Photo: David Dixon · CC BY-SA 2.0

Schools in Bolton · DfE, Ofsted

Bolton’s state schools get better results than 70% of towns in England

At Bolton’s secondaries, 50% of pupils reach grade 5 in both English and maths, above both Greater Manchester’s towns (44%) and towns in England (45%). 78 state-funded schools are located in Bolton’s built-up area. Bolton grades B+ for schools, on Department for Education Key Stage 2 and GCSE results: #25 of 81 in Greater Manchester. Ofsted is shown, not graded.

64%meet the KS2 standard 48.3Attainment 8 #25of 81 in Greater Manchester

State schools

61 primary, 11 secondary

Reading, writing & maths

64%

meet the expected standard at 11 · 2023–25

England’s schools: 62%

Attainment 8

48.3

GCSE average across 8 subjects · 2025/26

England’s schools: 47.3

Grade 5+ English & maths

50%

a strong pass in both · 2025/26

England’s schools: 47%

Town figures are pupil-weighted across the schools the grade uses; England’s are the average school.

What stands out · In brief

What stands out about Bolton’s schools

26 of 71mainstream schools have as many pupils as places, or more 77%meet the KS2 standard at Oxford Grove, with 60% on free school meals

Popular schools are full

26 of 71 mainstream schools have at least as many pupils as their official capacity, including Bolton Muslim Girls, Essa, King's Leadership Academy Bolton and Sharples among the secondaries. A full school gives places by its admissions rules, usually by distance after siblings. Getting a place ↓

Oxford Grove beats its intake

Schools with more pupils on free school meals usually get lower results. At Oxford Grove Primary School, 60% of pupils are on free school meals and 77% meet the expected standard; a typical school in England with that intake reaches 52%. Results and intake ↓

Written from the Department for Education and Ofsted data on this page.

School Grade

Bolton grades B+ for schools

Against every town in England with results; Wales publishes none.

Primary: reading, writing and maths at 11 (64% meet the standard)Better than 66% of towns in England

Secondary: Attainment 8 and grade 5+ English and maths (48.3 and 50%)Better than 67% of towns in England

Each of Bolton’s 60 primaries: % meeting the expected standard in reading, writing and maths (2023–25)

Each of Bolton’s 11 secondaries: Attainment 8 (2025/26)

England’s average schoolBolton’s average school

The primary figure: 60 primaries in the town, 8,340 pupils in results over three years. The secondary figure: 11 secondaries in the town, 2,261 pupils in results. Mainstream state schools only (grammar schools included); special schools, alternative provision, nurseries and 16–19 colleges are listed below but not graded. Each school’s results are compared with every school in England, then weighted by its pupils.

Results and intake

Which schools do better than their intake suggests

Schools with more pupils on free school meals tend to get lower results. The dashed line is the typical school in England for each level of free school meals; the band holds the middle two-thirds. A dot above the band is doing better than schools like it.

Primaries: KS2 reading, writing and maths against free school meals

Secondaries: Attainment 8 against free school meals

The share of pupils on free school meals runs from 3% at Walmsley CofE Primary School to 60% at Oxford Grove Primary School. Against schools with the same intake, The Olive School, Bolton does best: 93% with 18% on free school meals, where a typical school would reach 64%. 35 of 58 primaries and 7 of 11 secondaries are above the line.

