SchoolScoresHarper Green School
Academy · Secondary, ages 11 to 16 · Mixed
Part of LEVERHULME ACADEMY CHURCH OF ENGLAND AND COMMUNITY TRUST
Harper Green Road, Farnworth, Bolton, BL4 0DH
01204 572941 · School website · Map and directions
Ofsted inspection
Ofsted rated this school Good at the inspection that started on 10 January 2023.
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 |
| Behaviour and attitudes | Good |
| Personal development | Good |
| Leadership and management | Good |
| Safeguarding | Effective |
Read the full Ofsted reports for this school
Source: Ofsted state-funded schools inspection data.
Results
GCSEs (key stage 4, age 16), 2024/25
214 pupils in this year group.
36% — 8 points below the Bolton average, and 9 points below the England average.
| Measure | This school | Bolton | England |
|---|---|---|---|
| Grade 5 or above in English and maths | 36% | 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. | 42.8 | 45.7 | 46.1 |
| EBacc average point scoreAverage points across the English Baccalaureate subjects: English, maths, sciences, a language and history or geography. | 3.7 | 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.
286 pupils in this year group.
82% — 8 points below the Bolton average, and 10 points below 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. | 82% | 90% | 92% |
| School sixth form | Not published | 12% | 34% |
| Sixth form college | 26% | 25% | 13% |
| Further education college | 50% | 45% | 37% |
| Apprenticeship | 3% | 3% | 3% |
| Work | 3% | 3% | 3% |
"Not published": Not published (DfE code SP).
Stayed in education, an apprenticeship or work, over time
| 2023/24 | 2024/25 |
|---|---|
| 86% | 82% |
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 fewer first-choice applications than places.
| Places offered | 198 |
|---|---|
| Families who put it first | 104 |
| Of those, offered a place | 104 (100%) |
| Families who listed it at all | 287 |
First-choice applications per place: 2024: 0.5 · 2025: 0.4 · 2026: 0.5
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 3rd highest of 20 state secondary schools in Bolton. Higher than 86% of 3,448 state secondary schools in England. | 47.1% | 32.9%* | 28.9% |
| With an education, health and care plan 20th highest of 20 state secondary schools in Bolton. Higher than 14% of 3,448 state secondary schools in England. | 1.4% | 2.9%* | 3.1% |
| Receiving special educational needs support 11th highest of 20 state secondary schools in Bolton. Higher than 25% of 3,448 state secondary schools in England. | 10.5% | 11.3%* | 13.4% |
| English as an additional language 9th highest of 20 state secondary schools in Bolton. Higher than 84% of 3,448 state secondary schools in England. | 35.6% | 27.7%* | 19.2% |
| Overall absence (sessions missed) 12th lowest of 20 state secondary schools in Bolton. Lower than 45% of 3,411 state secondary schools in England. | 8.6% | 8.2%* | 8.4% |
| Persistently absent (missed 10% or more) 13th lowest of 20 state secondary schools in Bolton. Lower than 40% of 3,411 state secondary schools in England. | 25.5% | 23.0%* | 23.4% |
| Suspensions per 100 pupils 13th lowest of 20 state secondary schools in Bolton. Lower than 17% of 3,445 state secondary schools in England. | 37.5 | 31.5 | 21.2 |
| Pupils suspended at least once 13th lowest of 20 state secondary schools in Bolton. Lower than 24% of 3,445 state secondary schools in England. | 10.7% | 8.9% | 7.3% |
| Pupils permanently excluded4 pupils | 0.36% | 0.29% | 0.23% |
| Pupils per teacher Joint 16th highest of 20 state secondary schools in Bolton. Higher than 15% of 3,442 state secondary schools in England. | 14.9 | 16.3 | 16.7 |
| Pupils per adult (teachers and support staff) Joint 18th highest of 20 state secondary schools in Bolton. Higher than 11% of 3,445 state secondary schools in England. | 9.8 | 11.4 | 11.8 |
| Teachers who left during the year 3rd highest of 20 state secondary schools in Bolton. Higher than 88% of 3,430 state secondary schools in England. | 23.0% | 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
- St James's CofE High School 0.4 miles · Ofsted: Good (2022) · 58% grade 5+ English and maths
- Mount St Joseph RC High School a Voluntary Academy 0.5 miles · Ofsted: Requires improvement (2023, before conversion) · 32% grade 5+ English and maths
- Lord's School 0.8 miles · Independent · Ofsted: Report card 2026: 2 expected, 4 needs attention · 0% A*/A at A level
- Bolton Islamic Girls School 1.2 miles · Independent · Ofsted: Good (2024)
- King's Leadership Academy Bolton 1.2 miles · Ofsted: Good (2023) · 43% grade 5+ English and maths
- Kearsley Academy 1.3 miles · Ofsted: Good (2022) · 59% grade 5+ English and maths
- Little Lever School 1.4 miles · Ofsted: Report card 2026: 1 strong, 5 expected · 57% grade 5+ English and maths
- Essa Academy 1.5 miles · Ofsted: Report card 2026: 6 strong · 54% grade 5+ English and maths
- Bolton Muslim Girls School 1.6 miles · Ofsted: No overall grade (2025) · 60% grade 5+ English and maths
- Star Salford Academy 1.6 miles · Ofsted: No graded inspection
Straight-line distance. Distance isn't the same as a catchment area.
Questions parents ask
What is Harper Green School's Ofsted rating?
Harper Green School was rated Good by Ofsted at its inspection in 10 January 2023.
How did Harper Green School do in its GCSEs?
In 2024/25, 36% of pupils grade 5 or above in English and maths, 9 points below the England average of 45%.
Is Harper Green School oversubscribed?
For the September 2026 intake, 104 families put Harper Green School as their first choice for 198 places: fewer first-choice applications than places. 104 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 143772.
- Inspections: Ofsted management information, data to 31 August 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.