Hope School, Wigan
Hope School is a special school for pupils aged 2 to 19 in Wigan. It was rated Outstanding at its last graded Ofsted inspection, in June 2014. Ofsted's ungraded inspection in June 2025 did not change this grade.
- Ofsted
- Outstanding (2014)
Data last updated 26 Oct 2026
Hope School in detail
Compared with nearby schools
The nearest other special schools to Hope School are Expanse Learning Wigan School (0.9 miles, Good); Landgate School, Bryn (1 mile, Good); Martha H School (1.3 miles); and Learn 4 Life School (1.6 miles, Good).
Expanse Learning Wigan SchoolLandgate School, BrynMartha H SchoolLearn 4 Life School
What parents say
33 parents answered Ofsted's Parent View survey about Hope School (as of September 2025): 97% would recommend the school, 100% say their child is happy there and 100% of those with a view say bullying is dealt with well.
The strongest agreement was that the school deals with bullying well (among parents with a view) (100%); the weakest, that the school has high expectations for their child (94%).
Where pupils go next
Of the 19 pupils who finished Year 11 in 2023/24, 100% stayed in education or training for at least two terms.
Who goes there
43.8% of pupils are eligible for free school meals, and 6.4% speak English as an additional language, according to the 2026 school census.
Almost every pupil at Hope School has an education, health and care plan (233 of 233 in 2026). The most common need among them is autism.
Hope School provides for pupils with specific learning difficulties such as dyslexia, visual impairment, other difficulties or disabilities, hearing impairment, speech, language and communication needs, autism, multi-sensory impairment, physical disability, severe learning difficulties and profound and multiple learning difficulties.
Getting there
The nearest railway station is Pemberton Rail Station, about 0.9 miles away in a straight line.
9 bus stops are within a five-minute walk; the closest is Hope School & College (outside), 160 metres away.
Suspensions and exclusions
In 2024/25, Hope School issued 1 suspension, 0.4 for every 100 pupils, and no permanent exclusions.
Sources: Ofsted Parent View; DfE destination measures; DfE school census and special educational needs statistics; NaPTAN (Department for Transport); DfE exclusions statistics
Key Information
DfE GIASOfsted Rating
Ofsted · 1 year agoThis judgement is from June 2014, 12 years ago, longer than Ofsted's usual 4-year cycle: the school may have changed since.
Overall
Quality of Education
Behaviour & Attitudes
Personal Development
Leadership & Management
Early Years
Sixth Form
Ofsted Insights
From Ofsted's June 2025 inspection report.
What This School Does Well
Hope School excels at creating a warm, inclusive environment where every pupil is known well and supported as a unique individual. The school is outstanding at preparing young people for adult life through real work experience opportunities, while making reading and communication a priority. Staff work collaboratively with families and professionals to remove barriers to learning, resulting in pupils who are happy, well-behaved and making good progress.
Key Strengths
- Excellent behaviour and outstanding personal development with a strong focus on preparing pupils for adulthood and work experience
- Highly effective teaching of communication, language and reading with consistent use of signs, symbols and communication aids
- Strong relationships between staff and pupils creating a family atmosphere where pupils feel valued and safe
- Excellent attendance support working closely with families and local authority to remove barriers
- Outstanding early years and sixth form provision
Areas for Improvement
- Curriculum refinement is at an early stage for some areas - the school needs clearer monitoring of whether new curriculum pathways are improving pupils' learning
- Need for greater consistency in how the curriculum is delivered across all subjects to ensure consistent progress over time
Safeguarding
Safeguarding arrangements are effective with strong partnerships with parents, carers and professionals to identify and meet pupils' individual needs.
Extracurricular Activities
School choir, water sports, outdoor activities, beach visits, sixth form college bistro work experience, workplace visits, school council, youth parliament
Hope School is a special school for pupils aged 2-19 with complex SEND needs. The school creates a nurturing environment with high expectations, where all pupils have an Education, Health and Care plan and receive personalised support to make progress.