Show as a table

School	Free school meals	Result	Typical for that intake	Difference
The Olive School, BoltonKS2 %	18%	93%	64%	+29
Oxford Grove Primary SchoolKS2 %	60%	77%	52%	+25
St William of York Roman Catholic Primary SchoolKS2 %	33%	81%	59%	+22
Beaumont Primary SchoolKS2 %	11%	87%	66%	+21
The Valley Community Primary SchoolKS2 %	16%	85%	64%	+21
The Oaks Primary SchoolKS2 %	7%	86%	67%	+19
Heathfield Primary SchoolKS2 %	26%	76%	61%	+15
St Paul's CofE Primary School, Astley BridgeKS2 %	27%	75%	61%	+14
Bolton Muslim Girls SchoolAttainment 8	42%	57	43	+14
Gaskell Community Primary SchoolKS2 %	36%	72%	59%	+13
Lostock Primary SchoolKS2 %	7%	80%	67%	+13
St Peter and St Paul RC Primary School a Voluntary AcademyKS2 %	30%	73%	60%	+13
Castle Hill Primary SchoolKS2 %	50%	67%	55%	+12
Lever Edge Primary AcademyKS2 %	30%	72%	60%	+12
Eden Boys' School, BoltonAttainment 8	34%	57	46	+11
St Mary's CofE Primary School, DeaneKS2 %	41%	68%	57%	+11
St Columba's RC Primary SchoolKS2 %	33%	70%	59%	+11
Haslam Park Primary SchoolKS2 %	54%	64%	54%	+10
The Olive Tree Primary School BoltonKS2 %	21%	73%	63%	+10
Sunning Hill Primary SchoolKS2 %	21%	73%	63%	+10
Red Lane Primary SchoolKS2 %	59%	61%	52%	+9
St Joseph's RC Primary School, Halliwell, BoltonKS2 %	37%	67%	58%	+9
Sharples SchoolAttainment 8	28%	57	48	+8
Essa AcademyAttainment 8	49%	49	41	+8
Markland Hill Primary SchoolKS2 %	6%	75%	67%	+8
Eagley Junior SchoolKS2 %	16%	72%	64%	+8
St Stephen and All Martyrs' CofE School, Lever BridgeKS2 %	33%	67%	60%	+7
Devonshire Road Primary SchoolKS2 %	28%	68%	61%	+7
Moorgate Primary SchoolKS2 %	39%	63%	58%	+5
St Maxentius CofE Primary SchoolKS2 %	14%	70%	65%	+5
Sharples Primary SchoolKS2 %	20%	68%	63%	+5
Bolton Parish Church, Church of England Primary SchoolKS2 %	27%	66%	61%	+5
Walmsley CofE Primary SchoolKS2 %	3%	72%	68%	+4
King's Leadership Academy BoltonAttainment 8	35%	49	45	+4
Harwood Meadows Primary SchoolKS2 %	19%	67%	64%	+3
Ladybridge Community Primary SchoolKS2 %	18%	67%	64%	+3
Church Road Primary SchoolKS2 %	28%	64%	61%	+3
Canon Slade SchoolAttainment 8	16%	54	52	+2
Brandwood Primary SchoolKS2 %	43%	58%	57%	+1
Ladybridge High SchoolAttainment 8	38%	46	45	+1
High Lawn Primary SchoolKS2 %	22%	63%	62%	+1
Ss Simon & Jude CofE Primary School, BoltonKS2 %	39%	58%	58%	+0
St Bernard's RC Primary School, BoltonKS2 %	14%	64%	65%	−1
Bishop Bridgeman CofE Primary SchoolKS2 %	28%	60%	61%	−1
St Peter's Smithills Dean Church of England Primary SchoolKS2 %	8%	65%	66%	−1
Smithills SchoolAttainment 8	42%	41	43	−2
St Thomas of Canterbury RC SchoolKS2 %	17%	62%	64%	−2
Tonge Moor Primary AcademyKS2 %	55%	51%	53%	−2
St Bede AcademyKS2 %	30%	58%	60%	−2
Essa Primary AcademyKS2 %	44%	54%	56%	−2
Bolton St Catherine's AcademyAttainment 8	53%	37	39	−2
SS Osmund and Andrew's R.C. Primary SchoolKS2 %	33%	57%	60%	−3
Clarendon Primary SchoolKS2 %	36%	56%	59%	−3
Hardy Mill Primary SchoolKS2 %	7%	64%	67%	−3
Pikes Lane Primary SchoolKS2 %	35%	56%	59%	−3
Bolton St Catherine's AcademyKS2 %	53%	51%	54%	−3
Brownlow Fold Primary SchoolKS2 %	37%	55%	58%	−3
St Michael's CofE Primary School, Great LeverKS2 %	29%	57%	61%	−4
Thornleigh Salesian CollegeAttainment 8	29%	43	47	−4
Blackshaw Primary SchoolKS2 %	20%	58%	63%	−5
Turton SchoolAttainment 8	23%	44	50	−6
St John the Evangelist RC Primary School, Bromley Cross, BoltonKS2 %	11%	59%	66%	−7
Holy Infant and St Anthony RC Primary SchoolKS2 %	38%	51%	58%	−7
Leverhulme Community Primary SchoolKS2 %	56%	46%	53%	−7
St Brendan's RC Primary School, Harwood, BoltonKS2 %	14%	57%	65%	−8
St Matthew's CofE Primary School, BoltonKS2 %	48%	44%	55%	−11
St Thomas C of E Primary School, HalliwellKS2 %	30%	49%	60%	−11
St Ethelbert's Roman Catholic Primary School, a Voluntary AcademyKS2 %	33%	48%	59%	−11
Gilnow Primary SchoolKS2 %	28%	40%	61%	−21

Free school meals: pupils eligible now, DfE January 2026 census. The typical-school line is a straight-line fit across every graded school in England. It describes; it doesn’t grade: the School Grade uses results alone.

Getting a place

How school places work in Bolton

Bolton Council handles applications for every state school in Bolton, academies included. You apply to the council where you live, even for a school in another area.

Secondary (starting at 11)Apply by 31 October of Year 6. Offers on 1 March.

Primary (starting in Reception)Apply by 15 January before the September your child starts. Offers on 16 April.

Moving mid-yearApply to the council for an in-year place; it tells you which schools have room.

When a school is full

Every school publishes its admissions rules. Children in care come first, then, at most schools, brothers and sisters of current pupils, then those who live nearest. 31 of Bolton’s 71 mainstream schools have a religious character; some of them give priority by church attendance, so check each school’s rules. Infant classes are limited to 30 by law. If you’re refused a place, you can appeal to an independent panel.

Useful: Apply for a primary place (GOV.UK) · Apply for a secondary place (GOV.UK) · How admissions criteria work

How full each school is

Pupils on roll as a share of the school’s official capacity. The black tick is 100%; 26 schools are at or over it.

