SchoolScoresKearsley Academy
Academy · Secondary, ages 11 to 16 · Mixed
Part of NORTHERN EDUCATION TRUST
Springfield Road, Kearsley, Bolton, BL4 8HY
01204 332555 · School website · Map and directions
Ofsted inspection
Ofsted rated this school Good at the inspection that started on 16 March 2022.
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.
What parents say
15 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 1st highest of 4 state secondary schools with comparable Parent View results in Bolton. Higher than 85% of 442 state secondary schools with comparable Parent View results in England. | 93% | 69% | 83% |
| My child feels safe at this school 1st highest of 4 state secondary schools with comparable Parent View results in Bolton. Higher than 80% of 442 state secondary schools with comparable Parent View results in England. | 93% | 71% | 85% |
| The school makes sure pupils are well behaved 1st highest of 4 state secondary schools with comparable Parent View results in Bolton. Higher than 78% of 442 state secondary schools with comparable Parent View results in England. | 87% | 60% | 78% |
| Concerns were dealt with properlyOf 14 parents who had raised a concern 1st highest of 4 state secondary schools with comparable Parent View results in Bolton. Higher than 88% of 431 state secondary schools with comparable Parent View results in England. | 86% | 62% | 74% |
| I would recommend this school to another parent 1st highest of 4 state secondary schools with comparable Parent View results in Bolton. Higher than 79% of 442 state secondary schools with comparable Parent View results in England. | 93%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
143 pupils in this year group.
59% — 16 points above the Bolton average, and 14 points above the England average.
| Measure | This school | Bolton | England |
|---|---|---|---|
| Grade 5 or above in English and maths | 59% | 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. | 51.8 | 45.7 | 46.1 |
| EBacc average point scoreAverage points across the English Baccalaureate subjects: English, maths, sciences, a language and history or geography. | 4.5 | 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.
139 pupils in this year group.
83% — 7 points below the Bolton average, and 9 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. | 83% | 90% | 92% |
| School sixth form | 0% | 12% | 34% |
| Sixth form college | 20% | 25% | 13% |
| Further education college | 56% | 45% | 37% |
| Apprenticeship | 1% | 3% | 3% |
| Work | 1% | 3% | 3% |
Stayed in education, an apprenticeship or work, over time
| 2023/24 | 2024/25 |
|---|---|
| 89% | 83% |
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 | 170 |
|---|---|
| Families who put it first | 146 |
| Of those, offered a place | 146 (100%) |
| Families who listed it at all | 262 |
First-choice applications per place: 2024: 0.7 · 2025: 0.8 · 2026: 0.9
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 5th highest of 20 state secondary schools in Bolton. Higher than 80% of 3,448 state secondary schools in England. | 42.7% | 32.9%* | 28.9% |
| With an education, health and care plan 9th highest of 20 state secondary schools in Bolton. Higher than 44% of 3,448 state secondary schools in England. | 2.7% | 2.9%* | 3.1% |
| Receiving special educational needs support 2nd highest of 20 state secondary schools in Bolton. Higher than 64% of 3,448 state secondary schools in England. | 15.8% | 11.3%* | 13.4% |
| English as an additional language 13th highest of 20 state secondary schools in Bolton. Higher than 63% of 3,448 state secondary schools in England. | 17.8% | 27.7%* | 19.2% |
| Overall absence (sessions missed) 16th lowest of 20 state secondary schools in Bolton. Lower than 29% of 3,411 state secondary schools in England. | 9.6% | 8.2%* | 8.4% |
| Persistently absent (missed 10% or more) 18th lowest of 20 state secondary schools in Bolton. Lower than 22% of 3,411 state secondary schools in England. | 29.3% | 23.0%* | 23.4% |
| Suspensions per 100 pupils 19th lowest of 20 state secondary schools in Bolton. Lower than 5% of 3,445 state secondary schools in England. | 77.4 | 31.5 | 21.2 |
| Pupils suspended at least once 18th lowest of 20 state secondary schools in Bolton. Lower than 8% of 3,445 state secondary schools in England. | 16.4% | 8.9% | 7.3% |
| Pupils permanently excluded5 pupils | 0.64% | 0.29% | 0.23% |
| Pupils per teacher 2nd highest of 20 state secondary schools in Bolton. Higher than 86% of 3,442 state secondary schools in England. | 18.8 | 16.3 | 16.7 |
| Pupils per adult (teachers and support staff) 5th highest of 20 state secondary schools in Bolton. Higher than 58% of 3,445 state secondary schools in England. | 12.2 | 11.4 | 11.8 |
| Teachers who left during the year Joint 8th highest of 20 state secondary schools in Bolton. Higher than 79% of 3,430 state secondary schools in England. | 19.5% | 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
- Harper Green School 1.3 miles · Ofsted: Good (2023) · 36% grade 5+ English and maths
- St James's CofE High School 1.4 miles · Ofsted: Good (2022) · 58% grade 5+ English and maths
- The Lowry Academy 1.5 miles · Ofsted: Good (2024) · 44% grade 5+ English and maths
- Star Salford Academy 1.5 miles · Ofsted: No graded inspection
- Little Lever School 1.6 miles · Ofsted: Report card 2026: 1 strong, 5 expected · 57% grade 5+ English and maths
- Co-op Academy Walkden 1.7 miles · Ofsted: Good (2023) · 41% grade 5+ English and maths
- St Ambrose Barlow Roman Catholic High School 1.7 miles · Ofsted: Good (2024) · 38% grade 5+ English and maths
- Mount St Joseph RC High School a Voluntary Academy 1.9 miles · Ofsted: Requires improvement (2023, before conversion) · 32% grade 5+ English and maths
- Lord's School 2.1 miles · Independent · Ofsted: Report card 2026: 2 expected, 4 needs attention · 0% A*/A at A level
- Bolton Islamic Girls School 2.4 miles · Independent · Ofsted: Good (2024)
Straight-line distance. Distance isn't the same as a catchment area.
Questions parents ask
What is Kearsley Academy's Ofsted rating?
Kearsley Academy was rated Good by Ofsted at its inspection in 16 March 2022.
How did Kearsley Academy do in its GCSEs?
In 2024/25, 59% of pupils grade 5 or above in English and maths, 14 points above the England average of 45%.
Would parents recommend Kearsley Academy?
93% of the 15 parents who answered Ofsted's Parent View survey between 10 November 2025 and 6 April 2026 said they would recommend Kearsley Academy to another parent. Parents choose whether to respond, so this may not represent all families.
Is Kearsley Academy oversubscribed?
For the September 2026 intake, 146 families put Kearsley Academy as their first choice for 170 places: fewer first-choice applications than places. 146 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 136135.
- 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.