Schools in Atherton
Greater Manchester · Wigan · 1 schools
Year 7 applications for September 2027 close in 4 days
Deadline Saturday 31 October 2026. Apply to Wigan (the council where you live). Offers on 1 March.
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.
5
of 13 in & around Atherton rated Good or Outstanding
Schools in Atherton (1)
- Atherton High School
Secondary · Ages 11-16 · M46 0AY
Ofsted: Good (2024)Attainment 8: 46.2 (2026)92% of first choices got in
By type:Secondary schools in Atherton (1)
1
0 primary · 1 secondary
561
102% capacity used
1
0 outstanding · 1 good
550
11 over capacity
Ofsted Ratings
Area Performance (2026)
Attainment 8
46.2
GCSE Eng+Maths
38.2%
School Capacity & Demand
Housing Growth Detected
44 new homes approved nearby. This could generate an estimated +11 primary and +8 secondary pupils.
Source: MHCLG Live Table 122 (2024-25, last 5 years)
Secondary Schools
102% occupied · 11 over capacity
Other schools near Atherton
The closest schools in neighbouring towns and villages, by distance - useful if Atherton's own schools don't cover the phase or place you need.
Parklee Primary School
Primary · Wigan
St Michael's CofE Primary School, Howe Bridge
Primary · Greater Manchester · Good
Chowbent Primary School
Primary · Manchester
Meadowbank Primary School
Primary · Manchester · Good
Atherton St George's CofE Primary School
Primary · Manchester · Good
Sacred Heart RC Primary School
Primary · Manchester
St Richard's Roman Catholic Primary School Atherton
Primary · Manchester
Hindsford CofE Primary School
Primary · Manchester
Questions parents ask about schools in Atherton
How many schools are there in Atherton?
Atherton has 1 open school.
Source: DfE Get Information About Schools
Are there any Outstanding schools in Atherton?
None of the 1 graded schools in Atherton currently holds an Outstanding rating. 1 is rated Good, so 100% are Good or better. Ofsted stopped giving single-word overall grades in September 2024, so these are the grades from each school's last full inspection.
Source: Ofsted
Are there grammar schools in Atherton?
No. None of the state secondary schools in Atherton selects pupils by ability, so every state secondary here is comprehensive.
Source: DfE Get Information About Schools
Do schools in Atherton have catchment areas?
Most state schools in Atherton have no fixed catchment boundary. When a school is oversubscribed, Wigan allocates places on its published criteria - usually looked-after children first, then siblings, then home-to-school distance - so the practical cut-off moves each year. Each school's page here shows an estimate of its catchment radius.
How do I apply for a school place in Atherton?
Apply to Wigan through its coordinated admissions process, even for academies and faith schools. In England the closing date is 31 October for secondary places and 15 January for primary places, in the year before your child starts.
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