With roots stretching back to 1857 when Edward Cardwell, 1st Viscount Cardwell, proposed a mining college for Wigan, this institution has evolved into one of Greater Manchester's largest further education providers. Today, Wigan and Leigh College serves over 8,000 students across five campuses, offering everything from A-levels to degree apprenticeships. As lead partner in the Greater Manchester Institute of Technology, the college works directly with employers including Siemens, Amazon, and the BBC. The 2022 Ofsted inspection rated the college Good in all areas, recognising a curriculum that meets local and regional needs while supporting students to progress into their next steps.
The college positions itself as "the college for technical excellence," a phrase that captures both its industrial heritage and contemporary mission. Principal Anna Dawe, who was awarded an OBE in the King's New Year Honours 2026, has led the institution for approximately a decade. During her tenure, student numbers have doubled from 2,000 to over 4,000 in the 16-18 cohort alone, while turnover has grown from £25 million to £50 million.
The atmosphere varies considerably across the five campuses. Parsons Walk in Wigan town centre provides the traditional college experience, housing most A-level teaching alongside commercial training facilities including a hair and beauty salon, the Wheel restaurant, and a travel shop. The Impact Centre at Parsons Walk offers sports and fitness facilities with treadmills, cycles, and weights equipment.
Leigh College, situated on the multi-million pound Leigh Sports Village site, hosts the Centre of Excellence in Sport alongside vocational courses and an exclusive A-Level Programme. The location brings a different energy, with students benefiting from proximity to professional sporting facilities and a dedicated Digital Skills Academy featuring new hardware and software for computer science students.
The Centre for Performing Arts, opened in 2023, represents the college's commitment to creative education. Resources include AV editing suites, a new theatre, multimedia suites, a TV studio with green screen, a radio studio, purpose-built sprung floor dance studios, and soundproofed recording studios.
A-level results at Wigan and Leigh College sit in line with the middle 35% of schools and colleges in England, reflecting solid performance appropriate for a large further education college with a broad intake. In 2024, 53% of A-level entries achieved grades A*-B, compared to the England average of 47%. At the top grades, 5% achieved A* and 13% achieved A.
The college reports a 100% pass rate in 54 subjects and 88% high grades for the class of 2024/25 in its A-level programme specifically. These figures suggest strong outcomes for students who complete the A-level route.
The rankings position of 1144th in England out of 2,649 ranked providers places the college firmly in the middle band. For a general further education college serving a wide catchment and offering multiple pathways, this represents consistent performance.
England ranks and key metrics (where available)
A-Level A*-B
53.25%
% of students achieving grades A*-B
A-level students choose from 15 subjects: Biology, Business, Chemistry, Computer Science, Economics, English Language and Literature, English Literature, Fine Art, History, Mathematics, Media Studies, Physics, Politics, Psychology, and Sociology. The subjects span humanities, sciences, and creative disciplines.
Three distinct pathways allow flexibility. The Mix and Match route lets students select three or four subjects freely. Career Pathways offer focused programmes in Applied Medical and Health, Law and Criminology, Creative Studies, STEM, Economics and Business, and Social Science and Humanities. The Extended Choices route combines two A-levels with a Level 3 BTEC qualification, providing both academic depth and vocational breadth.
Entry requirements are transparent: minimum five GCSE subjects graded 9-5 including English and Maths, plus two GCSE subjects graded 9-6. Science and mathematics A-levels require a grade 6 at GCSE, as do English A-levels in their respective subject. Fine Art requires a GCSE in an art-based subject.
Teaching takes place in smaller class sizes than many sixth forms, allowing personalised tutoring. Each student has a personal tutor who monitors progress. Academic Development Days provide enrichment beyond the curriculum. Students can also pursue the Extended Project Qualification.
The college offers specific support for competitive university applications, including mock interviews, UKCAT preparation for medicine, and BMAT support. A Head of Studies team provides additional academic guidance.
Leavers from Wigan and Leigh College take diverse routes. According to official data for the 2023/24 cohort of 1,615 students, 15% progressed to university, 15% started apprenticeships, 7% continued in further education, and 34% entered employment.
The balanced distribution reflects the college's multiple pathways and its strengths in both academic and vocational provision. Over 400 students progress to university each year, with graduates reaching Russell Group institutions including Manchester and Lancaster, alongside Edge Hill and other universities across various disciplines.
