SchoolScoresEssa Academy
Academy · Secondary, ages 11 to 16 · Mixed
Part of NORTHERN EDUCATION TRUST
Lever Edge Lane, Bolton, BL3 3HH
01204 333222 · School website · Map and directions
Ofsted inspection
Ofsted report card from the inspection that started on 20 January 2026 , published 16 March 2026.
In short: 6 strong, and safeguarding met.
Since November 2025 Ofsted grades each area on a five-point scale instead of giving one overall grade. How report cards work.
| Area | Grade |
|---|---|
| SafeguardingWhether pupils are kept safe. Met or not met. | Met |
| InclusionHow well the school supports disadvantaged pupils and pupils with special educational needs. | Strong standard Second of five grades. Better than the standard Ofsted expects. |
| Curriculum and teachingWhat pupils are taught and how well they are taught it. | Strong standard Second of five grades. Better than the standard Ofsted expects. |
| AchievementHow well pupils learn and the results they get. | Strong standard Second of five grades. Better than the standard Ofsted expects. |
| Attendance and behaviourWhether pupils come to school and how they behave. | Strong standard Second of five grades. Better than the standard Ofsted expects. |
| Personal development and wellbeingPupils' wider development, character and wellbeing. | Strong standard Second of five grades. Better than the standard Ofsted expects. |
| Leadership and governanceHow well leaders and governors run the school. | Strong standard Second of five grades. Better than the standard Ofsted expects. |
Read the full Ofsted reports for this school
Source: Ofsted state-funded schools inspection data.
What parents say
26 parents answered Ofsted's Parent View survey between 10 November 2025 and 6 April 2026.
Bolton comparisons use the 4 of its 20 state secondary schools with comparable results. The other 16 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.
| Statement | This school | Bolton | England |
|---|---|---|---|
| My child is happy at this school 3rd highest of 4 state secondary schools with comparable Parent View results in Bolton. Higher than 36% of 442 state secondary schools with comparable Parent View results in England. | 73% | 69% | 83% |
| My child feels safe at this school 2nd highest of 4 state secondary schools with comparable Parent View results in Bolton. Higher than 55% of 442 state secondary schools with comparable Parent View results in England. | 85% | 71% | 85% |
| The school makes sure pupils are well behaved 2nd highest of 4 state secondary schools with comparable Parent View results in Bolton. Higher than 45% of 442 state secondary schools with comparable Parent View results in England. | 73% | 60% | 78% |
| Concerns were dealt with properlyOf 26 parents who had raised a concern 3rd highest of 4 state secondary schools with comparable Parent View results in Bolton. Higher than 39% of 431 state secondary schools with comparable Parent View results in England. | 65% | 62% | 74% |
| I would recommend this school to another parent 2nd highest of 4 state secondary schools with comparable Parent View results in Bolton. Higher than 40% of 442 state secondary schools with comparable Parent View results in England. | 77%said yes | 71% | 83% |
Parents choose whether to take part, so these answers may not represent all families (Ofsted puts the response rate at 2%). 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. Source: Ofsted Parent View management information.
Results
GCSEs (key stage 4, age 16), 2024/25
200 pupils in this year group.
54% — 10 points above the Bolton average, and 9 points above the England average.
| Measure | This school | Bolton | England |
|---|---|---|---|
| Grade 5 or above in English and maths | 54% | 44% | 45% |
| Attainment 8 scoreAverage of each pupil's grades across 8 GCSE-level subjects, with English and maths counted twice. Around 50 means grade 5s on average. | 53 | 45.7 | 46.1 |
| EBacc average point scoreAverage points across the English Baccalaureate subjects: English, maths, sciences, a language and history or geography. | 4.4 | 4.0 | 4.1 |
Progress 8 isn't shown. DfE didn't publish it for 2024/25 because this year group's key stage 2 tests in 2020 were cancelled, and older progress scores aren't comparable.
Source: DfE key stage 4 performance tables, 2024/25. England figures are for state-funded schools.
After Year 11
Where pupils went next. DfE measures this for pupils who finished in an earlier year, so these figures describe a previous year group.
211 pupils in this year group.
93% — 3 points above the Bolton average, and about the same as the England average.
| Measure | This school | Bolton | England |
|---|---|---|---|
| Stayed in education, an apprenticeship or workPupils recorded in sustained education, apprenticeship or employment in the year after finishing Year 11. | 93% | 90% | 92% |
| School sixth form | 1% | 12% | 34% |
| Sixth form college | 55% | 25% | 13% |
| Further education college | 35% | 45% | 37% |
| Apprenticeship | Not published | 3% | 3% |
| Work | 1% | 3% | 3% |
"Not published": Not published (DfE code SP).
Stayed in education, an apprenticeship or work, over time
| 2023/24 | 2024/25 |
|---|---|
| 89% | 93% |
Source: DfE key stage 4 destination measures, 2024/25 performance tables. 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 secondary applications is 31 October, and offers are sent on 1 March.
How hard is it to get in?
