Bedford Hall Methodist Primary School, Leigh
Bedford Hall Methodist Primary School is a primary school for pupils aged 2 to 11 in Leigh, part of Epworth Education Trust. It has a Methodist religious character. It was rated Good at its last graded Ofsted inspection, in December 2022. Its 2025 Key Stage 2 results were the 8th-highest of the 15 schools in Leigh with published results, and 10,359th of 14,452 across England. For 2026 entry it had 1.3 first-choice applications for every place. It was full in 2025.
- SATs results
- Below England average
- Ofsted
- Good (2022)
- Demand
- Oversubscribed
- Attendance
- In line with England
Reception applications for September 2027 close in 81 days
Deadline Friday 15 January 2027. Apply to Wigan (the council where you live). Offers on 16 April.
Data last updated 26 Oct 2026
Bedford Hall Methodist Primary School in detail
Bedford Hall Methodist Primary School in its own words
The school runs a breakfast club from 7:30am and after-school care.
Wraparound care (school website)
Source: The school's own website
Results
In 2025, 73% of Year 6 pupils at Bedford Hall Methodist Primary School reached the expected standard in reading and 67% in maths. At the average state primary the figures were 78% and 79% in Wigan and 77% and 75% across England.
Results fell from 84% in reading and 81% in maths in 2024.
With small year groups, a few pupils can move these figures by several points.
Getting a place at Bedford Hall Methodist Primary School
For September 2026 entry, 38 families put Bedford Hall Methodist Primary School as their first choice and 78 named it as one of their preferences, for 30 places offered. That is 1.3 first choices for every place. 8 families who put it first were not offered a place there.
Admissions history and your chances at Bedford Hall Methodist Primary School
Compared with nearby schools
The nearest other state primary schools to Bedford Hall Methodist Primary School are St Thomas' CofE Primary School, Leigh (0.4 miles, Good, 70% reading, 69% maths); St Joseph's Catholic Primary School Leigh (0.6 miles, Good, 87% reading, 94% maths); Christ Church CofE Primary School, Pennington (0.9 miles, Good, 73% reading, 63% maths); and Leigh CofE Primary School (1.1 miles, Good, 74% reading, 67% maths).
Bedford Hall Methodist Primary School's 2025 results were higher than 2 of these 4 schools.
St Thomas' CofE Primary School, LeighSt Joseph's Catholic Primary School LeighChrist Church CofE Primary School, PenningtonLeigh CofE Primary School
The trust
Bedford Hall Methodist Primary School is one of 11 schools run by Epworth Education Trust, an academy trust.
Across the trust's primary schools, 50% of Year 6 pupils met the expected standard in reading, writing and maths in 2024/25.
Who goes there
34.5% of pupils are eligible for free school meals, well above the average state school (25%), and 3.5% speak English as an additional language, against 18.8% on average, according to the 2026 school census.
The largest ethnic groups are White British (86%) and Black (6%).
Getting there
The nearest railway station is Atherton Rail Station, about 3 miles away in a straight line.
6 bus stops are within a five-minute walk; the closest is Hope Carr Road (opposite), 120 metres away.
Suspensions and exclusions
In 2024/25, Bedford Hall Methodist Primary School issued 4 suspensions, 1.6 for every 100 pupils (the average state school: 6.3), and no permanent exclusions.
Secondary schools nearby
The secondary schools closest to Bedford Hall Methodist Primary School are Bedford High School (0.5 miles) and St Mary's Catholic High School (1.5 miles).
Sources: DfE school performance data (averages: state mainstream schools); DfE school-level applications and offers; council admissions booklets; DfE appeals statistics; DfE multi-academy trust performance data; DfE school census and special educational needs statistics; NaPTAN (Department for Transport); DfE exclusions statistics
Key Information
DfE GIASOfsted Rating
Ofsted · 4 years agoOverall
Quality of Education
Behaviour & Attitudes
Personal Development
Leadership & Management
Early Years
Ofsted Insights
Ofsted rated this school Good at its December 2022 inspection.
Rated Good for
Quality of education, Behaviour & attitudes, Personal development, Leadership & management, Early years.
At a Glance
34.5%
Free School Meals
No
Boarding
Yes
Nursery
No
Sixth Form
No
Special Measures
Primary Performance (KS2)
Academic year 2024/25KS2 Results (% meeting expected standard)
Reading has declined from 84% to 73% (2024 to 2025). Maths has declined from 81% to 67% (2024 to 2025). Writing has remained stable at around 67% (2024 to 2025).
Class Sizes
30.5
Avg class size
30.0
Infant (KS1)
31.0
KS2
2
Total classes
1 class with more than 30 pupils
2025/26 academic year
How Does This School Compare?
Ranked against 5 nearby primary schools
Keep up with Bedford Hall Methodist Primary School
Before and after school care
Clubs on Ofsted's childcare register at or near Bedford Hall Methodist Primary School.
- Leigh St Thomas Primary School Wraparound Care640m away · Not yet graded
- Joe's Zone At St Josephs Catholic Primary School940m away · Not yet graded
Getting There
Bus Stops
Free school transport
Check free transport to Bedford Hall Methodist Primary School from your postcode →
You apply to the council where you live. Bedford Hall Methodist Primary School is in Wigan; for families living there:
Apply to Wigan for free school transport. Its policy is on the council's website.
Safety and surroundings
Road collisions within 500 m (2021 to 2025)
- Collisions
- 7
- Fatal
- 0
- Serious
- 2
- Children hurt
- 3
Within 500 m of the school's mapped location, police recorded 7 road collisions in which someone was injured in 2021 to 2025: none fatal, 2 serious and 5 slight.
