Tottington High School

Academy · Secondary, ages 11 to 16 · Mixed

Part of THE SHAW EDUCATION TRUST

Laurel Street, Tottington, Bury, BL8 3LY

01204 882327 · School website · Map and directions

OfstedRequires improvementInspected 14 May 2024
Grade 5 or above in English and maths23%England 45% · 2024/25
7th highest of 7 state secondary schools in Bury.
Higher than 6% of 3,259 state secondary schools in England.
Pupils811Room for 975 Pupil numbers in January of each year: 945 in 2019, 916 in 2021, 912 in 2022, 919 in 2023, 935 in 2024, 875 in 2025, 811 in 2026. Across England, secondary state school pupil numbers were up 10% from 2019 to 2025.
First-choice applications per place0.669 for 117 places, September 2026
7th highest of 7 state secondary schools in Bury.
Higher than 8% of 3,219 state secondary schools in England.

Ofsted inspection

Ofsted rated this school Requires improvement at the inspection that started on 14 May 2024.

This inspection used Ofsted's older format with four grades: Outstanding, Good, Requires improvement and Inadequate. Newer inspections use report cards. What changed.

AreaGrade
Quality of educationRequires improvement
Behaviour and attitudesRequires improvement
Personal developmentRequires improvement
Leadership and managementGood
SafeguardingEffective

Read the full Ofsted reports for this school

Source: Ofsted state-funded schools inspection data.

What parents say

134 parents answered Ofsted's Parent View survey between 2 April 2024 and 7 April 2025.

Bury comparisons use the 4 of its 7 state secondary schools with comparable results. The other 3 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.

StatementThis schoolBuryEngland
My child is happy at this school
4th highest of 4 state secondary schools with comparable Parent View results in Bury.
Higher than 7% of 1,763 state secondary schools with comparable Parent View results in England.
56% 80% 89%
My child feels safe at this school
4th highest of 4 state secondary schools with comparable Parent View results in Bury.
Higher than 10% of 1,763 state secondary schools with comparable Parent View results in England.
64% 84% 90%
The school makes sure pupils are well behaved
4th highest of 4 state secondary schools with comparable Parent View results in Bury.
Higher than 5% of 1,763 state secondary schools with comparable Parent View results in England.
38% 76% 84%
Bullying was dealt with quickly and effectivelyOf 62 parents whose child had been bullied
4th highest of 4 state secondary schools with comparable Parent View results in Bury.
Higher than 5% of 1,665 state secondary schools with comparable Parent View results in England.
26% 45% 51%
Concerns were dealt with properlyOf 120 parents who had raised a concern
4th highest of 4 state secondary schools with comparable Parent View results in Bury.
Higher than 5% of 1,736 state secondary schools with comparable Parent View results in England.
35% 64% 76%
I would recommend this school to another parent
4th highest of 4 state secondary schools with comparable Parent View results in Bury.
Higher than 4% of 1,763 state secondary schools with comparable Parent View results in England.
36%said yes 74% 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. Bury figures pool parents at the Bury 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.

We'll ask you to confirm. One email per change, and you can unsubscribe at any time. Privacy.

Results

GCSEs (key stage 4, age 16), 2024/25

189 pupils in this year group.

23% — 16 points below the Bury average, and 23 points below the England average.

MeasureThis schoolBuryEngland
Grade 5 or above in English and maths 23% 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. 34.9 43.4 46.1
EBacc average point scoreAverage points across the English Baccalaureate subjects: English, maths, sciences, a language and history or geography. 3.0 3.8 4.1
Grade 5 or above in English and maths, over time
10% 20% 30% 40% 50% 60% England 2022/23: 45%England 2023/24: 46%England 2024/25: 45% This school 2022/23: 34%This school 2023/24: 38%This school 2024/25: 23% This school England 45% 2022/23 34% 2023/24 38% 2024/25 23%

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.

180 pupils in this year group.

89% — 4 points below the Bury average, and 3 points below the England average.

