Marus Bridge Primary School, Wigan
Marus Bridge Primary School is a primary school for pupils aged 4 to 11 in Wigan, part of The Rowan Learning Trust. It was rated Good at its last graded Ofsted inspection, in September 2012. Ofsted's ungraded inspection in March 2025 did not change this grade. Its 2025 Key Stage 2 results were the 19th-highest of the 67 schools in Wigan with published results, and 2,040th of 14,452 across England. It was 95% full in 2025.
- SATs results
- Above England average
- Ofsted
- Good (2012)
- Demand
- Oversubscribed
- Attendance
- Better than England average
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
Marus Bridge Primary School in detail
Marus Bridge Primary School in its own words
In its own words: "Marus Bridge Primary School is a member of the Rowan Learning Trust. Company No. 8010464, Reg. England Office: 18 Beecham Court, Goose Green, Wigan, WN3 6PR"
The school runs a breakfast club from 7:30am and after-school care, from £11.25 per session.
Vision and values (school website)Wraparound care (school website)
Source: The school's own website
Results
In 2025, 89% of Year 6 pupils at Marus Bridge Primary School reached the expected standard in reading and 88% 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 (87% in reading, 87% in maths).
Getting a place at Marus Bridge Primary School
For September 2026 entry, 59 families put Marus Bridge Primary School as their first choice and 100 named it as one of their preferences, for 57 places offered. That is slightly more first choices than places. 5 families who put it first were not offered a place there.
Admissions history and your chances at Marus Bridge Primary School
Compared with nearby schools
The nearest other state primary schools to Marus Bridge Primary School are St Paul's Church of England Primary School (0.3 miles, Good, 77% reading, 67% maths); St Aidan's Catholic Primary School, Wigan (0.5 miles, Outstanding, 98% reading, 89% maths); Winstanley Community Primary School (0.7 miles, Outstanding, 79% reading, 86% maths); and Wigan Worsley Mesnes Community Primary School (0.7 miles, Good, 68% reading, 84% maths).
Marus Bridge Primary School's 2025 results were higher than 3 of these 4 schools.
St Paul's Church of England Primary SchoolSt Aidan's Catholic Primary School, WiganWinstanley Community Primary SchoolWigan Worsley Mesnes Community Primary School
The trust
Marus Bridge Primary School is one of 12 schools run by The Rowan Learning Trust, an academy trust.
Across the trust's primary schools, 68% of Year 6 pupils met the expected standard in reading, writing and maths in 2024/25.
What parents say
115 parents answered Ofsted's Parent View survey about Marus Bridge Primary School (as of September 2025): 99% would recommend the school, 99% say their child is happy there and 86% of those with a view say bullying is dealt with well.
The strongest agreement was that they would recommend the school (99%); the weakest, that the school deals with bullying well (among parents with a view) (86%).
Who goes there
5.3% speak English as an additional language, against 18.8% on average, according to the 2026 school census.
In 2026, 37 pupils (9.3%) received SEN support and 19 (4.8%) 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 speech, language and communication needs.
Getting there
The nearest railway station is Pemberton Rail Station, about 0.8 miles away in a straight line.
10 bus stops are within a five-minute walk; the closest is Hope School & College (outside), 110 metres away.
Suspensions and exclusions
In 2024/25, Marus Bridge Primary School issued 4 suspensions, 1 for every 100 pupils (the average state school: 6.3), and no permanent exclusions.
Sources: DfE school performance data (averages: state mainstream schools); DfE school-level applications and offers; council admissions booklets; DfE appeals statistics; DfE multi-academy trust performance data; Ofsted Parent View; DfE school census and special educational needs statistics; NaPTAN (Department for Transport); 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 · 2 years agoThis judgement is from September 2012, 14 years ago, longer than Ofsted's usual 4-year cycle: the school may have changed since.
Overall
Latest (ungraded) inspection: Standards have been maintained.
Ofsted Insights
From Ofsted's March 2025 inspection report.
What This School Does Well
Marus Bridge Primary School is built on positive relationships and care for every child. Your child will thrive in this happy, welcoming environment where excellent behaviour and kindness are the norm. The school offers an ambitious, well-planned curriculum with visits and visitors that bring learning to life, alongside plenty of enrichment opportunities.
Key Strengths
- Excellent behaviour and positive relationships between pupils and adults, with pupils being polite, considerate and proud advocates for their school
- Well-designed, ambitious curriculum with strong phonics teaching and a love of reading that is developed across the school
- Strong personal development focus that empowers pupils to take responsibility and make a difference in their school and wider community
- High attendance rates and pupils who are keen to learn alongside their friends
- Effective support and training for staff to meet the needs of pupils with SEND
Areas for Improvement
- Some gaps in pupils' knowledge in a couple of wider curriculum subjects that have recently been revised, which have not been identified or addressed effectively
Safeguarding
The arrangements for safeguarding are effective.
