Three centuries before Winstanley College became synonymous with sixth form excellence across the North West, Up Holland Grammar School was established in a modest building on School Lane in 1661. That lineage of learning runs through every corridor of the modern campus in Billinge, where nearly 2,400 students now pursue ambition with visible purpose. The college was reinspected by Ofsted in January 2025 and awarded Outstanding across all areas, cementing a reputation that has grown steadily over the past decade. With A-level results consistently outpacing national averages and Russell Group progression at 40% annually, Winstanley has become the gravitational centre for aspiring sixth formers across Lancashire, Greater Manchester, and beyond. The college is ranked 656th for A-level outcomes, placing it in the top 25% in England (FindMySchool ranking), and first locally among Wigan's colleges.
At drop-off, the atmosphere is unmistakable: purposeful, welcoming, and noticeably adult in tone. These are young people moving between blocks not as pupils but as students, with agency and momentum. The campus itself tells a story of thoughtful development. The Victorian red-brick heritage sits alongside modern teaching blocks, most recently the £3 million Media and Performing Arts Centre completed in 2012, the new Science and Biology blocks from 2014, and the Social Sciences building opened in 2019. The ten purpose-built structures, A Corridor (Humanities), B Corridor (Business and IT), C Block (Languages and Law), D Block (Music and Performing Arts), create a sense of organized complexity that mirrors the curriculum itself.
Principal Simon Lett has led the college since August 2024, continuing the trajectory set by his predecessor Louise Tipping, whose tenure saw the institution climb from Good (2020) to Outstanding (2025). Lett's background brings renewed energy to an already ambitious institution. The college attracts approximately 2,358 students in any given year, most from state schools across the North West. Students describe a culture where individual potential matters more than arrival background; where a student from Wigan has genuine parity with peers from Preston, Salford, or Bolton.
The ethos is inclusive without being soft. High standards are non-negotiable. Personal tutors track each student's progress fortnightly. The pastoral infrastructure includes access to specialist mental health support, a dedicated prayer room (reflecting the college's inclusive approach to faith), and the Charlie Waller Wellbeing Library. In a recent student survey conducted by Ofsted, 93% said they were pleased to have chosen Winstanley, a figure that speaks to belonging rather than mere satisfaction.
Academic rigour defines this college. In 2025, 65% of A-level entries achieved A*-B grades (three-year average), compared to the England average of 55%. A remarkable 33% of students attained A* grades alone. Pass rates sit at 99%, and retention rates are among the highest in the North West. The college achieved the highest retention on A-level courses in the region, meaning students who begin courses finish them.
Progress 8 style value-added analysis reveals the true picture. Because Winstanley draws students from across the North West catchment, cohorts enter with a range of GCSE profiles. The college's value-added metrics consistently place it among the top sixth form colleges in England, meaning students achieve substantially better A-level outcomes than their GCSE grades predicted. This is not a college harvesting high-achievers; it is a college elevating them.
Vocational students fare equally well. In 2025, 70% of BTEC students achieved Distinction or Distinction*, and 94% of those taking double vocational awards reached those grades. The college's Art Foundation cohort consistently outperforms national benchmarks by a factor of two.
Over 40 A-level and vocational subjects create 11,000 possible subject combinations. The breadth is genuine. Sciences are taught separately; Latin, Ancient Greek, and Russian are available; Law, Politics, Criminology, and Sociology anchor the humanities. Music Technology, Media Studies, Film Studies, and a newly approved T Level in Media, Broadcast and Production reflect the college's investment in creative pathways. Computing, Further Maths, Physics, and Chemistry attract consistently strong cohorts. Few colleges outside the independent sector offer this curricular generosity to 16-year-olds from state schools.
England ranks and key metrics (where available)
A-Level A*-B
61.38%
% of students achieving grades A*-B
Inspection findings confirmed what students express informally: teachers know their subjects at depth and explain concepts with clarity. Subject specialists work in dedicated blocks, creating genuine departmental culture. The Physics block, staffed with practising scientists. The Languages corridor, where Russian, Spanish, French, and Mandarin are genuinely spoken. The Business and IT floor, where programming and enterprise merge.
