Overall Oxbridge
#1,369
5 ranked schools · -455 places vs Eng avg #914 of 1,983
Applications
54
Offers
5
Offer rate9.3%
-13.1 pts vs Eng avgEng avg 22.4%
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
15
Special
schools
4
Other
schools
of which14sixth forms·56faith·2nurseries147 total
Area Performance
Bolton schools rank in the top 46% of England
Across 138 primary, secondary and sixth-form schools, state and independent. The average Find My School Inspection Score is 7.45/10, +0.05 vs England.
Find My School Inspection Band
15% Elite
Distribution across all Bolton schools
EliteExcellentGoodDeveloping
Bolton vs England distribution
National Rank
Top 46%
Across all ranked Bolton schools
Top 43%Primaryavg #6,496 of 14,978
Top 55%Secondaryavg #2,109 of 3,862
Top 52%Sixth formavg #1,326 of 2,555
Primary schools: 98 schools (state + independent)
LocalEngland avg
Average FMS Inspection Score
7.5/10
+0.20 vs Eng avgEng avg 7.3/10
Average national rank
#6,496
+7 pts vs medianmedian 7,489
top 43% of 14,978
% 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
+0.20 vs Eng avgEng avg 7.3/10
Average national rank
#6,496
+7 pts vs medianmedian 7,489
top 43% of 14,978
% 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
-0.37 vs Eng avgEng avg 7.4/10
Average national rank
#2,109
-5 pts vs medianmedian 1,931
top 55% of 3,862
% 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
-0.37 vs Eng avgEng avg 7.4/10
Average national rank
#2,109
-5 pts vs medianmedian 1,931
top 55% of 3,862
% 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: 14 schools (state + independent)
LocalEngland avg
Average FMS Inspection Score
7.5/10
-0.21 vs Eng avgEng avg 7.7/10
Average national rank
#1,326
-2 pts vs medianmedian 1,278
top 52% of 2,555
% 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
7.5/10
-0.21 vs Eng avgEng avg 7.7/10
Average national rank
#1,326
-2 pts vs medianmedian 1,278
top 52% of 2,555
% 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
#287
4 ranked schools · -34 places vs Eng avg #253 of 1,197
Applications
25
Offers
0
Offer rate0.0%
-15.1 pts vs Eng avgEng avg 15.1%
Cambridge
#1,159
5 ranked schools · -386 places vs Eng avg #773 of 1,880
Applications
29
Offers
5
Offer rate17.2%
-12.2 pts vs Eng avgEng avg 29.4%
Top 3 Primary Schools
2026
Bolton
Top 3 Secondary Schools
2026
Bolton
Top 3 Sixth Forms
2026
Bolton
Local directory
School profiles in Bolton
Browse 126 local profile links across primary schools, secondary schools and sixth forms. Each profile brings together admissions context, performance data, inspection history and school details in one place.
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