Extracurricular Activities
Judo, fencing, gardening, chess
Marus Bridge Primary School is a happy and welcoming school where pupils relish attending and follow the school's motto to 'learn, enjoy and achieve' with enthusiasm. The school has maintained the standards identified at its previous inspection, with most pupils achieving well including those with special educational needs.
At a Glance
18.3%
Free School Meals
No
Boarding
No
Nursery
No
Sixth Form
No
Special Measures
What Parents Think
115 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)
Reading has remained stable at around 89% (2024 to 2025). Maths has remained stable at around 88% (2024 to 2025). Writing has remained stable at around 84% (2024 to 2025).
Class Sizes
28.6
Avg class size
27.3
Infant (KS1)
29.5
KS2
14
Total classes
1 class with more than 30 pupils
2025/26 academic year
How Does This School Compare?
Ranked against 5 nearby primary schools
Latest from Marus Bridge Primary School
Attendance Winners 02.10.26
2 Oct 2026
Stars of the Week 02.10.26
2 Oct 2026
Value Winners 02.10.26
2 Oct 2026
House Point Winners 02.10.26
2 Oct 2026
Introducing our new pupil leadership team for 2026-2027
30 Sep 2026
Introducing our house captains for 2026-2027
30 Sep 2026
From Marus Bridge Primary School's website. School Signal is not affiliated with the school.
Social & online
Keep up with Marus Bridge Primary School
Getting There
Bus Stops
Free school transport
Check free transport to Marus Bridge Primary School from your postcode →
You apply to the council where you live. Marus Bridge 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
- 12
- Fatal
- 0
- Serious
- 4
- Children hurt
- 2
Within 500 m of the school's mapped location, police recorded 12 road collisions in which someone was injured in 2021 to 2025: none fatal, 4 serious and 8 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
Your chances of a place at Marus Bridge Primary School
Will you get a place at Marus Bridge Primary School? Get the admissions report
Your home postcode, set against Marus Bridge Primary School's admissions figures, in one report saved to your account.
What the report includes for Marus Bridge Primary School:
- The straight-line distance from your home to Marus Bridge 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 Marus Bridge Primary School for 2017 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.
£9.99 once
One school, inc. VAT. Or £19.99 for up to three schools.
Pro £9 a month, every report included, cancel any time
A report for any school, plus everything else in Pro.
Capacity & Demand
School Occupancy
95%
Near capacity
398 pupils
420 places
22 spare places in 2025
2025, DfE school capacity data
Area Demand Pressure - Wigan
Based on MHCLG Live Table 122 (2024-25, last 5 years) for Wigan
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(3)
SEND & SEN Provision
SEN Overview
37
SEN Support
19
EHC Plans
14.0%
of Total Pupils
2026 academic year
Provision & Specialist Facilities
Pupils by Need Type
Pupil Demographics
Ethnicity
2026 academic year
Key Indicators
400
Total Pupils
196
Boys
204
Girls
2026 academic year
Workforce
19
Teachers
21.1:1
Pupil-teacher ratio
£55,967
Mean salary
2026 data
School Funding
£4,955
Per pupil
£2179k
Total funding
£94k
Pupil premium
2025-26 financial year allocations
Pupil Absence2024/25
4.1%
Overall absence
5.4%
Persistent absence
354
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
Marus Bridge Primary School
Questions parents ask about Marus Bridge Primary School
What are SATs results like at Marus Bridge Primary School?
Of the pupils at Marus Bridge Primary School who took the 2025 Key Stage 2 assessments, 89% reached the expected standard in reading and 88% did so in maths.
What is Marus Bridge Primary School's Ofsted rating?
Marus Bridge Primary School's most recent Ofsted inspection, in March 2025, was ungraded, so it gave no overall grade. At its last graded inspection, in September 2012, it was rated Good.
What is the catchment area for Marus Bridge Primary School?
No fixed boundary. When Marus Bridge 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 Marus Bridge Primary School?
Marus Bridge Primary School was close to full in 2025, at 95% of its capacity.
How big are the classes at Marus Bridge Primary School?
Classes at Marus Bridge Primary School average 28.6 pupils (2025/26). 1 class has more than 30 pupils - infant classes are capped at 30 by law, with limited exceptions.
How many pupils go to Marus Bridge Primary School?
Marus Bridge Primary School has around 400 pupils on roll. 18% are eligible for free school meals.
What is attendance like at Marus Bridge Primary School?
4.1% of sessions were missed at Marus Bridge Primary School in 2024/25. 5.4% of pupils were persistently absent (missing 10% or more of sessions).
How do I apply to Marus Bridge Primary School?
Apply through Wigan's coordinated admissions process, naming Marus Bridge 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 Marus Bridge Primary School?
Within 500 m of the school's mapped location, police recorded 12 road collisions in which someone was injured in 2021 to 2025: none fatal, 4 serious and 8 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 Marus Bridge Primary School?
Marus Bridge Primary School is at Kelvin Grove, Marus Bridge, Wigan, Lancashire, WN3 6SP.
Source: Department for Transport, Road Safety Data (STATS19)