Community school · Bolton

The Oaks Primary School

5–11Ages
218Pupils
PrimaryPhase
105176URN

Sharples Hall Drive, Bolton, BL1 7HS · School website

Applications per placeCircle size: applicationsThis school

Latest Ofsted

Graded inspection · Dec 2023 Previous framework

Good

Quality of education
Behaviour and attitudes
Personal development
Leadership and management

What Ofsted found

Applications per place · Sept 2026

2.8per place

0.8 above Bolton median (2.0)

Fewer applicationsMore

This schoolOther primary schools in Bolton

83 applications for 30 places · 14th of 91 in Bolton

Every year since 2014

SATs · reading, writing and maths · 2024/25

79%met the expected standard

Bolton 66% England 64%

Reading, writing and maths

What did Ofsted find?

Ofsted data to 30 September 2026

Overall effectiveness: Good · 5 December 2023Ofsted's previous 4-point scale (to August 2024)
Area	Outstanding	Good	Requires improvement	Inadequate
Quality of education		Good
Behaviour and attitudes		Good
Personal development		Good
Leadership and management		Good
Early years provision		Good

Full reports on the Ofsted website · How to read Ofsted grades

About these grades

Ofsted's report cards (from November 2025) grade each area on five steps and give no overall grade. Earlier grades come from a different framework; Ofsted says the two cannot be compared, so they are never converted here. Ofsted: "We normally inspect schools every 4 years or at any time if we have concerns." Methodology.

How hard is it to get a place?

DfE · Sept 2026 entry

2.8applications per place, Reception

0.8 above Bolton median (2.0) 0.6 above England median (2.2)

83 applications · 30 places offered · 26 named it first

2026 2.8; Bolton median median 2.0
2025 4.4; Bolton median median 2.0
2024 3.8; Bolton median median 2.1
2023 4.1; Bolton median median 1.9
2022 3.8; Bolton median median 2.1
2021 4.5; Bolton median median 2.1
2020 4.5; Bolton median median 2.2
2019 4.1; Bolton median median 2.1
2018 3.8; Bolton median median 2.1
2017 4.0; Bolton median median 2.0
2016 4.1; Bolton median median 2.1
2015 4.1; Bolton median median 2.2
2014 3.6; Bolton median median 2.1

More applications per place than the Bolton median in 13 of 13 years.

This school
Bolton median

Reception applications for September 2027 close 15 January 2027, through your council

How this is measured

Applications per place: every application naming the school at any preference, divided by places offered on National Offer Day. It is not your chance of a place. Methodology.

Entry	Places	Applications	Per place	First preferences	First-pref. ratio
Sep 2026	30	83	2.8	26	0.87
Sep 2025	30	132	4.4	43	1.43
Sep 2024	30	113	3.8	40	1.33
Sep 2023	30	123	4.1	42	1.40
Sep 2022	30	114	3.8	42	1.40
Sep 2021	30	134	4.5	45	1.50
Sep 2020	29	130	4.5	41	1.41
Sep 2019	30	124	4.1	44	1.47
Sep 2018	29	111	3.8	34	1.17
Sep 2017	29	115	4.0	37	1.28
Sep 2016	29	118	4.1	51	1.76
Sep 2015	29	120	4.1	44	1.52
Sep 2014	30	107	3.6	38	1.27

How did pupils do in SATs?

DfE KS2 · 2024/25

Reading 85% · Writing 88% · Maths 88% → all three 79% met the expected standard, End of Year 6

Reading, writing and maths: expected standard79%12th of 87 in Bolton

Bolton 66% England 64%

Reading

Expected standard85%

Bolton 79% England 78%

Higher standard27%

Bolton 31% England 33%

Average scaled score 106 (100 = expected standard)

Writing

Expected standard88%

Bolton 77% England 75%

Greater depth24%

Bolton 15% England 12%

Maths

Expected standard88%

Bolton 78% England 77%

Higher standard36%

Bolton 26% England 24%

Average scaled score 108 (100 = expected standard)

This school
Bolton median
England median

Every year as a table

Year	Expected standard	Higher standard	Reading score	Maths score
2024/25	79%	12%	106	108
2023/24	91%	12%	107	108
2022/23	88%	9%	108	108

Subject results are published for the latest year only. Scaled scores run from 80 to 120.

Schools nearby

The 8 nearest primary schools in a straight line, in any local authority

The Oaks Primary SchoolThis school
This school

Good2023

2.8applications per place 79%met the SATs standard
Sharples Primary School
0.5 km · Bolton

Standards maintained2025

2.7applications per place 66%met the SATs standard
High Lawn Primary School
0.5 km · Bolton

Graded · no overall grade2024

1.7applications per place 61%met the SATs standard
St John the Evangelist RC Primary School, Bromley Cross, Bolton
0.9 km · Bolton

Remains Good2024

3.8applications per place 58%met the SATs standard
Holy Infant and St Anthony RC Primary School
1.1 km · Bolton

2026

1.3applications per place 52%met the SATs standard
Eagley Infant School
1.1 km · Bolton

Remains Good2023

1.9applications per place
Eagley Junior School
1.2 km · Bolton

Graded · no overall grade2025

70%met the SATs standard
St Paul's CofE Primary School, Astley Bridge
1.2 km · Bolton

Graded · no overall grade2024

3.0applications per place 79%met the SATs standard
St Columba's RC Primary School
1.4 km · Bolton

Good2024

1.3applications per place 69%met the SATs standard

Exceptional
Strong standard
Expected standard
Needs attention
Urgent improvement
Does not apply

Eight dots, one per area: inclusion, curriculum, achievement, attendance, personal development, early years, post-16, leadership. Colours follow Ofsted's report card scale; Schoolfile is independent of Ofsted.

School details

Type: Community school
Phase: Primary
URN · DfE number: 105176 · 350/2043
Capacity: 210 pupils · 218 on roll
Free school meals: 7.3% of pupils (England median 23%)
Address: Sharples Hall Drive, Bolton, BL1 7HS
Local authority: Bolton

Data last changed 3 October 2026 · Report an error · Corrections · Sources