Blackshaw Primary School

Community school · Primary, ages 3 to 11 · Mixed · Nursery class

Bideford Drive, Breightmet, Bolton, BL2 6TE

01204 333505 · School website · Map and directions

OfstedNo overall gradeInspected 15 October 2024
Met the expected standard in reading, writing and maths69%England 62% · 2024/25
Joint 39th highest of 98 state primary schools in Bolton.
Higher than 61% of 14,185 state primary schools in England.
Pupils218Room for 210 Pupil numbers in January of each year: 240 in 2019, 236 in 2021, 226 in 2022, 236 in 2023, 229 in 2024, 223 in 2025, 218 in 2026. Across England, primary state school pupil numbers were down 4% from 2019 to 2025.
First-choice applications per place1.029 for 28 places, September 2026
26th highest of 99 state primary schools in Bolton.
Higher than 80% of 15,826 state primary schools in England.

Ofsted inspection

At the inspection that started on 15 October 2024, Ofsted graded each area separately. It stopped giving an overall grade in September 2024.

This inspection used Ofsted's older format with four grades: Outstanding, Good, Requires improvement and Inadequate. Newer inspections use report cards. What changed.

AreaGrade
Quality of educationGood
Behaviour and attitudesGood
Personal developmentGood
Leadership and managementGood
Early yearsGood
SafeguardingEffective

Read the full Ofsted reports for this school

Source: Ofsted state-funded schools inspection data.

What parents say

36 parents answered Ofsted's Parent View survey between 3 September 2024 and 1 September 2025.

Bolton comparisons use the 44 of its 99 state primary schools with comparable results. The other 55 have no published Parent View results (Ofsted only publishes a survey once at least 10 parents answer) or used Ofsted's newer questions, which we don't compare with the older ones.

StatementThis schoolBoltonEngland
My child is happy at this school
Joint 23rd highest of 44 state primary schools with comparable Parent View results in Bolton.
Higher than 41% of 8,868 state primary schools with comparable Parent View results in England.
94% 94% 89%
My child feels safe at this school
Joint 18th highest of 44 state primary schools with comparable Parent View results in Bolton.
Higher than 59% of 8,868 state primary schools with comparable Parent View results in England.
97% 95% 90%
The school makes sure pupils are well behaved
Joint 31st highest of 44 state primary schools with comparable Parent View results in Bolton.
Higher than 41% of 8,868 state primary schools with comparable Parent View results in England.
89% 93% 84%
Bullying was dealt with quickly and effectivelyOf 11 parents whose child had been bullied
22nd highest of 28 state primary schools with comparable Parent View results in Bolton.
Higher than 26% of 6,022 state primary schools with comparable Parent View results in England.
45% 54% 51%
Concerns were dealt with properlyOf 24 parents who had raised a concern
28th highest of 43 state primary schools with comparable Parent View results in Bolton.
Higher than 36% of 8,398 state primary schools with comparable Parent View results in England.
79% 82% 76%
I would recommend this school to another parent
Joint 30th highest of 44 state primary schools with comparable Parent View results in Bolton.
Higher than 32% of 8,868 state primary schools with comparable Parent View results in England.
86%said yes 90% 84%

Parents choose whether to take part, so these answers may not represent all families (Ofsted puts the response rate at 16%). Figures are the share who agree or strongly agree. England figures are all parents answering the same questions over the same period, for state-funded schools. Bolton figures pool parents at the Bolton schools compared, from each school's latest survey, so survey dates differ between schools. The scales run from lower (left) to higher (right) agreement, and the dot marks this school among state schools of the same phase that used the same survey questions. The third it falls in is coloured: green for the top third, amber the middle, red the bottom. This survey used Ofsted's previous Parent View questions, which changed in November 2025. Source: Ofsted Parent View management information.

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Results

Key stage 2 (SATs, age 11), 2024/25

29 pupils in this year group.

69% — 5 points above the Bolton average, and 7 points above the England average.

MeasureThis schoolBoltonEngland
Met the expected standard in reading, writing and maths 69% 64% 62%
Reached the higher standard in reading, writing and maths 7% 10% 8%
Met the expected standard in reading 72% 75% 75%
Met the expected standard in writing 72% 74% 72%
Met the expected standard in maths 79% 77% 74%
Average reading scoreScaled score from 80 to 120; 100 is the expected standard. 104 105 106
Average maths scoreScaled score from 80 to 120; 100 is the expected standard. 105 105 105
Met the expected standard in reading, writing and maths, over time
30% 40% 50% 60% 70% 80% England 2022/23: 60%England 2023/24: 61%England 2024/25: 62% This school 2022/23: 63%This school 2023/24: 43%This school 2024/25: 69% This school England 62% 2022/23 63% 2023/24 43% 2024/25 69%

Source: DfE key stage 2 performance tables, 2024/25. England figures are for state-funded schools.

