Atherton High School Catchment Area
Atherton High School is a free s secondary school in Atherton, Wigan , serving pupils aged 11-16, with 547 pupils, and a capacity of 550 places. The school is operating close to capacity, and catchment area boundaries apply when the school is oversubscribed.
11-16
Age range
547
Pupils
550
Capacity
99%
Fill rate
Good
Ofsted 2024
Atherton High School Catchment Area Information
What is the catchment area for Atherton High School?
The catchment area for Atherton High School is the geographic zone Wigan uses to prioritise admissions when this secondary school receives more applications than it has places. Children living inside the boundary are ranked higher under the oversubscription criteria, after looked-after children and siblings. Wigan publishes the exact boundary and the last distance offered before each admissions cycle, and the boundary can change year to year.
Secondary school places at Atherton High School are allocated by Wigan using ranked oversubscription criteria. Catchment area residence is typically among the highest priorities after looked-after children and siblings, and the boundary is reviewed each year.
Get an alert if Atherton High School goes oversubscribed for 2027 →
The official admissions policy, including the catchment boundary map, is published by Wigan before each admissions cycle. Always verify your address with the council before submitting an application, as boundaries can change year to year.
Find Wigan catchment area documents →Atherton High School: 550 places, 99% filled: nearing capacity
Atherton High School has a published admission number of 550 places. 547 pupils were enrolled in the most recent data, giving a fill rate of 99%. The school is operating close to its limit. In years where applications exceed 550, Wigan's admissions team applies distance-based tiebreakers. Families within the school's historical catchment boundary are well placed, but a boundary check with the council is recommended before applying.
The fill-rate figure above reflects overall demand, but the school's intake also varies by community profile. 45.9% of pupils at Atherton High School are eligible for free school meals, above the national average of around 24%. This reflects the school's role in a higher-deprivation area of Atherton.
To check whether your home address falls within the historical catchment boundary, use the postcode search tool on this site.
Wigan publishes its full admissions policy, including oversubscription criteria, the previous year's last-distance figures, and the appeals timetable, on the council's official admissions page. Find Wigan school admissions →
Atherton High School: School Information
- Full address
- Hamilton Street, Atherton, M46 0AY
- Local authority
- Wigan
- School type
- Free schools
- Phase of education
- Secondary
- Age range
- 11-16 years
- Admissions policy
- Non-selective
- Free school meals
- 45.9% of pupils
- DfE URN
- 138233
Nearest secondary schools by distance
These are the secondary schools closest to Atherton High School by straight-line distance, including ones across a town or council boundary. Distance is not the same as being in catchment: always check each school's own admissions policy for its actual boundary.
Need help understanding catchment areas?
Frequently Asked Questions: Atherton High School
What is the catchment area for Atherton High School? ▾
The catchment area for Atherton High School is the geographic zone Wigan uses to prioritise admissions when this secondary school receives more applications than it has places. Children living inside the boundary are ranked higher under the oversubscription criteria, after looked-after children and siblings. Wigan publishes the exact boundary and the last distance offered before each admissions cycle, and the boundary can change year to year.
Is Atherton High School oversubscribed? ▾
Atherton High School is operating close to its capacity of 550 places (99% full). Catchment boundaries are likely to apply when the school is oversubscribed at the next intake.
What is the admissions policy for Atherton High School? ▾
Admission to Atherton High School is managed by Wigan. When oversubscribed, places go to looked-after children first, then siblings, then catchment area distance. Always verify the current policy with the council before applying.
What age range does Atherton High School cover? ▾
Atherton High School is a secondary school in Atherton, Wigan, serving pupils aged 11-16. For the latest information, visit the school's website or the DfE Get Information About Schools service.
What is the Ofsted rating for Atherton High School? ▾
Atherton High School was rated Good by Ofsted in 2024. Full inspection reports are available at reports.ofsted.gov.uk.