Expanse Learning (Expanse Group Ltd), Leigh
Expanse Learning (Expanse Group Ltd) is a special school for pupils aged 16 to 25 in Leigh. Its most recent Ofsted inspection, in May 2026, ended in a report card: 1 expected standard and 4 needs attention. Before that it was rated Good at its last graded inspection, in April 2022.
- Ofsted report card
- 4 areas need attention
Data last updated 26 Oct 2026
Expanse Learning (Expanse Group Ltd) in detail
What Ofsted's report card says
Ofsted's report card from its 19 May 2026 inspection grades Expanse Learning (Expanse Group Ltd) on 5 areas: 1 expected standard and 4 needs attention. Report cards replaced single-word judgements in November 2025, on a five-point scale from exceptional to urgent improvement.
Inclusion - Needs attention. "Leaders have established a culture in which learners feel welcomed and supported."
Leadership and governance - Needs attention. "Leaders have appropriate quality assurance systems in place and identify areas for improvement, for example in English and mathematics."
Participation and development - Expected standard. "Learners benefit from an extensive programme of enrichment activities that enhance their learning."
Achievement - Needs attention. "Most learners remain until the end of their course."
Curriculum and teaching - Needs attention. "Leaders have a broadly accurate understanding of the quality of the teaching and training that they provide."
Safeguarding standards were met.
Ofsted's next steps for the school: "Leaders should accurately identify learners' starting points and use this information to develop ambitious and personalised curriculums for all learners"; "Leaders should improve their oversight so that they accurately identify weaknesses and put in place swift actions to ensure the provision is of a consistently high quality"; "Leaders should use education, health and care plan outcomes to plan individual programmes of learning and to monitor learners' achievements towards their individual targets, including in English and mathematics"; "Leaders should provide training for teachers to ensure that teachers plan and use inclusive teaching strategies so that all learners participate fully in their lessons".
Read the full report card on Ofsted's site (school website)
Source: Ofsted report card (Open Government Licence), quoted
Compared with nearby schools
The nearest other special schools to Expanse Learning (Expanse Group Ltd) are The Holden School (0.7 miles); Elysium Training & Consultancy Ltd (0.8 miles); Oakfield High School and College (3.1 miles, Outstanding); and Cambian Tyldesley School (3.2 miles, Requires improvement).
The Holden SchoolElysium Training & Consultancy LtdOakfield High School and CollegeCambian Tyldesley School
Who goes there
Expanse Learning (Expanse Group Ltd) is approved under Section 41 of the Children and Families Act 2014, so parents can ask for it to be named in their child's education, health and care (EHC) plan.
Getting there
The nearest railway station is Hag Fold Rail Station, about 3.4 miles away in a straight line.
7 bus stops are within a five-minute walk; the closest is Leigh Sports Village Stadium (opposite), 120 metres away.
Sources: DfE school census and special educational needs statistics; NaPTAN (Department for Transport)
Key Information
DfE GIASOfsted Rating
Ofsted · 5 months agoReport card - no single overall grade (Ofsted's framework since November 2025)
Safeguarding standards met
- InclusionNeeds attention
- Leadership and governanceNeeds attention
- Participation and developmentExpected standard
- AchievementNeeds attention
- Curriculum and teachingNeeds attention
Safeguarding standards: met
By type of provision
| Provision | Curriculum, teaching and training | Achievement | Participation and development |
|---|---|---|---|
| Provision for learners and apprentices with high needs | Needs attention | Needs attention | Expected standard |
Source: Ofsted, further education and skills inspections and outcomes (Open Government Licence)
Ofsted's report card, in its own words
What Ofsted says the school should do next
- Leaders should accurately identify learners' starting points and use this information to develop ambitious and personalised curriculums for all learners.
- Leaders should improve their oversight so that they accurately identify weaknesses and put in place swift actions to ensure the provision is of a consistently high quality.
- Leaders should use education, health and care plan outcomes to plan individual programmes of learning and to monitor learners' achievements towards their individual targets, including in English and mathematics.
- Leaders should provide training for teachers to ensure that teachers plan and use inclusive teaching strategies so that all learners participate fully in their lessons.
From Ofsted's report card (inspection 19 May 2026). Read the full report Contains public sector information licensed under the Open Government Licence v3.0.
Ofsted Insights
From Ofsted's May 2026 inspection report.
What This School Does Well
Expanse Learning excels at creating a welcoming, supportive environment where learners feel heard and understood. The school provides outstanding enrichment activities and high-quality work placements with major employers that develop real-world skills. Learners with previously very low attendance now engage regularly, and most successfully progress to further study, training or independent living.