The apprenticeship pathway is particularly strong. As the largest college provider of apprenticeships in Greater Manchester, Wigan and Leigh College works with more than 1,500 employers and supports over 2,000 apprentices across sectors from health and social care to engineering, hospitality to business. Apprenticeships range from Levels 2 to 6, including higher and degree apprenticeships lasting 12 to 48 months.
The Greater Manchester Institute of Technology partnership opens additional routes. Students gain access to employers including Siemens, Amazon, BBC, GCHQ, Laing O'Rourke, and TalkTalk. GCHQ's involvement offers software engineering apprenticeships, analyst development programmes, and university placements for students from diverse backgrounds.
Students can also progress to the University Centre at Wigan and Leigh College, which has offered higher education since gaining University Centre status in 2017. Degree-level qualifications accredited by the University of Central Lancashire cover construction to creative industries, business to education.
Wigan and Leigh College operates open admissions for post-16 study, without catchment restrictions or entrance examinations. Students apply directly to the college rather than through a coordinated local authority process.
For A-level entry, the standard requirements are five GCSEs graded 9-5 including English and Maths, plus two GCSEs at 9-6. Subject-specific requirements apply for sciences, mathematics, English, and Fine Art.
For BTEC and vocational courses, requirements vary by level and subject. The college offers progression pathways from Entry Level through to degree apprenticeships, meaning students can join at appropriate points and progress internally.
Higher education courses through the University Centre require UCAS Tariff Points, typically 80-96 depending on the programme. Applications for these courses go through UCAS with standard deadlines.
The college serves students from across Wigan borough and neighbouring areas. With campuses in both Wigan and Leigh town centres, accessibility is good for students from either town. The Leigh campus benefits from the Sports Village location, while Parsons Walk sits close to Wigan town centre transport links.
Open events run throughout the year, typically in autumn and spring. The college advises checking its website or contacting the admissions team for current dates.
Ofsted inspectors found that students are happy at college and appreciate the culture of mutual respect and tolerance that teachers promote. Students enjoy their courses and feel well informed about their options for employment, apprenticeships, and further study.
The safeguarding arrangements are effective, with appropriately trained safeguarding staff. Students feel safe on campus.
Each A-level student has a personal tutor who monitors academic progress and personal wellbeing. The Head of Studies team provides additional support. Learning Resource Centres at both main campuses offer quiet study spaces, computers, and e-books.
Support services include careers and employability guidance, exam support, and financial assistance for adult learners who may face barriers to participation. The college has signed the Armed Forces Covenant, indicating commitment to supporting students from military families.
The college operates four Centres of Excellence that provide industry-standard facilities and specialist teaching:
Based at Leigh Sports Village, the Centre of Excellence in Sport benefits from professional-grade facilities. Students access the multi-million pound complex alongside their academic studies.
The Centre for Performing Arts opened in 2023, featuring a theatre, TV studio with green screen, radio studio, sprung floor dance studios, and soundproofed music recording studios. The multimedia suites and AV editing equipment support students pursuing media, performing arts, and music courses.
Technical facilities support students on engineering pathways. The college's partnership with Siemens through GMIoT brings real industry connections.
The Higher Technical Skills Centre, located opposite Parsons Walk, houses clinical skills wards, a manual handling suite, specialist science laboratories including a CAVE (CAVE Automatic Virtual Environment), an Anatomage Table for anatomy teaching, and a health and social care careers hub.
Students gain work experience and industry exposure through partnerships with major employers. Matalan, NHS, JLP Surveying, and One Vision Media are among the organisations providing placement opportunities.
The GMIoT partnership gives students access to Higher Technical Qualifications, Higher National Diplomas, and technical skills bootcamps designed to fast-track learners into jobs in growth sectors.
Academic Development Days provide enrichment activities beyond the curriculum. The college participates in WorldSkills UK competitions, giving students opportunities to test their technical skills at national level.
The college operates from five locations across Wigan and Leigh:
Parsons Walk Centre (Parson's Walk, PO Box 53, Wigan, WN1 1RS): Main campus for A-levels and vocational courses, commercial facilities, and the Impact Centre fitness suite.
