Best Secondary Schools in Bolton 2026

Ranked by Ofsted rating, exam results, attendance, and class sizes. 19 schools across Bolton. Updated with 2025–26 data.

Bolton has 19 open secondary schools. Of the 19 with a published Ofsted inspection, 1 (5%) held a historic grade of Outstanding and 68% 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, Eden Boys' School, Bolton 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.

19
Total schools
1
Outstanding (historic grade)
5%
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
🥇 Eden Boys' School, Bolton
Secondary
 Outstanding 76 View school
🥈 Sharples School
Secondary
 Good 72 View school
🥉 St James's Church of England High School
Secondary
 Good 69 View school
4. Essa Academy
Secondary
 Good 69 View school
5. Kearsley Academy
Secondary
 Good 67 View school
6. Rivington and Blackrod High School
Secondary
 Good 64 View school
7. Mount St Joseph RC High School a Voluntary Academy
Secondary
 Requires Improvement 60 View school
8. Little Lever School
Secondary
 Good 60 View school
9. King's Leadership Academy Bolton
Secondary
 Good 59 View school
10. Turton School
Secondary
 Good 57 View school
11. Harper Green School
Secondary
 Good 56 View school
12. Bolton Muslim Girls School
Secondary
 Requires Improvement 56 View school
13. Canon Slade School
Secondary
 Requires Improvement 55 View school
14. Ladybridge High School
Secondary
 Good 54 View school
15. Westhoughton High School
Secondary
 Requires Improvement 48 View school
16. Thornleigh Salesian College
Secondary
 Good 45 View school
17. St Joseph's RC High School
Secondary
 Requires Improvement 44 View school
18. Smithills School
Secondary
 Requires Improvement 38 View school
19. University Collegiate School
Secondary
 Good 33 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 All schools in BoltonPrimary & secondary combined Primary schools in BoltonReception–Year 6 only 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 RochdaleCompare neighbouring authority

See full data for any school in Bolton

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

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Frequently asked questions

How many secondary schools are there in Bolton?
There are 19 open secondary schools in Bolton (closed schools are excluded). 1 of the 19 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 secondary schools in Bolton?
On our Schools Near Me score, the top-ranked secondary school in Bolton is Eden Boys' School, Bolton. The full ranked table above lists the top 19 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.