Teaching practice emphasizes retrieval and spacing, knowledge is deliberately revisited and reinforced. Assessment methods vary considerably: some courses rely on examination alone, others integrate coursework, performance assessments (for Music and Drama), and project-based submissions (Media, Art Foundation). This curriculum diversity means students encounter different cognitive demands, building resilience across their study programme.
Personal tutors do more than monitor attendance. They review GCSE-to-A-level progress trajectories, flag early underachievement, and facilitate conversations about course selection and university aspirations. The tutorial programme integrates study skills, resilience, and civic responsibility alongside academic stretching.
Supracurricular opportunities are embedded throughout. The college partners with Cambridge University on the HE+ programme, which includes academic webinars, essay competitions, and a residential visit to Sidney Sussex College for the most engaged students. A partnership with Sidney Sussex College and Grant Fletcher's comprehensive Oxbridge coordination programme provides rigorous, evidence-based preparation that demystifies the application process. Students are encouraged to pursue extended projects (the Extended Project Qualification), enter subject competitions, and engage in wider reading beyond the A-level syllabus.
The university pipeline is exceptional. Over 40% of leavers progress annually to Russell Group universities, substantially above the sixth form college average of 29%. Specific destinations in recent cohorts include Durham, Bristol, Exeter, Edinburgh, Manchester, and Leeds. Imperial College, UCL, and Warwick attract consistent numbers from STEM pathways. Medicine remains a popular choice, with 18 students securing medical school places in the Class of 2025.
Winstanley stands as the highest-performing sixth form college in the North of England for Oxbridge entry. In 2025, 19 students received Oxbridge offers: 11 to Cambridge and 8 to Oxford. The college is regularly acknowledged by both universities as a leader in state school progression. Over the measurement period, 112 students applied to Oxbridge, 23 received offers (21%), and 17 accepted places (79% acceptance rate among those offered). These figures, combined with the broad progression to other elite institutions, demonstrate that Oxbridge success is real but not the primary story. What matters more is that talented students from Wigan, Salford, Preston, and surrounding areas have genuine access to competitive universities.
The college recognises that students from postcodes with historically low rates of university progression benefit from additional scaffolding. The explicit mentoring, the residential experiences at Cambridge, the essay competitions, and the guest talks from current undergraduates all signal that competitive university entry is achievable, not aspirational.
Not every student pursues university, and the college supports diverse pathways. A growing cohort chooses sponsored degree apprenticeships with employers including BAE Systems, Rolls Royce, Unilever, JP Morgan, and PwC. The college's Apprenticeship and Employability Programme (AEP) provides dedicated guidance on labour market information, employer expectations, interview preparation, and application strategy. In 2025, notable apprenticeship destinations included nuclear engineering at Rolls Royce, degree-level IT apprenticeships, and hospitality management routes. The college explicitly rejects the notion that post-16 success means university alone.
Total Offers
23
Offer Success Rate: 20.5%
Cambridge
13
Offers
Oxford
10
Offers
Winstanley's enrichment landscape is exceptionally dense and genuinely student-led. The college invests substantially in what it terms the Enrichment, Supracurricular and Inclusion (ESI) programme, expecting all students to complete 80 hours of enrichment over two years. This is not tokenistic; students are systematically directed to activities that complement or expand their academic curiosity and personal interests.
The Media and Performing Arts Centre, completed in 2012 at £3 million, houses a functioning television studio where Winstanley TV produces content for YouTube and internal distribution. This is not a simulation; it is a genuine production hub. Students work both in front of and behind the camera, learning industry-standard equipment and workflows. The station was founded by former student Adam McClean, now a journalist and broadcaster with Granada Reports, BBC Breakfast, and BBC News, a visible example of the pathway from classroom to screen.
Complementing the TV studio is a 200-seat studio theatre equipped with professional-grade lighting and sound systems. Every year, the college produces a full-scale musical drawing on performing talent across Music, Drama, and Dance. Recent productions have included student-directed shows alongside the annual college musical. Theatre Studies students access this facility regularly; Drama students use it for performance examinations.
