Fir Tree College, Wigan
Fir Tree College is a special school for pupils aged 14 to 25 in Wigan. 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 June 2022.
- Ofsted report card
- 4 areas need attention
Data last updated 27 Oct 2026
Fir Tree College in detail
What Ofsted's report card says
Ofsted's report card from its 6 May 2026 inspection grades Fir Tree College 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 provide an inclusive environment for learners and staff."
Leadership and governance - Needs attention. "Leaders and managers do not have a clear enough oversight of the quality of the provision."
Participation and development - Expected standard. "Leaders set high expectations for learners' attendance, behaviour and attitudes."
Achievement - Needs attention. "Just over one-third of learners leave their courses early."
Curriculum and teaching - Needs attention. "Leaders have designed a curriculum offer that meets the needs of the local area."
Safeguarding standards were met.
Ofsted's next steps for the school: "Leaders should improve their oversight so that they understand the strengths and weaknesses of the provision and put in place timely actions for improvement"; "Leaders should plan a specialist programme of training in special educational needs and/or disabilities for staff so that they can provide learners with high-quality teaching and the graduated support that learners need"; "Leaders should monitor the smaller steps of progress that learners make towards their targets and education, health and care plan outcomes"; "Leaders should use the results of assessments of learners' starting points to plan suitable and ambitious individualised curriculums that enable learners to make the progress of which they are capable".
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 Fir Tree College are My Life Learning (1.7 miles); My Oasis Therapeutic Alternative Provision (2 miles, selective); Infinite Schools Wigan (2.4 miles, Good); and Elm Tree Community Primary School (2.7 miles, Outstanding).
My Life LearningMy Oasis Therapeutic Alternative ProvisionInfinite Schools WiganElm Tree Community Primary School
Who goes there
Fir Tree College 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 Appley Bridge Rail Station, about 960 metres away (roughly a 12-minute walk).
4 bus stops are within a five-minute walk; the closest is Forest Fold (opposite), 250 metres away.
The area around the school
Measured by the 2025 English Indices of Deprivation, the neighbourhood Fir Tree College stands in is among the 10% least 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 · 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 improve their oversight so that they understand the strengths and weaknesses of the provision and put in place timely actions for improvement.
- Leaders should plan a specialist programme of training in special educational needs and/or disabilities for staff so that they can provide learners with high-quality teaching and the graduated support that learners need.
- Leaders should monitor the smaller steps of progress that learners make towards their targets and education, health and care plan outcomes.
- Leaders should use the results of assessments of learners' starting points to plan suitable and ambitious individualised curriculums that enable learners to make the progress of which they are capable.
From Ofsted's report card (inspection 6 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
Fir Tree College excels at creating a safe, welcoming environment where young people with significant barriers can build confidence, independence and social skills. Staff know learners extremely well and work closely with families and employers to provide meaningful work experience. Most learners move on to positive destinations such as employment or supported internships.
Key Strengths
- Safeguarding is effective with an open, positive culture where learners feel safe
- Strong support for learners' personal development, confidence and independence with tailored careers guidance
- Safe, welcoming environment where learners develop social skills and most move to positive destinations after leaving
- Staff prioritise learner wellbeing and work closely with families, employers and local stakeholders
Areas for Improvement
- Teaching in English and mathematics lacks sufficient challenge - lessons often don't meet individual learning needs
- Leaders' oversight of quality is weak and improvement actions are too slow to implement
- Personal targets for learners are too broad and feedback on written work is mostly congratulatory rather than constructive
- Staff lack specialist training in special educational needs and don't have extensive experience teaching learners with complex needs
Safeguarding
Safeguarding standards are met - leaders have created an open culture where safeguarding is everyone's responsibility and learners feel safe.
Extracurricular Activities
Reading club, art club, meditation sessions, work experience placements, visits from police and fire brigade, canal and river trust water safety guidance
Fir Tree College serves 49 learners with high needs who often have significant barriers to learning and poor previous educational experiences. The college provides inclusive support and work experience, but needs to improve the quality of teaching in core subjects and leadership oversight.
At a Glance
No
Boarding
No
Nursery
Approved
Section 41
No
Special Measures
How Does This School Compare?
Ranked against 5 nearby schools
Latest from Fir Tree College
Fir Tree College Football Tournament Brings Teamwork, Sportsmanship and Success
16 Jul 2026
New Online Safety Resource for Parents and Carers
16 Jul 2026
Looking After Yourself this Summer
16 Jul 2026
Helping Teenagers and Young Adults Stay Safe Online as They Become More Independent
14 Jul 2026
Supporting Young People with Additional Needs to Stay Safe Online
2 Jul 2026
Mystery, Clues and Cake at Our Social Evening!
2 Jul 2026
From Fir Tree College's website. School Signal is not affiliated with the school.
Social & online
Keep up with Fir Tree College
Getting There
Train Stations
Bus Stops
Free school transport
Check free transport to Fir Tree College from your postcode →
You apply to the council where you live. Fir Tree College 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
- 1
- Fatal
- 0
- Serious
- 0
- Children hurt
- 0
Within 500 m of the school's mapped location, police recorded 1 road collision in which someone was injured in 2021 to 2025: none fatal, 0 serious and 1 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 - 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(4)
Further education and skills inspection (renewed framework)
Further education and skills inspection
Special educational needs provision
Fir Tree College 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 Fir Tree College
What is Fir Tree College's Ofsted rating?
Fir Tree College'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 June 2022, it was rated Good.
What is the catchment area for Fir Tree College?
No fixed boundary. When Fir Tree College is oversubscribed, Wigan allocates places by its published criteria, usually ending with home-to-school distance.
Does Fir Tree College have specialist SEN provision?
Fir Tree College 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 Fir Tree College?
Apply through Wigan's coordinated admissions process, naming Fir Tree College 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 Fir Tree College?
Within 500 m of the school's mapped location, police recorded 1 road collision in which someone was injured in 2021 to 2025: none fatal, 0 serious and 1 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 Fir Tree College?
Fir Tree College is at The Nook, Appley Bridge, Wigan, Greater Manchester, WN6 9JB.
Source: Department for Transport, Road Safety Data (STATS19)