3 children aged 0 to 15 were hurt: 3 on foot.
2 of the collisions happened on a weekday between 08:00 and 09:30 or 14:45 and 16:30, holidays included.
The typical figure for schools in Wigan is 10 (the median across 146 schools, same distance and years).
Serious and slight counts use the Department for Transport's severity adjustment, which allows for changes in how police forces record injuries; they are estimates, rounded to whole numbers. Distances are in a straight line. Source: Department for Transport, Road Safety Data (STATS19), Open Government Licence v3.0.
Commute and house prices
Your chances of a place at Bedford Hall Methodist Primary School
Will you get a place at Bedford Hall Methodist Primary School? Get the admissions report
Your home postcode, set against Bedford Hall Methodist Primary School's admissions figures, in one report saved to your account.
What the report includes for Bedford Hall Methodist Primary School:
- The straight-line distance from your home to Bedford Hall Methodist Primary School.
- We hold no last distance offered figures from Wigan, so the report covers demand, alternatives and dates.
- Applications, first choices and offers at Bedford Hall Methodist Primary School for 2014 to 2026 entry.
- How many families in Wigan got their first choice, and how often appeals there succeed.
- The nearest state schools to your home, with Ofsted rating, demand and last distance offered where published.
- Key dates for September 2027 entry and how to apply.
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Capacity & Demand
School Occupancy
100%
Full
210 pupils
210 places
No spare places in 2025
2025, DfE school capacity data
Area Demand Pressure - Leigh
Based on MHCLG Live Table 122 (2024-25, last 5 years) for Leigh
Across Wigan council
Places available
3,894
Applications
3,541
Got 1st preference
88.7%
Got preferred school
97.3%
All primary applications across Wigan council (2026/27), not just this school.
This school: Oversubscribed
Inspection History(2)
SEND & SEN Provision
SEN Overview
43
SEN Support
10
EHC Plans
20.8%
of Total Pupils
2026 academic year
Provision & Specialist Facilities
Pupils by Need Type
Pupil Demographics
Ethnicity
2026 academic year
Key Indicators
255
Total Pupils
151
Boys
104
Girls
2026 academic year
Workforce
10
Teachers
25.5:1
Pupil-teacher ratio
£51,894
Mean salary
2026 data
School Funding
£5,600
Per pupil
£1313k
Total funding
£91k
Pupil premium
2025-26 financial year allocations
Pupil Absence2024/25
5.2%
Overall absence
13.6%
Persistent absence
184
Enrolments
Absence trend
Source: DfE pupil absence statistics. Persistent absence = pupils missing 10%+ sessions.
Secondary Schools Nearby
Secondary schools pupils are likely to move to
Bedford Hall Methodist Primary School
Questions parents ask about Bedford Hall Methodist Primary School
What are SATs results like at Bedford Hall Methodist Primary School?
Of the pupils at Bedford Hall Methodist Primary School who took the 2025 Key Stage 2 assessments, 73% reached the expected standard in reading and 67% did so in maths.
What is Bedford Hall Methodist Primary School's Ofsted rating?
Bedford Hall Methodist Primary School was rated Good at its most recent Ofsted inspection in December 2022. At its previous graded inspection in 2007 it was rated Outstanding.
What is the catchment area for Bedford Hall Methodist Primary School?
No fixed boundary. When Bedford Hall Methodist Primary School is oversubscribed, Wigan allocates places by its published criteria, usually ending with home-to-school distance.
Is it hard to get a place at Bedford Hall Methodist Primary School?
Bedford Hall Methodist Primary School was full in 2025, at 100% of its capacity, so places are allocated on the oversubscription criteria.
How big are the classes at Bedford Hall Methodist Primary School?
Classes at Bedford Hall Methodist Primary School average 30.5 pupils (2025/26). 1 class has more than 30 pupils - infant classes are capped at 30 by law, with limited exceptions.
How many pupils go to Bedford Hall Methodist Primary School?
Bedford Hall Methodist Primary School has around 255 pupils on roll. 35% are eligible for free school meals.
What is attendance like at Bedford Hall Methodist Primary School?
5.2% of sessions were missed at Bedford Hall Methodist Primary School in 2024/25. 13.6% of pupils were persistently absent (missing 10% or more of sessions).
How do I apply to Bedford Hall Methodist Primary School?
Apply through Wigan's coordinated admissions process, naming Bedford Hall Methodist Primary School on your application. Applications for Reception places starting in September 2027 close on Friday 15 January 2027, and offers are made on Friday 16 April 2027.
Does Bedford Hall Methodist Primary School have a breakfast club or after-school club?
Ofsted's childcare register lists 2 out-of-school clubs within a kilometre of Bedford Hall Methodist Primary School: Leigh St Thomas Primary School Wraparound Care (640m away, registered, not yet graded) and Joe's Zone At St Josephs Catholic Primary School (940m away, registered, not yet graded). The school may also run its own clubs, which don't have to register with Ofsted.
How many road collisions happen near Bedford Hall Methodist Primary School?
Within 500 m of the school's mapped location, police recorded 7 road collisions in which someone was injured in 2021 to 2025: none fatal, 2 serious and 5 slight. 3 children aged 0 to 15 were hurt: 3 on foot. 2 of the collisions happened on a weekday between 08:00 and 09:30 or 14:45 and 16:30, holidays included. The typical figure for schools in Wigan is 10 (the median across 146 schools, same distance and years).
Where is Bedford Hall Methodist Primary School?
Bedford Hall Methodist Primary School is at Breaston Avenue, Leigh, Lancashire, WN7 3DJ.
Source: Department for Transport, Road Safety Data (STATS19)