Voluntary aided school · Bolton

Thornleigh Salesian College

11–18Ages
1,574Pupils
SecondaryPhase
Roman CatholicReligious character
Sixth formAges 16–18
105264URN

Sharples Park, Astley Bridge, Bolton, BL1 6PQ · School website

Applications per placeCircle size: applicationsThis school

Latest Ofsted

Graded inspection · Oct 2024 Previous framework

No overall grade given

Quality of education
Behaviour and attitudes
Personal development
Leadership and management

What Ofsted found

Applications per place · Sept 2026

2.4per place

0.4 above Bolton median (2.1)

Fewer applicationsMore

This schoolOther secondary schools in Bolton

634 applications for 260 places · 8th of 20 in Bolton

Every year since 2014

Attainment 8 · 2025/26 (provisional)

43.0of 90

Bolton 45.4 England 46.0

13th of 20 in Bolton

All GCSE results

What did Ofsted find?

Ofsted data to 30 September 2026

Graded inspection · 22 October 2024Ofsted's previous 4-point scale (to August 2024). Between September 2024 and November 2025 Ofsted graded areas but gave no overall grade.
Area	Good	Requires improvement
Quality of education		Requires improvement
Behaviour and attitudes	Good
Personal development	Good
Leadership and management		Requires improvement
Sixth form provision	Good

Inspection history

22 October 2024
Graded inspection, no overall grade
6 November 2019
Ungraded inspection: School remains 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

2.4applications per place, Year 7

0.4 above Bolton median (2.1) 0.2 above England median (2.2)

634 applications · 260 places offered · 241 named it first

FaithMay give priority to families of the faith.

2026 2.4; Bolton median median 2.1
2025 2.9; Bolton median median 2.2
2024 2.6; Bolton median median 2.3
2023 2.6; Bolton median median 2.3
2022 2.5; Bolton median median 2.1
2021 2.6; Bolton median median 2.2
2020 3.0; Bolton median median 2.3
2019 3.0; Bolton median median 2.3
2018 2.6; Bolton median median 2.1
2017 2.5; Bolton median median 1.9
2016 2.5; Bolton median median 1.8
2015 2.3; Bolton median median 2.1
2014 2.3; Bolton median median 2.2

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

This school
Bolton median

Year 7 applications for September 2027 close 31 October 2026, 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	260	634	2.4	241	0.93
Sep 2025	262	748	2.9	289	1.10
Sep 2024	274	707	2.6	278	1.01
Sep 2023	278	729	2.6	298	1.07
Sep 2022	279	698	2.5	276	0.99
Sep 2021	266	702	2.6	272	1.02
Sep 2020	279	823	3.0	316	1.13
Sep 2019	270	821	3.0	350	1.30
Sep 2018	269	697	2.6	299	1.11
Sep 2017	269	661	2.5	290	1.08
Sep 2016	227	575	2.5	262	1.15
Sep 2015	226	509	2.3	233	1.03
Sep 2014	225	511	2.3	262	1.16

How did pupils do at GCSE?

DfE KS4 · 2025/26 provisional

262 pupils took GCSEs in 2025/26.

Attainment 8 (out of 90)43.013th of 20 in Bolton

Bolton 45.4 England 46.0

Grade 5 or above in English and maths37%17th of 20 in Bolton

Bolton 40% England 45%

Grade 4 or above in English and maths57%

Bolton 61% England 66%

This school
Bolton median
England median

Progress 8 (2023/24, the latest published)−0.22

−20 = national average+2

Every year as a table

Year	Pupils	Attainment 8	5+ Eng & maths	4+ Eng & maths	Progress 8
2025/26 (prov.)	262	43.0	37%	57%	–
2024/25	263	45.7	41%	68%	–
2023/24	267	44.8	45%	64%	−0.22
2022/23	256	47.3	41%	68%	−0.07

Progress 8 is not published for 2024/25 or 2025/26: those pupils had no key stage 2 tests in 2020 and 2021.

Schools nearby

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

Thornleigh Salesian CollegeThis school
This school

Graded · no overall grade2024

2.4applications per place 43.0Attainment 8
Smithills School
0.8 km · Bolton

2026

1.5applications per place 41.4Attainment 8
Eden Boys' School, Bolton
1.1 km · Bolton

Remains Outstanding2023

3.0applications per place 57.0Attainment 8
Sharples School
1.4 km · Bolton

Improved significantly2025

3.5applications per place 56.5Attainment 8
Canon Slade School
2.3 km · Bolton

Graded · no overall grade2024

2.6applications per place 54.0Attainment 8
Turton School
2.6 km · Bolton

Good2024

2.0applications per place 44.0Attainment 8
University Collegiate School
3.1 km · Bolton

Graded · no overall grade2024

2.0applications per place 41.4Attainment 8
Bolton St Catherine's Academy
3.8 km · Bolton

Graded · no overall grade2025

1.2applications per place 36.9Attainment 8
Bolton Muslim Girls School
3.9 km · Bolton

Graded · no overall grade2025

1.9applications per place 56.5Attainment 8

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: Secondary
URN · DfE number: 105264 · 350/4612
Admissions policy: Non-selective
Religious character: Roman Catholic
Capacity: 1,650 pupils · 1,574 on roll
Free school meals: 29.4% of pupils (England median 23%)
Address: Sharples Park, Astley Bridge, Bolton, BL1 6PQ
Local authority: Bolton

Data last changed 19 October 2026 · Report an error · Corrections · Sources