Ss Simon & Jude incl. nursery136%

The Valley incl. nursery128%

Lever Edge incl. nursery125%

Bolton Parish Church, incl. nursery120%

St Paul's incl. nursery120%

Sharples incl. nursery117%

Red Lane incl. nursery113%

Sharples112%

Gaskell incl. nursery112%

Tonge Moor incl. nursery112%

Show all 69 schools

St Columba's incl. nursery112%

St William of York Roman incl. nursery111%

Walmsley108%

St Peter and St Paul incl. nursery107%

Essa107%

Blackshaw incl. nursery104%

The Oaks104%

Bolton Muslim Girls103%

Bishop Bridgeman incl. nursery103%

St Michael's incl. nursery103%

Lostock101%

King's Leadership Academy Bolton101%

St Matthew's incl. nursery101%

Beaumont101%

Oxford Grove incl. nursery101%

The Olive School, Bolton100%

Clarendon incl. nursery100%

Turton100%

St Thomas incl. nursery100%

Markland Hill100%

Ladybridge High100%

The Olive Tree School Bolton100%

Sunning Hill incl. nursery99%

Pikes Lane incl. nursery99%

Devonshire Road99%

St Peter's Smithills Dean99%

St Ethelbert's Roman incl. nursery99%

Brandwood incl. nursery98%

Heathfield incl. nursery98%

Church Road incl. nursery98%

High Lawn incl. nursery98%

St Thomas of Canterbury98%

St Bede incl. nursery97%

Smithills96%

Canon Slade96%

Thornleigh Salesian College95%

Harwood Meadows incl. nursery95%

St Bernard's95%

St Brendan's95%

Gilnow incl. nursery94%

Eagley Junior93%

Moorgate incl. nursery93%

Eagley Infant incl. nursery93%

Essa92%

Ladybridge92%

St Stephen and All Martyrs'92%

St Joseph's incl. nursery92%

St Mary's incl. nursery90%

Holy Infant and St Anthony90%

Hardy Mill incl. nursery89%

Bolton St Catherine's incl. nursery89%

St Maxentius88%

Brownlow Fold incl. nursery87%

Haslam Park87%

Castle Hill incl. nursery84%

Leverhulme incl. nursery84%

SS Osmund and Andrew's R.C. incl. nursery80%

Eden Boys' School, Bolton78%

St John the Evangelist77%

DfE register of schools (GIAS), January 2026 census. Capacity often excludes a nursery class, so a school with a nursery can show over 100%.

The schools

78 state schools in Bolton

Each school’s own letter compares its results with every state school in England of the same phase: Key Stage 2 for primaries, GCSEs for secondaries. Open a school for its results, how its letter is worked out, Ofsted and a map.

Letters of Bolton’s schoolsA 22B 22C 21D 58 without a letter

Primary schools60 · best KS2 results first

The Olive School, Bolton

Primary · ages 4–11 · Free school · Muslim

A⁺

93% met the KS2 standard (3 years)

422 pupilsOfsted: Inspected 2025

Beaumont Primary School

Primary · ages 4–11 · Community

A⁺

87% met the KS2 standard (3 years)

220 pupilsOfsted: Inspected 2025

The Oaks Primary School

Primary · ages 5–11 · Community

A⁺

86% met the KS2 standard (3 years)

218 pupilsOfsted: Good 2023

The Valley Community Primary School

Primary · ages 2–11 · Community

A⁺

85% met the KS2 standard (3 years)

538 pupilsOfsted: Outstanding 2023

St William of York Roman Catholic Primary School

Primary · ages 3–11 · Voluntary aided · Roman Catholic

81% met the KS2 standard (3 years)

233 pupilsOfsted: Inspected 2025

Lostock Primary School

Primary · ages 4–11 · Academy

80% met the KS2 standard (3 years)

213 pupilsOfsted: Outstanding 2024

Egerton Community Primary School

Primary · ages 5–11 · Academy

78% met the KS2 standard (3 years)

Ofsted: report card 2026

Oxford Grove Primary School

Primary · ages 3–11 · Community

77% met the KS2 standard (3 years)

449 pupilsOfsted: Outstanding 2023

Heathfield Primary School

Primary · ages 2–11 · Community

76% met the KS2 standard (3 years)

270 pupilsOfsted: report card 2026

Markland Hill Primary School

Primary · ages 4–11 · Community

A⁻

75% met the KS2 standard (3 years)

315 pupilsOfsted: Inspected 2024

St Paul's CofE Primary School, Astley Bridge

Primary · ages 2–11 · Academy · Church of England

A⁻

75% met the KS2 standard (3 years)

251 pupilsOfsted: Inspected 2024

Sunning Hill Primary School

Primary · ages 2–11 · Community

A⁻

73% met the KS2 standard (3 years)

526 pupilsOfsted: Inspected 2024

The Olive Tree Primary School Bolton

Primary · ages 4–11 · Free school · Muslim

A⁻

73% met the KS2 standard (3 years)

