Leigh Central Primary School, Leigh
Leigh Central Primary School is a primary school for pupils aged 4 to 11 in Leigh. It was rated Good at its last graded Ofsted inspection, in June 2022. Its 2025 Key Stage 2 results were the 10th-highest of the 15 schools in Leigh with published results, and 10,716th of 14,452 across England. For 2026 entry it had 1.2 first-choice applications for every place. It was full in 2025, at 102% of capacity.
- SATs results
- Below England average
- Ofsted
- Good (2022)
- Demand
- Oversubscribed
- Attendance
- In line with England
Reception applications for September 2027 close in 81 days
Deadline Friday 15 January 2027. Apply to Wigan (the council where you live). Offers on 16 April.
Data last updated 26 Oct 2026
Leigh Central Primary School in detail
Leigh Central Primary School in its own words
In its own words: "‘ Leigh Central is a welcoming place for all’ Ofsted (June 2022) Leigh Central Primary is a unique and diverse community school in the heart of Leigh town centre. We were fortunate enough to move into our fantastic new school building in October 2009 and our children benefit greatly from our state of the art technology and purpose built facilities."
Coming up: an open evening on Friday 20 November 2026. Check the school's website before you go, as dates can change.
Vision and values (school website)Open days on the school's site (school website)
Source: The school's own website
Results
In 2025, 61% of Year 6 pupils at Leigh Central Primary School reached the expected standard in reading and 77% in maths. At the average state primary the figures were 78% and 79% in Wigan and 77% and 75% across England.
Results were similar in 2024 (73% in reading, 67% in maths).
With small year groups, a few pupils can move these figures by several points.
Getting a place at Leigh Central Primary School
For September 2026 entry, 37 families put Leigh Central Primary School as their first choice and 76 named it as one of their preferences, for 30 places offered. That is 1.2 first choices for every place. 11 families who put it first were not offered a place there.
Admissions history and your chances at Leigh Central Primary School
Compared with nearby schools
The nearest other state primary schools to Leigh Central Primary School are Sacred Heart Catholic Primary School Leigh (under 0.1 miles, Requires improvement, 60% reading, 64% maths); Leigh St Mary's CofE Primary School (under 0.1 miles, Good, 70% reading, 60% maths); Leigh CofE Primary School (0.1 miles, Good, 74% reading, 67% maths); and Leigh St John's CofE Primary (0.3 miles, Outstanding, 83% reading, 87% maths).
Leigh Central Primary School's 2025 results were higher than 2 of these 4 schools.
Sacred Heart Catholic Primary School LeighLeigh St Mary's CofE Primary SchoolLeigh CofE Primary SchoolLeigh St John's CofE Primary
Who goes there
44.5% of pupils are eligible for free school meals, well above the average state school (25%), and 31.3% speak English as an additional language, against 18.8% on average, according to the 2026 school census.
The largest ethnic groups are White British (45%), Black (19%) and Mixed (9%).
In 2026, 39 pupils (18.5%) received SEN support and 20 (9.5%) had an education, health and care plan, against 16.2% and 4.6% at the average state school. The most common need among them is social, emotional and mental health needs.
Leigh Central Primary School has a resourced provision for autism: 5 places, 5 pupils on roll.
Getting there
The nearest railway station is Hag Fold Rail Station, about 2.6 miles away in a straight line.
12 bus stops are within a five-minute walk; the closest is The Avenue (adjacent), 150 metres away.
The area around the school
Measured by the 2025 English Indices of Deprivation, the neighbourhood Leigh Central Primary School stands in is among the 10% most deprived neighbourhoods in England. On income deprivation affecting children it is in the 3rd decile, where the 1st is the most deprived. This describes where the school is, not where its pupils live.
Suspensions and exclusions
Leigh Central Primary School recorded no suspensions or permanent exclusions in 2024/25.
Secondary schools nearby
The secondary schools closest to Leigh Central Primary School are The Westleigh School (1.1 miles) and Bedford High School (1.3 miles).
Sources: DfE school performance data (averages: state mainstream schools); DfE school-level applications and offers; council admissions booklets; DfE appeals statistics; DfE school census and special educational needs statistics; NaPTAN (Department for Transport); English Indices of Deprivation 2025 (MHCLG); data.police.uk street-level crime; DfE exclusions statistics
Location
Our estimate from how close the nearest similar schools are and how oversubscribed the council's schools are. It is not a published boundary.
Key Information
DfE GIASOfsted Rating
Ofsted · 4 months agoReport card - no single overall grade (Ofsted's framework since November 2025)
Safeguarding standards: met
Ofsted Insights
Ofsted rated this school Good at its June 2022 inspection.
Rated Good for
Quality of education, Behaviour & attitudes, Personal development, Leadership & management, Early years.
At a Glance
44.5%
Free School Meals
No
Boarding
No
Nursery
No
Sixth Form
Resourced provision: Autism
SEN Provision
No
Special Measures
Primary Performance (KS2)
Academic year 2024/25KS2 Results (% meeting expected standard)
Reading has declined from 73% to 61% (2024 to 2025). Maths has improved from 67% to 77% (2024 to 2025). Writing has declined from 77% to 71% (2024 to 2025).
