Bolton
Essa Academy
GCSE results 2026: every Bolton school ranked · how England did
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 48.9 is close to the national average of around 46.
- 48.9
- Attainment 8
- 54%
- 5+ Eng & Maths
- 2025/2026
- Academic year
Pupils made above-average progress compared with similar pupils nationally. The confidence interval is entirely above zero, which is strong evidence of added value.
- +0.73
- Progress 8
- [0.52, 0.94]
- 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.
What to do next
- Verify the school's official admissions policy
- 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.
Year 7 entry
| Year of entry | Places offered | Put it first | First choices offered | Applications (any preference) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| September 2026 | 200 | 222 | 188 (85%) | 578 |
| September 2025 | 204 | 196 | 172 (88%) | 584 |
| September 2024 | 203 | 214 | 169 (79%) | 600 |
| September 2023 | 237 | 182 | 179 (98%) | 544 |
| September 2022 | 229 | 171 | 168 (98%) | 486 |
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) | 204 | 48.9 | — | 54.4% | 19.1% | — | — |
| 2024/2025 | 200 | 53.0 | — | 54.0% | — | 19.5% | 4.4 |
| 2023/2024 | 204 | 47.1 | +0.73 | 40.2% | — | 28.4% | 3.9 |
| 2022/2023 | 211 | 45.7 | +0.25 | 41.2% | — | 27.5% | 3.9 |
| 2021/2022 | 212 | 45.8 | +0.20 | — | — | 33.0% | 3.8 |
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 | 135770 |
| Local authority | Bolton |
| Region | North West |
| Phase | Secondary |
| Type | Academy sponsor led |
| Gender of entry | Mixed |
| Age range | 11-16 |
| Headteacher | Principal Mel Flynn |
| Trust | NORTHERN EDUCATION TRUST |
| Admissions | Non-selective |
| Religious character | None |
| Postcode | BL3 3HH |
| Pupils | 1,077 |
| FSM eligible | 44.8% |
Contact and identifiers
Lever Edge Lane, Bolton, Greater Manchester, BL3 3HH
https://esa.northerneducationtrust.org/1204333222| DfE number | 6905 |
| UKPRN | 10025571 |
| Opened | 5 Jan 2009 |
| GIAS updated | 25 Mar 2026 |
Data sources and freshness
| Official record updated | 25 Mar 2026 |
| Latest KS4 year | 2025/2026 |
| Latest KS2 year | — |
| Ofsted published | 5 Dec 2021 |
Latest Ofsted inspection
| Quality of education | Good |
| 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 | 19 Oct 2021 |
| Publication date | 5 Dec 2021 |