418 pupilsOfsted: Inspected 2025

St Peter and St Paul RC Primary School a Voluntary Academy

Primary · ages 3–11 · Academy · Roman Catholic

A⁻

73% met the KS2 standard (3 years)

225 pupilsOfsted: Good 2020

Lever Edge Primary Academy

Primary · ages 1–11 · Academy

A⁻

72% met the KS2 standard (3 years)

562 pupilsOfsted: Good 2023

Gaskell Community Primary School

Primary · ages 3–11 · Community

A⁻

72% met the KS2 standard (3 years)

472 pupilsOfsted: Inspected 2025

Walmsley CofE Primary School

Primary · ages 4–11 · Academy · Church of England

A⁻

72% met the KS2 standard (3 years)

303 pupilsOfsted: Requires improvement 2024

Eagley Junior School

Primary · ages 7–11 · Academy

A⁻

72% met the KS2 standard (3 years)

224 pupilsOfsted: Inspected 2025

St Columba's RC Primary School

Primary · ages 3–11 · Voluntary aided · Roman Catholic

B⁺

70% met the KS2 standard (3 years)

235 pupilsOfsted: Good 2024

St Maxentius CofE Primary School

Primary · ages 5–11 · Academy · Church of England

B⁺

70% met the KS2 standard (3 years)

185 pupilsOfsted: Good 2023

St Mary's CofE Primary School, Deane

Primary · ages 2–11 · Voluntary controlled · Church of England

B⁺

68% met the KS2 standard (3 years)

448 pupilsOfsted: Outstanding 2024

Devonshire Road Primary School

Primary · ages 4–11 · Community

B⁺

68% met the KS2 standard (3 years)

415 pupilsOfsted: Good 2022

Sharples Primary School

Primary · ages 3–11 · Community

B⁺

68% met the KS2 standard (3 years)

245 pupilsOfsted: Inspected 2025

Ladybridge Community Primary School

Primary · ages 5–11 · Community

67% met the KS2 standard (3 years)

359 pupilsOfsted: report card 2026

Show all 60 primary schools

Harwood Meadows Primary School

Primary · ages 3–11 · Academy

67% met the KS2 standard (3 years)

224 pupilsOfsted: report card 2026

Castle Hill Primary School

Primary · ages 3–11 · Community

67% met the KS2 standard (3 years)

220 pupilsOfsted: Good 2023

St Joseph's RC Primary School, Halliwell, Bolton

Primary · ages 3–11 · Voluntary aided · Roman Catholic

67% met the KS2 standard (3 years)

220 pupilsOfsted: Inspected 2024

St Stephen and All Martyrs' CofE School, Lever Bridge

Primary · ages 4–11 · Voluntary aided · Church of England

67% met the KS2 standard (3 years)

193 pupilsOfsted: Good 2023

Bolton Parish Church, Church of England Primary School

Primary · ages 3–11 · Academy · Church of England

66% met the KS2 standard (3 years)

252 pupilsOfsted: Good 2021

St Peter's Smithills Dean Church of England Primary School

Primary · ages 4–11 · Academy · Church of England

65% met the KS2 standard (3 years)

215 pupilsOfsted: Good 2022

Church Road Primary School

Primary · ages 3–11 · Community

B⁻

64% met the KS2 standard (3 years)

445 pupilsOfsted: Inspected 2025

Hardy Mill Primary School

Primary · ages 3–11 · Community

B⁻

64% met the KS2 standard (3 years)

316 pupilsOfsted: Inspected 2024

Haslam Park Primary School

Primary · ages 4–11 · Community

B⁻

64% met the KS2 standard (3 years)

306 pupilsOfsted: Good 2023

St Bernard's RC Primary School, Bolton

Primary · ages 4–11 · Voluntary aided · Roman Catholic

B⁻

64% met the KS2 standard (3 years)

199 pupilsOfsted: Good 2022

High Lawn Primary School

Primary · ages 2–11 · Community

B⁻

63% met the KS2 standard (3 years)

492 pupilsOfsted: Inspected 2024

Moorgate Primary School

Primary · ages 2–11 · Community

B⁻

63% met the KS2 standard (3 years)

325 pupilsOfsted: Outstanding 2023

St Thomas of Canterbury RC School

Primary · ages 4–11 · Voluntary aided · Roman Catholic

B⁻

62% met the KS2 standard (3 years)

410 pupilsOfsted: Good 2023

Red Lane Primary School

Primary · ages 3–11 · Academy

B⁻

61% met the KS2 standard (3 years)

475 pupilsOfsted: Inspected 2025

Bishop Bridgeman CofE Primary School

Primary · ages 3–11 · Academy · Church of England

C⁺

60% met the KS2 standard (3 years)

484 pupilsOfsted: Good 2022

St John the Evangelist RC Primary School, Bromley Cross, Bolton

Primary · ages 5–11 · Voluntary aided · Roman Catholic

C⁺

59% met the KS2 standard (3 years)

162 pupilsOfsted: Good 2024

St Bede Academy

Primary · ages 3–11 · Academy · Church of England

C⁺

58% met the KS2 standard (3 years)