The college runs a Podcasting Club where students produce long-form audio content covering subjects from Politics to Biology. Recent podcast guests have included musicians from the Royal Northern College of Music (RNCM). Radio production skills are genuinely taught here, not just discussed in textbooks.
Music occupies a central position in college life, reinforced by strong institutional partnerships. The college maintains close connections with the Royal Northern College of Music (RNCM), with alumni progressing regularly to that and other elite conservatoires. The Music Technology suite supports production work alongside traditional composition. Each year, the college hosts jazz showcases, classical concerts, a college musical, and chamber ensemble performances. Students form bands, both classical and contemporary. The college facilitates student-led ensembles, enabling peer-to-peer learning and performance experience.
Music students benefit from supervised rehearsals, visiting musician workshops, and trips including New York and Los Angeles (recent music education tours for specialist cohorts). The music curriculum encompasses western classical, musical theatre, and jazz traditions, ensuring breadth. Those pursuing conservatoire pathways receive targeted mentoring and audition preparation from dedicated staff with professional performance backgrounds.
Beyond the theatre itself, drama is woven throughout. The college runs a National Theatre partnership programme in collaboration with the National Theatre's education team, providing students access to professional script interpretation and ensemble rehearsal techniques. Theatre visits both locally and to London's West End feature regularly. Dance students showcase work annually in dedicated performances. Student actors perform monologues under departmental direction. Every audition-pathway drama student receives explicit guidance for university drama school applications, and results are strong in 2024, every Winstanley drama student who applied to a prestigious drama school received an offer. Named destinations included Arts Educational Schools (Arts Ed), Rose Brufeld College, Italia Conti Academy of Theatre Arts, the New York Conservatory for Dramatic Art (NYCDA), the London Academy of Music and Dramatic Arts (LAMDA), and Oxford School of Drama.
The extracurricular menu extends far beyond traditional suspects. The Russian Club allows linguists to deepen conversational fluency. Chess Club hosts competitive play during study periods. Anime and Manga Club discusses visual media and artwork. Creative Writing Club explores different writing structures, character development, and narrative techniques. Board Games Club provides strategic play (Settlers of Catan, Monopoly) during lunch periods. The Knitting Circle supports the Big Knit charity initiative (knitted hats for Innocent Smoothie bottles supporting Age UK). Costume Club designs and creates costumes for college musicals and fashion shows. Crafternoon offers rotating hands-on activities from knitting to origami. Dungeons and Dragons runs as a weekly imaginative storytelling game. Video Game Design Club teaches game development concepts. All student-run or student-led, these clubs reflect genuine student interests rather than institutional programming.
The college also maintains student-founded affinity groups that serve crucial social functions. The LGBTQ+ Society is the largest and most active, with around 200 members, providing advocacy and peer support. The BAME (Black, Asian and Minority Ethnic) Society creates spaces to discuss racism, discrimination, and isolation while celebrating multiculturalism. The Winstanley Gender Equality Society addresses sexism and harassment. The Equality and Diversity Group (operational since 2008) meets weekly to set and monitor college-wide equality and diversity priorities.
The WinFit Centre provides free gym membership to all students, with access during study periods and after college hours on weekdays. Cardiovascular and strength training equipment supports fitness development. Group fitness classes include Bootcamp, Zumba, Just Dance, and sessions specifically designed for female participation (#ThisGirlCan). Sports facilities include basketball and volleyball courts, badminton, and five-a-side football leagues. Outdoor provision encompasses extensive playing fields, hockey pitches, rugby (both league and union), tennis courts, and rounders. The college competes at AOC (Association of Colleges) national championships across multiple sports. A notable tradition involves student athletes securing places at Loughborough University for Sports Science.
Beyond the taught curriculum, students engage with Massive Open Online Courses (MOOCs) from leading universities globally, extend subject knowledge through academic challenge competitions, and participate in subject-specific activities. The Extended Project Qualification (EPQ) allows students to pursue an independent research project of genuine academic interest.
