SchoolScoresThe Elton High School
Community school · Secondary, ages 11 to 16 · Mixed
Walshaw Road, Bury, BL8 1RN
0161 763 1434 · School website · Map and directions
Ofsted inspection
Ofsted report card from the inspection that started on 24 February 2026 , published 5 May 2026.
In short: 6 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. | Expected standard Middle of five grades. Meets 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.
What parents say
147 parents answered Ofsted's Parent View survey between 10 November 2025 and 6 April 2026.
| Statement | This school | England |
|---|---|---|
| My child is happy at this school Higher than 45% of 442 state secondary schools with comparable Parent View results in England. | 77% | 83% |
| My child feels safe at this school Higher than 39% of 442 state secondary schools with comparable Parent View results in England. | 78% | 85% |
| The school makes sure pupils are well behaved Higher than 55% of 442 state secondary schools with comparable Parent View results in England. | 78% | 78% |
| Bullying was dealt with quickly and effectivelyOf 26 parents whose child had been bullied Higher than 44% of 344 state secondary schools with comparable Parent View results in England. | 42% | 43% |
| Concerns were dealt with properlyOf 130 parents who had raised a concern Higher than 27% of 431 state secondary schools with comparable Parent View results in England. | 59% | 74% |
| My child with SEND gets the support they needOf 45 parents of children with SEND Higher than 23% of 356 state secondary schools with comparable Parent View results in England. | 42% | 63% |
| I would recommend this school to another parent Higher than 41% of 442 state secondary schools with comparable Parent View results in England. | 78%said yes | 83% |
Parents choose whether to take part, so these answers may not represent all families (Ofsted puts the response rate at 14%). 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. 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
196 pupils in this year group.
37% — 2 points below the Bury average, and 8 points below the England average.
| Measure | This school | Bury | England |
|---|---|---|---|
| Grade 5 or above in English and maths | 37% | 39% | 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. | 44.3 | 43.4 | 46.1 |
| EBacc average point scoreAverage points across the English Baccalaureate subjects: English, maths, sciences, a language and history or geography. | 3.7 | 3.8 | 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.
196 pupils in this year group.
92% — about the same as the Bury average, and about the same as the England average.
| Measure | This school | Bury | England |
|---|---|---|---|
| Stayed in education, an apprenticeship or workPupils recorded in sustained education, apprenticeship or employment in the year after finishing Year 11. | 92% | 93% | 92% |
| School sixth form | 1% | 2% | 34% |
| Sixth form college | 33% | 41% | 13% |
| Further education college | 51% | 44% | 37% |
| Apprenticeship | 3% | 3% | 3% |
| Work | 5% | 2% | 3% |
Stayed in education, an apprenticeship or work, over time
| 2023/24 | 2024/25 |
|---|---|
| 95% | 92% |
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 Bury. 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 | 210 |
|---|---|
| Families who put it first | 277 |
| Of those, offered a place | 201 (73%) |
| Families who listed it at all | 575 |
First-choice applications per place: 2024: 1.6 · 2025: 1.3 · 2026: 1.3
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 | Bury | England |
|---|---|---|---|
| Eligible for free school meals in the last 6 years 5th highest of 7 state secondary schools in Bury. Higher than 37% of 3,448 state secondary schools in England. | 22.2% | 29.5%* | 28.9% |
| With an education, health and care plan 2nd highest of 7 state secondary schools in Bury. Higher than 83% of 3,448 state secondary schools in England. | 4.8% | 4.1%* | 3.1% |
| Receiving special educational needs support 3rd highest of 7 state secondary schools in Bury. Higher than 52% of 3,448 state secondary schools in England. | 14.1% | 13.2%* | 13.4% |
| English as an additional language 6th highest of 7 state secondary schools in Bury. Higher than 34% of 3,448 state secondary schools in England. | 7.4% | 15.2%* | 19.2% |
| Overall absence (sessions missed) 3rd lowest of 7 state secondary schools in Bury. Lower than 58% of 3,411 state secondary schools in England. | 7.9% | 8.8%* | 8.4% |
| Persistently absent (missed 10% or more) 4th lowest of 7 state secondary schools in Bury. Lower than 52% of 3,411 state secondary schools in England. | 23.1% | 24.9%* | 23.4% |
| Suspensions per 100 pupils 5th lowest of 7 state secondary schools in Bury. Lower than 25% of 3,445 state secondary schools in England. | 29.3 | 32.6 | 21.2 |
| Pupils suspended at least once 5th lowest of 7 state secondary schools in Bury. Lower than 28% of 3,445 state secondary schools in England. | 10.0% | 9.8% | 7.3% |
| Pupils permanently excluded0 pupils | 0.00% | 0.36% | 0.23% |
| Pupils per teacher 5th highest of 7 state secondary schools in Bury. Higher than 39% of 3,442 state secondary schools in England. | 16.3 | 17.2 | 16.7 |
| Pupils per adult (teachers and support staff) 4th highest of 7 state secondary schools in Bury. Higher than 37% of 3,445 state secondary schools in England. | 11.3 | 11.7 | 11.8 |
| Teachers who left during the year 7th highest of 7 state secondary schools in Bury. Higher than 14% of 3,430 state secondary schools in England. | 7.5% | 16.6%* | 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
- Tottington High School 0.9 miles · Ofsted: Requires improvement (2024) · 23% grade 5+ English and maths
- St Gabriel's RC High School, a Voluntary Academy 1.2 miles · Ofsted: Good (2023) · 39% grade 5+ English and maths
- Bury Grammar Schools 1.2 miles · Independent, inspected by ISI · 41% A*/A at A level
- Bury CofE High School 1.4 miles · Ofsted: Report card 2026: 1 strong, 5 expected · 52% grade 5+ English and maths
- The Derby High School 1.5 miles · Ofsted: Good (2014, before conversion), confirmed 2023 · 40% grade 5+ English and maths
- Hazel Wood High School 2.3 miles · Ofsted: Good (2023) · 25% grade 5+ English and maths
- Woodhey High School 2.4 miles · Ofsted: No overall grade (2025) · 47% grade 5+ English and maths
- Star Radcliffe Academy 2.5 miles · Ofsted: No graded inspection
- Bolton St Catherine's Academy 2.5 miles · Ofsted: No overall grade (2025) · 19% grade 5+ English and maths
- Darul Uloom Al Arabiya Al Islamiya 2.7 miles · Independent · Ofsted: Good (2025) · 43% A*/A at A level
Straight-line distance. Distance isn't the same as a catchment area.
Questions parents ask
What is The Elton High School's Ofsted rating?
The Elton High School was inspected under Ofsted's report card format in 24 February 2026. Report cards grade each area on a five-point scale instead of giving one overall grade. Its grades were 6 expected, and safeguarding was met.
How did The Elton High School do in its GCSEs?
In 2024/25, 37% of pupils grade 5 or above in English and maths, 8 points below the England average of 45%.
Would parents recommend The Elton High School?
78% of the 147 parents who answered Ofsted's Parent View survey between 10 November 2025 and 6 April 2026 said they would recommend The Elton High School to another parent. Parents choose whether to respond, so this may not represent all families.
Is The Elton High School oversubscribed?
For the September 2026 intake, 277 families put The Elton High School as their first choice for 210 places: about 1.5 first-choice applications for every place. 201 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 105354.
- 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.