610 pupilsOfsted: Good 2023

Ss Simon & Jude CofE Primary School, Bolton

Primary · ages 2–11 · Academy · Church of England

C⁺

58% met the KS2 standard (3 years)

572 pupilsOfsted: Good 2024

Brandwood Primary School

Primary · ages 3–11 · Community

C⁺

58% met the KS2 standard (3 years)

463 pupilsOfsted: Good 2023

Blackshaw Primary School

Primary · ages 3–11 · Community

C⁺

58% met the KS2 standard (3 years)

218 pupilsOfsted: Inspected 2024

St Michael's CofE Primary School, Great Lever

Primary · ages 2–11 · Voluntary aided · Church of England

57% met the KS2 standard (3 years)

487 pupilsOfsted: Good 2024

SS Osmund and Andrew's R.C. Primary School

Primary · ages 3–11 · Voluntary aided · Roman Catholic

57% met the KS2 standard (3 years)

355 pupilsOfsted: Good 2023

St Brendan's RC Primary School, Harwood, Bolton

Primary · ages 4–11 · Voluntary aided · Roman Catholic

57% met the KS2 standard (3 years)

199 pupilsOfsted: Inspected 2024

Pikes Lane Primary School

Primary · ages 2–11 · Community

56% met the KS2 standard (3 years)

512 pupilsOfsted: Inspected 2025

Clarendon Primary School

Primary · ages 3–11 · Community

56% met the KS2 standard (3 years)

454 pupilsOfsted: Inspected 2025

Brownlow Fold Primary School

Primary · ages 3–11 · Community

55% met the KS2 standard (3 years)

232 pupilsOfsted: report card 2026

Essa Primary Academy

Primary · ages 4–11 · Free school

54% met the KS2 standard (3 years)

387 pupilsOfsted: Inspected 2024

Tonge Moor Primary Academy

Primary · ages 2–11 · Academy

C⁻

51% met the KS2 standard (3 years)

472 pupilsOfsted: Good 2023

Holy Infant and St Anthony RC Primary School

Primary · ages 5–11 · Voluntary aided · Roman Catholic

C⁻

51% met the KS2 standard (3 years)

188 pupilsOfsted: report card 2026

St Thomas C of E Primary School, Halliwell

Primary · ages 3–11 · Voluntary aided · Church of England

C⁻

49% met the KS2 standard (3 years)

366 pupilsOfsted: report card 2026

St Ethelbert's Roman Catholic Primary School, a Voluntary Academy

Primary · ages 3–11 · Academy · Roman Catholic

C⁻

48% met the KS2 standard (3 years)

207 pupils

Leverhulme Community Primary School

Primary · ages 2–11 · Community

46% met the KS2 standard (3 years)

438 pupilsOfsted: report card 2026

St Matthew's CofE Primary School, Bolton

Primary · ages 3–11 · Voluntary controlled · Church of England

44% met the KS2 standard (3 years)

424 pupilsOfsted: Good 2023

Gilnow Primary School

Primary · ages 3–11 · Community

40% met the KS2 standard (3 years)

221 pupilsOfsted: report card 2026

Johnson Fold Community Primary School

Primary · ages 2–11 · Academy

40% met the KS2 standard (3 years)

Ofsted: Inspected 2024

Eagley Infant School

Primary · ages 2–7 · Academy

No letter

203 pupilsOfsted: Good 2023

All-through schools1 · primary and secondary in one

Bolton St Catherine's Academy

All-through · ages 2–16 · Academy · Church of England

36.9 Attainment 8 · 28% grade 5+ E&M

1,003 pupilsOfsted: Inspected 2025

Secondary schools11 · best GCSE results first

Eden Boys' School, Bolton

Secondary · ages 11–18 · Free school · Muslim, boys

57 Attainment 8 · 75% grade 5+ E&M

621 pupilsOfsted: Outstanding 2023

Sharples School

Secondary · ages 11–16 · Academy

56.5 Attainment 8 · 73% grade 5+ E&M

1,214 pupilsOfsted: Inspected 2025

Bolton Muslim Girls School

Secondary · ages 11–16 · Academy · Muslim, girls

56.5 Attainment 8 · 60% grade 5+ E&M

774 pupilsOfsted: Inspected 2025

Canon Slade School

Secondary · ages 11–18 · Academy · Church of England

A⁻

54 Attainment 8 · 63% grade 5+ E&M

1,724 pupilsOfsted: Inspected 2024

Essa Academy

Secondary · ages 11–16 · Academy

B⁺

48.9 Attainment 8 · 54% grade 5+ E&M

1,055 pupilsOfsted: report card 2026

King's Leadership Academy Bolton

Secondary · ages 11–16 · Free school

B⁺

49 Attainment 8 · 51% grade 5+ E&M

910 pupilsOfsted: Good 2023

Ladybridge High School

Secondary · ages 11–16 · Community

C⁺

45.8 Attainment 8 · 39% grade 5+ E&M

1,136 pupilsOfsted: Good 2022

Turton School

Secondary · ages 11–18 · Community

C⁺

44 Attainment 8 · 39% grade 5+ E&M

1,596 pupilsOfsted: Good 2024

Thornleigh Salesian College

Secondary · ages 11–18 · Voluntary aided · Roman Catholic

43 Attainment 8 · 37% grade 5+ E&M

1,574 pupilsOfsted: Inspected 2024

Smithills School

Secondary · ages 11–16 · Academy

C⁻

41.4 Attainment 8 · 35% grade 5+ E&M

1,203 pupilsOfsted: report card 2026

University Collegiate School

Secondary · ages 11–19 · University technical college

No letter

41.4 Attainment 8 · 38% grade 5+ E&M

683 pupilsOfsted: Inspected 2024

Special schools, nurseries and colleges6 · no letter: their results don’t compare

