SchoolScoresSharples School
Academy · Secondary, ages 11 to 16 · Mixed
Part of SHARPLES SCHOOL A MULTI ACADEMY TRUST
Hill Cot Road, Sharples, Bolton, BL1 8SN
01204 333253 · School website · Map and directions
Ofsted inspection
Ofsted rated this school Good at the inspection that started on 10 September 2013. 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 | Good |
Since then, a shorter ungraded inspection on 8 January 2025: Ofsted found the school had improved significantly.
Read the full Ofsted reports for this school
Source: Ofsted state-funded schools inspection data.
What parents say
75 parents answered Ofsted's Parent View survey between 3 September 2024 and 1 September 2025.
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 Joint 1st highest of 10 state secondary schools with comparable Parent View results in Bolton. Higher than 86% of 1,763 state secondary schools with comparable Parent View results in England. | 93% | 84% | 89% |
| My child feels safe at this school Joint 1st highest of 10 state secondary schools with comparable Parent View results in Bolton. Higher than 93% of 1,763 state secondary schools with comparable Parent View results in England. | 97% | 84% | 90% |
| The school makes sure pupils are well behaved 1st highest of 10 state secondary schools with comparable Parent View results in Bolton. Higher than 95% of 1,763 state secondary schools with comparable Parent View results in England. | 96% | 76% | 84% |
| Bullying was dealt with quickly and effectivelyOf 22 parents whose child had been bullied 2nd highest of 9 state secondary schools with comparable Parent View results in Bolton. Higher than 93% of 1,665 state secondary schools with comparable Parent View results in England. | 68% | 51% | 51% |
| Concerns were dealt with properlyOf 49 parents who had raised a concern 3rd highest of 10 state secondary schools with comparable Parent View results in Bolton. Higher than 82% of 1,736 state secondary schools with comparable Parent View results in England. | 82% | 70% | 76% |
| My child with SEND gets the support they needOf 13 parents of children with SEND 5th highest of 6 state secondary schools with comparable Parent View results in Bolton. Higher than 21% of 789 state secondary schools with comparable Parent View results in England. | 46% | 59% | 68% |
| I would recommend this school to another parent 1st highest of 10 state secondary schools with comparable Parent View results in Bolton. Higher than 85% of 1,763 state secondary schools with comparable Parent View results in England. | 92%said yes | 79% | 84% |
Parents choose whether to take part, so these answers may not represent all families (Ofsted puts the response rate at 6%). 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
247 pupils in this year group.
62% — 18 points above the Bolton average, and 17 points above the England average.
| Measure | This school | Bolton | England |
|---|---|---|---|
| Grade 5 or above in English and maths | 62% | 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. | 55.6 | 45.7 | 46.1 |
| EBacc average point scoreAverage points across the English Baccalaureate subjects: English, maths, sciences, a language and history or geography. | 4.7 | 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.
230 pupils in this year group.
93% — 3 points above the Bolton average, and about the same as 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. | 93% | 90% | 92% |
| School sixth form | 9% | 12% | 34% |
| Sixth form college | 42% | 25% | 13% |
| Further education college | 38% | 45% | 37% |
| Apprenticeship | 1% | 3% | 3% |
| Work | 3% | 3% | 3% |
Stayed in education, an apprenticeship or work, over time
| 2023/24 | 2024/25 |
|---|---|
| 94% | 93% |
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 1.5 first-choice applications for every place.
