Overall Oxbridge
#870
6 ranked schools · -217 places vs Eng avg #653 of 1,538
Applications
48
Offers
10
Offer rate20.8%
-7.9 pts vs Eng avgEng avg 28.7%
Schools in Bolton
Victorian mill buildings and converted warehouses line the Croal valley as Bolton rises into the foothills of the West Pennine Moors, where Greater Manchester's industrial past is still written into its brickwork. The town traces its roots to Flemish weavers who arrived in the fourteenth century, introducing textile traditions that transformed Bolton into one of the most productive cotton-spinning centres in the world by 1929, when 216 mills were in operation. Bolton Town Centre anchors civic life around the Victorian town hall and market hall, and is among the most sought-after addresses for families weighing up secondary options, while Heaton, to the north, is widely regarded as one of Bolton's most school-competitive pockets for primary catchments. Deane and Ladybridge extend the suburban belt to the southwest and northwest, with Great Lever adding a denser residential quarter to the east. Bolton railway station connects the town to Manchester Victoria and the wider Northern network, with Manchester city centre reachable in around thirty minutes. Today, Bolton has around 184,000 residents.
98
Primary
schools
23
Secondary
schools
3
All-through
schools
2
Post-16
colleges
17
Special
schools
4
Other
schools
of which14sixth forms·56faith·2nursery schools149 total
Area Performance
Bolton schools rank in the top 47% of England
Across 135 primary, secondary and sixth-form schools, state and independent. The average Find My School Inspection Score is 7.33/10, -0.06 vs England.
Find My School Inspection Band
16% Elite
Distribution across all Bolton schools
EliteExcellentGoodDevelopingRebuilding
Bolton vs England distribution
National Rank
Top 47%
Across all ranked Bolton schools
Top 45%Primaryavg #6,597 of 14,821
Top 55%Secondaryavg #2,085 of 3,803
Top 55%Sixth formavg #1,382 of 2,523
Primary schools: 98 schools (state + independent)
LocalEngland avg
Average FMS Inspection Score
7.5/10
+0.14 vs Eng avgEng avg 7.3/10
Average national rank
#6,597
+5 pts vs medianmedian 7,411
top 45% of 14,821
% reaching expected RWM standardstate
66%
+4 pts vs Eng avgEng avg 62%
% reaching higher RWM standardstate
10%
+2 pts vs Eng avgEng avg 8%
Average FMS Inspection Score
7.5/10
+0.14 vs Eng avgEng avg 7.3/10
Average national rank
#6,597
+5 pts vs medianmedian 7,411
top 45% of 14,821
% reaching expected RWM standardstate
66%
+4 pts vs Eng avgEng avg 62%
% reaching higher RWM standardstate
10%
+2 pts vs Eng avgEng avg 8%
Secondary schools: 26 schools (state + independent)
LocalEngland avg
Average FMS Inspection Score
7.0/10
-0.44 vs Eng avgEng avg 7.4/10
Average national rank
#2,085
-5 pts vs medianmedian 1,902
top 55% of 3,803
% achieving grades 9-7 (A*-A)state
53%
-3 pts vs Eng avgEng avg 56%
Attainment 8 score (out of 90)state
45.1
+6.0 vs Eng avgEng avg 39.1
Average FMS Inspection Score
7.0/10
-0.44 vs Eng avgEng avg 7.4/10
Average national rank
#2,085
-5 pts vs medianmedian 1,902
top 55% of 3,803
% achieving grades 9-7 (A*-A)state
53%
-3 pts vs Eng avgEng avg 56%
Attainment 8 score (out of 90)state
45.1
+6.0 vs Eng avgEng avg 39.1
Sixth form schools: 11 schools (state + independent)
LocalEngland avg
Average FMS Inspection Score
6.9/10
-0.88 vs Eng avgEng avg 7.7/10
Average national rank
#1,382
-5 pts vs medianmedian 1,262
top 55% of 2,523
% A*-A at A-Level
22%
-3 pts vs Eng avgEng avg 25%
% A*-B at A-Level
49%
-1 pts vs Eng avgEng avg 50%
Average FMS Inspection Score
6.9/10
-0.88 vs Eng avgEng avg 7.7/10
Average national rank
#1,382
-5 pts vs medianmedian 1,262
top 55% of 2,523
% A*-A at A-Level
22%
-3 pts vs Eng avgEng avg 25%
% A*-B at A-Level
49%
-1 pts vs Eng avgEng avg 50%
Oxford
#284
6 ranked schools · -22 places vs Eng avg #262 of 1,866
Applications
14
Offers
0
Offer rate0.0%
-16.6 pts vs Eng avgEng avg 16.6%
Cambridge
#941
7 ranked schools · -242 places vs Eng avg #699 of 1,830
Applications
39
Offers
10
Offer rate25.6%
-11.4 pts vs Eng avgEng avg 37.0%
Top 3 Primary Schools
2026
Bolton town
Top 3 Secondary Schools
2026
Bolton town
Top 3 Sixth Forms
2026
Bolton town
Local directory
School profiles in Bolton
Browse 103 local profile links across primary schools in bolton town, secondary schools in bolton town, sixth forms in bolton town and other schools. Each profile brings together admissions context, performance data, inspection history and school details in one place.
90 nurseries in BoltonLoading map…
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