Class Sizes
30.1
Avg class size
29.7
Infant (KS1)
30.5
KS2
7
Total classes
2 classes with more than 30 pupils
2025/26 academic year
How Does This School Compare?
Ranked against 5 nearby primary schools
Keep up with Leigh Central Primary School
Getting There
Bus Stops
Free school transport
Check free transport to Leigh Central Primary School from your postcode →
You apply to the council where you live. Leigh Central Primary 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
- 41
- Fatal
- 0
- Serious
- 11
- Children hurt
- 9
Within 500 m of the school's mapped location, police recorded 41 road collisions in which someone was injured in 2021 to 2025: none fatal, 11 serious and 30 slight.
9 children aged 0 to 15 were hurt: 5 on foot and 4 in a vehicle or otherwise.
6 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
Your chances of a place at Leigh Central Primary School
Will you get a place at Leigh Central Primary School? Get the admissions report
Your home postcode, set against Leigh Central Primary School's admissions figures, in one report saved to your account.
What the report includes for Leigh Central Primary School:
- The straight-line distance from your home to Leigh Central Primary School.
- We hold no last distance offered figures from Wigan, so the report covers demand, alternatives and dates.
- Applications, first choices and offers at Leigh Central Primary School for 2014 to 2026 entry.
- How many families in Wigan got their first choice, and how often appeals there succeed.
- The nearest state schools to your home, with Ofsted rating, demand and last distance offered where published.
- Key dates for September 2027 entry and how to apply.
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Capacity & Demand
School Occupancy
102%
Over capacity
214 pupils
210 places
4 pupils over capacity in 2025
2025, DfE school capacity data
Area Demand Pressure - Leigh
Based on MHCLG Live Table 122 (2024-25, last 5 years) for Leigh
Across Wigan council
Places available
3,894
Applications
3,541
Got 1st preference
88.7%
Got preferred school
97.3%
All primary applications across Wigan council (2026/27), not just this school.
This school: Oversubscribed
Inspection History(7)
SEND & SEN Provision
SEN Overview
39
SEN Support
20
EHC Plans
28.0%
of Total Pupils
2026 academic year
Provision & Specialist Facilities
Leigh Central Primary School has a resourced provision for autism: 5 places, 5 pupils on roll.
Source: GIAS, Department for Education.
Pupils by Need Type
Pupil Demographics
Ethnicity
2026 academic year
Key Indicators
211
Total Pupils
98
Boys
113
Girls
2026 academic year
Workforce
11
Teachers
19.2:1
Pupil-teacher ratio
£55,721
Mean salary
2026 data
School Funding
£6,607
Per pupil
£1618k
Total funding
£145k
Pupil premium
2025-26 financial year allocations
Pupil Absence2024/25
5.7%
Overall absence
20.4%
Persistent absence
191
Enrolments
Absence trend
Source: DfE pupil absence statistics. Persistent absence = pupils missing 10%+ sessions.
Secondary Schools Nearby
Secondary schools pupils are likely to move to
Leigh Central Primary School
Questions parents ask about Leigh Central Primary School
What are SATs results like at Leigh Central Primary School?
Of the pupils at Leigh Central Primary School who took the 2025 Key Stage 2 assessments, 61% reached the expected standard in reading and 77% did so in maths.
What is Leigh Central Primary School's Ofsted rating?
Leigh Central Primary School's most recent Ofsted inspection, in June 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 Leigh Central Primary School?
No fixed boundary. When Leigh Central Primary School is oversubscribed, Wigan allocates places by its published criteria, usually ending with home-to-school distance.
Is it hard to get a place at Leigh Central Primary School?
Leigh Central Primary School was full in 2025, at 102% of its capacity, so places are allocated on the oversubscription criteria.
How big are the classes at Leigh Central Primary School?
Classes at Leigh Central Primary School average 30.1 pupils (2025/26). 2 classes have more than 30 pupils - infant classes are capped at 30 by law, with limited exceptions.
How many pupils go to Leigh Central Primary School?
Leigh Central Primary School has around 211 pupils on roll. 45% are eligible for free school meals.
Does Leigh Central Primary School have specialist SEN provision?
Leigh Central Primary School has a resourced provision for autism: 5 places, 5 pupils on roll.
What is attendance like at Leigh Central Primary School?
5.7% of sessions were missed at Leigh Central Primary School in 2024/25. 20.4% of pupils were persistently absent (missing 10% or more of sessions).
How do I apply to Leigh Central Primary School?
Apply through Wigan's coordinated admissions process, naming Leigh Central Primary School on your application. Applications for Reception places starting in September 2027 close on Friday 15 January 2027, and offers are made on Friday 16 April 2027.
How many road collisions happen near Leigh Central Primary School?
Within 500 m of the school's mapped location, police recorded 41 road collisions in which someone was injured in 2021 to 2025: none fatal, 11 serious and 30 slight. 9 children aged 0 to 15 were hurt: 5 on foot and 4 in a vehicle or otherwise. 6 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 Leigh Central Primary School?
Leigh Central Primary School is at Windermere Road, Leigh, Lancashire, WN7 1UY.
Source: Department for Transport, Road Safety Data (STATS19)