St Michael's CofE Primary School, Howe Bridge
Leigh Road, Atherton, Atherton, M46 0PAOpen in maps (opens in a new tab)
St Michael's CofE Primary School, Howe Bridge is a primary school in Atherton for ages 4 to 11. It is one of the 136 schools in Wigan. It ranks 49th of 97 primary schools in Wigan. Its latest Ofsted rating is Good, from an inspection in October 2023.
Ofsted inspection
Inspected 31 October 2023, report published 11 December 2023
- Overall effectiveness
- Good
- Quality of education
- Good
- Behaviour and attitudes
- Good
- Personal development
- Good
- Leadership and management
- Good
- Early years provision
- Good
- Safeguarding
- Met
What Ofsted said
From the inspection on 31 October 2023
Pupils are happy at St Michael's CofE Primary School. They support and encourage each other with care and sensitivity. Pupils told inspectors that everyone is welcome at this school. Pupils said that staff make sure that they are safe. They told inspectors that staff help them if they are upset or worried. Staff also respond well when pupils need additional support with their learning. This is particularly true when pupils have special educational needs and/or disabilities (SEND). The school expects all pupils to achieve well. It provides an effective curriculum to enable this aspiration to be realised. For example, pupils become accomplished readers. They appreciate how this enhances their learning in other subjects. Children settle well in the early years. They grow in independence and confidence. Older pupils make a valuable contribution to the smooth running of the school. For example, Year 6 pupils make sure that younger pupils enjoy their breaktimes by supporting them in the dining room and on the playground. Pupils are respectful, polite and courteous. They understand how this helps everyone to enjoy being at school. Pupils are well behaved in class and as they move around the building. They work well together during lessons.
What the school should improve
- The school does not ensure that some children know how to correctly form the letters of the sounds that they have learned by the time they leave the early years. This hinders how well some pupils write their own sentences as they progress into key stage 1. The school should make sure that teachers support younger pupils to successfully apply their phonics knowledge to their writing.
- The school has not ensured that some teachers know how to build up pupils' understanding and appreciation of a wide range of cultures over time. As a result, some pupils' knowledge of cultures different to their own is limited. The school should clarify the key knowledge about other cultures that pupils should learn.
Exam results
SATs results (key stage 2), 2024/25
30 pupils took the tests
Pupil numbers and mix
207 pupils on roll, with places for 210
Schools near St Michael's CofE Primary School, Howe Bridge
| School | Distance | Ofsted | Results |
|---|---|---|---|
| Parklee Primary School | 0.7 miles | Ofsted judgements: Good to outstanding | Not published |
| Atherton St George's CofE Primary School | 0.7 miles | Ofsted: Good | 56% met the expected standard |
| St Richard's Roman Catholic Primary School Atherton | 0.8 miles | Report card: Needs attention to expected standard | 54% met the expected standard |
| Meadowbank Primary School | 0.8 miles | Ofsted: Good | 70% met the expected standard |
| Sacred Heart RC Primary School | 0.9 miles | Report card: Needs attention to expected standard | 61% met the expected standard |
School details
- School type
- Voluntary aided school
- Sector
- Local authority maintained
- Age range
- 4 to 11
- Gender
- Mixed
- Religious character
- Church of England
- Nursery classes
- No
- Headteacher
- Mrs Sarah Dring
- Phone
- 01942883118
- Address
- Leigh Road, Atherton, Atherton, M46 0PA
- Local authority
- Wigan
- URN
- 106478
School details from Get Information about Schools, 17 September 2026. Ofsted outcomes published to 31 August 2026. Exam results for 2024/25 from the Department for Education. Pupil mix from the school census, 2025/26.