Ofsted: Good trending_up Places Available emoji_events #8 in Wigan public Top 23% UK

Bedford High School

verifiedData: DfE 2024/25–2025/26 · Ofsted

personMr Paul McCaffery

location_onLeigh, WN7 2LU

language Visit Website phone 1942909009

verified

Ofsted

Good

Inspected 2023

groups

Students

1,081

trending_up

Attainment 8

45.5

leaderboard

GCSE Rank

#9 in Wigan

#1,641 of 3,216 nationally

summarize

Bedford High School is a Community school secondary school in Leigh, serving ages 11-16. Rated Good by Ofsted.

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School Summary

Bedford High School is a community school in Leigh, Wigan, admitting pupils aged 11-16. The school has approximately 1,101 pupils on roll, of whom 38% are eligible for free school meals.

In 2025, pupils achieved an Attainment 8 score of 45.5, placing the school #9 in Wigan and #1,641 of 3,216 nationally. 47.80% of pupils achieved grade 5 or above in English and Maths. 14.3% of all GCSE entries were graded 9–7.

Ofsted last inspected the school in 2023. The school's current overall rating is Good. Inspectors assessed quality of education as Good, behaviour and attitudes Good, personal development Good, and leadership and management Good.

In the most recent admissions cycle, applications were at 0.9× capacity.

The pupil-to-qualified-teacher ratio is 15.0:1. There is 1 teaching vacancy.

In the 2024/25 academic year, there were 4 permanent exclusions. The average suspension rate was 15.4 per 1,000 pupils per term.

verified Source: DfE 2024/25–2025/26 · Ofsted

Academic Performance

verified Data: UK Gov 2024/25

analytics

Secondary Performance Trends (KS4)

2025

Progress 8 Score

Attainment 8

45.5

Grade 5+ E&M

47.80%

Grade 9–7 (all GCSEs)14.3%

Entering EBacc55.10%

EBacc APS4.09

2024

Progress 8 Score

-0.24

vs National Avg

Attainment 8

42.8

Grade 5+ E&M

Entering EBacc46.00%

EBacc APS3.83

2023

Progress 8 Score

-0.73

vs National Avg

Attainment 8

37.0

Grade 5+ E&M

Entering EBacc18%

EBacc APS3.15

2022

Progress 8 Score

-0.38

vs National Avg

Attainment 8

42.4

Grade 5+ E&M

Entering EBacc24%

EBacc APS3.86

2021

Progress 8 Score

Attainment 8

Grade 5+ E&M

Entering EBacc20%

EBacc APS-

2019

Progress 8 Score

-0.41

vs National Avg

Attainment 8

39.4

Grade 5+ E&M

Entering EBacc7%

EBacc APS3.25

2018

Progress 8 Score

-0.56

vs National Avg

Attainment 8

40.4

Grade 5+ E&M

Entering EBacc5%

EBacc APS3.22

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Student Destinations (After Secondary)

This module shows what students did after finishing Key Stage 4 (GCSEs). It reflects how well the school prepares pupils for the real world.

