Community school · Bolton

The Gates Primary School

3–11Ages
290Pupils
PrimaryPhase
133926URN

Bristle Hall Way, Westhoughton, Bolton, BL5 3QA · School website

Applications per placeCircle size: applicationsThis school

Latest Ofsted

Graded GoodJun 2018

School remains GoodUngraded inspection · Sep 2023

What Ofsted found

Applications per place · Sept 2026

2.6per place

0.6 above Bolton median (2.0)

Fewer applicationsMore

This schoolOther primary schools in Bolton

78 applications for 30 places · 18th of 91 in Bolton

Every year since 2014

SATs · reading, writing and maths · 2024/25

84%met the expected standard

Bolton 66% England 64%

Reading, writing and maths

What did Ofsted find?

Ofsted data to 30 September 2026

Graded GoodJun 2018

School remains GoodUngraded inspection · Sep 2023

Inspection history

21 September 2023
Ungraded inspection: School remains Good
26 June 2018
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

2.6applications per place, Reception

0.6 above Bolton median (2.0) 0.4 above England median (2.2)

78 applications · 30 places offered · 32 named it first

HistoryEarlier years not shown: formed from, or split from, other schools.

2026 2.6; Bolton median median 2.0
2025 2.3; Bolton median median 2.0
2024 2.6; Bolton median median 2.1
2023 2.1; Bolton median median 1.9
2022 1.6; Bolton median median 2.1
2021 1.7; Bolton median median 2.1
2020 1.6; Bolton median median 2.2
2019 1.4; Bolton median median 2.1
2018 1.5; Bolton median median 2.1
2017 1.6; Bolton median median 2.0
2016 1.7; Bolton median median 2.1
2015 1.6; Bolton median median 2.2
2014 1.9; 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	30	78	2.6	32	1.07
Sep 2025	31	72	2.3	37	1.19
Sep 2024	30	79	2.6	36	1.20
Sep 2023	30	63	2.1	34	1.13
Sep 2022	35	55	1.6	34	0.97
Sep 2021	32	55	1.7	26	0.81
Sep 2020	38	59	1.6	30	0.79
Sep 2019	42	59	1.4	28	0.67
Sep 2018	43	66	1.5	34	0.79
Sep 2017	42	66	1.6	34	0.81
Sep 2016	45	78	1.7	32	0.71
Sep 2015	45	74	1.6	37	0.82
Sep 2014	45	87	1.9	46	1.02

How did pupils do in SATs?

DfE KS2 · 2024/25

Reading 93% · Writing 84% · Maths 93% → all three 84% met the expected standard, End of Year 6

Reading, writing and maths: expected standard84%4th of 87 in Bolton

Bolton 66% England 64%

Reading

Expected standard93%

Bolton 79% England 78%

Higher standard38%

Bolton 31% England 33%

Average scaled score 108 (100 = expected standard)

Writing

Expected standard84%

Bolton 77% England 75%

Greater depth9%

Bolton 15% England 12%

Maths

Expected standard93%

Bolton 78% England 77%

Higher standard49%

Bolton 26% England 24%

Average scaled score 109 (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	84%	7%	108	109
2023/24	73%	14%	106	106
2022/23	74%	19%	106	107

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 Gates Primary SchoolThis school
This school

Remains Good2023

2.6applications per place 84%met the SATs standard
Sacred Heart Roman Catholic Primary School
0.5 km · Bolton

Outstanding2024

1.8applications per place 74%met the SATs standard
St Bartholomew's CofE Primary School
1.0 km · Bolton

Graded · no overall grade2025

3.4applications per place 63%met the SATs standard
St Thomas CofE Primary School
1.4 km · Bolton

2026

2.5applications per place 78%met the SATs standard
Woodland Primary Academy
1.6 km · Bolton

Good2020

1.4applications per place
Eatock Primary School
2.0 km · Bolton

Remains Outstanding2024

3.5applications per place 70%met the SATs standard
St George's CofE Primary School
2.0 km · Bolton

2026

2.7applications per place 60%met the SATs standard
St James CofE Primary School, Daisy Hill
2.6 km · Bolton

Remains Good2024

1.5applications per place 65%met the SATs standard
Lostock Primary School
2.7 km · Bolton

Outstanding2024

4.3applications per place

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: 133926 · 350/2085
Capacity: 311 pupils · 290 on roll
Free school meals: 19.1% of pupils (England median 23%)
Nursery: Has nursery classes
Opened: 1 September 2002
Address: Bristle Hall Way, Westhoughton, Bolton, BL5 3QA
Local authority: Bolton

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