'I am so proud of all the staff' Wigan school named North West primary of year in the Sunday Times Parent Power guide
A school in Wigan has been named the region’s top primary of the year in the Sunday Times Parent Power list.
Nicol Mere has been awarded this year’s accolade and headteacher Stephanie Swift said she is incredibly proud of the achievement.
Recognised as the definitive ranking of the UK’s top primary and secondary state and independent schools, the Parent Power guide remains an essential resource for parents seeking the very best in education for their children.
The guide includes a fully searchable national database of more than 2,000 schools by name, local authority, town and postcode. As well as an assessment of academic results on
a school-by-school basis, Parent Power enables parents to compare the performance of a given school with other schools in the same area, local authority or nationally.
On being the Primary School of the Year in the North West 2026 Mrs Swift said: “I am so proud of all the staff and I am so grateful for all their commitment and hard-work.
"Everything we do at the school is possible because of the support of the staff, the governors and the parents.
"I am incredibly proud to be the head-teacher of this wonderful school.
“I was so shocked and happy.
"Its been hard to keep it a secret because the staff are so fabulous I just want to celebrate with them and give them the good news because it is all down to them and the children.
"We’ll be having pizza and prosecco after school to celebrate.”
Helen Davies, editor of The Sunday Times Parent Power Guide, said: “The educational landscape is testing – budget challenges, rising student mental health issues, special educational
needs and an increasingly uncertain future. But there is also so much to celebrate from the dedication of teachers who are finding ever more innovative and impactful ways to enrich their students and give them the very best start in life.
“As well as celebrating the academic excellence of the top schools it is uplifting to see how they are shaping their students to be ready for the 21st century, and instilling a lifelong love of learning.”