SchoolScoresBest secondary schools in Bolton
How this list works. Ranked by the percentage of pupils achieving grade 5 or above in both English and maths GCSE, averaged over up to the last three years and weighted by the number of pupils each year. Only years with at least 10 pupils count, and a school needs at least one such year to be ranked. Independent schools, special schools and alternative provision are not ranked because their results aren't comparable. Ofsted outcomes are shown alongside but are not part of the ranking. Full methodology.
| # | School | Result |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Sharples School Ofsted: Good (2013, before conversion), improved significantly 2025 | 65% |
| 2 | Bolton Muslim Girls School Ofsted: No overall grade (2025) | 64% |
| 3 | Canon Slade School Ofsted: No overall grade (2024) | 62% |
| 4 | Eden Boys' School, Bolton Ofsted: Outstanding (2017), confirmed 2023 | 59% |
| 5 | Kearsley Academy Ofsted: Good (2022) | 56% |
| 6 | St James's CofE High School Ofsted: Good (2022) | 51% |
| 7 | St Joseph's RC High School Ofsted: No overall grade (2025) | 51% |
| 8 | Rivington and Blackrod High School Ofsted: Good (2023) | 50% |
| 9 | Little Lever School Ofsted: Report card 2026: 1 strong, 5 expected | 49% |
| 10 | King's Leadership Academy Bolton Ofsted: Good (2023) ยท 2 years of results | 48% |
| 11 | Essa Academy Ofsted: Report card 2026: 6 strong | 45% |
| 12 | Thornleigh Salesian College Ofsted: No overall grade (2024) | 42% |
| 13 | Westhoughton High School Ofsted: Report card 2026: 1 expected, 4 needs attention, 1 urgent improvement | 40% |
| 14 | Turton School Ofsted: Good (2024) | 38% |
| 15 | Ladybridge High School Ofsted: Good (2022) | 36% |
| 16 | Harper Green School Ofsted: Good (2023) | 35% |
| 17 | Mount St Joseph RC High School a Voluntary Academy Ofsted: Requires improvement (2023, before conversion) | 31% |
| 18 | University Collegiate School Ofsted: No overall grade (2024) | 30% |
| 19 | Smithills School Ofsted: Report card 2026: 2 expected, 4 needs attention | 25% |
| 20 | Bolton St Catherine's Academy Ofsted: No overall grade (2025) | 24% |
Result: grade 5 or above in English and maths. Source: DfE school performance tables to 2025; Ofsted inspection data.
Page updated 26 September 2026.