The hardest schools to get into in Wigan
Secondary: 315 families put The Byrchall High School first in 2026 and 240 of them (76%) were offered a place.
Reception: 60 families put Leigh St John's CofE Primary first in 2026 and 28 of them (47%) were offered a place.
Every state school in Wigan with at least 20 first-choice applicants, hardest first. Of the families who put the school first on their application, the share who were offered a place there. Data: Department for Education.
Secondary schools (Year 7)
| # | School | Put it first | Of them, offered | Places |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | The Byrchall High School · Wigan | 315 | 240 (76%) | 250 |
| 2 | St Peter's Catholic High School · Wigan · faith | 238 | 198 (83%) | 199 |
| 3 | Golborne High School · Warrington | 279 | 234 (84%) | 236 |
| 4 | The Deanery Church of England High School and Sixth Form College · Wigan · faith | 275 | 232 (84%) | 245 |
| 5 | Shevington High School · Wigan | 183 | 157 (86%) | 169 |
| 6 | St Edmund Arrowsmith Catholic High School, Ashton-in-Makerfield · Wigan · faith | 258 | 224 (87%) | 233 |
| 7 | Fred Longworth High School · Manchester | 284 | 253 (89%) | 259 |
| 8 | St John Fisher Catholic High School · Wigan · faith | 201 | 181 (90%) | 194 |
| 9 | Atherton High School · Atherton | 119 | 109 (92%) | 120 |
| 10 | Outwood Academy Hindley · Wigan | 172 | 158 (92%) | 176 |
| 11 | St Mary's Catholic High School · Manchester · faith | 262 | 250 (95%) | 256 |
| 12 | Hawkley Hall High School · Wigan | 195 | 194 (100%) | 210 |
| 13 | Standish Community High School · Wigan | 215 | 215 (100%) | 240 |
| 14 | Bedford High School · Leigh | 159 | 159 (100%) | 179 |
| 15 | The Westleigh School · Leigh | 154 | 154 (100%) | 188 |
| 16 | Cansfield High School · Wigan | 135 | 135 (100%) | 172 |
| 17 | Lowton Church of England High School · Warrington · faith | 130 | 130 (100%) | 146 |
| 18 | Dean Trust Wigan · Wigan | 110 | 110 (100%) | 140 |
| 19 | Dean Trust Rose Bridge · Wigan | 96 | 96 (100%) | 148 |
Primary schools (Reception)
Getting into a school in Wigan
What is the hardest school to get into in Wigan?
For secondary places, 315 families put The Byrchall High School first in 2026 and 240 of them (76%) were offered a place. For Reception, 60 families put Leigh St John's CofE Primary first and 28 of them (47%) were offered a place.
How many families in Wigan get their first-choice school?
91.1% of families applying for a secondary place got their first preference, and 88.7% of those applying for Reception did (offers for September 2026).
Does putting a school first improve our chances?
Not at the other schools you name. Councils in England use an equal-preference system: every school you list is considered against its own admissions criteria, and if more than one could offer a place you get the one you ranked highest. So list schools in your genuine order of preference, and include at least one you are very likely to get.
What does "last distance offered" mean?
For schools that give places by distance, it is how far from the school the last child offered a place under that criterion lived. It changes every year with the number and location of applicants, so treat it as a guide, not a guarantee. We show it where Wigan published it in its admissions booklet.