs and ambitions, with expert teachers and strong pastoral support
• Staff are proud to work at the school and value the professional development and consideration of workload and wellbeing
• Governors fulfil statutory duties and provide effective support and challenge

Areas for Improvement

• Leaders' processes to evaluate the impact of their actions need refinement to drive improvement across all areas
• Attendance systems need sharpening to ensure all pupils, including disadvantaged pupils and those with SEND, attend more regularly
• Some recent actions, particularly around attendance, have not yet brought about the same positive outcomes as other improvements
• Overall attendance is broadly in line with national averages but persistent absence remains an area for focus

Admissions: local authority offers data from the Department for Education. A school is oversubscribed when at least 5% of the families who put it first were not offered a place, and undersubscribed when everyone who put it first got in but 10% or more of its places were unfilled in the Department's school capacity survey (the latest survey is used for entry years it does not cover). Places: Department for Education, School capacity, from local authorities' annual survey as at 1 May. Each year is the one the school year ends in (2025 is 2024–25); the survey was not run in 2020. Places include sixth form places. Forecasts are the local authority's own for the school's planning area, an area it uses to plan places that is not the school's catchment area. The forecast starts from a head count in 2025; the dashed line is the Department's estimate of places in that area, including those the authority has firm plans for. Planned places are cumulative, and only those with firm plans are counted.

In 2024–25 pupils at The Deanery Church of England High School and Sixth Form College attended 91.2% of sessions (the national figure for secondary schools was 91.6%). 24.4% of pupils were persistently absent, missing at least one session in ten (nationally 23.4%).

Sessions missed

Pupils persistently absent

Source: Department for Education, Pupil absence in schools in England. Each year is the one the school year ends in (2025 is 2024/25). Persistent absence means missing 10% or more of sessions; severe absence means 50% or more. No figures were published for 2019/20.

In 2024–25, 5.8% of pupils at The Deanery Church of England High School and Sixth Form College were suspended at least once (nationally 7.3%). 5 pupils were permanently excluded.

Pupils suspended at least once

Source: Department for Education, Suspensions and permanent exclusions in England. Each year is the one the school year ends in (2025 is 2024/25). A pupil can be suspended more than once, so suspensions per 100 pupils can be higher than the share of pupils suspended. Very small numbers are hidden by the DfE. Exclusion figures dropped in 2020 and 2021 because of school closures.

In 2025–26 The Deanery Church of England High School and Sixth Form College had 14.4 pupils for each teacher (the national figure for secondary schools was 16.7). Of its teachers in 2024–25, 7.6% were no longer at the school a year later (nationally 14.1%).

Pupils per teacher

Teachers who left the school within a year

Source: Department for Education, School workforce in England. Each year is the one the school year ends in (2025 is 2024/25). Pupils per teacher counts full-time-equivalent pupils and teachers. Turnover is the share of a year's teachers (full-time equivalent) who were not at the school the following year, whether they moved to another school or left state-funded teaching. Turnover and sickness figures run one year behind the ratios. Sick leave is the share of teachers who took at least one day in the year, so it swings widely at small schools, where a few teachers can make it 0% or 100%. The national figures are for all state schools of the same type.

In 2025–26, 13.3% of pupils at The Deanery Church of England High School and Sixth Form College were on SEN support (nationally 14.1%) and 2.9% had an education, health and care (EHC) plan (nationally 3.5%).

Pupils by main type of need

Source: Department for Education, Special educational needs in England (the 2025–26 school census). SEN support is extra help in school without an EHC plan. National figures are for all state-funded secondary schools. Counts are as published, with small numbers not hidden.

In 2025–26 The Deanery Church of England High School and Sixth Form College received £8,186 and spent £8,101 for each of its 1,367 pupils. It ended the year with reserves of £1,526,000 (£1,116 per pupil).

Income per pupil

Spending per pupil

Source: Department for Education, Financial Benchmarking and Insights Tool. Each year is the one the financial year ends in (2024 is 2023–24).

• Primary Schools
• Secondary Schools

All schools in Wigan · Wigan local authority: places and applications

What is The Deanery Church of England High School and Sixth Form College's Ofsted rating?

The latest Ofsted rating for The Deanery Church of England High School and Sixth Form College is Expected standard, from an inspection in July 2026.

When was The Deanery Church of England High School and Sixth Form College last inspected by Ofsted?

The Deanery Church of England High School and Sixth Form College was last inspected in July 2026.

How many pupils does The Deanery Church of England High School and Sixth Form College have?

The Deanery Church of England High School and Sixth Form College has 1,365 pupils on roll.

What age range does The Deanery Church of England High School and Sixth Form College cover?

The Deanery Church of England High School and Sixth Form College for pupils aged 11 to 18.

What are The Deanery Church of England High School and Sixth Form College's GCSE results?

In 2026 its average Attainment 8 score was 45.2, and 45% of pupils achieved grade 5 or above in both English and maths GCSE.

Where is The Deanery Church of England High School and Sixth Form College?

The Deanery Church of England High School and Sixth Form College is at Frog Lane, Wigan, Lancashire, WN1 1HQ.