Westleigh St Paul's CofE Primary School, Leigh
Westleigh St Paul's CofE Primary School is a primary school for pupils aged 4 to 11 in Leigh. It has a Church of England religious character. It was rated Good at its last graded Ofsted inspection, in March 2015. Ofsted's ungraded inspection in October 2024 did not change this grade. Its 2025 Key Stage 2 results were the 12th-highest of the 15 schools in Leigh with published results, and 11,772nd of 14,452 across England. It was full in 2025, at 107% of capacity.
- SATs results
- Below England average
- Ofsted
- Good (2015)
- Demand
- Every first choice offered
- Attendance
- In line with England
Reception applications for September 2027 close in 80 days
Deadline Friday 15 January 2027. Apply to Wigan (the council where you live). Offers on 16 April.
Data last updated 27 Oct 2026
Westleigh St Paul's CofE Primary School in detail
Westleigh St Paul's CofE Primary School in its own words
In its own words: "At St Paul's we will provide a nurturing and aspiring environment where everyone is empowered to reach their fullest potential. Guided by faith and ground in the belief that 'With God all things are possible,' (Matthew 19:26) we strive to cultivate a love of learning,resilience in the face of challenges and a deep sense of purpose."
Clubs and activities named on the school's website include chess and Lego.
The school runs a breakfast club, from £4.00 per day.
Vision and values (school website)Clubs (school website)
Source: The school's own website
Results
In 2025, 62% of Year 6 pupils at Westleigh St Paul's CofE Primary School reached the expected standard in reading and 69% 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 (63% in reading, 67% in maths).
With small year groups, a few pupils can move these figures by several points.
Getting a place at Westleigh St Paul's CofE Primary School
For September 2026 entry, 21 families put Westleigh St Paul's CofE Primary School as their first choice and 47 named it as one of their preferences, for 30 places offered. It had fewer first-choice applications than places. Every family who put it first was offered a place there for 2026 entry.
Admissions history and your chances at Westleigh St Paul's CofE Primary School
Compared with nearby schools
The nearest other state primary schools to Westleigh St Paul's CofE Primary School are Leigh Westleigh Methodist Primary School (0.1 miles, Good, 61% reading, 55% maths); Twelve Apostles Catholic Primary School (0.3 miles, Outstanding, 67% reading, 70% maths); Newton Westpark Primary School (0.4 miles, Good, 69% reading, 88% maths); and Leigh St John's CofE Primary (0.6 miles, Outstanding, 83% reading, 87% maths).
Westleigh St Paul's CofE Primary School's 2025 results were higher than 1 of these 4 schools.
Leigh Westleigh Methodist Primary SchoolTwelve Apostles Catholic Primary SchoolNewton Westpark Primary SchoolLeigh St John's CofE Primary
Who goes there
54.6% of pupils are eligible for free school meals, well above the average state school (25%), according to the 2026 school census.
In 2026, 65 pupils (31.7%) received SEN support and 13 (6.3%) 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 Daisy Hill Rail Station, about 2 miles away in a straight line.
7 bus stops are within a five-minute walk; the closest is School Street (opposite), 80 metres away.
Suspensions and exclusions
In 2024/25, Westleigh St Paul's CofE Primary School issued 13 suspensions, 6.3 for every 100 pupils (the average state school: 6.3), and no permanent exclusions.
Secondary schools nearby
The secondary schools closest to Westleigh St Paul's CofE Primary School are The Westleigh School (0.2 miles) and Atherton High School (1.5 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); DfE exclusions statistics
Key Information
DfE GIASOfsted Rating
Ofsted · 2 years agoThis judgement is from March 2015, 11 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 October 2024 inspection report.
What This School Does Well
This is a caring school where children feel genuinely safe and supported by kind, encouraging teachers. The school prioritises early reading success and identifies children who need extra help quickly. Pupils with additional needs are well supported and included, while all pupils develop respect for different backgrounds and learn how to maintain healthy relationships.
Key Strengths
- Strong focus on early reading with effective phonics teaching - most pupils meet the Year 1 phonics screening check and become fluent readers
- Teachers use effective strategies to check pupils' learning and provide timely feedback to help them correct errors
- Early identification of pupils with SEND and strong curriculum adaptations to meet their individual needs
- Improved school rules and routines leading to better behaviour and minimal disruptions
- High expectations for all pupils, including those with additional needs, with many achieving well by end of Year 6
Areas for Improvement
- Some curriculum improvement work still ongoing - school needs to finalise its expectations for how certain subjects should be delivered
- Curriculum monitoring systems recently introduced but not yet showing their full impact - some inconsistencies in how curriculum is being delivered
- Governors' oversight of strategic improvement priorities could be more robust to provide better challenge and support to school leaders
Safeguarding
Safeguarding arrangements are effective, with the school creating an open and positive culture around safeguarding that prioritises pupils' interests.
