Voluntary aided school · Bolton

St Matthew's CofE Primary School, Little Lever

5–11Ages
196Pupils
PrimaryPhase
Church of EnglandReligious character
105242URN

Norris Street, Little Lever, Bolton, BL3 1BQ · School website

Applications per placeCircle size: applicationsThis school

Latest Ofsted

Graded GoodOct 2012

School remains GoodUngraded inspection · Mar 2023

What Ofsted found

Applications per place · Sept 2026

2.3per place

0.3 above Bolton median (2.0)

Fewer applicationsMore

This schoolOther primary schools in Bolton

28 applications for 12 places

Every year since 2014

SATs · reading, writing and maths · 2024/25

42%met the expected standard

Bolton 66% England 64%

Reading, writing and maths

What did Ofsted find?

Ofsted data to 30 September 2026

Graded GoodOct 2012

School remains GoodUngraded inspection · Mar 2023

Inspection history

2 March 2023
Ungraded inspection: School remains Good
17 October 2012
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

2.3applications per place, Reception

0.3 above Bolton median (2.0) close to England median (2.2)

28 applications · 12 places offered · 4 named it first

FaithMay give priority to families of the faith.

2026 2.3; Bolton median median 2.0
2025 1.9; Bolton median median 2.0
2024 2.1; Bolton median median 2.1
2023 2.0; Bolton median median 1.9
2022 2.0; Bolton median median 2.1
2021 2.4; Bolton median median 2.1
2020 2.6; Bolton median median 2.2
2019 2.4; Bolton median median 2.1
2018 2.5; Bolton median median 2.1
2017 2.2; Bolton median median 2.0
2016 2.8; Bolton median median 2.1
2015 2.7; Bolton median median 2.2
2014 2.0; 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	12	28	2.3	4	0.33
Sep 2025	26	50	1.9	14	0.54
Sep 2024	22	46	2.1	22	1.00
Sep 2023	29	57	2.0	27	0.93
Sep 2022	25	51	2.0	25	1.00
Sep 2021	30	73	2.4	31	1.03
Sep 2020	30	79	2.6	28	0.93
Sep 2019	29	70	2.4	26	0.90
Sep 2018	30	75	2.5	31	1.03
Sep 2017	30	65	2.2	31	1.03
Sep 2016	30	85	2.8	32	1.07
Sep 2015	25	67	2.7	25	1.00
Sep 2014	30	61	2.0	28	0.93

How did pupils do in SATs?

DfE KS2 · 2024/25

Reading 58% · Writing 55% · Maths 68% → all three 42% met the expected standard, End of Year 6

Reading, writing and maths: expected standard42%85th of 87 in Bolton

Bolton 66% England 64%

Reading

Expected standard58%

Bolton 79% England 78%

Higher standard23%

Bolton 31% England 33%

Average scaled score 102 (100 = expected standard)

Writing

Expected standard55%

Bolton 77% England 75%

Greater depth3%

Bolton 15% England 12%

Maths

Expected standard68%

Bolton 78% England 77%

Higher standard10%

Bolton 26% England 24%

Average scaled score 102 (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	42%	3%	102	102
2023/24	48%	0%	105	102
2022/23	65%	3%	105	104

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, Little LeverThis school
This school

Remains Good2023

2.3applications per place 42%met the SATs standard
St Teresa's RC Primary School a Voluntary Academy
0.2 km · Bolton

Good2021

2.3applications per place
Mytham Primary School
0.5 km · Bolton

Remains Good2023

1.9applications per place 56%met the SATs standard
Bowness Primary School
0.5 km · Bolton

Remains Good2023

2.6applications per place 86%met the SATs standard
Masefield Primary School
0.8 km · Bolton

Remains Good · improving2024

2.9applications per place 84%met the SATs standard
Blackshaw Primary School
1.4 km · Bolton

Graded · no overall grade2024

1.9applications per place 69%met the SATs standard
Prestolee Primary School
1.5 km · Bolton

Outstanding2024

2.4applications per place 77%met the SATs standard
All Saints CofE Primary School
1.6 km · Bolton

2026

1.9applications per place 66%met the SATs standard
SS Osmund and Andrew's R.C. Primary School
1.6 km · Bolton

Remains Good2023

1.5applications per place 57%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: 105242 · 350/3356
Religious character: Church of England
Capacity: 210 pupils · 196 on roll
Free school meals: 19.9% of pupils (England median 23%)
Address: Norris Street, Little Lever, Bolton, BL3 1BQ
Local authority: Bolton

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