SchoolScoresFirwood High School
Special academy · Secondary, ages 11 to 19 · Mixed · Sixth form
Part of WOODBRIDGE TRUST
Stitch-MI Lane, Bolton, BL2 4HU
01204 333044 · School website · Map and directions
Ofsted inspection
Ofsted rated this school Good at the inspection that started on 28 November 2012. This inspection was of the school before it changed to its current form (for example, before becoming an academy).
This inspection used Ofsted's older format with four grades: Outstanding, Good, Requires improvement and Inadequate. Newer inspections use report cards. What changed.
| Area | Grade |
|---|---|
| Quality of education | Good |
| Outcomes for pupils | Good |
| Leadership and management | Outstanding |
Since then, a shorter ungraded inspection on 8 March 2023: Ofsted found the school was still Good.
Read the full Ofsted reports for this school
Source: Ofsted state-funded schools inspection data.
Results
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.
17 pupils in this year group.
100% — 10 points above the Bolton average, and 8 points above 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. | 100% | 90% | 92% |
| School sixth form | 0% | 12% | 34% |
| Sixth form college | 0% | 25% | 13% |
| Further education college | 0% | 45% | 37% |
| Apprenticeship | 0% | 3% | 3% |
| Work | 0% | 3% | 3% |
Stayed in education, an apprenticeship or work, over time
| 2023/24 | 2024/25 |
|---|---|
| 100% | 100% |
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.
Pupils, staff and SEND
This is a special school for children with an education, health and care plan (EHCP). Places are arranged through the council's SEND team, not the normal admissions round. It caters for: Severe learning difficulties.
| Pupils | This school | Bolton | England |
|---|---|---|---|
| Eligible for free school meals in the last 6 years | 55.5% | 48.6%* | 51.9% |
| With an education, health and care plan | 98.7% | 99.1%* | 99.5% |
| Receiving special educational needs support | 1.3% | 0.9%* | 0.5% |
| English as an additional language | 32.2% | 22.1%* | 14.4% |
| Overall absence (sessions missed) | 13.9% | 12.5%* | 12.8% |
| Persistently absent (missed 10% or more) | 37.6% | 34.6%* | 35.3% |
| Suspensions per 100 pupils | 6.5 | 17.5 | 12.3 |
| Pupils suspended at least once | 3.5% | 6.6% | 5.1% |
| Pupils permanently excluded1 pupil | 0.43% | 0.32% | 0.08% |
| Pupils per teacher | 6.8 | 5.4 | 6.6 |
| Pupils per adult (teachers and support staff) | 1.9 | 2.0 | 2.3 |
| Teachers who left during the year | 25.7% | 13.4%* | 14.3%* |
Comparisons are with special schools. * 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.
SEND provision: Get Information about Schools (DfE).
Nearby special schools
- Breightmet School 0.8 miles · Independent · Ofsted: Requires improvement (2025)
- Birtenshaw School Bolton 1.7 miles · Independent · Ofsted: Good (2013), confirmed 2022
- EdStart Schools Bolton 2.0 miles · Independent · Ofsted: No graded inspection
- Ladywood School 2.1 miles · Ofsted: Outstanding (2011, before conversion), confirmed 2023 · 0% met expected standard (KS2)
- Forestwood School 3.0 miles · Independent · Ofsted: Good (2025)
Straight-line distance. Distance isn't the same as a catchment area.
Questions parents ask
What is Firwood High School's Ofsted rating?
Firwood High School was rated Good by Ofsted at its inspection in 28 November 2012. At a shorter ungraded inspection in 8 March 2023, Ofsted found the school was still Good.
Sources
- School details: Get Information about Schools (DfE), 26 September 2026. URN 146410.
- Inspections: Ofsted management information, data to 31 August 2026.
- Results: DfE school performance tables, After Year 11 2024/25.
Spotted a mistake? Report it and we'll check it against the source.
Page updated 26 September 2026.