At a Glance
43.8%
Free School Meals
No
Boarding
Yes
Nursery
Yes
Sixth Form
SpLD, Vision, Other +7
SEN Provision
No
Special Measures
What Parents Think
33 responsesSource: Ofsted Parent View, responses as at September 2025 - % who strongly agree or agree
Primary Performance (KS2)
Academic year 2024/25KS2 Results (% meeting expected standard)
How Does This School Compare?
Ranked against 5 nearby schools
Keep up with Hope School
Getting There
Bus Stops
Free school transport
Check free transport to Hope School from your postcode →
You apply to the council where you live. Hope 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
- 13
- Fatal
- 0
- Serious
- 4
- Children hurt
- 2
Within 500 m of the school's mapped location, police recorded 13 road collisions in which someone was injured in 2021 to 2025: none fatal, 4 serious and 9 slight.
2 children aged 0 to 15 were hurt: 1 on foot and 1 on a bicycle.
4 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
117%
Over capacity
233 pupils
200 places
33 pupils over capacity
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(8)
Ungraded inspection: The school remains Outstanding, but Ofsted raised concerns; its next inspection will be a full graded one.
SEND & SEN Provision
SEN Overview
0
SEN Support
233
EHC Plans
100.0%
of Total Pupils
2026 academic year
Provision & Specialist Facilities
Hope School provides for pupils with specific learning difficulties such as dyslexia, visual impairment, other difficulties or disabilities, hearing impairment, speech, language and communication needs, autism, multi-sensory impairment, physical disability, severe learning difficulties and profound and multiple learning difficulties.
Source: GIAS, Department for Education.
Pupils by Need Type
Pupil Demographics
Ethnicity
2026 academic year
Key Indicators
233
Total Pupils
143
Boys
90
Girls
2026 academic year
Workforce
38
Teachers
6.1:1
Pupil-teacher ratio
£58,440
Mean salary
2026 data
Pupil Absence2024/25
9.2%
Overall absence
28.6%
Persistent absence
182
Enrolments
Absence trend
Source: DfE pupil absence statistics. Persistent absence = pupils missing 10%+ sessions.
Feeder Primary Schools
Primary schools that likely feed into this school, based on proximity
Hope School
Showing 10 of 15 linked schools
Questions parents ask about Hope School
What are SATs results like at Hope School?
Of the pupils at Hope School who took the 2025 Key Stage 2 assessments, 0% reached the expected standard in reading and 0% did so in maths.
What is Hope School's Ofsted rating?
Hope School's most recent Ofsted inspection, in June 2025, was ungraded, so it gave no overall grade. At its last graded inspection, in June 2014, it was rated Outstanding.
What is the catchment area for Hope School?
No fixed boundary. When Hope School is oversubscribed, Wigan allocates places by its published criteria, usually ending with home-to-school distance.
How many pupils go to Hope School?
Hope School has around 233 pupils on roll. 44% are eligible for free school meals.
Does Hope School have specialist SEN provision?
Hope School provides for pupils with specific learning difficulties such as dyslexia, visual impairment, other difficulties or disabilities, hearing impairment, speech, language and communication needs, autism, multi-sensory impairment, physical disability, severe learning difficulties and profound and multiple learning difficulties.
What is attendance like at Hope School?
9.2% of sessions were missed at Hope School in 2024/25. 28.6% of pupils were persistently absent (missing 10% or more of sessions).
How do I apply to Hope School?
Apply through Wigan's coordinated admissions process, naming Hope School 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 Hope School?
Within 500 m of the school's mapped location, police recorded 13 road collisions in which someone was injured in 2021 to 2025: none fatal, 4 serious and 9 slight. 2 children aged 0 to 15 were hurt: 1 on foot and 1 on a bicycle. 4 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 Hope School?
Hope School is at Kelvin Grove, Marus Bridge, Wigan, Greater Manchester, WN3 6SP.
Source: Department for Transport, Road Safety Data (STATS19)