Schools in Bolton
127 schools in 3 towns: how they were inspected, the best by phase, where places ran out, and the dates to apply.
Bolton at a glance
- Schools
- 127 97 state primary, 19 state secondary, 2 sixth-form or college and 9 private. DfE Get Information about Schools, 17 October 2026.
- Good or Outstanding
- 94% 83 of the 88 state schools whose latest Ofsted inspection gave a grade. 22 more have the new report card, which gives no single grade. Ofsted, latest inspections.
- Oversubscribed in 2026
- 34 Of 113 state schools with DfE figures for 2026: more first preferences than places at entry (Reception or Year 7). DfE, school applications and offers, 2026.
- Offer distances held
- 49% How far the last place reached on offer day: held for 57 of 116 state schools that take an intake. Bolton's published offer-day figures.
The best schools in Bolton
Primary
| Place in Bolton | School | Town | Rank |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | The Olive School, Bolton | Bolton | 1st (1/96) |
| 2 | St Andrew's CofE Primary School, Over Hulton | Bolton | Top 3% (2/96) |
| 3 | Bowness Primary School | Bolton | Top 4% (3/96) |
| 4 | Walmsley CofE Primary School | Bolton | Top 5% (4/96) |
| 5 | Beaumont Primary School | BOLTON | Top 6% (5/96) |
| 6 | Masefield Primary School | Bolton | Top 7% (6/96) |
| 7 | St William of York Roman Catholic Primary School | Bolton | Top 8% (7/96) |
| 8 | The Gates Primary School | Bolton | Top 9% (8/96) |
| 9 | The Valley Community Primary School | Bolton | Top 10% (9/96) |
| 10 | St Teresa's RC Primary School a Voluntary Academy | Bolton | Top 11% (10/96) |
Ranked on 2025 KS2 results: the share reaching the expected standard in reading, writing and maths. The same rank as the full Bolton primary table (method). Source: DfE, key stage 2 school performance tables; table built 16 October 2026.
Secondary (GCSE)
| Place in Bolton | School | Town | Rank |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Eden Boys' School, Bolton | Bolton | 1st (1/19) |
| 2 | Sharples School | Bolton | Top 11% (2/19) |
| 3 | Bolton Muslim Girls School | Bolton | Top 16% (3/19) |
| 4 | Canon Slade School | Bolton | Top 22% (4/19) |
| 5 | Kearsley Academy | Bolton | Top 27% (5/19) |
| 6 | King's Leadership Academy Bolton | Bolton | Top 32% (6/19) |
| 7 | Essa Academy | Bolton | Top 37% (7/19) |
| 8 | St James's Church of England High School | Bolton | Top 43% (8/19) |
| 9 | Little Lever School | Bolton | Top 48% (9/19) |
| 10 | Ladybridge High School | Bolton | (10/19) |
Ranked on 2026 GCSE results: Attainment 8, the average grade across eight GCSEs. The same rank as the full Bolton secondary table (method). Source: DfE, key stage 4 school performance tables; table built 16 October 2026.
Towns
- Horwich, Bolton 1 school · best schools
- Manchester 2 schools
Getting in
Starting Reception in September 2027
| Date | What | What to do | Source |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 September 2026 | Reception applications open | The council's application form opens. Look at your schools' admission rules and open days now. | Bolton council |
| 15 January 2027 | Primary applications close | Apply to your home council (where you live), listing your schools in order of preference. A late application is looked at after every on-time one. | Bolton council |
| 16 April 2027 | Primary offer day | Offers arrive by email from your home council. Check which school you were offered. | Bolton council |
Starting secondary school (Year 7) in September 2027
| Date | What | What to do | Source |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 September 2026 | Year 7 applications open | The council's application form opens. Look at your schools' admission rules and open days now. | Bolton council |
| 31 October 2026 | Secondary applications close | Apply to your home council (where you live), listing your schools in order of preference. A late application is looked at after every on-time one. | Bolton council |
| 1 March 2027 | Secondary offer day | Offers arrive by email from your home council. Check which school you were offered. | Bolton council |
Every Bolton admission date · After offer day in Bolton: replies, waiting lists and appeals
We hold no catchment maps for Bolton. Many schools here admit by distance; the catchment finder says which maps cover a postcode.
Offer-day distances (how far the last place reached) are held for 57 of 116 state schools (49%). Could we get in? sets your distance beside them.
Private schools, fees and childcare
Private school fees in Bolton: we hold checked fees for 7 of 9 private schools.
Childcare costs, town by town: 76 nurseries and pre-schools in Bolton, with fees held for 7. Nurseries in Bolton by Ofsted rating.
Every school in Bolton
Your children and your home, with the schools, the distances and the dates that are yours.Open your plan
Contains public sector information licensed under the Open Government Licence v3.0. Sources are named beside each figure. How we know · All sources.