Bolton
St James's Church of England High School
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 48.1 is close to the national average of around 46.
- 48.1
- Attainment 8
- 54%
- 5+ Eng & Maths
- 2025/2026
- Academic year
Progress is close to average or statistically uncertain because the confidence interval crosses zero. This does not necessarily mean the school adds or detracts from pupil progress.
- -0.07
- Progress 8
- [-0.27, 0.12]
- 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.
Year 7 entry
| Year of entry | Places offered | Put it first | First choices offered | Applications (any preference) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| September 2026 | 197 | 315 | 193 (61%) | 732 |
| September 2025 | 200 | 359 | 196 (55%) | 806 |
| September 2024 | 198 | 358 | 197 (55%) | 816 |
| September 2023 | 207 | 355 | 204 (57%) | 872 |
| September 2022 | 204 | 306 | 189 (62%) | 862 |
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) | 207 | 48.1 | — | 53.6% | 11.1% | — | — |
| 2024/2025 | 207 | 53.5 | — | 57.5% | — | 38.2% | 4.7 |
| 2023/2024 | 209 | 47.9 | -0.07 | 48.8% | — | 30.1% | 4.2 |
| 2022/2023 | 209 | 49.0 | -0.24 | 47.8% | — | 41.1% | 4.2 |
| 2021/2022 | 211 | 50.1 | -0.39 | — | — | 44.0% | 4.4 |
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 | 144046 |
| Local authority | Bolton |
| Region | North West |
| Phase | Secondary |
| Type | Academy converter |
| Gender of entry | Mixed |
| Age range | 11-16 |
| Headteacher | Headteacher Catherine Anderson |
| Trust | THE BISHOP FRASER TRUST |
| Admissions | Non-selective |
| Religious character | Church of England |
| Postcode | BL4 9RU |
| Pupils | 1,064 |
| FSM eligible | 19.7% |
Contact and identifiers
Lucas Road, Farnworth, Bolton, Greater Manchester, BL4 9RU
http://www.st-james.bolton.sch.uk/1204333000| DfE number | 5400 |
| UKPRN | 10064724 |
| Opened | 1 Dec 2017 |
| GIAS updated | 26 Mar 2026 |
Data sources and freshness
| Official record updated | 26 Mar 2026 |
| Latest KS4 year | 2025/2026 |
| Latest KS2 year | — |
| Ofsted published | 12 Dec 2022 |
Latest Ofsted inspection
| Quality of education | Good |
| Behaviour and attitudes | Outstanding |
| Personal development | Outstanding |
| Leadership and management | Outstanding |
| Safeguarding | Effective |
| Inspection type | S5 Inspection |
| Category of concern | — |
| Inspection date | 2 Nov 2022 |
| Publication date | 12 Dec 2022 |