2025

Stayed in Education / Employment

86%

Education (e.g. Sixth Form/College)74%

Apprenticeships7%

Employment5%

Not in Education / Employment (NEET)11%

2024

Stayed in Education / Employment

89%

Education (e.g. Sixth Form/College)80%

Apprenticeships3%

Employment6%

Not in Education / Employment (NEET)11%

2023

Stayed in Education / Employment

91%

Education (e.g. Sixth Form/College)80%

Apprenticeships7%

Employment5%

Not in Education / Employment (NEET)8%

2022

Stayed in Education / Employment

91%

Education (e.g. Sixth Form/College)84%

Apprenticeships4%

Employment4%

Not in Education / Employment (NEET)9%

2021

Stayed in Education / Employment

96%

Education (e.g. Sixth Form/College)79%

Apprenticeships7%

Employment9%

Not in Education / Employment (NEET)4%

Ofsted History

Publication Timeline

Report Archive

03 October 2023

Inspection Report

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09 May 2018

Inspection Report

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06 November 2013

Inspection Report

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23 January 2013

Inspection Report

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12 January 2011

Inspection Report

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18 January 2010

Inspection Report

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19 May 2008

Inspection Report

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23 May 2007

Inspection Report

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13 September 2004

Inspection Report

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Inspection Report

Inspection History

4 Evaluations

2023-10-03

S5 Inspection EIF

Good

Education

Good

Behaviour

Good

Development

Good

Leadership

Good

2018-05-09

None Legacy

No Judgement

Education

No Judgement

Behaviour

Development

Leadership

2013-11-06

S5 Inspection Legacy

Good

Education

No Judgement

Behaviour

No Judgement

Development

No Judgement

Leadership

Good

2011-01-12

None EIF

Good

Education

No Judgement

Behaviour

No Judgement

Development

No Judgement

Leadership

Good

Wellbeing, SEN & Pastoral Care

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Behaviour & Discipline (Suspensions & Exclusions)

Official Department for Education (DfE) data. Suspensions measure temporary removals due to behavior, while exclusions represent permanent removals.

Suspension Rate

13.6%per term

warning Above Average

National average: 7.3% for this term (secondary).

Pupils Suspended 1+ Times

6.6%(73 pupils)

Spring term 2025

Represents the proportion of unique students suspended at least once in this term.

Permanent Exclusions

1pupils

gavel Exclusion recorded

National average: 7.398% of pupils excluded per term.

Pastoral Context: In the Spring term of 2025, this school served a headcount of 1,101 pupils. During this period, there were 150 temporary suspensions. The school's suspension rate was 13.6%, which is above the termly national average of 7.3%.

View Historical Disciplinary Records (2017–2025)keyboard_arrow_down

Year / Term	Headcount	Suspensions	Susp. Rate	Nat. Avg	Perm. Excl.
2024/25 (Spring term)	1,101	150	13.6%	7.3%	1
2024/25 (Autumn term)	1,116	191	17.1%	7.8%	3
2023/24 (Summer term)	1,090	141	12.9%	7.4%	3
2023/24 (Spring term)	1,097	175	16.0%	7.1%	2
2023/24 (Autumn term)	1,091	154	14.1%	8.2%	4
2022/23 (Summer term)	1,083	87	8.0%	6.6%	2
2022/23 (Spring term)	1,081	100	9.3%	6.4%	0
2022/23 (Autumn term)	1,086	133	12.2%	5.9%	4
2021/22 (Summer term)	1,068	96	9.0%	4.7%	1
2021/22 (Spring term)	1,059	76	7.2%	4.9%	1
2021/22 (Autumn term)	1,063	72	6.8%	4.4%	1
2020/21 (Summer term)	1,042	40	3.8%	3.6%	2
2020/21 (Spring term)	1,046	13	1.2%	1.0%	0
2020/21 (Autumn term)	1,052	73	6.9%	3.9%	1
2019/20 (Summer term)	995	0	0.0%	0.0%	0
2019/20 (Spring term)	995	49	4.9%	3.2%	1
2019/20 (Autumn term)	998	58	5.8%	4.2%	2
2018/19 (Summer term)	970	68	7.0%	3.1%	0
2018/19 (Spring term)	975	41	4.2%	3.8%	1
2018/19 (Autumn term)	987	74	7.5%	3.8%	1
2017/18 (Summer term)	928	48	5.2%	3.4%	0
2017/18 (Spring term)	926	28	3.0%	3.0%	1
2017/18 (Autumn term)	926	31	3.3%	3.7%	0
2016/17 (Summer term)	837	32	3.8%	3.0%	0
2016/17 (Spring term)	837	19	2.3%	3.3%	0
2016/17 (Autumn term)	839	15	1.8%	3.1%	0

Source: DfE Suspensions and Permanent Exclusions in England. Data represents termly statistics as published by the Department for Education.

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Supported Special Educational Needs (SEN)

Primary areas of need currently supported by the school. A high number often indicates specialized internal units or high staff experience in these areas.