Where pupils went after Year 11
This school 28%54%
England 34%13%37%
MeasureThis schoolBuryEngland
Stayed in education, an apprenticeship or workPupils recorded in sustained education, apprenticeship or employment in the year after finishing Year 11. 89% 93% 92%
School sixth form 0% 2% 34%
Sixth form college 28% 41% 13%
Further education college 54% 44% 37%
Apprenticeship 4% 3% 3%
Work 2% 2% 3%

Stayed in education, an apprenticeship or work, over time

2023/242024/25
93%89%

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 fewer first-choice applications than places.

Places offered117
Families who put it first69
Of those, offered a place68 (99%)
Families who listed it at all310

First-choice applications per place: 2024: 0.5 · 2025: 0.6 · 2026: 0.6

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.

Admissions dates and schools in Bury

Pupils, staff and SEND

Specialist SEND provision: this school has resourced provision with 177 places for hearing impairment; Autism; Social, emotional and mental health needs; Moderate learning difficulties. These places are usually allocated through the council's SEND team.

PupilsThis schoolBuryEngland
Eligible for free school meals in the last 6 years
3rd highest of 7 state secondary schools in Bury.
Higher than 56% of 3,448 state secondary schools in England.
29.5% 29.5%* 28.9%
With an education, health and care plan
5th highest of 7 state secondary schools in Bury.
Higher than 68% of 3,448 state secondary schools in England.
3.8% 4.1%* 3.1%
Receiving special educational needs support
2nd highest of 7 state secondary schools in Bury.
Higher than 53% of 3,448 state secondary schools in England.
14.2% 13.2%* 13.4%
English as an additional language
Joint 3rd highest of 7 state secondary schools in Bury.
Higher than 44% of 3,448 state secondary schools in England.
10.1% 15.2%* 19.2%
Overall absence (sessions missed)
7th lowest of 7 state secondary schools in Bury.
Lower than 8% of 3,411 state secondary schools in England.
12.3% 8.8%* 8.4%
Persistently absent (missed 10% or more)
7th lowest of 7 state secondary schools in Bury.
Lower than 6% of 3,411 state secondary schools in England.
37.4% 24.9%* 23.4%
Suspensions per 100 pupils
7th lowest of 7 state secondary schools in Bury.
Lower than 1% of 3,445 state secondary schools in England.
121.4 32.6 21.2
Pupils suspended at least once
7th lowest of 7 state secondary schools in Bury.
Lower than 1% of 3,445 state secondary schools in England.
25.6% 9.8% 7.3%
Pupils permanently excluded9 pupils 1.03% 0.36% 0.23%
Pupils per teacher
Joint 6th highest of 7 state secondary schools in Bury.
Higher than 36% of 3,442 state secondary schools in England.
16.2 17.2 16.7
Pupils per adult (teachers and support staff)
Joint 5th highest of 7 state secondary schools in Bury.
Higher than 35% of 3,445 state secondary schools in England.
11.2 11.7 11.8
Teachers who left during the year
2nd highest of 7 state secondary schools in Bury.
Higher than 95% of 3,430 state secondary schools in England.
28.8% 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.

SEND provision: Get Information about Schools (DfE).

Nearby secondary schools

Straight-line distance. Distance isn't the same as a catchment area.

Questions parents ask

What is Tottington High School's Ofsted rating?

Tottington High School was rated Requires improvement by Ofsted at its inspection in 14 May 2024.

How did Tottington High School do in its GCSEs?

In 2024/25, 23% of pupils grade 5 or above in English and maths, 23 points below the England average of 45%.

Would parents recommend Tottington High School?

36% of the 134 parents who answered Ofsted's Parent View survey between 2 April 2024 and 7 April 2025 said they would recommend Tottington High School to another parent. Parents choose whether to respond, so this may not represent all families.

Is Tottington High School oversubscribed?

For the September 2026 intake, 69 families put Tottington High School as their first choice for 117 places: fewer first-choice applications than places. 68 of those families were offered a place. Whether you get a place depends on the school's admissions rules and where you live.

Sources

Spotted a mistake? Report it and we'll check it against the source.

Page updated 26 September 2026.