Extracurricular Activities
Spanish club, singing club, sports clubs, school trips to farm and zoo, daily mile activity
Westleigh St Paul's CofE Primary School is a warm and welcoming school where pupils are happy and feel safe. The school has maintained good standards and taken effective action to improve education provision.
At a Glance
54.6%
Free School Meals
No
Boarding
No
Nursery
No
Sixth Form
No
Special Measures
Primary Performance (KS2)
Academic year 2024/25KS2 Results (% meeting expected standard)
Reading has remained stable at around 62% (2024 to 2025). Maths has remained stable at around 69% (2024 to 2025). Writing has declined from 80% to 69% (2024 to 2025).
Class Sizes
29.3
Avg class size
29.0
Infant (KS1)
29.5
KS2
7
Total classes
1 class with more than 30 pupils
2025/26 academic year
How Does This School Compare?
Ranked against 5 nearby primary schools
Keep up with Westleigh St Paul's CofE Primary School
Getting There
Bus Stops
Free school transport
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You apply to the council where you live. Westleigh St Paul's CofE 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
- 15
- Fatal
- 0
- Serious
- 3
- Children hurt
- 5
Within 500 m of the school's mapped location, police recorded 15 road collisions in which someone was injured in 2021 to 2025: none fatal, 3 serious and 12 slight.
5 children aged 0 to 15 were hurt: 3 on foot and 2 in a vehicle or otherwise.
7 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 Westleigh St Paul's CofE Primary School
Will you get a place at Westleigh St Paul's CofE Primary School? Get the admissions report
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What the report includes for Westleigh St Paul's CofE Primary School:
- The straight-line distance from your home to Westleigh St Paul's CofE 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 Westleigh St Paul's CofE 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
107%
Over capacity
207 pupils
194 places
13 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: Every first choice offered
Inspection History(7)
SEND & SEN Provision
SEN Overview
65
SEN Support
13
EHC Plans
38.0%
of Total Pupils
2026 academic year
Provision & Specialist Facilities
Pupils by Need Type
Pupil Demographics
Ethnicity
2026 academic year
Key Indicators
205
Total Pupils
120
Boys
85
Girls
2026 academic year
Workforce
11
Teachers
18.6:1
Pupil-teacher ratio
£53,303
Mean salary
2026 data
School Funding
£6,462
Per pupil
£1550k
Total funding
£170k
Pupil premium
2025-26 financial year allocations
Pupil Absence2024/25
5.9%
Overall absence
18.1%
Persistent absence
188
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
Westleigh St Paul's CofE Primary School
Questions parents ask about Westleigh St Paul's CofE Primary School
What are SATs results like at Westleigh St Paul's CofE Primary School?
Of the pupils at Westleigh St Paul's CofE Primary School who took the 2025 Key Stage 2 assessments, 62% reached the expected standard in reading and 69% did so in maths.
What is Westleigh St Paul's CofE Primary School's Ofsted rating?
Westleigh St Paul's CofE Primary School's most recent Ofsted inspection, in October 2024, was ungraded, so it gave no overall grade. At its last graded inspection, in March 2015, it was rated Good.
What is the catchment area for Westleigh St Paul's CofE Primary School?
No fixed boundary. When Westleigh St Paul's CofE 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 Westleigh St Paul's CofE Primary School?
Westleigh St Paul's CofE Primary School was full in 2025, at 107% of its capacity, so places are allocated on the oversubscription criteria.
How big are the classes at Westleigh St Paul's CofE Primary School?
Classes at Westleigh St Paul's CofE Primary School average 29.3 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 Westleigh St Paul's CofE Primary School?
Westleigh St Paul's CofE Primary School has around 205 pupils on roll. 55% are eligible for free school meals.
What is attendance like at Westleigh St Paul's CofE Primary School?
5.9% of sessions were missed at Westleigh St Paul's CofE Primary School in 2024/25. 18.1% of pupils were persistently absent (missing 10% or more of sessions).
How do I apply to Westleigh St Paul's CofE Primary School?
Apply through Wigan's coordinated admissions process, naming Westleigh St Paul's CofE 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 Westleigh St Paul's CofE Primary School?
Within 500 m of the school's mapped location, police recorded 15 road collisions in which someone was injured in 2021 to 2025: none fatal, 3 serious and 12 slight. 5 children aged 0 to 15 were hurt: 3 on foot and 2 in a vehicle or otherwise. 7 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 Westleigh St Paul's CofE Primary School?
Westleigh St Paul's CofE Primary School is at School Street, Leigh, Lancashire, WN7 5JN.
Source: Department for Transport, Road Safety Data (STATS19)