Gillian Keegan

The figures show five of the six special schools in Wigan were over capacity

Special schools faced overcrowding last year

Dean Trust Rose Bridge

Two schools found with collapse-risk concrete

Brianna Ghey

Prime Minister Rishi Sunak declines to back call for social media curb

A general view of scaffolding at Balbardie Primary School on September 04, 2023 in Bathgate, Scotland, after its buildings were found to contain RAAC. Credit: Getty Images

Breaking 43 more schools found to have crumbly RAAC concrete

Some 431 appeals were made by parents and guardians in Wigan against their child's school place before the 2022-23 academic year – up slightly from 430 the year before

Record number of appeals against school places last year

Education Secretary Gillian Keegan arrives for the weekly cabinet meeting at 10 Downing Street this week

LUKE MARSDEN: we need our politicians to be passionate

Education Secretary Gillian Keegan

No Wigan schools contain crumbling concrete

Wigan and Leigh College

Wigan college staff to take part in 'biggest-ever' strike ballot

Figures from the School Workforce Census show there were nine vacancies across the state-funded schools in Wigan in November 2022 – up from six the year before.

There has been a rise in the number of Wigan school staff vacancies

Ruth Perry was the headteacher at Caversham Primary School (Photo: Brighter Futures for Children)

Ofsted changes being considered after death of headteacher

Teachers have warned of another fresh wave of strikes in July if the government does not meet their demands on pay. (Photo by Hesther Ng/SOPA Images/LightRocket via Getty Images)

Teachers to strike if pay dispute remains unresolved

Atherton High School headteacher Ben Layzell, Education Secretary Gillian Keegan and Leigh MP James Grundy

Education Secretary Gillian Keegan meets staff and pupils at high school

Teachers, members of the National Education Union and supporters on a picket line near Fred Longworth High School, Tyldesley, last month

Teachers at more than 50 Wigan schools will walk out for two days of strikes

Teachers and supporters on the picket outside The Deanery High School earlier this month

More than 70 schools affected as teachers strike in dispute over pay

Unions want concrete pay offer ahead of education secretary meeting

Teachers and supporters on the picket outside The Deanery High School, Wigan

Wigan schools close and teachers head to picket lines in day of strike action
Teachers at schools across Wigan have stepped out of the classrooms and formed picket lines outside as they take part in national strike action.
Gaynor Clarke

Newfold Primary in Orrell is among the schools set to be closed on Wednesday when teachers go on strike

This is how the teachers' strike on February 1 will affect schools across Wigan

LONDON, ENGLAND - JANUARY 17: Education Secretary Gillian Keegan leaves following the weekly cabinet meeting at 10 Downing Street on January 17, 2023 in London, England. (Photo by Dan Kitwood/Getty Images)

Education secretary fails to reach agreement with teachers union

Teachers from the NEU in England and Wales will take strike action on a total of seven dates.

When are teachers across England and Wales taking strike action?

Five ways to protect your Twitter account from being hacked including using two-factor authentication.

Five ways to protect your Twitter account from being hacked

Limits on care home visitors to be scrapped from next week

Limits on care home visitors in Lancashire to be scrapped from next week

Boris Johnson to stick with ‘Plan B’ Covid measures despite mounting pressures (Photo by JACK HILL/POOL/AFP via Getty Images)

Boris Johnson to stick with ‘Plan B’ Covid measures despite mounting pressures

Rishi Sunak says young people should return to offices for the benefit of their careers (Photo by Stefan Rousseau-WPA Pool/Getty Images)

Rishi Sunak says young people should return to offices for the benefit of their ...

Confusion remains in place regarding whether or not people should book to go abroad this summer, as ministers give drastically different advice (Photo: Shutterstock)

Confusion over holidays as some ministers give go-ahead - but others say travel ...

Online giant Amazon is to create more than 1,000 UK apprenticeships

Amazon to recruit more than 1,000 apprentices this year

Amazon is creating more than 1,000 UK apprenticeships this year (Photo: Shutterstock)

Amazon is recruiting more than 1,000 apprentices this year - how to apply

Families count down to National Numeracy Day Virtual Festival with Rachel Riley ... Gay Bolton

News you can trust since 1853

© 2026 Iconic Media Group Ltd. All rights reserved.Terms and Conditions Privacy notice