Rumworth School

Special school · ages 11–19 · Community

No letter

3.4 Attainment 8 · 0% grade 5+ E&M

361 pupilsOfsted: Outstanding 2024

Firwood High School

Special school · ages 11–19 · Academy

No letter

261 pupilsOfsted: Good 2023

Thomasson Memorial School

Special school · ages 2–16 · Community

No letter

1.4 Attainment 8 · 0% grade 5+ E&M

80 pupilsOfsted: Good 2024

Youth Challenge Pru

Alternative provision · ages 11–16 · Academy

No letter

72 pupilsOfsted: Outstanding 2024

Forwards Centre

Alternative provision · ages 5–11 · Academy

No letter

48 pupilsOfsted: Inspected 2025

Park School Teaching Service

Alternative provision · ages 11–16 · Academy

No letter

12 pupilsOfsted: Inspected 2024

Key result: Attainment 8 and grade 5+ English and maths (GCSEs, 2025/26 provisional) for secondaries; the share meeting the expected standard in reading, writing and maths (KS2, DfE’s three-year average) for primaries. Pupils: the January 2026 school census. No letter: an infant or first school (no KS2 tests), a new school, a small cohort DfE suppresses, or a special school, nursery or college. Independent schools aren’t included.

Ofsted

Ofsted report cards

Each school’s latest inspection; report cards replace one-word judgements as schools are re-inspected.

Outstanding 3Good 20Report card 11Requires improvement 1Ungraded inspection only 42No published grade 1

Ofsted stopped giving one-word judgements in 2024. Until a school is re-inspected, its last overall judgement is its most recent single grade; a school judged years ago may have changed a lot since.

Since November 2025 Ofsted gives each area of a school one of five grades (exceptional, strong standard, expected standard, needs attention, urgent improvement) and says whether safeguarding is met, instead of one overall word. 11 of Bolton’s 78 state schools have a report card so far; the others show their last inspection under the old framework. Ofsted is never part of the School Grade.

School	Safeguarding	Achievement	Curriculum and teaching	Inclusion	Attendance and behaviour	Personal development and well-being	Leadership and governance	Early years
Gilnow Primary SchoolJune 2026	Met	Expected standard	Expected standard	Expected standard	Expected standard	Expected standard	Expected standard	Expected standard
Harwood Meadows Primary SchoolApril 2026	Met	Expected standard	Expected standard	Expected standard	Expected standard	Expected standard	Expected standard	Expected standard
Heathfield Primary SchoolApril 2026	Met	Strong standard	Strong standard	Strong standard	Strong standard	Strong standard	Strong standard	Strong standard
Ladybridge Community Primary SchoolMarch 2026	Met	Expected standard	Expected standard	Expected standard	Expected standard	Strong standard	Expected standard	Expected standard
Smithills SchoolMarch 2026	Met	Needs attention	Needs attention	Expected standard	Expected standard	Needs attention	Needs attention	—
Leverhulme Community Primary SchoolMarch 2026	Met	Needs attention	Needs attention	Expected standard	Needs attention	Expected standard	Needs attention	Expected standard
St Thomas C of E Primary School, HalliwellMarch 2026	Met	Expected standard	Strong standard	Strong standard	Strong standard	Strong standard	Strong standard	Strong standard
Brownlow Fold Primary SchoolFebruary 2026	Met	Expected standard	Expected standard	Expected standard	Expected standard	Expected standard	Expected standard	Expected standard
Essa AcademyJanuary 2026	Met	Strong standard	Strong standard	Strong standard	Strong standard	Strong standard	Strong standard	—
Egerton Community Primary SchoolJanuary 2026	Met	Expected standard	Expected standard	Expected standard	Expected standard	Expected standard	Expected standard	Expected standard
Holy Infant and St Anthony RC Primary SchoolJanuary 2026	Met	Needs attention	Needs attention	Expected standard	Expected standard	Expected standard	Expected standard	Expected standard

Who runs them

21 academy trusts and the council

Academies are state schools run by a trust rather than the council: the trust employs the staff and can set its own curriculum and term dates. Admissions still go through the council.