World Challenge trips enable small groups to undertake charitable work abroad. Recent cohorts have worked in Ghana and Sri Lanka on community projects. Annual Progression Day events bring university staff, alumni, and local employers to campus, allowing students to explore post-18 pathways. Duke of Edinburgh Awards continue from secondary school into college, with students working toward Gold in the second year, many presentation to receive their awards at Buckingham Palace.
The Student Union operates as an independent entity with elected officers (typically second-year students serving their peers). Eight union positions carry real responsibility for college social events, student welfare, and institutional feedback. The Student Union has shaped recent campus improvements including additional outdoor seating, gym equipment upgrades, and the Ellen Higginbottom Memorial Garden.
This is a state sixth form college; there are no tuition fees. Students do not pay for entry, and no registration deposit is required. However, families should budget for costs associated with learning: field trips (every department organises visits, costs vary), music tuition (available privately or through the college), and materials for Art Foundation or Textiles. Transport from across the North West catchment area is available but operates on a commercial basis; the college works with local providers to arrange discounted travel passes and shuttle services from key secondary schools.
The college offers financial support to students facing genuine hardship: learner support funds assist with course materials, equipment, and access to learning. Details are available from the Student Services team.
State-funded school (families may still pay for uniforms, trips, and optional activities).
Entry to Winstanley is straightforward but competitive. Applicants must hold GCSE qualifications and meet minimum entry requirements, typically five GCSEs at Grade 4 or above. Most entry point is September of the year following GCSE completion. The college welcomes applications across the North West and beyond, drawing from Wigan, Bolton, Preston, Salford, West Lancashire, Chorley, Warrington, St. Helens, Sefton, and Knowsley. This broad catchment reflects the college's reputation and accessibility.
Open evenings typically run in autumn (October and November), providing opportunities to meet staff and tour the campus. The application process is managed through a simple online registration on the school website. No entrance examination is required, and the college operates a responsive admissions culture: exceptional students are identified through their GCSE results and predictions.
Student wellbeing is embedded as a foundational principle. Every student has an assigned Personal Tutor, who meets with them fortnightly throughout the two-year programme. These tutors know students by name, understand their academic progress, and provide pastoral oversight. The college recently gained accreditation with the AcSEED Award for mental health and wellbeing support and holds the Matrix Standard for careers and guidance services.
Mental health provision includes access to a school counsellor, peer support networks, and connections to external specialist services where needed. The Charlie Waller Wellbeing Library provides online resources and self-help materials for common struggles. A Prayer Room is available for students of all faiths and none, supporting spiritual well-being as defined by each individual.
The college has invested in staff training on safeguarding, mental health first aid, and trauma-informed practice. The inspection confirmed that students feel safe, respected, and valued.
Location and Access: Winstanley Road, Billinge, Wigan WN5 7XF. The campus is accessible by car (parking available) and public transport. Local buses serve the college; the nearest railway station is in Wigan town centre (approximately three miles away, requiring onward transport). The college website provides detailed transport guidance and links to journey planning.
College Hours: Lessons typically run from 9:00 am, with the day ending by 3:00 or 4:00 pm depending on timetable. Study periods allow flexibility; many students use these for independent work, library sessions, or enrichment activities.
Facilities: Modern teaching blocks, dedicated computer suites, a well-resourced library, science laboratories, specialist performing arts facilities, and recreational spaces. The WinFit gym is free to all students.
Wraparound Care: As a post-16 college, there is no breakfast club or after-school provision in the traditional sense. However, the college operates extended hours for study, enrichment, and sports. The library is available for homework during and after the official school day.
Scale: With nearly 2,400 students, Winstanley is a large institution. This brings curriculum breadth and resource strength but also means some students thrive in the independence this size affords, while others find anonymity challenging. Prospective students should visit and assess whether the scale suits them.
Competition for Places: Because the college is well-regarded and centrally located, it attracts many applications. While entry is non-selective (no exam required), places are finite. Apply early and meet deadlines.
