Most sought-after schools in Wigan
Ordered by how many families put the school first, for each place it gave out.
This list is sorted by one number: first preferences per place. For each school it is the number of families who named it first, divided by the number of offers it made, in the newest year we hold. A higher number means more families wanted a place than there were places.
This is not a list of the best schools. It does not measure how good a school is, how happy the children are, or how well they do. It also does not tell you whether a child would get a place: that depends on where you live, the year, and the council's rules. It only shows how many people applied.
| # | School | First preferences per place | Newest intake | Latest Ofsted |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 |
Leigh St John's CofE Primary Leigh, primary |
1.90 | 2025 | Standards maintained (Ofsted ungraded inspection) |
| 2 |
Woodfield Primary School Wigan, primary |
1.90 | 2025 | Not judged (Ofsted graded inspection (previous framework)) |
| 3 |
Lowton St Mary's CofE (Voluntary Aided) Primary School WARRINGTON, primary |
1.50 | 2025 | Not judged (Ofsted graded inspection (previous framework)) |
| 4 |
St Luke's CofE Primary School Warrington, primary |
1.50 | 2025 | School remains Good (Ofsted ungraded inspection) |
| 5 |
Bedford Hall Methodist Primary School Leigh, primary |
1.47 | 2025 | Good (Ofsted graded inspection (previous framework)) |
| 6 |
St Marie's Catholic Primary School Standish Wigan, primary |
1.45 | 2025 | Outstanding (Ofsted graded inspection (previous framework)) |
| 7 |
Twelve Apostles Catholic Primary School Select, primary |
1.43 | 2025 | Strong standard (Ofsted report card (current framework)) |
| 8 |
All Saints Catholic Primary School, Golborne, Wigan Warrington, primary |
1.41 | 2025 | Standards maintained (Ofsted ungraded inspection) |
| 9 |
St Peter's Catholic High School Wigan, secondary |
1.34 | 2025 | Good (Ofsted graded inspection (previous framework)) |
| 10 |
Nicol Mere School Wigan, primary |
1.33 | 2025 | Outstanding (Ofsted graded inspection (previous framework)) |
| 11 |
Fred Longworth High School Manchester, secondary |
1.30 | 2025 | School remains Good (Ofsted ungraded inspection) |
| 12 |
Aspull Church Primary School Wigan, primary |
1.27 | 2025 | School remains Good (Ofsted ungraded inspection) |
| 13 |
Golborne High School Warrington, secondary |
1.27 | 2025 | Outstanding (Ofsted graded inspection (previous framework)) |
| 14 |
St Ambrose Barlow Catholic Primary School Manchester, primary |
1.27 | 2025 | Good (Ofsted graded inspection (previous framework)) |
| 15 |
The Deanery Church of England High School and Sixth Form College Wigan, secondary |
1.24 | 2025 | Expected standard (Ofsted report card (current framework)) |
| 16 |
Gilded Hollins Community School Leigh, primary |
1.20 | 2025 | School remains Good (Ofsted ungraded inspection) |
| 17 |
Garrett Hall Primary School Manchester, primary |
1.18 | 2025 | Outstanding (Ofsted graded inspection (previous framework)) |
| 18 |
Leigh St Peter's CofE Primary School Leigh, primary |
1.17 | 2025 | Not judged (Ofsted graded inspection (previous framework)) |
| 19 |
Outwood Academy Hindley Wigan, secondary |
1.17 | 2025 | Not judged (Ofsted graded inspection (previous framework)) |
| 20 |
St Joseph's Catholic Primary School Leigh Leigh, primary |
1.17 | 2025 | Expected standard (Ofsted report card (current framework)) |
| 21 |
St William's Catholic Primary School Wigan, primary |
1.17 | 2025 | School remains Good (Ofsted ungraded inspection) |
| 22 |
St John Fisher Catholic High School Wigan, secondary |
1.15 | 2025 | Expected standard (Ofsted report card (current framework)) |
| 23 |
Leigh Westleigh Methodist Primary School Leigh, primary |
1.13 | 2025 | Standards maintained (Ofsted ungraded inspection) |
| 24 |
Hindsford CofE Primary School Manchester, primary |
1.11 | 2025 | Not judged (Ofsted graded inspection (previous framework)) |
| 25 |
Atherton High School Atherton, secondary |
1.10 | 2025 | Good (Ofsted graded inspection (previous framework)) |
