SchoolScoresLittle Lever School
Academy · Secondary, ages 11 to 16 · Mixed
Part of LEVER ACADEMY TRUST
Church Street, Little Lever, Bolton, BL3 1BT
01204 333300 · School website · Map and directions
Ofsted inspection
Ofsted report card from the inspection that started on 19 May 2026 , published 5 July 2026.
In short: 1 strong, 5 expected, 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. | Expected standard Middle of five grades. Meets 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. | Expected standard Middle of five grades. Meets the standard Ofsted expects. |
| Attendance and behaviourWhether pupils come to school and how they behave. | Expected standard Middle of five grades. Meets the standard Ofsted expects. |
| Personal development and wellbeingPupils' wider development, character and wellbeing. | Expected standard Middle of five grades. Meets the standard Ofsted expects. |
| Leadership and governanceHow well leaders and governors run the school. | Expected standard Middle of five grades. Meets the standard Ofsted expects. |
Read the full Ofsted reports for this school
Source: Ofsted state-funded schools inspection data.
Results
GCSEs (key stage 4, age 16), 2024/25
203 pupils in this year group.
57% — 13 points above the Bolton average, and 11 points above the England average.
| Measure | This school | Bolton | England |
|---|---|---|---|
| Grade 5 or above in English and maths | 57% | 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. | 46.2 | 45.7 | 46.1 |
| EBacc average point scoreAverage points across the English Baccalaureate subjects: English, maths, sciences, a language and history or geography. | 3.9 | 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.
207 pupils in this year group.
88% — 2 points below the Bolton average, and 4 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. | 88% | 90% | 92% |
| School sixth form | 0% | 12% | 34% |
| Sixth form college | 27% | 25% | 13% |
| Further education college | 50% | 45% | 37% |
| Apprenticeship | 4% | 3% | 3% |
| Work | 6% | 3% | 3% |
Stayed in education, an apprenticeship or work, over time
| 2023/24 | 2024/25 |
|---|---|
| 89% | 88% |
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 one first-choice application for every place.
| Places offered | 231 |
|---|---|
| Families who put it first | 216 |
| Of those, offered a place | 214 (99%) |
| Families who listed it at all | 356 |
First-choice applications per place: 2024: 1.1 · 2025: 0.9 · 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 12th highest of 20 state secondary schools in Bolton. Higher than 59% of 3,448 state secondary schools in England. | 30.8% | 32.9%* | 28.9% |
| With an education, health and care plan 4th highest of 20 state secondary schools in Bolton. Higher than 74% of 3,448 state secondary schools in England. | 4.1% | 2.9%* | 3.1% |
| Receiving special educational needs support 4th highest of 20 state secondary schools in Bolton. Higher than 51% of 3,448 state secondary schools in England. | 13.9% | 11.3%* | 13.4% |
| English as an additional language 18th highest of 20 state secondary schools in Bolton. Higher than 34% of 3,448 state secondary schools in England. | 7.4% | 27.7%* | 19.2% |
| Overall absence (sessions missed) 19th lowest of 20 state secondary schools in Bolton. Lower than 20% of 3,411 state secondary schools in England. | 10.3% | 8.2%* | 8.4% |
| Persistently absent (missed 10% or more) 16th lowest of 20 state secondary schools in Bolton. Lower than 25% of 3,411 state secondary schools in England. | 28.5% | 23.0%* | 23.4% |
| Suspensions per 100 pupils 20th lowest of 20 state secondary schools in Bolton. Lower than 3% of 3,445 state secondary schools in England. | 88.3 | 31.5 | 21.2 |
| Pupils suspended at least once 19th lowest of 20 state secondary schools in Bolton. Lower than 7% of 3,445 state secondary schools in England. | 17.2% | 8.9% | 7.3% |
| Pupils permanently excluded2 pupils | 0.19% | 0.29% | 0.23% |
| Pupils per teacher Joint 5th highest of 20 state secondary schools in Bolton. Higher than 63% of 3,442 state secondary schools in England. | 17.4 | 16.3 | 16.7 |
| Pupils per adult (teachers and support staff) Joint 7th highest of 20 state secondary schools in Bolton. Higher than 49% of 3,445 state secondary schools in England. | 11.8 | 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 1.4 miles · Ofsted: Good (2023) · 36% grade 5+ English and maths
- Lord's School 1.6 miles · Independent · Ofsted: Report card 2026: 2 expected, 4 needs attention · 0% A*/A at A level
- Kearsley Academy 1.6 miles · Ofsted: Good (2022) · 59% grade 5+ English and maths
- Mount St Joseph RC High School a Voluntary Academy 1.6 miles · Ofsted: Requires improvement (2023, before conversion) · 32% grade 5+ English and maths
- Bolton Islamic Girls School 1.7 miles · Independent · Ofsted: Good (2024)
- St James's CofE High School 1.8 miles · Ofsted: Good (2022) · 58% grade 5+ English and maths
- Bolton St Catherine's Academy 2.1 miles · Ofsted: No overall grade (2025) · 19% grade 5+ English and maths
- King's Leadership Academy Bolton 2.3 miles · Ofsted: Good (2023) · 43% grade 5+ English and maths
- Bolton Muslim Girls School 2.4 miles · Ofsted: No overall grade (2025) · 60% grade 5+ English and maths
- University Collegiate School 2.4 miles · Ofsted: No overall grade (2024) · 31% grade 5+ English and maths
Straight-line distance. Distance isn't the same as a catchment area.
Questions parents ask
What is Little Lever School's Ofsted rating?
Little Lever School was inspected under Ofsted's report card format in 19 May 2026. Report cards grade each area on a five-point scale instead of giving one overall grade. Its grades were 1 strong, 5 expected, and safeguarding was met.
How did Little Lever School do in its GCSEs?
In 2024/25, 57% of pupils grade 5 or above in English and maths, 11 points above the England average of 45%.
Is Little Lever School oversubscribed?
For the September 2026 intake, 216 families put Little Lever School as their first choice for 231 places: about one first-choice application for every place. 214 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 142296.
- 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.