Voluntary controlled school · Bolton

St Matthew's CofE Primary School, Bolton

3–11Ages
424Pupils
PrimaryPhase
Church of EnglandReligious character
105205URN

Kentford Road, Halliwell, Bolton, BL1 2JL · School website

Applications per placeCircle size: applicationsThis school

Latest Ofsted

Graded GoodFeb 2017

School remains GoodUngraded inspection · Mar 2023

What Ofsted found

Applications per place · Sept 2026

1.1per place

0.9 below Bolton median (2.0)

Fewer applicationsMore

This schoolOther primary schools in Bolton

61 applications for 57 places · 91st of 91 in Bolton

Every year since 2014

SATs · reading, writing and maths · 2024/25

47%met the expected standard

Bolton 66% England 64%

Reading, writing and maths

What did Ofsted find?

Ofsted data to 30 September 2026

Graded GoodFeb 2017

School remains GoodUngraded inspection · Mar 2023

Inspection history

8 March 2023
Ungraded inspection: School remains Good
1 February 2017
Graded inspection: 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

1.1applications per place, Reception

0.9 below Bolton median (2.0) 1.1 below England median (2.2)

61 applications · 57 places offered · 36 named it first

FaithMay give priority to families of the faith.

2026 1.1; Bolton median median 2.0
2025 1.6; Bolton median median 2.0
2024 1.3; Bolton median median 2.1
2023 1.5; Bolton median median 1.9
2022 1.8; Bolton median median 2.1
2021 1.5; Bolton median median 2.1
2020 2.1; Bolton median median 2.2
2019 2.0; Bolton median median 2.1
2018 1.6; Bolton median median 2.1
2017 1.6; Bolton median median 2.0
2016 1.4; Bolton median median 2.1
2015 1.5; Bolton median median 2.2
2014 1.4; Bolton median median 2.1

More applications per place than the Bolton median in 0 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	57	61	1.1	36	0.63
Sep 2025	42	67	1.6	39	0.93
Sep 2024	56	72	1.3	37	0.66
Sep 2023	35	54	1.5	33	0.94
Sep 2022	33	60	1.8	32	0.97
Sep 2021	48	73	1.5	46	0.96
Sep 2020	35	72	2.1	31	0.89
Sep 2019	35	70	2.0	29	0.83
Sep 2018	55	87	1.6	42	0.76
Sep 2017	43	67	1.6	39	0.91
Sep 2016	52	71	1.4	38	0.73
Sep 2015	60	89	1.5	62	1.03
Sep 2014	55	78	1.4	51	0.93

How did pupils do in SATs?

DfE KS2 · 2024/25

Reading 64% · Writing 52% · Maths 69% → all three 47% met the expected standard, End of Year 6

Reading, writing and maths: expected standard47%81st of 87 in Bolton

Bolton 66% England 64%

Reading

Expected standard64%

Bolton 79% England 78%

Higher standard10%

Bolton 31% England 33%

Average scaled score 101 (100 = expected standard)

Writing

Expected standard52%

Bolton 77% England 75%

Greater depth2%

Bolton 15% England 12%

Maths

Expected standard69%

Bolton 78% England 77%

Higher standard17%

Bolton 26% England 24%

Average scaled score 103 (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	47%	0%	101	103
2023/24	46%	2%	102	102
2022/23	38%	2%	99	99

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

St Matthew's CofE Primary School, BoltonThis school
This school

Remains Good2023

1.1applications per place 47%met the SATs standard
Gaskell Community Primary School
0.5 km · Bolton

Graded · no overall grade2025

1.6applications per place 79%met the SATs standard
The Valley Community Primary School
0.5 km · Bolton

Outstanding2023

2.0applications per place 83%met the SATs standard
The Olive School, Bolton
0.5 km · Bolton

Standards maintained2025

3.1applications per place 95%met the SATs standard
Brownlow Fold Primary School
0.6 km · Bolton

2026

2.3applications per place 53%met the SATs standard
St Thomas C of E Primary School, Halliwell
0.8 km · Bolton

2026

1.8applications per place 50%met the SATs standard
St Joseph's RC Primary School, Halliwell, Bolton
1.0 km · Bolton

Standards maintained2024

2.2applications per place 61%met the SATs standard
Oxford Grove Primary School
1.0 km · Bolton

Outstanding2023

3.0applications per place 80%met the SATs standard
St Paul's CofE Primary School, Astley Bridge
1.3 km · Bolton

Graded · no overall grade2024

3.0applications per place 79%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: Voluntary controlled school
Phase: Primary
URN · DfE number: 105205 · 350/3007
Religious character: Church of England
Capacity: 420 pupils · 424 on roll
Free school meals: 48.4% of pupils (England median 23%)
Nursery: Has nursery classes
Address: Kentford Road, Halliwell, Bolton, BL1 2JL
Local authority: Bolton

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