Atherton High School

Atherton High School has improved to a good level of performance since its last inspection, which was rated as requires improvement. The school has made significant strides in creating a positive learning environment where pupils feel happy, safe, and motivated to learn. The dedicated staff, supported by the Education Partnership Trust, work collaboratively to ensure the curriculum is well-structured and recognizes the diverse needs of the students, including those with special educational needs and disabilities (SEND). However, there are still areas that require attention to enhance the overall experience for pupils, particularly regarding their understanding of modern British values and career guidance.

Strengths

• Positive relationships between pupils and teachers
• A warm and welcoming atmosphere in the school
• Effective curriculum that helps pupils to know and remember more
• Strong support for pupils with SEND
• High levels of pupil motivation and respectful behavior
• Engagement in extracurricular activities that build confidence

Areas for Improvement

• Inconsistent checking of pupils' understanding of learned concepts
• Limited opportunities for pupils to learn about life in modern Britain
• Inadequate career guidance for some pupils

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 Atherton High School attended 91.1% of sessions (the national figure for secondary schools was 91.6%). 26.1% 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, 8.4% of pupils at Atherton High School were suspended at least once (nationally 7.3%). 4 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 Atherton High School had 14.5 pupils for each teacher (the national figure for secondary schools was 16.7). Of its teachers in 2024–25, 13.3% 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, 20.9% of pupils at Atherton High School were on SEN support (nationally 14.1%) and 3.7% 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 2024–25 Atherton High School received £8,736 and spent £8,740 for each of its 548 pupils. It ended the year with reserves of £575,000 (£1,050 per pupil).

Across all 6 schools of Education Partnership Trust, income was £8,209 and spending £8,226 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). Academy figures include a share of the trust's central services, shared out by pupil numbers, and are rounded to the nearest £1,000. Premises costs were defined differently from 2024, so compare them across that gap with care.

• Primary Schools
• Secondary Schools

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

Atherton High School is part of Education Partnership Trust, which runs 6 schools. The nearest others:

• Parklee Primary School Wigan
• Eden School Blackburn
• Pleckgate High School Blackburn
• Burnley High School Burnley
• Carr Hill High School Preston

What is Atherton High School's Ofsted rating?

The latest Ofsted rating for Atherton High School is Good, from an inspection in March 2024.

When was Atherton High School last inspected by Ofsted?

Atherton High School was last inspected in March 2024.

How many pupils does Atherton High School have?

Atherton High School has 561 pupils on roll.

What age range does Atherton High School cover?

Atherton High School for pupils aged 11 to 16.

What are Atherton High School's GCSE results?

In 2026 its average Attainment 8 score was 46.2, and 38% of pupils achieved grade 5 or above in both English and maths GCSE.

Where is Atherton High School?

Atherton High School is at Hamilton Street, Atherton, Greater Manchester, M46 0AY.