Bolton
Bolton St Catherine's Academy
Dependable results for a comprehensive intake; the journey is the main thing to weigh.
What the data says
Published data, read plainly. It tells you what to check next; it does not guarantee a place or replace your local authority’s admissions guidance.
Attainment 8 of 36.9 is significantly below the national average. Progress 8 and pupil context may still indicate positive value-added.
- 36.9
- Attainment 8
- 28%
- 5+ Eng & Maths
- 2025/2026
- Academic year
Pupils made below-average progress compared with similar pupils nationally. The confidence interval is entirely below zero.
- -0.71
- Progress 8
- [-0.97, -0.45]
- Confidence interval
Admissions realism depends on your home postcode and the school's published allocation data. Enter your postcode on this page to get a more specific assessment, and always verify the latest policy on the school's official admissions page.
This school has a Church of England religious character. Admissions may prioritise pupils who meet faith criteria. A Supplementary Information Form (SIF) may be required.
Watch-outs
- Faith admissions criteria apply (Church of England). A Supplementary Information Form may be required. Evidence of faith practice may be needed.
What to do next
- Verify the school's official admissions policy
- Download and review the Supplementary Information Form
- Book an open day or school visit
- Add this school to your shortlist and compare with backup options
Starting school in September 2027
- Secondary (Year 7): apply by 31 October 2026; offers on 1 March 2027.
National dates for England. You apply through the council where you live, even for a school in another council.
Applications and offers
National offer day figures that councils report to the Department for Education. These are counts only: they do not show how far away the last child offered a place lived.
Reception entry
| Year of entry | Places offered | Put it first | First choices offered | Applications (any preference) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| September 2026 | 28 | 18 | 18 (100%) | 23 |
| September 2025 | 15 | 15 | 15 (100%) | 24 |
| September 2024 | 24 | 17 | 17 (100%) | 31 |
| September 2023 | 26 | 24 | 24 (100%) | 40 |
| September 2022 | 32 | 28 | 28 (100%) | 43 |
Year 7 entry
| Year of entry | Places offered | Put it first | First choices offered | Applications (any preference) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| September 2026 | 134 | 109 | 109 (100%) | 162 |
| September 2025 | 145 | 90 | 89 (99%) | 152 |
| September 2024 | 157 | 101 | 100 (99%) | 159 |
| September 2023 | 168 | 115 | 115 (100%) | 193 |
| September 2022 | 149 | 85 | 85 (100%) | 153 |
Source: Department for Education: Primary and secondary school applications and offers, Academic year 2026/27, school-level data, published 18 June 2026. “–” means the figure was not published. The council’s own allocation figures are the official record: check Bolton’s admissions page for cut-off distances, the admission rules and this year’s dates.
Performance over time
Attainment 8 over time
Progress 8 over time(not available 2024/25 or 2025/26)
Historical results
| Year | Pupils | Att8 | P8 | 5+ E&M | 7+ E&M | EBacc % | EBacc APS |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2025/2026 (provisional) | 135 | 36.9 | — | 28.1% | 3.7% | — | — |
| 2024/2025 | 138 | 34.3 | — | 18.8% | — | 8.0% | 2.9 |
| 2023/2024 | 140 | 35.0 | -0.71 | 25.7% | — | 9.3% | 2.9 |
| 2022/2023 | 148 | 34.5 | -0.58 | 27.0% | — | 4.7% | 2.8 |
| 2021/2022 | 135 | 36.1 | -0.75 | — | — | 10.0% | 3.0 |
EBacc figures stop at 2024/2025: the DfE no longer publishes them from 2025/2026.
Nearby and similar schools
Other secondary schools in Bolton for local comparison.
School information
| URN | 145314 |
| Local authority | Bolton |
| Region | North West |
| Phase | All-through |
| Type | Academy converter |
| Gender of entry | Mixed |
| Age range | 3-16 |
| Headteacher | Gareth Watson |
| Trust | THE BISHOP FRASER TRUST |
| Admissions | — |
| Religious character | Church of England |
| Postcode | BL2 4HU |
| Pupils | 1,020 |
| FSM eligible | 51.5% |
Contact and identifiers
Stitch MI Lane, Bolton, BL2 4HU
https://www.boltonstcatherinesacademy.org.uk/1204332533| DfE number | 4003 |
| UKPRN | 10067377 |
| Opened | 1 May 2018 |
| GIAS updated | 21 Jan 2026 |
Data sources and freshness
| Official record updated | 21 Jan 2026 |
| Latest KS4 year | 2025/2026 |
| Latest KS2 year | 2024/2025 |
| Ofsted published | 28 Apr 2025 |
Latest Ofsted inspection
| Quality of education | Requires improvement |
| Behaviour and attitudes | Good |
| Personal development | Good |
| Leadership and management | Good |
| Safeguarding | Effective |
| Inspection type | Requires Improvement S5 Reinspection Visit 1 |
| Category of concern | — |
| Inspection date | 11 Mar 2025 |
| Publication date | 28 Apr 2025 |