Expanse Learning Wigan School, Wigan
Expanse Learning Wigan School is a special school for pupils aged 11 to 16 in Wigan. It was rated Good at its last graded Ofsted inspection, in June 2025.
- Ofsted
- Good (2025)
Data last updated 27 Oct 2026
Expanse Learning Wigan School in detail
Compared with nearby schools
The nearest other special schools to Expanse Learning Wigan School are Hope School (0.9 miles, Outstanding); TMP College (0.9 miles, Good); The Ark Wigan Ltd (1.2 miles); and Infinite Schools Wigan (1.2 miles, Good).
Hope SchoolTMP CollegeThe Ark Wigan LtdInfinite Schools Wigan
Who goes there
Almost every pupil at Expanse Learning Wigan School has an education, health and care plan (88 of 89 in 2026).
Expanse Learning Wigan School 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 Pemberton Rail Station, about 0.8 miles away in a straight line.
11 bus stops are within a five-minute walk; the closest is Cornwallis Road (near), 80 metres away.
The area around the school
Measured by the 2025 English Indices of Deprivation, the neighbourhood Expanse Learning Wigan School stands in is among the 20% most deprived neighbourhoods in England. This describes where the school is, not where its pupils live.
Sources: DfE school census and special educational needs statistics; NaPTAN (Department for Transport); English Indices of Deprivation 2025 (MHCLG); data.police.uk street-level crime
Key Information
DfE GIASOfsted Rating
Ofsted · 1 year agoOverall
Quality of Education
Behaviour & Attitudes
Personal Development
Leadership & Management
Safeguarding: effective
Independent school standards
Met all the independent school standards.
- Part 1: quality of educationMet
- Part 2: pupils' spiritual, moral, social and cultural developmentMet
- Part 3: welfare, health and safetyMet
- Part 4: suitability of staff and proprietorsMet
- Part 5: premises and accommodationMet
- Part 6: information for parentsMet
- Part 7: handling of complaintsMet
- Part 8: leadership and managementMet
Source: Ofsted, non-association independent schools inspections and outcomes (Open Government Licence)
Ofsted Insights
From Ofsted's June 2025 inspection report.
What This School Does Well
The school creates a genuinely supportive environment where pupils feel happy and safe. Staff understand each student's individual needs and work hard to help them overcome barriers to learning. Pupils learn important life skills, gain relevant qualifications, and leave well-prepared for their next steps with a strong sense of independence and confidence.
Key Strengths
- Outstanding behaviour and personal development, with pupils showing exceptional understanding of equality and respect for differences
- Sensitive and responsive staff who create a calm, comfortable environment and effectively meet individual pupil needs
- Strong careers guidance and focus on preparing pupils for meaningful destinations post-16
- Effective reading support programme with age-appropriate books matched to pupils' interests
- Successful strategies to re-engage pupils who have experienced significant absence from education
Areas for Improvement
- In a small number of subjects, the curriculum is not clearly defined about what pupils should know and remember, resulting in lower achievement in these subjects compared to others
- School should ensure all subjects have the same level of detailed curriculum planning and design
Safeguarding
Safeguarding arrangements are effective, with stringent measures in place and a strong culture prioritising pupil wellbeing.
Extracurricular Activities
Handball, karaoke, arts and crafts clubs, wheelchair basketball with local rugby league club, school council, antibullying ambassadors, college and sixth-form visits
Expanse Learning Wigan School is a good independent special school for pupils aged 11-16 with SEND, where all pupils have an education, health and care plan. The school provides a supportive environment with excellent behaviour and personal development outcomes.
At a Glance
No
Boarding
No
Nursery
No
Sixth Form
Approved
Section 41
No
Special Measures
How Does This School Compare?
Ranked against 5 nearby schools
Keep up with Expanse Learning Wigan School
Getting There
Bus Stops
Safety and surroundings
Road collisions within 500 m (2021 to 2025)
- Collisions
- 8
- Fatal
- 0
- Serious
- 3
- Children hurt
- 4
Within 500 m of the school's mapped location, police recorded 8 road collisions in which someone was injured in 2021 to 2025: none fatal, 3 serious and 5 slight.
4 children aged 0 to 15 were hurt: 1 on foot, 2 on a bicycle and 1 in a vehicle or otherwise.
1 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
School Occupancy
99%
Near capacity
89 pupils
90 places
1 spare place
as recorded on GIAS
Area Demand Pressure - Wigan
Based on MHCLG Live Table 122 (2024-25, last 5 years) for Wigan
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(7)
SEND & SEN Provision
SEN Overview
1
SEN Support
88
EHC Plans
100.0%
of Total Pupils
2026 academic year
Provision & Specialist Facilities
Expanse Learning Wigan School 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: GIAS, Department for Education.
Pupils by Need Type
No need-level breakdown available
Pupil Demographics
Key Indicators
89
Total Pupils
71
Boys
18
Girls
2026 academic year
Feeder Primary Schools
Primary schools that likely feed into this school, based on proximity
Expanse Learning Wigan School
Showing 10 of 15 linked schools
Questions parents ask about Expanse Learning Wigan School
What are GCSE results like at Expanse Learning Wigan School?
The Department for Education's GCSE measures do not count IGCSEs, which many independent schools take instead of GCSEs, so the Attainment 8 and English and maths figures it publishes for Expanse Learning Wigan School can understate its results. We do not rank or compare them; ask the school for its own GCSE and IGCSE results.
What is Expanse Learning Wigan School's Ofsted rating?
Expanse Learning Wigan School was rated Good at its most recent Ofsted inspection in June 2025.
Does Expanse Learning Wigan School meet the independent school standards?
At its most recent standard inspection, in June 2025, Expanse Learning Wigan School met all the independent school standards.
How many pupils go to Expanse Learning Wigan School?
Expanse Learning Wigan School has around 89 pupils on roll.
Does Expanse Learning Wigan School have specialist SEN provision?
Expanse Learning Wigan School 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 Wigan School?
Expanse Learning Wigan School is an independent school and runs its own admissions rather than going through the local authority. Contact the school directly for entry requirements, assessment dates, fees and any bursaries.
How many road collisions happen near Expanse Learning Wigan School?
Within 500 m of the school's mapped location, police recorded 8 road collisions in which someone was injured in 2021 to 2025: none fatal, 3 serious and 5 slight. 4 children aged 0 to 15 were hurt: 1 on foot, 2 on a bicycle and 1 in a vehicle or otherwise. 1 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 Wigan School?
Expanse Learning Wigan School is at Tyrer Avenue, Wigan, Greater Manchester, WN3 5XF.
Source: Department for Transport, Road Safety Data (STATS19)