Subject Changes: Some students reallocate subjects in the opening weeks of Year 12. While the college accommodates reasonable requests, popular subjects fill quickly. Early certainty about choices helps.
Travel and Time: Students from distant parts of the catchment face 45-minute to one-hour commutes. This is manageable but affects when students can attend extracurricular activities or study sessions that run after 4:00 pm.
Winstanley College is an exceptional sixth form for students ready to take their education seriously and embrace a campus culture that rewards ambition without compromising inclusivity. The 2025 Outstanding rating from Ofsted reflects what the numbers show: consistently strong A-level outcomes, high progression to elite universities (including meaningful Oxbridge success), robust value-added growth, and a student population that feels genuinely supported. The college combines genuine academic rigour with extensive enrichment, meaning students emerge not just with grades but with experience, resilience, and connections.
This college is best suited to:
The main consideration is whether the scale and commute align with your circumstances. If they do, Winstanley offers one of the finest sixth form experiences available across the North West.
Yes. The college was rated Outstanding by Ofsted in January 2025 across all areas, following a Good rating in 2020. A-level results consistently outperform national benchmarks (65% A*-B vs. 55% in England, three-year average), and progression to Russell Group universities exceeds sector norms at 40% annually. Nineteen students secured Oxbridge offers in 2025. The college ranks in the top 25% of sixth form colleges in England (FindMySchool ranking), with particular strengths in value-added progress and student wellbeing.
Most students enter in September following their GCSE results. The standard requirement is five GCSEs at Grade 4 or above. Some subjects may have specific GCSE grade requirements (for example, A-level Maths typically requires Grade 6 or above). The application process is non-selective; there is no entrance examination. Applications are submitted online through the college website. Early application is advised, as popular subjects and the college's overall reputation mean places fill.
Yes, extensively. The Oxbridge Programme is coordinated by Grant Fletcher and includes academic tutorials (both college-based and in partnership with Cambridge University), a residential visit to Cambridge, academic writing workshops, and a competition for original research work judged by Cambridge staff. The HE+ programme, run in partnership with Sidney Sussex College, offers 150 students access to subject-specific webinars, essay competitions, and residential experiences. Nineteen students received Oxbridge offers in 2025, and the college is recognised by both Oxford and Cambridge as a leading state school feeder institution.
The college provides a 200-seat studio theatre with professional lighting and sound, a functioning television studio and production facility (Winstanley TV), a dedicated WinFit gym offering free membership, extensive playing fields and sports courts, specialist science and computing labs, a well-resourced library, and dedicated blocks for Music, Performing Arts, Languages, and Design. Enrichment includes over 40 A-level subjects, structured clubs and societies (Chess Club, Russian Club, Debating Society, LGBTQ+ Society, BAME Society, etc.), trips to London and abroad, Duke of Edinburgh Awards, World Challenge expeditions, and partnerships with professional institutions including the Royal Northern College of Music and the National Theatre.
Approximately 64% of leavers progress to university. The remaining cohort follows diverse pathways: some pursue sponsored degree apprenticeships with major employers (BAE Systems, Rolls Royce, Unilever, PwC), others enter vocational qualifications, and some move directly to employment. The college's Apprenticeship and Employability Programme (AEP) provides dedicated guidance for those exploring non-university routes, including labour market information sessions, employer talks, and application support. In 2025, this pathway proved successful for numerous students.
Winstanley serves a broad North West catchment including Wigan, Bolton, Preston, Salford, West Lancashire, Chorley, Warrington, St. Helens, Sefton, and Knowsley. There is no formal geographical boundary; the college welcomes applications from across the region. Many students travel 30 to 60 minutes to campus, which the college acknowledges influences participation in after-hours enrichment. Public transport and travel discounts are available.
The college has approximately 2,358 full-time students, making it one of the largest sixth form colleges in the region. The scale brings real advantages: breadth of subjects (11,000 subject combinations), specialist facilities, and diverse peer groups. Some students thrive on the independence this size enables; others prefer smaller institutions. A campus visit is advisable to assess whether the atmosphere suits you.
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