Admissions

Apply through the council where you live, even if the school is in a different council area. This school is in Bolton. The national closing date for primary applications is 15 January, and offers are sent on 16 April.

How hard is it to get in?

For the September 2026 intake there were about one first-choice application for every place.

Places offered28
Families who put it first29
Of those, offered a place26 (90%)
Families who listed it at all54

First-choice applications per place: 2024: 1.0 · 2025: 1.0 · 2026: 1.0

This isn't your chance of getting a place. That depends on the school's admissions rules (for example siblings, distance or faith) and where you live. Source: DfE applications and offers, September 2026 intake.

Admissions dates and schools in Bolton

Pupils, staff and SEND

PupilsThis schoolBoltonEngland
Eligible for free school meals in the last 6 years
67th highest of 99 state primary schools in Bolton.
Higher than 44% of 16,656 state primary schools in England.
18.9% 29.4%* 26.3%
With an education, health and care plan
51st highest of 99 state primary schools in Bolton.
Higher than 53% of 16,656 state primary schools in England.
3.1% 3.6%* 3.5%
Receiving special educational needs support
24th highest of 99 state primary schools in Bolton.
Higher than 68% of 16,656 state primary schools in England.
17.0% 13.7%* 15.0%
English as an additional language
79th highest of 99 state primary schools in Bolton.
Higher than 39% of 16,656 state primary schools in England.
6.3% 34.6%* 23.4%
Overall absence (sessions missed)
25th lowest of 99 state primary schools in Bolton.
Lower than 75% of 16,640 state primary schools in England.
4.2% 5.2%* 5.2%
Persistently absent (missed 10% or more)
45th lowest of 99 state primary schools in Bolton.
Lower than 53% of 16,640 state primary schools in England.
11.2% 13.3%* 13.0%
Suspensions per 100 pupils
40th lowest of 99 state primary schools in Bolton.
Lower than 63% of 16,651 state primary schools in England.
0.4 2.4 2.5
Pupils suspended at least once
44th lowest of 99 state primary schools in Bolton.
Lower than 60% of 16,651 state primary schools in England.
0.4% 0.9% 1.1%
Pupils permanently excluded0 pupils 0.00% 0.07% 0.03%
Pupils per teacher
Joint 34th highest of 99 state primary schools in Bolton.
Higher than 75% of 16,642 state primary schools in England.
22.8 21.8 20.7
Pupils per adult (teachers and support staff)
Joint 42nd highest of 99 state primary schools in Bolton.
Higher than 58% of 16,653 state primary schools in England.
11.2 10.4 10.6
Teachers who left during the year
8th highest of 98 state primary schools in Bolton.
Higher than 88% of 15,063 state primary schools in England.
28.6% 12.8%* 14.4%*

Comparisons are with primary schools. Scales run from lower (left) to higher (right) figures. For absence and suspensions lower is better, so their scales run green to red; blue scales describe the school's pupils and staff and aren't good or bad. * Calculated by SchoolScores from the council's or England's schools, weighted by pupils (or teachers, for turnover); other figures are published by DfE. Sources: DfE school census 2024/25; DfE pupil absence 2024/25; DfE suspensions and permanent exclusions 2024/25; DfE school workforce census 2025/26; DfE teacher turnover 2024/25.

Nearby primary schools

Straight-line distance. Distance isn't the same as a catchment area.

Questions parents ask

What is Blackshaw Primary School's Ofsted rating?

At its inspection in 15 October 2024, Ofsted graded each area separately; it stopped giving an overall grade in September 2024.

How did Blackshaw Primary School do in its SATs?

In 2024/25, 69% of pupils met the expected standard in reading, writing and maths, 7 points above the England average of 62%.

Would parents recommend Blackshaw Primary School?

86% of the 36 parents who answered Ofsted's Parent View survey between 3 September 2024 and 1 September 2025 said they would recommend Blackshaw Primary School to another parent. Parents choose whether to respond, so this may not represent all families.

Is Blackshaw Primary School oversubscribed?

For the September 2026 intake, 29 families put Blackshaw Primary School as their first choice for 28 places: about one first-choice application for every place. 26 of those families were offered a place. Whether you get a place depends on the school's admissions rules and where you live.

Sources

Spotted a mistake? Report it and we'll check it against the source.

Page updated 26 September 2026.