Key Strengths
- Extensive enrichment activities including forest school, sports, work placements with major employers, and residential trips
- Strong focus on learners' personal development and wellbeing with excellent staff support
- Learners develop good work and social skills; most progress to higher-level study, training or supported living
- High expectations for behaviour, attendance and punctuality
- Leaders work effectively with parents, carers and external stakeholders
Areas for Improvement
- Around a quarter of learners over 19 do not achieve qualifications, particularly in English and mathematics
- Teaching is not tailored well enough for learners working below entry level 3
- Progress monitoring is too generic and not linked clearly to individual targets and education, health and care plan outcomes
- Teachers place too much emphasis on recording evidence for qualifications rather than deepening understanding
- Staff lack sufficient training to teach learners with diverse and complex needs
Safeguarding
Safeguarding standards are met - leaders have established an open culture where safeguarding is everyone's responsibility and concerns are actively identified and managed, keeping learners safe.
Extracurricular Activities
Forest school, sports activities, enterprise sessions (choc pop drop tuck shop, Expanse chicken diner), residential activities in the Lake District, student parliament trips to London, work placements in construction, catering, warehousing, factories and administration
Expanse Learning is a specialist college for learners with high needs located at Leigh Sports Stadium in Greater Manchester. The inspection found that while the school excels at supporting learners' personal development and wellbeing, it needs to improve academic progress, particularly in English and mathematics.
At a Glance
No
Boarding
No
Nursery
Approved
Section 41
No
Special Measures
How Does This School Compare?
Ranked against 5 nearby schools
Keep up with Expanse Learning (Expanse Group Ltd)
Getting There
Bus Stops
Free school transport
Check free transport to Expanse Learning (Expanse Group Ltd) from your postcode →
You apply to the council where you live. Expanse Learning (Expanse Group Ltd) 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
- 4
- Fatal
- 0
- Serious
- 1
- Children hurt
- 0
Within 500 m of the school's mapped location, police recorded 4 road collisions in which someone was injured in 2021 to 2025: none fatal, 1 serious and 3 slight.
No children aged 0 to 15 were among the people hurt.
0 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
Capacity & Demand
Area Demand Pressure - Leigh
Based on MHCLG Live Table 122 (2024-25, last 5 years) for Leigh
Across Wigan council
Places available
4,061
Applications
3,718
Got 1st preference
91.1%
Got preferred school
97.6%
All secondary applications across Wigan council (2026/27), not just this school.
Inspection History(6)
Further education and skills inspection (renewed framework)
Further education and skills inspection
Special educational needs provision
Expanse Learning (Expanse Group Ltd) is approved under Section 41 of the Children and Families Act 2014, so parents can ask for it to be named in their child's education, health and care (EHC) plan.
Source: Get Information about Schools (GIAS), Department for Education.
Questions parents ask about Expanse Learning (Expanse Group Ltd)
What is Expanse Learning (Expanse Group Ltd)'s Ofsted rating?
Expanse Learning (Expanse Group Ltd)'s most recent Ofsted inspection, in May 2026, produced a report card, which grades each area but gives no overall grade. At its last graded inspection, in April 2022, it was rated Good.
What is the catchment area for Expanse Learning (Expanse Group Ltd)?
No fixed boundary. When Expanse Learning (Expanse Group Ltd) is oversubscribed, Wigan allocates places by its published criteria, usually ending with home-to-school distance.
Does Expanse Learning (Expanse Group Ltd) have specialist SEN provision?
Expanse Learning (Expanse Group Ltd) is approved under Section 41 of the Children and Families Act 2014, so parents can ask for it to be named in their child's education, health and care (EHC) plan.
How do I apply to Expanse Learning (Expanse Group Ltd)?
Apply through Wigan's coordinated admissions process, naming Expanse Learning (Expanse Group Ltd) on your application. The national closing date in England is 31 October for secondary places and 15 January for primary places, in the year before your child starts.
How many road collisions happen near Expanse Learning (Expanse Group Ltd)?
Within 500 m of the school's mapped location, police recorded 4 road collisions in which someone was injured in 2021 to 2025: none fatal, 1 serious and 3 slight. No children aged 0 to 15 were among the people hurt. 0 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 Expanse Learning (Expanse Group Ltd)?
Expanse Learning (Expanse Group Ltd) is at Leigh Sports Stadium, Sale Way, Leigh Sports Village, Leigh, Greater Manchester, WN7 4JY.
Source: Department for Transport, Road Safety Data (STATS19)