| 26 |
Our Lady's RC Primary School Wigan Wigan, primary |
1.10 | 2025 | School remains Outstanding (Ofsted ungraded inspection) |
| 27 |
Shevington Vale Primary School Wigan, primary |
1.10 | 2025 | Needs attention (Ofsted report card (current framework)) |
| 28 |
St Mary and St John Catholic Primary School Wigan, primary |
1.10 | 2025 | Outstanding (Ofsted graded inspection (previous framework)) |
| 29 |
Beech Hill Community Primary School Wigan, primary |
1.07 | 2025 | Good (Ofsted graded inspection (previous framework)) |
| 30 |
Britannia Bridge Primary School Wigan, primary |
1.07 | 2025 | Good (Ofsted graded inspection (previous framework)) |
| 31 |
Millbrook Primary School Wigan, primary |
1.07 | 2025 | School remains Good (Ofsted ungraded inspection) |
| 32 |
Marus Bridge Primary School Wigan, primary |
1.05 | 2025 | Standards maintained (Ofsted ungraded inspection) |
| 33 |
Tyldesley Primary School Manchester, primary |
1.05 | 2025 | Standards maintained (Ofsted ungraded inspection) |
| 34 |
Westfield Community School Wigan, primary |
1.05 | 2025 | Not judged (Ofsted graded inspection (previous framework)) |
| 35 |
St Patrick's Catholic Primary School Wigan, primary |
1.04 | 2025 | Not judged (Ofsted graded inspection (previous framework)) |
| 36 |
Marsh Green Primary School Wigan, primary |
1.03 | 2025 | Not judged (Ofsted graded inspection (previous framework)) |
| 37 |
Shevington High School Wigan, secondary |
1.02 | 2025 | Strong standard (Ofsted report card (current framework)) |
| 38 |
Highfield St Matthew's Church of England Primary School Wigan, primary |
1.00 | 2025 | Good (Ofsted graded inspection (previous framework)) |
| 39 |
Hindley All Saints CofE Primary School Wigan, primary |
1.00 | 2025 | Good (Ofsted graded inspection (previous framework)) |
| 40 |
Lowton West Primary School Warrington, primary |
1.00 | 2025 | School remains Good (Ofsted ungraded inspection) |
| 41 |
Orrell Holgate Academy Wigan, primary |
1.00 | 2025 | Improved significantly (Ofsted ungraded inspection) |
| 42 |
St Aidan's Catholic Primary School, Wigan Wigan, primary |
1.00 | 2025 | Not judged (Ofsted graded inspection (previous framework)) |
| 43 |
St Bernadette's Catholic Primary School Wigan, primary |
1.00 | 2025 | Good (Ofsted graded inspection (previous framework)) |
| 44 |
St James' Catholic Primary School Orrell Wigan, primary |
1.00 | 2025 | School remains Good (Ofsted ungraded inspection) |
| 45 |
St James' Church of England Primary School Wigan, primary |
1.00 | 2025 | School remains Good (Ofsted ungraded inspection) |
| 46 |
St Jude's Catholic Primary School Wigan Wigan, primary |
1.00 | 2025 | Good (Ofsted graded inspection (previous framework)) |
| 47 |
St Paul's Church of England Primary School Wigan, primary |
1.00 | 2025 | Good (Ofsted graded inspection (previous framework)) |
| 48 |
St Richard's Roman Catholic Primary School Atherton Manchester, primary |
1.00 | 2025 | Needs attention (Ofsted report card (current framework)) |
| 49 |
Winstanley Community Primary School Wigan, primary |
1.00 | 2025 | School remains Outstanding (Ofsted ungraded inspection) |
| 50 |
Hindley Green Community Primary School Wigan, primary |
0.98 | 2025 | School remains Good (Ofsted ungraded inspection) |
| 51 |
Orrell Lamberhead Green Academy Wigan, primary |
0.98 | 2025 | Not judged (Ofsted graded inspection (previous framework)) |
| 52 |
St Edmund Arrowsmith Catholic High School, Ashton-in-Makerfield Wigan, secondary |
0.98 | 2025 | Strong standard (Ofsted report card (current framework)) |
| 53 |
St Mary's Catholic High School Manchester, secondary |
0.98 | 2025 | Standards maintained (Ofsted ungraded inspection) |
| 54 |
The Byrchall High School Wigan, secondary |
0.98 | 2025 | Good (Ofsted graded inspection (previous framework)) |
| 55 |
Newton Westpark Primary School Leigh, primary |
0.97 | 2025 | Good (Ofsted graded inspection (previous framework)) |
| 56 |
St Mary's CofE Primary School Wigan, primary |
0.97 | 2025 | Good (Ofsted graded inspection (previous framework)) |
| 57 |
Platt Bridge Community School Wigan, primary |