Run by	Schools	Pupils	Their letters
Bolton Impact TrustSmithills, Youth Challenge Pru, Forwards Centre, Park School Teaching Service, Egerton	5	1,335	C⁻A
Bishop Fraser TrustCanon Slade, Bolton St Catherine's, Walmsley	3	3,030	A⁻DA⁻
Archbishop Temple Church of England Multi Academy TrustBishop Bridgeman, Bolton Parish Church,, St Maxentius	3	921	C⁺BB⁺
Northern Education TrustEssa, Essa	2	1,442	B⁺C
Quill C of E TrustSt Bede, Tonge Moor	2	1,082	C⁺C⁻
Star AcademiesEden Boys' School, Bolton, The Olive School, Bolton	2	1,043	AA⁺
Base Academy TrustRed Lane, Johnson Fold	2	475	B⁻D
Forward As One Church of England Multi Academy TrustSt Paul's, St Peter's Smithills Dean	2	466	A⁻B
St Teresa of Calcutta Catholic Academy TrustSt Peter and St Paul, St Ethelbert's Roman	2	432	A⁻C⁻
Sharples School A Multi Academy TrustSharples	1	1,214	A
Great Schools TrustKing's Leadership Academy Bolton	1	910	B⁺
Prosper Multi Academy TrustBolton Muslim Girls	1	774	A
Quest (A Church of England Schools Trust)University Collegiate	1	683	—
Vantage CE Academies TrustSs Simon & Jude	1	572	C⁺
Lever Edge Primary AcademyLever Edge	1	562	A⁻
Olive Tree Primary School Bolton LimitedThe Olive Tree School Bolton	1	418	A⁻
Woodbridge TrustFirwood High	1	261	—
Eagley Junior SchoolEagley Junior	1	224	A⁻
Harwood Meadows Community Primary SchoolHarwood Meadows	1	224	B
Leverhulme Academy Church of England and Community TrustLostock	1	213	A
Eagley Infant SchoolEagley Infant	1	203	—
Bolton CouncilTurton, Thornleigh Salesian College, Ladybridge High, The Valley, Sunning Hill, Pikes Lane, High Lawn, St Michael's, Gaskell, Brandwood, Clarendon, Oxford Grove, St Mary's, Church Road, Leverhulme, St Matthew's, Devonshire Road, St Thomas of Canterbury, St Thomas, Rumworth, Ladybridge, SS Osmund and Andrew's R.C., Moorgate, Hardy Mill, Markland Hill, Haslam Park, Heathfield, Sharples, St Columba's, St William of York Roman, Brownlow Fold, Gilnow, Beaumont, Castle Hill, St Joseph's, Blackshaw, The Oaks, St Bernard's, St Brendan's, St Stephen and All Martyrs', Holy Infant and St Anthony, St John the Evangelist, Thomasson Memorial	43	17,535	C⁺CC⁺A⁺A⁻CB⁻CA⁻C⁺CAB⁺B⁻DDB⁺B⁻C⁻BCB⁻B⁻A⁻B⁻AB⁺B⁺ACDA⁺BBC⁺A⁺B⁻CBC⁻C⁺

After 16

Where Bolton’s teenagers go at 16

In England young people stay in education or training until 18: a sixth form, a college, or an apprenticeship.

3 of Bolton’s 11 state secondaries have sixth forms: Canon Slade, Thornleigh Salesian College and Turton. Bolton College, a further-education college, is in the city. Bolton Sixth Form College, a further-education college, is in the city.

Secondaries with a sixth form

3 of 11

state schools in Bolton

Colleges within 12 miles

nearest: Bolton College

Grammar schools in Bolton

no selective state secondaries

College	Distance
Bolton CollegeFurther-education college · BL3 5BG	in Bolton
Bolton Sixth Form CollegeFurther-education college · BL3 5BU	in Bolton
Holy Cross CollegeFurther-education college · BL9 9BB	5.6 mi
Bury CollegeFurther-education college · BL9 0BG	5.7 mi

Special needs

Special schools and alternative provision in Bolton

Bolton has 3 special schools (Firwood High, Rumworth and Thomasson Memorial: 702 pupils) and 3 alternative provision schools, for pupils who can’t attend mainstream school for a time. A special-school place isn’t applied for like a mainstream one: for a child with an education, health and care plan (EHCP), Bolton Council names the school in the plan, after asking the family’s preference. These schools have no letter, because their results don’t compare with mainstream schools’. Their cards ↑

Bolton Council’s SEND Local Offer lists support beyond these schools.

Towns its size

21st of 38 English towns and cities of 129,000 to 249,000

Ranked by School Grade, best first: the towns and cities either side of Bolton, and the top and bottom of the group.

#	Town	Schools	KS2	Attainment 8	Grade 5+ E&M
1	Richmond upon Thames London	A⁺	77%	57.7	67%
…
17	Poole Dorset	A⁻	63%	52.2	59%
18	York North Yorkshire	A⁻	63%	51.8	56%
19	Southend-on-Sea Essex	A⁻	63%	53.3	56%
20	Barking and Dagenham London	B⁺	64%	49.1	50%
21	Bolton Greater Manchester	B⁺	64%	48.3	50%
22	Colchester Essex	B⁺	61%	51.8	56%
23	Sunderland Tyne and Wear	B⁺	67%	44.9	46%
24	Northampton Northamptonshire	B	62%	48.6	50%
25	Wolverhampton West Midlands	B	65%	46.4	44%
…
38	Portsmouth Hampshire	D	54%	40.8	35%

Neighbours

Bolton and the places around it

Coloured by School Grade.

