SecondaryState · Academy converter

The Byrchall High School

Warrington Road, Ashton-in-Makerfield, Wigan, Lancashire, WN4 9PQ ·

Ofsted:Good· 2022

At a glance

A state secondary academy for ages 11–16 in Wigan. Rated Good at its last graded Ofsted inspection (September 2022). GCSE results are below the England average (Attainment 8: 41.3 vs 46.1, 2024/25). Oversubscribed: 315 families put it first for 250 places (September 2026 entry).

Ages: 11–16
Pupils: 1,138
Gender: Mixed
Sixth form: No
Admissions: Non-selective
Local authority: Wigan
Academy trust: MAKERFIELD ACADEMY TRUST
Headteacher: Mr Philippe Paul
Opened: Sept 2012

School website 01942728221 Explore the area

Inspection

Ofsted (framework in use until November 2025)

Read reports

Graded inspection 13 Sept 2022

GoodOverall effectiveness

Quality of education: Good
Behaviour and attitudes: Good
Personal development: Good
Leadership and management: Good

Safeguarding effective: Yes

Inspection reports describe the school on the day. Read the full report and visit the school before deciding.

Exam results

Department for Education performance tables

GCSE results, 2024/25 · 187 pupils

Attainment 8

41.3

England 46.1

Grade 5+ Eng & maths

39%

England 45.4%

Grade 4+ Eng & maths

56.7%

England 64.8%

Progress 8

-0.40

2023/24 · CI -0.57 to -0.22

This school

41.3

Wigan

43.4

England

46.1

Attainment 8 over time

Progress 8 isn't published for 2024/25 because those pupils had no KS2 test results (tests were cancelled in 2020). Exams were not held in 2019/20 or 2020/21.

Admissions

Demand for places and how places are allocated

Search for your address on the map to see straight-line distances to schools.

Year 7 entry, September 2026 (national offer day data)

Offers made

250

1st preferences

315

All applications

721

1st prefs per place

1.26

More first choices than places

240 of 315 first-preference applicants were offered a place (76%). 82 offers went to families living in another council area.

Oversubscribed with first preferences

Catchment area

We don't have an official catchment boundary for this school. Many schools don't have one, and few councils publish boundaries as open data. We don't estimate catchments. Check the school's admissions policy or the council's admissions booklet.

Last distance offered

Not published nationally. Many councils publish the furthest distance offered for each school in their annual allocation reports. Past distances vary year to year with demand and sibling numbers, so they are not a guarantee.

How places are allocated: you apply through your home council. When a school has more applicants than places, it applies its published oversubscription criteria in order. These usually start with looked-after children, then siblings, then catchment or distance; faith schools may prioritise church attendance. Children with an EHC plan naming the school are admitted first. Apply on GOV.UK

Pupils

School census 2024/25

Pupils

1,075

Capacity

1,216

94% full

Girls / boys

49/51

Mixed

Eligible for free school meals (last 6 years)36.8%
English as an additional language8.4%
SEN support15.3%
Education, Health and Care plan2.6%
The black tick shows the median for state-funded secondary schools in England.