Voluntary aided school · Bolton

St Thomas of Canterbury RC School

4–11Ages
410Pupils
PrimaryPhase
Roman CatholicReligious character
105221URN

Eastbourne Grove, Heaton, Bolton, BL1 5LH · School website

Applications per placeCircle size: applicationsThis school

Latest Ofsted

Graded GoodJul 2014

School remains GoodUngraded inspection · Oct 2023

What Ofsted found

Applications per place · Sept 2026

2.0per place

close to Bolton median (2.0)

Fewer applicationsMore

This schoolOther primary schools in Bolton

92 applications for 47 places · 49th of 91 in Bolton

Every year since 2014

SATs · reading, writing and maths · 2024/25

52%met the expected standard

Bolton 66% England 64%

Reading, writing and maths

What did Ofsted find?

Ofsted data to 30 September 2026

Graded GoodJul 2014

School remains GoodUngraded inspection · Oct 2023

Inspection history

5 October 2023
Ungraded inspection: School remains Good
3 July 2014
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

2.0applications per place, Reception

close to Bolton median (2.0) 0.2 below England median (2.2)

92 applications · 47 places offered · 36 named it first

FaithMay give priority to families of the faith.

2026 2.0; Bolton median median 2.0
2025 1.9; Bolton median median 2.0
2024 1.7; Bolton median median 2.1
2023 1.9; Bolton median median 1.9
2022 2.1; Bolton median median 2.1
2021 2.2; Bolton median median 2.1
2020 2.5; Bolton median median 2.2
2019 2.1; Bolton median median 2.1
2018 2.5; Bolton median median 2.1
2017 2.0; Bolton median median 2.0
2016 2.7; Bolton median median 2.1
2015 1.9; Bolton median median 2.2
2014 2.1; Bolton median median 2.1

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	47	92	2.0	36	0.77
Sep 2025	60	116	1.9	49	0.82
Sep 2024	60	100	1.7	39	0.65
Sep 2023	60	115	1.9	51	0.85
Sep 2022	54	112	2.1	42	0.78
Sep 2021	60	132	2.2	62	1.03
Sep 2020	60	147	2.5	71	1.18
Sep 2019	60	128	2.1	60	1.00
Sep 2018	60	152	2.5	84	1.40
Sep 2017	54	108	2.0	49	0.91
Sep 2016	60	159	2.7	79	1.32
Sep 2015	56	106	1.9	50	0.89
Sep 2014	59	122	2.1	74	1.25

How did pupils do in SATs?

DfE KS2 · 2024/25

Reading 67% · Writing 72% · Maths 87% → all three 52% met the expected standard, End of Year 6

Reading, writing and maths: expected standard52%77th of 87 in Bolton

Bolton 66% England 64%

Reading

Expected standard67%

Bolton 79% England 78%

Higher standard25%

Bolton 31% England 33%

Average scaled score 105 (100 = expected standard)

Writing

Expected standard72%

Bolton 77% England 75%

Greater depth18%

Bolton 15% England 12%

Maths

Expected standard87%

Bolton 78% England 77%

Higher standard22%

Bolton 26% England 24%

Average scaled score 105 (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	52%	8%	105	105
2023/24	61%	19%	104	105
2022/23	73%	13%	105	105

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 Thomas of Canterbury RC SchoolThis school
This school

Remains Good2023

2.0applications per place 52%met the SATs standard
Devonshire Road Primary School
0.4 km · Bolton

Good2022

1.8applications per place 68%met the SATs standard
Church Road Primary School
0.8 km · Bolton

Standards maintained2025

1.9applications per place 62%met the SATs standard
Markland Hill Primary School
0.9 km · Bolton

Graded · no overall grade2024

4.0applications per place 77%met the SATs standard
Oxford Grove Primary School
1.1 km · Bolton

Outstanding2023

3.0applications per place 80%met the SATs standard
St Joseph's RC Primary School, Halliwell, Bolton
1.2 km · Bolton

Standards maintained2024

2.2applications per place 61%met the SATs standard
Johnson Fold Community Primary School
1.4 km · Bolton

Graded · no overall grade2024
Gilnow Primary School
1.4 km · Bolton

2026

1.7applications per place 53%met the SATs standard
Brownlow Fold Primary School
1.4 km · Bolton

2026

2.3applications per place 53%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 aided school
Phase: Primary
URN · DfE number: 105221 · 350/3317
Religious character: Roman Catholic
Capacity: 420 pupils · 410 on roll
Free school meals: 17.3% of pupils (England median 23%)
Address: Eastbourne Grove, Heaton, Bolton, BL1 5LH
Local authority: Bolton

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