Leigh College (Sale Way, Leigh, WN7 4JY): Located at Leigh Sports Village, home to the Sport Centre of Excellence, A-level provision, Digital Skills Academy, and courses including Animal Management, Business, Childcare, Health and Social Care, and Public Services.
Creative arts facilities including theatre, TV studio, dance studios, and music studios.
Opposite Parsons Walk, housing health and care training facilities.
Newly opened on Prescott Street, Wigan, responding to demand for technical education. Five minutes walk from Parsons Walk.
For the 2025-26 academic year, the autumn term runs from Monday 1 September 2025 to Thursday 18 December 2025, with half term from 27 to 31 October. Contact the college at 01942 761 600.
General FE college environment. This is a large further education college serving 8,000+ students across multiple pathways, not a traditional school sixth form. The atmosphere is more independent, with students expected to manage their time and engage proactively with tutors. Some 16-year-olds thrive in this environment; others prefer the structure of a school sixth form.
Split campus provision. A-levels are taught at both Parsons Walk and Leigh campuses. Students should check which subjects are available at which location, as some combinations may require travel between sites.
Progression pathways vary. With 15% progressing to university and 15% to apprenticeships, the college serves students with different ambitions. Students set on traditional university routes should ensure they engage with the specific support available for competitive applications.
Results context. A-level outcomes sit in the middle band for England. Students seeking the highest grades for competitive university courses should consider whether the support and peer environment will suit their ambitions.
Wigan and Leigh College offers a genuine alternative to school sixth forms for students in Greater Manchester who want technical education, industry connections, and flexible pathways. The GMIoT partnership, employer links with Siemens, Amazon, and others, and status as Greater Manchester's largest apprenticeship provider create opportunities that few school sixth forms can match.
Best suited to students who value industry-relevant learning, want to keep their options open between university and apprenticeships, or seek a more independent college environment. The A-level programme provides a solid academic route within a broader vocational institution. Students certain they want a purely academic pathway to competitive universities should weigh whether a dedicated sixth form might better serve that specific goal.
Wigan and Leigh College was rated Good by Ofsted in November 2022 across all areas including quality of education, behaviour and attitudes, personal development, and leadership and management. The college reports 100% pass rates in 54 subjects. A-level results place it in the middle 35% of providers in England, with 53% achieving A*-B grades compared to the England average of 47%. As Greater Manchester's largest apprenticeship provider and lead partner in the Greater Manchester Institute of Technology, the college offers strong vocational and technical pathways alongside academic routes.
The college offers 15 A-level subjects: Biology, Business, Chemistry, Computer Science, Economics, English Language and Literature, English Literature, Fine Art, History, Mathematics, Media Studies, Physics, Politics, Psychology, and Sociology. Students can study three or four subjects through the Mix and Match route, follow Career Pathways in areas like STEM or Law and Criminology, or combine two A-levels with a BTEC through the Extended Choices route.
Standard entry requires a minimum of five GCSE subjects graded 9-5 including English and Maths, plus two GCSEs graded 9-6. Subject-specific requirements apply: English A-levels require GCSE English at grade 6, science and mathematics A-levels require grade 6 at GCSE, and Fine Art requires a GCSE in an art-based subject.
Of the 2023/24 cohort of 1,615 leavers, 15% progressed to university, 15% started apprenticeships, 7% continued in further education, and 34% entered employment. Over 400 students progress to university each year, reaching institutions including Manchester, Lancaster, and Edge Hill. The college is Greater Manchester's largest apprenticeship provider, working with over 1,500 employers.
Yes. The college is the largest provider of apprenticeships in Greater Manchester, supporting over 2,000 apprentices across more than 1,500 employer partners. Apprenticeships range from Levels 2 to 6, including higher and degree apprenticeships, across sectors including health and social care, engineering, hospitality, business, and digital technologies. Through the GMIoT partnership, students can access apprenticeships with employers including Siemens, Amazon, BBC, and GCHQ.
The college operates from five locations: Parsons Walk Centre in Wigan town centre (main campus for A-levels and vocational courses), Leigh College at Leigh Sports Village (Sport Centre of Excellence and A-level provision), the Centre for Performing Arts, the Higher Technical Skills Centre opposite Parsons Walk, and the newly opened Skills Academy on Prescott Street, Wigan.
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