Academy sponsor led · Bolton

Essa Academy

11–16Ages
1,055Pupils
SecondaryPhase
135770URN

Lever Edge Lane, Bolton, BL3 3HH · School website

Applications per placeCircle size: applicationsThis school

Latest Ofsted

Report card · inspected Jan 2026

Exceptional
Strong standard
Expected standard
Needs attention
Urgent improvement

Safeguarding standards met

What Ofsted found

Applications per place · Sept 2026

2.9per place

0.8 above Bolton median (2.1)

Fewer applicationsMore

This schoolOther secondary schools in Bolton

578 applications for 200 places · 4th of 20 in Bolton

Every year since 2014

Attainment 8 · 2025/26 (provisional)

48.9of 90

Bolton 45.4 England 46.0

7th of 20 in Bolton

All GCSE results

What did Ofsted find?

Ofsted data to 30 September 2026

Report card · inspected 20 January 2026Published 16 March 2026 · safeguarding standards met · no overall grade
Area	Exceptional	Strong standard
Inclusion		Strong standard
Curriculum and teaching		Strong standard
Achievement		Strong standard
Attendance and behaviour		Strong standard
Personal development and wellbeing		Strong standard
Early years	Does not apply to this school
Post-16 provision	Does not apply to this school
Leadership and governance		Strong standard

Exceptional
Strong standard
Expected standard
Needs attention
Urgent improvement
Does not apply

Colours follow Ofsted's report card scale; Schoolfile is independent of Ofsted.

Inspection history

20 January 2026
Report card · 6 Strong standard
19 October 2021
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

2.9applications per place, Year 7

0.8 above Bolton median (2.1) 0.7 above England median (2.2)

578 applications · 200 places offered · 222 named it first

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

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	200	578	2.9	222	1.11
Sep 2025	204	584	2.9	196	0.96
Sep 2024	203	600	3.0	214	1.05
Sep 2023	237	544	2.3	182	0.77
Sep 2022	229	486	2.1	171	0.75
Sep 2021	209	489	2.3	149	0.71
Sep 2020	191	449	2.4	119	0.62
Sep 2019	179	422	2.4	124	0.69
Sep 2018	210	406	1.9	122	0.58
Sep 2017	179	342	1.9	120	0.67
Sep 2016	158	292	1.9	114	0.72
Sep 2015	159	339	2.1	111	0.70
Sep 2014	157	338	2.2	127	0.81

How did pupils do at GCSE?

DfE KS4 · 2025/26 provisional

204 pupils took GCSEs in 2025/26.

Attainment 8 (out of 90)48.97th of 20 in Bolton

Bolton 45.4 England 46.0

Grade 5 or above in English and maths54%7th of 20 in Bolton

Bolton 40% England 45%

Grade 4 or above in English and maths71%

Bolton 61% England 66%

This school
Bolton median
England median

Progress 8 (2023/24, the latest published)+0.73

−20 = national average+2

Every year as a table

Year	Pupils	Attainment 8	5+ Eng & maths	4+ Eng & maths	Progress 8
2025/26 (prov.)	204	48.9	54%	71%	–
2024/25	200	53.0	54%	75%	–
2023/24	204	47.1	40%	65%	+0.73
2022/23	211	45.7	41%	61%	+0.25

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

Essa AcademyThis school
This school

2026

2.9applications per place 48.9Attainment 8
King's Leadership Academy Bolton
0.5 km · Bolton

Good2023

2.5applications per place 49.0Attainment 8
Bolton Muslim Girls School
1.1 km · Bolton

Graded · no overall grade2025

1.9applications per place 56.5Attainment 8
Mount St Joseph RC High School a Voluntary Academy
1.6 km · Bolton

Requires improvement2023

2.2applications per place 41.5Attainment 8
University Collegiate School
1.9 km · Bolton

Graded · no overall grade2024

2.0applications per place 41.4Attainment 8
Ladybridge High School
2.2 km · Bolton

Good2022

2.3applications per place 45.8Attainment 8
St James's Church of England High School
2.3 km · Bolton

Good2022

3.7applications per place 48.1Attainment 8
Harper Green School
2.4 km · Bolton

Good2023

1.5applications per place 42.6Attainment 8
Star Salford Academy
3.7 km · Salford

2026

1.6applications 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: Academy sponsor led
Phase: Secondary
URN · DfE number: 135770 · 350/6905
Trust: Northern Education Trust
Admissions policy: Non-selective
Capacity: 990 pupils · 1,055 on roll
Free school meals: 49.0% of pupils (England median 23%)
Opened: 5 January 2009
Replaced: Hayward School (URN 105258)
Address: Lever Edge Lane, Bolton, BL3 3HH
Local authority: Bolton

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