Atherton High School, Atherton

In its own words: "Atherton High School is committed to providing our students with a first-class education. We aim to equip our students to be successful, considerate and caring members of society. We are united by our three key values: We show respect for our school, our work, our teachers, ourselves and each other. We embrace our similarities and celebrate our differences."

From the headteacher's welcome: "Welcome to Atherton High School. Our school sits at the heart of the community and encompasses the values and strengths of the town’s proud history. Atherton High School is part of the Education Partnership Trust (EPT), who are committed to creating outstanding schools which transform learning, lives, and communities."

Clubs and activities named on the school's website include cooking and Duke of Edinburgh.

In 2026, pupils at Atherton High School averaged an Attainment 8 score of 46.2, the average grade across their best eight GCSEs. The average state school scored 45.8 in Wigan and 47 across England.

38% passed English and maths at grade 5 or above, against 43% in Wigan and 47% in England.

That is up from 39.3 in 2025.

Its most recent Progress 8 score, for 2024, was 0: pupils made about average progress compared with pupils nationally who started secondary school at the same level. Progress 8 was not published for 2026.

Disadvantaged pupils averaged an Attainment 8 of 42.3, against 50.9 for other pupils at the school - a gap of 8.6 points.

Pupils sat GCSEs in 20 subjects; after English and maths, the most popular were Combined Science, History and Geography.

For September 2026 entry, 119 families put Atherton High School as their first choice and 279 named it as one of their preferences, for 120 places offered. It had fewer first-choice applications than places. 10 families who put it first were not offered a place there.

The nearest other state secondary schools to Atherton High School are Fred Longworth High School (0.8 miles, Good, Attainment 8 47.9); The Westleigh School (1.6 miles, Good, Attainment 8 45); Bedford High School (1.9 miles, Good, Attainment 8 49.2); and Westhoughton High School (2.1 miles, Requires improvement, Attainment 8 40.2).

Atherton High School's 2026 results were higher than 2 of these 4 schools.

Atherton High School is one of 9 schools run by Education Partnership Trust, an academy trust.

Across the trust's secondary schools, pupils averaged an Attainment 8 score of 44.7 in 2024/25.

Of the 82 pupils who finished Year 11 in 2023/24, 81% stayed in education or training for at least two terms, including 50% to a further education college, 2% to an apprenticeship and 6% into work.

47.4% of pupils are eligible for free school meals, well above the average state school (25%), and 6.1% speak English as an additional language, against 18.8% on average, according to the 2026 school census.

The nearest railway station is Atherton Rail Station, about 0.8 miles away in a straight line.

16 bus stops are within a five-minute walk; the closest is Atherton Community School (outside), 60 metres away.

Measured by the 2025 English Indices of Deprivation, the neighbourhood Atherton High School stands in is among the 20% most deprived neighbourhoods in England. On income deprivation affecting children it is in the 4th decile, where the 1st is the most deprived. This describes where the school is, not where its pupils live.

In 2024/25, Atherton High School issued 83 suspensions, 15.2 for every 100 pupils (the average state school: 6.3), and 4 permanent exclusions.

The primary schools closest to Atherton High School are Parklee Primary School (0.2 miles); St Michael's CofE Primary School, Howe Bridge (0.5 miles); Chowbent Primary School (0.5 miles); and Meadowbank Primary School (0.5 miles). Admission does not depend on which primary a child attends unless the school's policy names feeder schools.