SchoolScoresKing's Leadership Academy Bolton
Free school · Secondary, ages 11 to 16 · Mixed
Part of THE GREAT SCHOOLS TRUST
Freshfield Avenue, Bolton, BL3 3HL
01204 937130 · School website · Map and directions
Ofsted inspection
Ofsted rated this school Good at the inspection that started on 17 October 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.
What parents say
78 parents answered Ofsted's Parent View survey between 4 September 2023 and 2 September 2024.
Bolton comparisons use the 10 of its 20 state secondary schools with comparable results. The other 10 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 7th highest of 10 state secondary schools with comparable Parent View results in Bolton. Higher than 35% of 1,763 state secondary schools with comparable Parent View results in England. | 78% | 84% | 88% |
| My child feels safe at this school 8th highest of 10 state secondary schools with comparable Parent View results in Bolton. Higher than 25% of 1,763 state secondary schools with comparable Parent View results in England. | 76% | 84% | 90% |
| The school makes sure pupils are well behaved Joint 8th highest of 10 state secondary schools with comparable Parent View results in Bolton. Higher than 23% of 1,763 state secondary schools with comparable Parent View results in England. | 63% | 76% | 84% |
| Bullying was dealt with quickly and effectivelyOf 33 parents whose child had been bullied 9th highest of 9 state secondary schools with comparable Parent View results in Bolton. Higher than 29% of 1,665 state secondary schools with comparable Parent View results in England. | 42% | 51% | 49% |
| Concerns were dealt with properlyOf 62 parents who had raised a concern 9th highest of 10 state secondary schools with comparable Parent View results in Bolton. Higher than 21% of 1,736 state secondary schools with comparable Parent View results in England. | 56% | 70% | 75% |
| I would recommend this school to another parent 8th highest of 10 state secondary schools with comparable Parent View results in Bolton. Higher than 32% of 1,763 state secondary schools with comparable Parent View results in England. | 71%said yes | 79% | 84% |
Parents choose whether to take part, so these answers may not represent all families. 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.
Results
GCSEs (key stage 4, age 16), 2024/25
175 pupils in this year group.
43% — about the same as the Bolton average, and 3 points below the England average.
| Measure | This school | Bolton | England |
|---|---|---|---|
| Grade 5 or above in English and maths | 43% | 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. | 45.4 | 45.7 | 46.1 |
| EBacc average point scoreAverage points across the English Baccalaureate subjects: English, maths, sciences, a language and history or geography. | 4.3 | 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.
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 | 176 |
|---|---|
| Families who put it first | 129 |
| Of those, offered a place | 129 (100%) |
| Families who listed it at all | 444 |
First-choice applications per place: 2024: 1.0 · 2025: 0.8 · 2026: 0.7
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 10th highest of 20 state secondary schools in Bolton. Higher than 66% of 3,448 state secondary schools in England. | 33.9% | 32.9%* | 28.9% |
| With an education, health and care plan 13th highest of 20 state secondary schools in Bolton. Higher than 29% of 3,448 state secondary schools in England. | 2.1% | 2.9%* | 3.1% |
| Receiving special educational needs support 8th highest of 20 state secondary schools in Bolton. Higher than 34% of 3,448 state secondary schools in England. | 11.7% | 11.3%* | 13.4% |
| English as an additional language 6th highest of 20 state secondary schools in Bolton. Higher than 95% of 3,448 state secondary schools in England. | 57.2% | 27.7%* | 19.2% |
| Overall absence (sessions missed) 7th lowest of 20 state secondary schools in Bolton. Lower than 65% of 3,411 state secondary schools in England. | 7.5% | 8.2%* | 8.4% |
| Persistently absent (missed 10% or more) 8th lowest of 20 state secondary schools in Bolton. Lower than 52% of 3,411 state secondary schools in England. | 23.1% | 23.0%* | 23.4% |
| Suspensions per 100 pupils 11th lowest of 20 state secondary schools in Bolton. Lower than 31% of 3,445 state secondary schools in England. | 23.9 | 31.5 | 21.2 |
| Pupils suspended at least once 10th lowest of 20 state secondary schools in Bolton. Lower than 34% of 3,445 state secondary schools in England. | 8.9% | 8.9% | 7.3% |
| Pupils permanently excluded0 pupils | 0.00% | 0.29% | 0.23% |
| Pupils per teacher 4th highest of 20 state secondary schools in Bolton. Higher than 65% of 3,442 state secondary schools in England. | 17.5 | 16.3 | 16.7 |
| Pupils per adult (teachers and support staff) 10th highest of 20 state secondary schools in Bolton. Higher than 47% of 3,445 state secondary schools in England. | 11.7 | 11.4 | 11.8 |
| Teachers who left during the year 4th highest of 20 state secondary schools in Bolton. Higher than 86% of 3,430 state secondary schools in England. | 22.0% | 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
- Essa Academy 0.3 miles · Ofsted: Report card 2026: 6 strong · 54% grade 5+ English and maths
- Mount St Joseph RC High School a Voluntary Academy 0.7 miles · Ofsted: Requires improvement (2023, before conversion) · 32% grade 5+ English and maths
- Bolton Muslim Girls School 0.8 miles · Ofsted: No overall grade (2025) · 60% 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 1.0 miles · Independent · Ofsted: Good (2024)
- Al Jamiah Al Islamiyyah 1.1 miles · Independent · Ofsted: Requires improvement (2024)
- St James's CofE High School 1.1 miles · Ofsted: Good (2022) · 58% grade 5+ English and maths
- Harper Green School 1.2 miles · Ofsted: Good (2023) · 36% grade 5+ English and maths
- University Collegiate School 1.2 miles · Ofsted: No overall grade (2024) · 31% grade 5+ English and maths
- Ladybridge High School 1.6 miles · Ofsted: Good (2022) · 33% grade 5+ English and maths
Straight-line distance. Distance isn't the same as a catchment area.
Questions parents ask
What is King's Leadership Academy Bolton's Ofsted rating?
King's Leadership Academy Bolton was rated Good by Ofsted at its inspection in 17 October 2023.
How did King's Leadership Academy Bolton do in its GCSEs?
In 2024/25, 43% of pupils grade 5 or above in English and maths, 3 points below the England average of 45%.
Would parents recommend King's Leadership Academy Bolton?
71% of the 78 parents who answered Ofsted's Parent View survey between 4 September 2023 and 2 September 2024 said they would recommend King's Leadership Academy Bolton to another parent. Parents choose whether to respond, so this may not represent all families.
Is King's Leadership Academy Bolton oversubscribed?
For the September 2026 intake, 129 families put King's Leadership Academy Bolton as their first choice for 176 places: fewer first-choice applications than places. 129 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 147077.
- Inspections: Ofsted management information, data to 31 August 2026.
- Parent views: Ofsted Parent View, 4 September 2023 to 2 September 2024.
- Results: DfE school performance tables, GCSEs 2024/25.
Spotted a mistake? Report it and we'll check it against the source.
Page updated 26 September 2026.