Expanse Learning (Expanse Group Ltd), Leigh
Data last updated 11 Sept 2026
Key Information
DfE GIASOfsted Rating
Ofsted · 4 months agoReport card - no overall grade (new Ofsted framework from Sep 2024)
Ofsted Insights
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
No
Sixth Form
No
Special Measures
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Capacity & Demand
Area Demand Pressure - Leigh
Based on MHCLG housing supply data for Leigh
Admissions Demand - Wigan
Places available
4,050
Applications
3,703
Got 1st preference
88.4%
Got preferred school
96.4%
Secondary admissions across Wigan (2025/26)
Inspection History(6)
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