Moderate Learning Difficulty 74 pupils

Social, Emotional & Mental Health 69 pupils

Speech, Language & Communication 18 pupils

Specific Learning Difficulty 15 pupils

Autistic Spectrum Disorder 11 pupils

Hearing Impairment 4 pupils

Other Difficulty/Disability 4 pupils

Visual Impairment 1 pupils

health_and_safety

Parent View on Pastoral Care

Results from the official Ofsted Parent View survey, reflecting direct parent sentiment regarding the school environment.

My child is happy at this school.

99.0%Positive

My child feels safe at this school.

100.0%Positive

My child has been bullied and the school dealt with the bullying quickly and effectively.

31.0%Positive

View All Survey Responseskeyboard_arrow_down

The school makes sure its pupils are well behaved.

strongly agree35%

agree61%

disagree1%

don't know3%

The school makes me aware of what my child will learn during the year.

strongly agree26%

agree67%

disagree5%

don't know3%

When I have raised concerns with the school they have been dealt with properly

strongly agree17%

agree48%

strongly disagree3%

don't know1%

not applicable33%

Does your child have special educational needs and/or disabilities (SEND)?

yes13%

no88%

My child has special educational needs and/or disabilities, and the school gives them the support they need to succeed.

strongly agree47%

agree53%

The school has high expectations for my child.

strongly agree47%

agree50%

strongly disagree1%

don't know3%

My child does well at this school.

strongly agree43%

agree56%

disagree1%

The school lets me know how my child is doing.

strongly agree38%

agree58%

disagree2%

strongly disagree1%

don't know1%

There is a good range of subjects available to my child at this school.

strongly agree40%

agree58%

don't know2%

My child can take part in clubs and activities at this school.

strongly agree40%

agree56%

disagree3%

don't know1%

The school supports my child's wider personal development.

strongly agree38%

agree54%

disagree1%

strongly disagree1%

don't know6%

I would recommend this school to another parent.

yes99%

no1%

Top Secondary Schools in Wigan

Other highly-ranked schools in the same local authority

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Golborne High School

Outstanding

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St Peter's Catholic High School

Good

location_on Wigan, WN5 8NU

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Standish Community High School

Good

location_on Wigan, WN6 0NX

emoji_events #3 in LA

Shevington High School

Good

location_on Wigan, WN6 8AB

emoji_events #4 in LA

St Edmund Arrowsmith Catholic High School, Ashton-in-Makerfield

Good

location_on Wigan, WN4 9PF

emoji_events #5 in LA

Lowton Church of England High School

Good

location_on Warrington, WA3 1DU

emoji_events #6 in LA

View all schools in Wigan arrow_forward

School Summary

Academic Performance

Secondary Performance Trends (KS4)

Student Destinations (After Secondary)

Ofsted History

Publication Timeline

Inspection History

Admissions Insight

How Places Are Allocated

Distance to School

School Capacity

Secondary Admission Trends

Students & School Environment

School Size

Language Diversity

Inclusive Support

Attendance

Ethnicity Breakdown

Wellbeing, SEN & Pastoral Care

Behaviour & Discipline (Suspensions & Exclusions)

Supported Special Educational Needs (SEN)

Parent View on Pastoral Care

My child is happy at this school.

My child feels safe at this school.

My child has been bullied and the school dealt with the bullying quickly and effectively.

The school makes sure its pupils are well behaved.

The school makes me aware of what my child will learn during the year.

When I have raised concerns with the school they have been dealt with properly

Does your child have special educational needs and/or disabilities (SEND)?

My child has special educational needs and/or disabilities, and the school gives them the support they need to succeed.

The school has high expectations for my child.

My child does well at this school.

The school lets me know how my child is doing.

There is a good range of subjects available to my child at this school.

My child can take part in clubs and activities at this school.

The school supports my child's wider personal development.

I would recommend this school to another parent.

Funding & Staffing

School Funding Allocation

Funding Breakdown

Staffing

Teacher Turnover

Top Secondary Schools in Wigan

Golborne High School

St Peter's Catholic High School

Standish Community High School

Shevington High School

St Edmund Arrowsmith Catholic High School, Ashton-in-Makerfield

Lowton Church of England High School