What did Ofsted judge Bedford High School's overall effectiveness to be?

Ofsted judged Bedford High School's overall effectiveness as Good at its inspection in October 2023, on Ofsted's own scale.

How many pupils attend Bedford High School?

Bedford High School has 1,111 pupils on roll.

What ages does Bedford High School take?

Bedford High School admits pupils aged 11 to 16.

Where is Bedford High School located?

Bedford High School is located in Leigh, WN7 2LU, Wigan.

How do I apply to Bedford High School?

Bedford High School is a state school. In England you apply through the council where you live, using its common application form, even if the school is in another council area. The national closing date for secondary places is 31 October.

How far from Bedford High School were places offered?

The furthest place offered at Bedford High School for 2024-25 (Year 7) was 2.921 miles from the school. The council's figures don't show whether anyone was refused, so it may not have been a cut-off.

How are Year 7 places decided at Bedford High School?

When Bedford High School has more applications than places for 2027-28, they are offered in a published order of priority: 1. Looked after children — Looked after children, previously looked after children and children who appear to the Local Authority to have been in state care outside of England and ceased to be in state care because they were adopted. Previously looked after children are children who were looked after, but ceased to be so because they were adopted (or became subject to a child arrangements order or special guardianship order). Applications for previously looked after children must be supported with appropriate evidence i.e. a copy of the adoption order, child arrangements order or special guardianship order. A child is regarded as having been in state care in a place outside of England if they were accommodated by a public authority, a religious organisation or any other provider of care whose sole purpose is to benefit society. Applications must be supported with appropriate evidence that the child has been adopted from state care; 2. Children whose older brother or sister attends the school and will still be there at the time of admission; 3. Priority will be given to children of all staff in either of the following circumstances — Priority will be given to children of all staff in either of the following circumstances: (a) where the member of staff has been employed at the school for two or more years at the time at which the application for admission is made; or (b) where the member of staff is recruited to fill a vacant post for which there is a demonstrable skill shortage, and 3 further criteria. The school offers 210 places at this entry point.

What is the largest ethnic background at Bedford High School?

According to the DfE School Census 2025-26, 77.7% of pupils at Bedford High School are recorded as White British. The full ethnic breakdown across all groups is available on the Pupils tab.

Bedford High School: Ofsted, Results & Catchment 2026

How far did offers reach?

2.921miles

was the furthest place offered for 2024-25 (Year 7). The council's figures don't show whether anyone was refused, so it may not have been a cut-off.

Last distance offered at Bedford High School, year by year →

How places are decided at Bedford High School

When there are more applications than places for 2027-28 (Year 7), places are offered in this order of priority. Meeting a higher criterion beats meeting a lower one.

1Looked after children — Looked after children, previously looked after children and children who appear to the Local Authority to have been in state care outside of England and ceased to be in state care because they were adopted. Previously looked after children are children who were looked after, but ceased to be so because they were adopted (or became subject to a child arrangements order or special guardianship order). Applications for previously looked after children must be supported with appropriate evidence i.e. a copy of the adoption order, child arrangements order or special guardianship order. A child is regarded as having been in state care in a place outside of England if they were accommodated by a public authority, a religious organisation or any other provider of care whose sole purpose is to benefit society. Applications must be supported with appropriate evidence that the child has been adopted from state care.
2Children whose older brother or sister attends the school and will still be there at the time of admission.
3Priority will be given to children of all staff in either of the following circumstances — Priority will be given to children of all staff in either of the following circumstances: (a) where the member of staff has been employed at the school for two or more years at the time at which the application for admission is made; or (b) where the member of staff is recruited to fill a vacant post for which there is a demonstrable skill shortage.
4Children living in Atherton — Children living in Atherton (M46 postcodes), Leigh (WN7 postcodes), Astley (M29 postcodes), Tyldesley (M29 postcodes) and Mosley Common (M28 postcodes).
5Other children living nearest to the school — Other children living nearest to the school. Cansfield High Specialist Language College DfE number: 4015
6Children living nearest to the school.

Wigan Council determined admission arrangements for community secondary schools 2027-28; this school's own section of that document (DfE number 4019 printed alongside).

Published by the admission authority. Meeting a criterion never guarantees a place — it sets the order places are offered in. Full detail, other entry points and previous years are on the Admissions tab.

Bedford High School: key facts

What did Ofsted judge Bedford High School's overall effectiveness to be?: Ofsted judged Bedford High School's overall effectiveness as Good at its inspection in October 2023, on Ofsted's own scale.
How many pupils attend Bedford High School?: Bedford High School has 1,111 pupils on roll.
What ages does Bedford High School take?: Bedford High School admits pupils aged 11 to 16.
Where is Bedford High School located?: Bedford High School is located in Leigh, WN7 2LU, Wigan.
How do I apply to Bedford High School?: Bedford High School is a state school. In England you apply through the council where you live, using its common application form, even if the school is in another council area. The national closing date for secondary places is 31 October.
How far from Bedford High School were places offered?: The furthest place offered at Bedford High School for 2024-25 (Year 7) was 2.921 miles from the school. The council's figures don't show whether anyone was refused, so it may not have been a cut-off.
How are Year 7 places decided at Bedford High School?: When Bedford High School has more applications than places for 2027-28, they are offered in a published order of priority: 1. Looked after children — Looked after children, previously looked after children and children who appear to the Local Authority to have been in state care outside of England and ceased to be in state care because they were adopted. Previously looked after children are children who were looked after, but ceased to be so because they were adopted (or became subject to a child arrangements order or special guardianship order). Applications for previously looked after children must be supported with appropriate evidence i.e. a copy of the adoption order, child arrangements order or special guardianship order. A child is regarded as having been in state care in a place outside of England if they were accommodated by a public authority, a religious organisation or any other provider of care whose sole purpose is to benefit society. Applications must be supported with appropriate evidence that the child has been adopted from state care; 2. Children whose older brother or sister attends the school and will still be there at the time of admission; 3. Priority will be given to children of all staff in either of the following circumstances — Priority will be given to children of all staff in either of the following circumstances: (a) where the member of staff has been employed at the school for two or more years at the time at which the application for admission is made; or (b) where the member of staff is recruited to fill a vacant post for which there is a demonstrable skill shortage, and 3 further criteria. The school offers 210 places at this entry point.
What is the largest ethnic background at Bedford High School?: According to the DfE School Census 2025-26, 77.7% of pupils at Bedford High School are recorded as White British. The full ethnic breakdown across all groups is available on the Pupils tab.

