Best Primary & Secondary Schools in Bolton 2026

Ranked by Ofsted rating, exam results, attendance, and class sizes. 146 schools across Bolton. Updated with 2025–26 data.

Bolton has 146 open primary & secondary schools. Of the 140 with a published Ofsted inspection, 22 (16%) held a historic grade of Outstanding and 90% held Good or Outstanding — these are the last single-word grades from before Ofsted retired them on 10 November 2025 (how we treat Ofsted data). On our composite Schools Near Me score, St Paul's CofE Primary School, Astley Bridge currently leads the local rankings. Closed schools are excluded from every list on this page.

Use the ranked table below to compare schools side by side, then open any school for the full picture. Application deadlines in Bolton follow the national calendar: 31 October for Year 7 secondary entry and 15 January for Reception primary entry, with offers on 1 March and 16 April respectively.

146
Total schools
22
Outstanding (historic grade)
16%
of inspected schools (pre-Nov-2025)
65%
Avg KS2 SATs
39.5
Avg GCSE A8
All schools Primary Secondary
Rank School Ofsted (historic) SNM Score Profile
1. St Paul's CofE Primary School, Astley Bridge
Primary
 Outstanding 87 View school
2. The Valley Community Primary School
Primary
 Outstanding 86 View school
3. The Olive School, Bolton
Primary
 Outstanding 84 View school
4. Blackrod Primary School
Primary
 Outstanding 83 View school
5. The Gates Primary School
Primary
 Good 83 View school
6. Markland Hill Primary School
Primary
 Outstanding 83 View school
7. Eden Boys' School, Bolton
Secondary
 Outstanding 82 View school
8. St Andrew's CofE Primary School, Over Hulton
Primary
 Good 81 View school
9. Beaumont Primary School
Primary
 Good 80 View school
10. Sacred Heart R.C. Primary School
Primary
 Outstanding 79 View school
11. Sunning Hill Primary School
Primary
 Outstanding 79 View school
12. St Gregory's RC Primary School, A Voluntary Academy
Primary
 Good 79 View school
13. Oxford Grove Primary School
Primary
 Outstanding 78 View school
14. Eatock Primary School
Primary
 Outstanding 77 View school
15. St William of York Catholic Primary School
Primary
 Good 77 View school
16. Prestolee Primary School
Primary
 Outstanding 76 View school
17. Our Lady of Lourdes RC Primary School
Primary
 Good 76 View school
18. St Thomas CofE Primary School
Primary
 Good 74 View school
19. Sharples School
Secondary
 Good 74 View school
20. Haslam Park Primary School
Primary
 Good 74 View school

Ranked by the Schools Near Me score. Ofsted grades shown are each school's last single-word grade from before 10 November 2025, when Ofsted retired single-word overall judgements — they are historic and not comparable to the new report cards. How we use Ofsted data. Closed schools are excluded.

Related lists for Bolton

Best primary schools in BoltonTop-ranked Reception–Year 6 Best secondary schools in BoltonTop-ranked Year 7 onwards Primary schools in BoltonReception–Year 6 only Secondary schools in BoltonYear 7 onwards How the Schools Near Me score worksOur ranking methodology, explained

Nearby areas

Schools in BuryCompare neighbouring authoritySchools in SalfordCompare neighbouring authoritySchools in WiganCompare neighbouring authoritySchools in Blackburn with DarwenCompare neighbouring authority

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Catchment distances, exam trends, SEN data, attendance, and more — all in one place.

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Frequently asked questions

How many primary & secondary schools are there in Bolton?
There are 146 open primary & secondary schools in Bolton (closed schools are excluded). 22 of the 140 with a published inspection held a historic Ofsted grade of Outstanding (the last single-word grade before single-word grades were retired on 10 November 2025).
What are the best-rated primary & secondary schools in Bolton?
On our Schools Near Me score, the top-ranked primary & secondary school in Bolton is St Paul's CofE Primary School, Astley Bridge. The full ranked table above lists the top 20 schools with their score and last historic Ofsted grade. We never list closed schools.
How is the Schools Near Me score calculated?
The Schools Near Me score is a 0–100 composite combining the school's last historic Ofsted grade, published exam and assessment results, attendance and pupil–teacher ratio. It is not an Ofsted rating. Full methodology: https://schoolsnearme.ai/methodology#score
Are Ofsted single-word grades still current in Bolton?
No. Ofsted retired single-word overall grades (Outstanding, Good, Requires Improvement, Inadequate) on 10 November 2025 and replaced them with report cards. Any single-word grade shown on this page is the school's last historic grade from before that date and is not comparable to the new report cards. See https://schoolsnearme.ai/methodology#ofsted
How do I apply for a school place in Bolton?
Primary and secondary applications in Bolton are coordinated by the local authority on the national timetable: apply by 31 October for Year 7 secondary entry and by 15 January for Reception primary entry, with offers on 1 March and 16 April respectively. Check the Bolton council website for local forms and any in-year rules.

Data sourced from Ofsted, Department for Education, and ISI. School rankings reflect the Schools Near Me composite score combining Ofsted ratings, exam results, attendance, and pupil-teacher ratios. Last updated April 2026.