A headteacher voices delight as his Wigan school earns an oustanding rating from Ofsted

A Wigan school is celebrating a significant milestone after being rated “Strong” in all six areas of its latest Ofsted inspection, marking a momentous point in its history.

The report highlights a safe and supportive environment at Asthon’s St Edmund Arrowsmith RC High where pupils feel secure and leave thoroughly prepared and highly motivated for their next steps in education, employment or training.

Headteacher Mark Dumican said: “I am absolutely thrilled for our pupils, staff, governors, parents and whole school community that the efforts of everyone have been recognised in this fantastic report.

“I am particularly proud that the report has captured the nature of our school, where the long-standing culture and ethos has been recognised. It also recognises the many strengths we are most proud of and states in glowing terms about our fabulous pupils and staff.”

Inspectors praised the quality of teaching, noting that staff check pupils’ understanding skilfully and use effective strategies such as structured feedback lessons and personalised support to address misconceptions. These approaches are applied consistently, enabling pupils to work with increasing independence and confidence.

The report also highlights the high quality of pupils’ work and their ability to explain their learning in depth, demonstrating that they are mastering the curriculum extremely well.

Leaders were commended for regularly reviewing the curriculum’s impact and taking swift action to ensure that all pupils continue to thrive.

Overall, the report recognises a strong, ambitious school where high standards, effective teaching, and a clear vision are driving continued success