The Governors of the school are the Admissions Authority and, as such determine how places in the school are allocated. The school has a Planned Admission Number (PAN) of 240 and it is the intention to ensure that all year groups achieve their PAN. In the case of oversubscription, the Governors will apply the published oversubscription criteria. This is available within the school-published Admissions Policy.
Catchment Area
The school exists to serve the Catholic Communities of Ashton, Bryn, Haydock, Stubshaw, Platt Bridge, Hindley, Hindley Green and Winstanley. As such it is a preferred and popular destination for Catholic children attending:
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St Oswald's Catholic Primary School, Ashton
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Our Lady Immaculate Catholic Primary School, Bryn
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English Martyrs' Catholic Primary School, Haydock
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St Wilfrid's Catholic Primary School, Stubshaw Cross
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Holy Family Catholic Primary School, Platt Bridge
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St Benedict's Catholic Primary School, Hindley
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Sacred Heart Catholic Primary School, Hindley Green
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St Aidan's Catholic Primary School
In addition the school has been able to admit children from Lowton, Golborne and Newton le Willows in recent years.
Do you need help finding which Catholic school serves your parish? Use this website: Find your nearest Parish
Applying for secondary schools in 2025
If your child will turn 11 between 1 September 2024 and 31 August 2025, they will transfer to secondary school at the start of the new school year in September 2025. The 2025-26 online application process is not yet open. Applications usually open on 1 September. You must apply for a secondary school place by 31 October. Your child is less likely to be offered a place at their chosen schools if you miss the deadline for applications
Once it becomes available it can be accessed via Wigan Council's online portal: website:- Wigan Council's Secondary School Admissions Portal. The Admissions Portal may ask for your child’s Unique Identification Number (UID) when you apply, you can ask your child’s primary school for this number (Wigan Primary Schools Only). You can still apply without the UID. If the Admissions Portal does not ask for your UID it means that your child’s details have automatically been matched to their record and you won’t need to enter it.
Apply for secondary school admission online If you need any help using the online service, please contact the School Organisation Team on 01942 489013.
In September 2024: admissions were allocated as follows:- All on time applications (received before the closing date) were offered a place and no on time applications were refused a place: -
|
Ontime Applications |
1st preference | 2nd preference | 3rd preference | Next nearest | TOTAL |
| Received | 227 | 108 | 77 | 412 | |
| Allocated | 224 | 11 | 1 | 4 | 240 |
Criteria Allocation: -
| EHCP: 4 | Criterion 1: 3 | Criterion 2: 82 | Criterion 3: 83 | Criterion 4: 22 | Criterion 5: 4 | Criterion 6: 16 | Criterion 7: 4 | Criterion 8: 0 | Criterion 9: 18 |
2024-25 Admissions Information (Archived)
It is very important that you read the 2024-2025 booklet Secondary School 2024 Booklet before making your application as it contains important information about the allocation process. The closing date for applications is 31 October 2023. Any applications received after this date will be classed as late. Please remember to complete the Supplementary Faith Form (link below) and return this to your child's feeder primary school OR directly to St Edmund Arrowsmith CHS.
This form must also be returned by 31 October 2023.
Admissions Documents |
In-Year Transfer:
Before applying, parents/carers must read the ‘In-Year Admissions - Primary and Secondary Schools Information Booklet’ which is available online: Moving schools (wigan.gov.uk)
There is an application form to be completed following a meeting with your child's current Headteacher to outline the reason for the requested move.
Archdiocese of Liverpool Department of Education
Parents are reminded that for applications to be considered under the Catholic faith criteria, there is a requirement for baptism to take place prior to application. You are reminded to take prompt action if baptism has not already taken place. As our churches reopen parish priests are able to schedule and confirm baptisms with parents in accordance with the safe operation of their church, and make access to baptism certficates where required. If you have any concerns about this in your parish please contact the Education Department at aes@rcaol.org.uk
For those children of other faiths seeking a place in a Catholic school there is no requirement for evidence of attendance; a baptism certificate or confirmation in writing that the applicant is a member of their faith community from an appropriate minister of religion is the requirement in this circumstance.
The appeals timetable
Appeals for normal year of entry (Year 7) are arranged each year generally according to the following timetable. The dates may vary depending on whether the offer date falls on a weekend and may also differ slightly from those given by each of the Local Authorities:
Secondary offer date: 1 March
Appeals to be lodged by: 30 March
Appeals to be heard: 18 June or as soon thereafter
Primary offer date: 16 April
Appeals to be lodged by: 15 May
Appeals to be heard by: 16 July or as soon possible thereafter
Appeals will be heard as soon as reasonably practicable following the appeal deadline.
In-year appeals
Appeals resulting from in-year admission applications will be heard on a date to be arranged within 30 school days of the appeal form being received by the Education Department at the archdiocese or as soon as possible.