| Places offered | 235 |
|---|---|
| Families who put it first | 344 |
| Of those, offered a place | 235 (68%) |
| Families who listed it at all | 826 |
First-choice applications per place: 2024: 1.4 · 2025: 1.5 · 2026: 1.5
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 14th highest of 20 state secondary schools in Bolton. Higher than 55% of 3,448 state secondary schools in England. | 29.3% | 32.9%* | 28.9% |
| With an education, health and care plan 7th highest of 20 state secondary schools in Bolton. Higher than 56% of 3,448 state secondary schools in England. | 3.2% | 2.9%* | 3.1% |
| Receiving special educational needs support 14th highest of 20 state secondary schools in Bolton. Higher than 18% of 3,448 state secondary schools in England. | 9.3% | 11.3%* | 13.4% |
| English as an additional language 10th highest of 20 state secondary schools in Bolton. Higher than 82% of 3,448 state secondary schools in England. | 33.7% | 27.7%* | 19.2% |
| Overall absence (sessions missed) 2nd lowest of 20 state secondary schools in Bolton. Lower than 90% of 3,411 state secondary schools in England. | 5.5% | 8.2%* | 8.4% |
| Persistently absent (missed 10% or more) 2nd lowest of 20 state secondary schools in Bolton. Lower than 94% of 3,411 state secondary schools in England. | 11.4% | 23.0%* | 23.4% |
| Suspensions per 100 pupils 2nd lowest of 20 state secondary schools in Bolton. Lower than 84% of 3,445 state secondary schools in England. | 4.6 | 31.5 | 21.2 |
| Pupils suspended at least once 2nd lowest of 20 state secondary schools in Bolton. Lower than 87% of 3,445 state secondary schools in England. | 2.5% | 8.9% | 7.3% |
| Pupils permanently excluded3 pupils | 0.25% | 0.29% | 0.23% |
| Pupils per teacher 12th highest of 20 state secondary schools in Bolton. Higher than 30% of 3,442 state secondary schools in England. | 15.9 | 16.3 | 16.7 |
| Pupils per adult (teachers and support staff) 15th highest of 20 state secondary schools in Bolton. Higher than 17% of 3,445 state secondary schools in England. | 10.2 | 11.4 | 11.8 |
| Teachers who left during the year 17th highest of 20 state secondary schools in Bolton. Higher than 41% of 3,430 state secondary schools in England. | 11.9% | 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
- Turton School 0.7 miles · Ofsted: Good (2024) · 31% grade 5+ English and maths
- Canon Slade School 0.7 miles · Ofsted: No overall grade (2024) · 57% grade 5+ English and maths
- Thornleigh Salesian College 0.9 miles · Ofsted: No overall grade (2024) · 41% grade 5+ English and maths
- Madrasatul Imam Muhammad Zakariya 1.0 miles · Independent · Ofsted: Good (2024) · 0% A*/A at A level
- Eden Boys' School, Bolton 1.1 miles · Ofsted: Outstanding (2017), confirmed 2023 · 59% grade 5+ English and maths
- Smithills School 1.4 miles · Ofsted: Report card 2026: 2 expected, 4 needs attention · 20% grade 5+ English and maths
- Bolton St Catherine's Academy 1.8 miles · Ofsted: No overall grade (2025) · 19% grade 5+ English and maths
- Bolton School Boys' Division 2.1 miles · Independent, inspected by ISI · 40% A*/A at A level
- Bolton School Girls' Division 2.3 miles · Independent, inspected by ISI · 40% A*/A at A level
- 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 Sharples School's Ofsted rating?
Sharples School was rated Good by Ofsted at its inspection in 10 September 2013. At a shorter ungraded inspection in 8 January 2025, Ofsted found the school had improved significantly.
How did Sharples School do in its GCSEs?
In 2024/25, 62% of pupils grade 5 or above in English and maths, 17 points above the England average of 45%.
Would parents recommend Sharples School?
92% of the 75 parents who answered Ofsted's Parent View survey between 3 September 2024 and 1 September 2025 said they would recommend Sharples School to another parent. Parents choose whether to respond, so this may not represent all families.
Is Sharples School oversubscribed?
For the September 2026 intake, 344 families put Sharples School as their first choice for 235 places: about 1.5 first-choice applications for every place. 235 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 142232.
- Inspections: Ofsted management information, data to 31 August 2026.
- Parent views: Ofsted Parent View, 3 September 2024 to 1 September 2025.
- 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.