0.96 | 2025 | Good (Ofsted graded inspection (previous framework)) |
| 58 |
St Catharine's CofE Primary School Wigan, primary |
0.96 | 2025 | Good (Ofsted graded inspection (previous framework)) |
| 59 |
St Cuthbert's Catholic Primary School Wigan WIGAN, primary |
0.96 | 2025 | School remains Good (Ofsted ungraded inspection) |
| 60 |
St John's CofE Primary School Wigan, primary |
0.96 | 2025 | School remains Good (Ofsted ungraded inspection) |
| 61 |
St Mark's CofE Primary School Wigan, primary |
0.96 | 2025 | Good (Ofsted graded inspection (previous framework)) |
| 62 |
St Philip's CofE Primary School, Atherton Manchester, primary |
0.96 | 2025 | Good (Ofsted graded inspection (previous framework)) |
| 63 |
Tyldesley St George's Central CofE Primary School and Nursery Manchester, primary |
0.96 | 2025 | Good (Ofsted graded inspection (previous framework)) |
| 64 |
Orrell Newfold Community Primary School Wigan, primary |
0.95 | 2025 | Outstanding (Ofsted graded inspection (previous framework)) |
| 65 |
St John's Church of England Primary School, Abram Wigan, primary |
0.94 | 2025 | School remains Good (Ofsted ungraded inspection) |
| 66 |
Holy Family Catholic Academy Wigan, primary |
0.93 | 2025 | Not judged (Ofsted graded inspection (previous framework)) |
| 67 |
Leigh Central Primary School Leigh, primary |
0.93 | 2025 | Good (Ofsted graded inspection (previous framework)) |
| 68 |
St Michael's CofE Primary School, Howe Bridge Greater Manchester, primary |
0.93 | 2025 | Good (Ofsted graded inspection (previous framework)) |
| 69 |
St Oswald's Catholic Primary School Wigan, primary |
0.93 | 2025 | School remains Good (Ofsted ungraded inspection) |
| 70 |
Wigan Worsley Mesnes Community Primary School Wigan, primary |
0.93 | 2025 | School remains Good (Ofsted ungraded inspection) |
| 71 |
R L Hughes Primary School Wigan, primary |
0.92 | 2025 | School remains Good (Ofsted ungraded inspection) |
| 72 |
Sacred Heart Catholic Primary School WIGAN, primary |
0.92 | 2025 | School remains Good (Ofsted ungraded inspection) |
| 73 |
Standish Community High School Wigan, secondary |
0.92 | 2025 | Expected standard (Ofsted report card (current framework)) |
| 74 |
Standish St Wilfrid's Church of England Primary Academy Wigan, primary |
0.92 | 2025 | Expected standard (Ofsted report card (current framework)) |
| 75 |
Ince CofE Primary School Wigan, primary |
0.91 | 2025 | Good (Ofsted graded inspection (previous framework)) |
| 76 |
Wood Fold Primary School Wigan, primary |
0.91 | 2025 | Not judged (Ofsted graded inspection (previous framework)) |
| 77 |
Canon Sharples Church of England Primary School and Nursery Wigan, primary |
0.90 | 2025 | School remains Good (Ofsted ungraded inspection) |
| 78 |
Golborne Community Primary School Warrington, primary |
0.90 | 2025 | Good (Ofsted graded inspection (previous framework)) |
| 79 |
Leigh St Mary's CofE Primary School Leigh, primary |
0.90 | 2025 | School remains Good (Ofsted ungraded inspection) |
| 80 |
St John's CofE Primary School Mosley Common Manchester, primary |
0.90 | 2025 | School remains Good (Ofsted ungraded inspection) |
| 81 |
Standish Lower Ground St Anne's CofE Primary School Wigan, primary |
0.90 | 2025 | Not judged (Ofsted graded inspection (previous framework)) |
| 82 |
Hawkley Hall High School Wigan, secondary |
0.89 | 2025 | Not judged (Ofsted graded inspection (previous framework)) |
| 83 |
Holy Family RC Primary School, New Springs, Wigan Wigan, primary |
0.88 | 2025 | Standards maintained (Ofsted ungraded inspection) |
| 84 |
Meadowbank Primary School Manchester, primary |
0.88 | 2025 | Good (Ofsted graded inspection (previous framework)) |
| 85 |
Wigan St Andrew's CofE Junior and Infant School Wigan, primary |
0.88 | 2025 | Needs attention (Ofsted report card (current framework)) |
| 86 |
Bryn St Peter's CofE Primary School Wigan, primary |
0.87 | 2025 | Expected standard (Ofsted report card (current framework)) |
| 87 |
Sacred Heart Catholic Primary School, Hindley Green Wigan, primary |
0.87 | 2025 | Not judged (Ofsted graded inspection (previous framework)) |