For the September 2026 intake there were about 1 first-choice applications for every place.
| Places offered | 200 |
|---|---|
| Families who put it first | 222 |
| Of those, offered a place | 188 (85%) |
| Families who listed it at all | 578 |
First-choice applications per place: 2024: 1.1 · 2025: 1.0 · 2026: 1.1
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.
Pupils, staff and SEND
| Pupils | This school | Bolton | England |
|---|---|---|---|
| Eligible for free school meals in the last 6 years 4th highest of 20 state secondary schools in Bolton. Higher than 86% of 3,448 state secondary schools in England. | 46.8% | 32.9%* | 28.9% |
| With an education, health and care plan 10th highest of 20 state secondary schools in Bolton. Higher than 41% of 3,448 state secondary schools in England. | 2.6% | 2.9%* | 3.1% |
| Receiving special educational needs support 5th highest of 20 state secondary schools in Bolton. Higher than 47% of 3,448 state secondary schools in England. | 13.3% | 11.3%* | 13.4% |
| English as an additional language Joint 4th highest of 20 state secondary schools in Bolton. Higher than 95% of 3,448 state secondary schools in England. | 57.8% | 27.7%* | 19.2% |
| Overall absence (sessions missed) 9th lowest of 20 state secondary schools in Bolton. Lower than 63% of 3,411 state secondary schools in England. | 7.6% | 8.2%* | 8.4% |
| Persistently absent (missed 10% or more) 9th lowest of 20 state secondary schools in Bolton. Lower than 51% of 3,411 state secondary schools in England. | 23.2% | 23.0%* | 23.4% |
| Suspensions per 100 pupils 14th lowest of 20 state secondary schools in Bolton. Lower than 11% of 3,445 state secondary schools in England. | 50.3 | 31.5 | 21.2 |
| Pupils suspended at least once 20th lowest of 20 state secondary schools in Bolton. Lower than 5% of 3,445 state secondary schools in England. | 19.1% | 8.9% | 7.3% |
| Pupils permanently excluded1 pupil | 0.09% | 0.29% | 0.23% |
| Pupils per teacher 1st highest of 20 state secondary schools in Bolton. Higher than 99% of 3,442 state secondary schools in England. | 22.4 | 16.3 | 16.7 |
| Pupils per adult (teachers and support staff) 1st highest of 20 state secondary schools in Bolton. Higher than 97% of 3,445 state secondary schools in England. | 15.9 | 11.4 | 11.8 |
| Teachers who left during the year 1st highest of 20 state secondary schools in Bolton. Higher than 100% of 3,430 state secondary schools in England. | 50.6% | 17.2%* | 14.2%* |
Comparisons are with secondary 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 secondary schools
- King's Leadership Academy Bolton 0.3 miles · Ofsted: Good (2023) · 43% grade 5+ English and maths
- Bolton Muslim Girls School 0.7 miles · Ofsted: No overall grade (2025) · 60% grade 5+ English and maths
- Al Jamiah Al Islamiyyah 0.9 miles · Independent · Ofsted: Requires improvement (2024)
- Lord's School 1.0 miles · Independent · Ofsted: Report card 2026: 2 expected, 4 needs attention · 0% A*/A at A level
- Mount St Joseph RC High School a Voluntary Academy 1.0 miles · Ofsted: Requires improvement (2023, before conversion) · 32% grade 5+ English and maths
- Bolton Islamic Girls School 1.1 miles · Independent · Ofsted: Good (2024)
- University Collegiate School 1.2 miles · Ofsted: No overall grade (2024) · 31% grade 5+ English and maths
- Ladybridge High School 1.4 miles · Ofsted: Good (2022) · 33% grade 5+ English and maths
- St James's CofE High School 1.4 miles · Ofsted: Good (2022) · 58% grade 5+ English and maths
- Harper Green School 1.5 miles · Ofsted: Good (2023) · 36% grade 5+ English and maths
Straight-line distance. Distance isn't the same as a catchment area.
Questions parents ask
What is Essa Academy's Ofsted rating?
Essa Academy was inspected under Ofsted's report card format in 20 January 2026. Report cards grade each area on a five-point scale instead of giving one overall grade. Its grades were 6 strong, and safeguarding was met.
How did Essa Academy do in its GCSEs?
In 2024/25, 54% of pupils grade 5 or above in English and maths, 9 points above the England average of 45%.
Would parents recommend Essa Academy?
77% of the 26 parents who answered Ofsted's Parent View survey between 10 November 2025 and 6 April 2026 said they would recommend Essa Academy to another parent. Parents choose whether to respond, so this may not represent all families.
Is Essa Academy oversubscribed?
For the September 2026 intake, 222 families put Essa Academy as their first choice for 200 places: about 1 first-choice applications for every place. 188 of those families were offered a place. Whether you get a place depends on the school's admissions rules and where you live.
Sources
- School details: Get Information about Schools (DfE), 26 September 2026. URN 135770.
- Inspections: Ofsted management information, data to 31 August 2026.
- Parent views: Ofsted Parent View, 10 November 2025 to 6 April 2026.
- Results: DfE school performance tables, GCSEs 2024/25, After Year 11 2024/25.
Spotted a mistake? Report it and we'll check it against the source.
Page updated 26 September 2026.