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How far did offers reach?

2.921miles

was the furthest place offered for 2024-25 (Year 7). The council's figures don't show whether anyone was refused, so it may not have been a cut-off.

Last distance offered at Bedford High School, year by year →

How places are decided at Bedford High School

When there are more applications than places for 2027-28 (Year 7), places are offered in this order of priority. Meeting a higher criterion beats meeting a lower one.

1Looked after children — Looked after children, previously looked after children and children who appear to the Local Authority to have been in state care outside of England and ceased to be in state care because they were adopted. Previously looked after children are children who were looked after, but ceased to be so because they were adopted (or became subject to a child arrangements order or special guardianship order). Applications for previously looked after children must be supported with appropriate evidence i.e. a copy of the adoption order, child arrangements order or special guardianship order. A child is regarded as having been in state care in a place outside of England if they were accommodated by a public authority, a religious organisation or any other provider of care whose sole purpose is to benefit society. Applications must be supported with appropriate evidence that the child has been adopted from state care.
2Children whose older brother or sister attends the school and will still be there at the time of admission.
3Priority will be given to children of all staff in either of the following circumstances — Priority will be given to children of all staff in either of the following circumstances: (a) where the member of staff has been employed at the school for two or more years at the time at which the application for admission is made; or (b) where the member of staff is recruited to fill a vacant post for which there is a demonstrable skill shortage.
4Children living in Atherton — Children living in Atherton (M46 postcodes), Leigh (WN7 postcodes), Astley (M29 postcodes), Tyldesley (M29 postcodes) and Mosley Common (M28 postcodes).
5Other children living nearest to the school — Other children living nearest to the school. Cansfield High Specialist Language College DfE number: 4015
6Children living nearest to the school.

Wigan Council determined admission arrangements for community secondary schools 2027-28; this school's own section of that document (DfE number 4019 printed alongside).

Bedford High School: key facts

What did Ofsted judge Bedford High School's overall effectiveness to be?: Ofsted judged Bedford High School's overall effectiveness as Good at its inspection in October 2023, on Ofsted's own scale.
How many pupils attend Bedford High School?: Bedford High School has 1,111 pupils on roll.
What ages does Bedford High School take?: Bedford High School admits pupils aged 11 to 16.
Where is Bedford High School located?: Bedford High School is located in Leigh, WN7 2LU, Wigan.
How do I apply to Bedford High School?: Bedford High School is a state school. In England you apply through the council where you live, using its common application form, even if the school is in another council area. The national closing date for secondary places is 31 October.
How far from Bedford High School were places offered?: The furthest place offered at Bedford High School for 2024-25 (Year 7) was 2.921 miles from the school. The council's figures don't show whether anyone was refused, so it may not have been a cut-off.
How are Year 7 places decided at Bedford High School?: When Bedford High School has more applications than places for 2027-28, they are offered in a published order of priority: 1. Looked after children — Looked after children, previously looked after children and children who appear to the Local Authority to have been in state care outside of England and ceased to be in state care because they were adopted. Previously looked after children are children who were looked after, but ceased to be so because they were adopted (or became subject to a child arrangements order or special guardianship order). Applications for previously looked after children must be supported with appropriate evidence i.e. a copy of the adoption order, child arrangements order or special guardianship order. A child is regarded as having been in state care in a place outside of England if they were accommodated by a public authority, a religious organisation or any other provider of care whose sole purpose is to benefit society. Applications must be supported with appropriate evidence that the child has been adopted from state care; 2. Children whose older brother or sister attends the school and will still be there at the time of admission; 3. Priority will be given to children of all staff in either of the following circumstances — Priority will be given to children of all staff in either of the following circumstances: (a) where the member of staff has been employed at the school for two or more years at the time at which the application for admission is made; or (b) where the member of staff is recruited to fill a vacant post for which there is a demonstrable skill shortage, and 3 further criteria. The school offers 210 places at this entry point.
What is the largest ethnic background at Bedford High School?: According to the DfE School Census 2025-26, 77.7% of pupils at Bedford High School are recorded as White British. The full ethnic breakdown across all groups is available on the Pupils tab.

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Bedford High School

How far did offers reach?

How places are decided at Bedford High School

Bedford High School: key facts

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Bedford High School

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How far did offers reach?

How places are decided at Bedford High School

Bedford High School: key facts

Similar schools nearby

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Nearby schools within 5 km