FarnworthHunger HillLittle LeverAinsworthLittle HultonKearsleyWingatesBolton

Town	Schools	KS2	Att. 8
Bolton 78 schools	B⁺	64%	48.3
Farnworth 15 schools · 2.5 mi	B⁻	64%	44.2
Hunger Hill 0 schools · uses schools within 3 km · 2.9 mi	B⁺	67%	47.1
Little Lever 7 schools · uses schools within 3 km · 3 mi	B⁺	68%	44.4
Ainsworth 1 school · uses schools within 3 km · 3.2 mi	B⁻	62%	44.8
Little Hulton 11 schools · uses schools within 3 km · 3.7 mi	B⁻	58%	46.8
Kearsley 6 schools · uses schools within 3 km · 3.8 mi	B⁺	68%	44.8
Wingates 1 school · uses schools within 3 km · 4.1 mi	B	69%	42.5

Hunger Hill has the best-graded schools nearby (B+). Small places often use the schools within 3 km, so neighbours can share schools.

How to read these numbers

What this data can and can’t tell you

Expected standard at Key Stage 2. The share of 11-year-olds who reach the expected standard in reading, writing and maths together, in tests and teacher assessment at the end of primary school. We use DfE’s three-year average (2023–2025) to steady small schools.
Higher standard. The share working at greater depth in all three. In Bolton: 11% (England’s average school: 8%).
Attainment 8. A pupil’s GCSE grades across eight subjects, with English and maths counted twice, added up. 50 is roughly a grade 5 in every subject.
Grade 5+ in English and maths. A strong pass in both. Grade 4 is a standard pass.
Provisional. 2025/26 GCSE figures are DfE’s first release; revised figures follow in February, usually within a point.
Progress 8. Not shown: there is none for 2025/26, because these pupils sat no KS2 tests in 2020 (Covid).
Free school meals. Pupils eligible for free school meals now, from the January census: the usual measure of how many pupils come from low-income homes.
Independent schools. Not included: they publish no results comparable with state schools’.

Questions about schools in Bolton

Are schools in Bolton good?

Bolton’s state schools earn a B+ against schools across England: primary results beat 66% of towns in England; secondary results beat 67% of towns in England, on Department for Education Key Stage 2 and GCSE results. School places are handled by Bolton council.

What is the best secondary school in Bolton?

On 2025/26 GCSE results, Eden Boys' School, Bolton: Attainment 8 of 57 and 75% with grade 5+ in English and maths, against 47.3 at the average school in England. Results are one measure; distance decides most places.

What is the best primary school in Bolton?

On Key Stage 2 results over 2023–25, The Olive School, Bolton: 93% of pupils meet the expected standard in reading, writing and maths, against 62% at the average school in England.

Do Bolton secondary schools have sixth forms?

3 of 11 do.

How do I apply for a school place in Bolton?

Through Bolton Council, for every state school including academies. Secondary applications close on 31 October (offers 1 March); primary on 15 January (offers 16 April).

How many schools in Bolton are full?

26 of 69 mainstream schools have at least as many pupils as places, on DfE’s January 2026 census. A full school still admits by its rules, usually distance after siblings.

How many state schools are in Bolton?

78 open state-funded schools are located in Bolton’s built-up area: 61 primary, 11 secondary and 6 other (special schools, alternative provision, nurseries and 16–19). Independent schools aren’t included.

Sources: DfE Get Information about Schools (16 October 2026), Key Stage 2 performance tables (2023–2025, three-year average) and Key Stage 4 (2025/26, provisional); Ofsted state-funded school inspections as at 30 September 2026 · DfE Get Information about Schools (16 October 2026), further-education and sixth-form colleges · TownRatings grades: our own summary of the data, ranked against UK towns only. All under the Open Government Licence v3.0.

Contains public sector information licensed under the Open Government Licence v3.0. Contains HM Land Registry data © Crown copyright and database right 2026. Contains OS data © Crown copyright and database right 2026 (ONS boundaries). Northern Ireland: Source: NISRA; contains Land & Property Services data and Ordnance Survey of Northern Ireland information, © Crown copyright, licensed under the Open Government Licence v3.0. Scotland: contains National Records of Scotland data, Registers of Scotland data and SEPA data, © Crown copyright / © SEPA 2025, licensed under the Open Government Licence v3.0.

Bolton’s state schools get better results than 70% of towns in England

What stands out about Bolton’s schools

Popular schools are full

Oxford Grove beats its intake

Bolton grades B+ for schools

Where Bolton’s 78 state schools are

Which schools do better than their intake suggests

How school places work in Bolton

When a school is full

How full each school is

78 state schools in Bolton

Ofsted report cards

21 academy trusts and the council

Where Bolton’s teenagers go at 16

Special schools and alternative provision in Bolton

21st of 38 English towns and cities of 129,000 to 249,000

Bolton and the places around it

What this data can and can’t tell you

Questions about schools in Bolton