Atherton High School
Free schools · 561 pupils
89% stayed in education · Attainment 8 39.3
Further education
St John Rigby RC Sixth Form College
- Pupils on roll
- —
- Free school meals
- —
- Year 11 cohort 2025
- —
- Ofsted
- Not covered by Ofsted school inspections
What the data says
St John Rigby RC Sixth Form College is a 16–19 provider, so there is no Year 11 cohort: this page covers where its students went after 16–18 study and what they achieved.
Among the 671 students who left the sixth form in 2023, 55% went to university (Wigan 39%, England 37%), and 13% of level 3 students progressed to one of the most selective universities, against 19% nationally.
A level grades average C+, below the England average of B-; 7% of students achieved AAB or better including two facilitating subjects (England 18%). The largest A level subjects are Psychology, Mathematics and Sociology.
Where pupils went after Year 11
Destinations of the 2023 Year 11 leavers, measured the following year: the share in a sustained place for at least two terms. Compared with all state-funded schools in Wigan and England.
The Department for Education has not published destination figures for this school (new school, small cohort or not a state-funded school).
Where students went after sixth form
Destinations of students who finished 16–18 study in 2023, measured the following year.
University (higher education)Further educationOther educationApprenticeshipEmploymentNo sustained destination
| Measure | This school | Wigan | England |
|---|---|---|---|
| Students in the cohort | 671 | 3,563 | 541,441 |
| Any sustained destination | 91% | 82% | 79% |
| University (higher education) | 55% | 39% | 37% |
| — most selective universities (top third), of level 3 students | 13% | 17% | 19% |
| Further education | 1% | 4% | 5% |
| Apprenticeship | 10% | 11% | 7% |
| Employment | 25% | 27% | 28% |
| No sustained destination | 7% | 14% | 16% |
GCSE results 2025
No published Key Stage 4 results for this school.
A levels and other level 3 courses
| Measure | This school | Wigan | England |
|---|---|---|---|
| Students at the end of 16–18 study | 1,477 | — | — |
| — of whom A level students | 482 | 1,713 | 261,341 |
| Average A level grade | C+ | B- | B- |
| Average points per A level entry | 32.29 | 36.37 | 35.00 |
| Average grade, best 3 A levels | C+ | B- | B- |
| AAB or better with two facilitating subjects | 7% | 17% | 18% |
| Average grade, applied general courses | — | — | — |
| Average grade, T levels | — | — | — |
A level subjects
Entries as a share of A level students, compared with the share across England.
| Subject | Entries | Share of cohort | England |
|---|---|---|---|
| Psychology | 148 | 31% | 23% |
| Mathematics | 103 | 21% | 31% |
| Sociology | 98 | 20% | 13% |
| Business Studies | 74 | 15% | 13% |
| History | 65 | 13% | 13% |
| Biology | 61 | 13% | 20% |
| Geography | 46 | 10% | 10% |
| Chemistry | 45 | 9% | 17% |
| Economics | 42 | 9% | 13% |
| Physics | 40 | 8% | 12% |
| Law | 39 | 8% | 4% |
| Media Studies | 32 | 7% | 4% |
| Graphic Communication | 32 | 7% | 2% |
| Photography | 31 | 6% | 3% |
| English Language | 31 | 6% | 4% |
| English Literature | 27 | 6% | 11% |
| Ancient History | 25 | 5% | 0% |
| Religious Studies | 24 | 5% | 4% |
| Physical Education | 24 | 5% | 3% |
| Computer Science | 21 | 4% | 5% |
| Fine Art | 21 | 4% | 3% |
| Politics | 20 | 4% | 6% |
| English Language and Literature | 19 | 4% | 2% |
| Film Studies | 14 | 3% | 2% |
| Further Mathematics | 12 | 2% | 5% |
| Music | 10 | 2% | 0% |
| Spanish | 7 | 1% | 2% |
Applied, technical and other level 3 courses
| Subject | Qualification | Entries | Share of cohort | England |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Social Science | VRQ Level 3 | 118 | 24% | — |
| Mathematical Studies | Core Maths Qualifications at Level 3 | 48 | 10% | — |
| Biology | BTEC National Extended Certificate L3 - Band F - P-D* | 38 | 8% | — |
| Sports / Movement Science | BTEC National Extended Certificate L3 - Band F - P-D* | 32 | 7% | — |
| Business Studies | BTEC National Diploma L3 - Band J - PP-D*D* | 31 | 6% | — |
| Health Studies | BTEC National Extended Diploma L3 - Band N - PPP-D*D*D* | 30 | 6% | — |
| Law / Legal Studies | BTEC National Extended Certificate L3 - Band F - P-D* | 30 | 6% | — |
| Sports / Movement Science | BTEC National Extended Diploma L3 - Band N - PPP-D*D*D* | 27 | 6% | — |
| Study Skills | Extended Project (Diploma) | 20 | 4% | — |
| Engineering Studies | OCR Cambridge Technical Extended Certificate at Level 3 | 18 | 4% | — |
| Health Studies | BTEC National Extended Certificate L3 - Band F - P-D* | 17 | 4% | — |
| Business Studies | BTEC National Extended Diploma L3 - Band N - PPP-D*D*D* | 17 | 4% | — |
| Computer Architecture / Systems | BTEC National Extended Certificate L3 - Band F - P-D* | 17 | 4% | — |
| Health Studies | BTEC National Diploma L3 - Band J - PP-D*D* | 14 | 3% | — |
| Computing and IT Advanced Technician | BTEC National Diploma L3 - Band J - PP-D*D* | 11 | 2% | — |
| Art and Design | VRQ Level 3 | 10 | 2% | — |
| Computing and IT Advanced Technician | BTEC National Extended Diploma L3 - Band N - PPP-D*D*D* | 6 | 1% | — |
| Further Mathematics | GCE AS level (Not continued to A2) | — | — | — |
| Further Mathematics | GCE AS level (All) | — | — | — |
| French | GCE AS level (All) | — | — | — |
| Engineering Studies | OCR Cambridge Technical Certificate at Level 3 | — | — | — |
| French | GCE AS level (Not continued to A2) | — | — | — |
Other secondary schools in Wigan
Bedford High School
Community school · 1,111 pupils
74% stayed in education · Attainment 8 45.5
Cansfield High School
Community school · 974 pupils
76% stayed in education · Attainment 8 44.4
Dean Trust Rose Bridge
Academy sponsor led · 692 pupils
73% stayed in education · Attainment 8 39.7
Dean Trust Wigan
Academy sponsor led · 715 pupils
74% stayed in education · Attainment 8 33.1
Fred Longworth High School
Academy converter · 1,283 pupils
82% stayed in education · Attainment 8 45.9
Sources: Department for Education school and college performance tables 2024/2025 (Key Stage 4 and 16–18 results, subject entries, destination measures for 2023 leavers); Get Information About Schools register as at 19 September 2026; Ofsted management information as at 31 August 2026. Small numbers are suppressed by DfE and shown as “—”. How to read these figures.