| 88 |
Bedford High School Leigh, secondary |
0.86 | 2025 | Good (Ofsted graded inspection (previous framework)) |
| 89 |
St Gabriel's Catholic Primary School Leigh, primary |
0.86 | 2025 | Not judged (Ofsted graded inspection (previous framework)) |
| 90 |
Atherton St George's CofE Primary School Manchester, primary |
0.85 | 2025 | Good (Ofsted graded inspection (previous framework)) |
| 91 |
Cansfield High School Wigan, secondary |
0.85 | 2025 | Good (Ofsted graded inspection (previous framework)) |
| 92 |
Leigh CofE Primary School Leigh, primary |
0.85 | 2025 | Good (Ofsted graded inspection (previous framework)) |
| 93 |
St Peter's Church of England Primary School, Hindley Wigan, primary |
0.85 | 2025 | School remains Good (Ofsted ungraded inspection) |
| 94 |
Christ Church CofE Primary School, Pennington Leigh, primary |
0.83 | 2025 | Standards maintained (Ofsted ungraded inspection) |
| 95 |
St David Haigh and Aspull CofE Primary School Wigan, primary |
0.83 | 2025 | Good (Ofsted graded inspection (previous framework)) |
| 96 |
St Stephen's CofE Primary School Manchester, primary |
0.83 | 2025 | Needs attention (Ofsted report card (current framework)) |
| 97 |
St Benedict's Catholic Primary School Hindley Wigan, primary |
0.82 | 2025 | Good (Ofsted graded inspection (previous framework)) |
| 98 |
St Wilfrids Catholic Primary School Wigan, primary |
0.82 | 2025 | Expected standard (Ofsted report card (current framework)) |
| 99 |
Lowton Church of England High School Warrington, secondary |
0.81 | 2025 | Good (Ofsted graded inspection (previous framework)) |
| 100 |
Bickershaw CofE Primary School Wigan, primary |
0.80 | 2025 | Standards maintained (Ofsted ungraded inspection) |
| 101 |
St Thomas CofE Junior and Infant School Warrington, primary |
0.80 | 2025 | Standards maintained (Ofsted ungraded inspection) |
| 102 |
St John's Church of England Primary School, Hindley Green Wigan, primary |
0.78 | 2025 | School remains Good (Ofsted ungraded inspection) |
| 103 |
St Catherine's Catholic Primary School, Lowton Warrington, primary |
0.77 | 2025 | School remains Good (Ofsted ungraded inspection) |
| 104 |
Mab's Cross Primary School Wigan, primary |
0.76 | 2025 | Expected standard (Ofsted report card (current framework)) |
| 105 |
The Westleigh School Leigh, secondary |
0.74 | 2025 | Good (Ofsted graded inspection (previous framework)) |
| 106 |
Holy Family Catholic Primary School Manchester, primary |
0.73 | 2025 | School remains Good (Ofsted ungraded inspection) |
| 107 |
Westleigh St Paul's CofE Primary School Leigh, primary |
0.73 | 2025 | Standards maintained (Ofsted ungraded inspection) |
| 108 |
Castle Hill St Philip's CofE Primary School Wigan, primary |
0.72 | 2025 | Good (Ofsted graded inspection (previous framework)) |
| 109 |
Chowbent Primary School Manchester, primary |
0.70 | 2025 | Standards maintained (Ofsted ungraded inspection) |
| 110 |
St Thomas CofE Primary School Wigan, primary |
0.70 | 2025 | School remains Good (Ofsted ungraded inspection) |
| 111 |
Dean Trust Rose Bridge Wigan, secondary |
0.63 | 2025 | Not judged (Ofsted graded inspection (previous framework)) |
| 112 |
Lowton Junior and Infant School Warrington, primary |
0.63 | 2025 | Not judged (Ofsted graded inspection (previous framework)) |
| 113 |
Sacred Heart RC Primary School Manchester, primary |
0.62 | 2025 | Needs attention (Ofsted report card (current framework)) |
| 114 |
St Thomas' CofE Primary School, Leigh Leigh, primary |
0.62 | 2025 | Not judged (Ofsted graded inspection (previous framework)) |
| 115 |
Dean Trust Wigan Wigan, secondary |
0.47 | 2025 | Requires improvement (Ofsted graded inspection (previous framework)) |
| 116 |
Sacred Heart Catholic Primary School Leigh Leigh, primary |
0.47 | 2025 | Not judged (Ofsted graded inspection (previous framework)) |
Figures from the Department for Education, applications and offers. 116 schools in Wigan have a published per-place figure. Schools with too few places for the figure to mean anything are left off. All schools in Wigan · How we compare schools.