Academy converter · Bolton

Smithills School

11–16Ages
1,203Pupils
SecondaryPhase
140500URN

Smithills Dean Road, Smithills School, Bolton, BL1 6JS · School website

Applications per placeCircle size: applicationsThis school

Latest Ofsted

Report card · inspected Mar 2026

Exceptional
Strong standard
Expected standard
Needs attention
Urgent improvement

Safeguarding standards met

What Ofsted found

Applications per place · Sept 2026

1.5per place

0.6 below Bolton median (2.1)

Fewer applicationsMore

This schoolOther secondary schools in Bolton

342 applications for 226 places · 17th of 20 in Bolton

Every year since 2014

Attainment 8 · 2025/26 (provisional)

41.4of 90

Bolton 45.4 England 46.0

17th of 20 in Bolton

All GCSE results

What did Ofsted find?

Ofsted data to 30 September 2026

Report card · inspected 31 March 2026Published 7 June 2026 · safeguarding standards met · no overall grade
Area	Exceptional	Expected standard	Needs attention
Inclusion		Expected standard
Curriculum and teaching			Needs attention
Achievement			Needs attention
Attendance and behaviour		Expected standard
Personal development and wellbeing			Needs attention
Early years	Does not apply to this school
Post-16 provision	Does not apply to this school
Leadership and governance			Needs attention

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

31 March 2026
Report card · 2 Expected standard, 4 Needs attention
19 September 2023
Graded inspection: Requires improvement

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

1.5applications per place, Year 7

0.6 below Bolton median (2.1) 0.7 below England median (2.2)

342 applications · 226 places offered · 127 named it first

2026 1.5; Bolton median median 2.1
2025 1.5; Bolton median median 2.2
2024 1.6; Bolton median median 2.3
2023 1.6; Bolton median median 2.3
2022 1.7; Bolton median median 2.1
2021 1.6; Bolton median median 2.2
2020 1.7; Bolton median median 2.3
2019 1.7; Bolton median median 2.3
2018 1.4; Bolton median median 2.1
2017 1.5; Bolton median median 1.9
2016 1.8; Bolton median median 1.8
2015 2.1; Bolton median median 2.1
2014 1.9; Bolton median median 2.2

More applications per place than the Bolton median in 0 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	226	342	1.5	127	0.56
Sep 2025	268	400	1.5	156	0.58
Sep 2024	252	404	1.6	139	0.55
Sep 2023	259	422	1.6	159	0.61
Sep 2022	239	395	1.7	153	0.64
Sep 2021	237	387	1.6	133	0.56
Sep 2020	227	382	1.7	149	0.66
Sep 2019	197	333	1.7	126	0.64
Sep 2018	206	294	1.4	102	0.50
Sep 2017	218	316	1.5	108	0.50
Sep 2016	183	335	1.8	128	0.70
Sep 2015	173	366	2.1	136	0.79
Sep 2014	190	353	1.9	144	0.76

How did pupils do at GCSE?

DfE KS4 · 2025/26 provisional

226 pupils took GCSEs in 2025/26.

Attainment 8 (out of 90)41.417th of 20 in Bolton

Bolton 45.4 England 46.0

Grade 5 or above in English and maths35%19th of 20 in Bolton

Bolton 40% England 45%

Grade 4 or above in English and maths56%

Bolton 61% England 66%

This school
Bolton median
England median

Progress 8 (2023/24, the latest published)−0.04

−20 = national average+2

Every year as a table

Year	Pupils	Attainment 8	5+ Eng & maths	4+ Eng & maths	Progress 8
2025/26 (prov.)	226	41.4	35%	56%	–
2024/25	234	36.5	20%	47%	–
2023/24	207	39.5	30%	51%	−0.04
2022/23	171	38.9	28%	47%	−0.34

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

Smithills SchoolThis school
This school

2026

1.5applications per place 41.4Attainment 8
Thornleigh Salesian College
0.8 km · Bolton

Graded · no overall grade2024

2.4applications per place 43.0Attainment 8
Eden Boys' School, Bolton
1.4 km · Bolton

Remains Outstanding2023

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

Improved significantly2025

3.5applications per place 56.5Attainment 8
University Collegiate School
3.0 km · Bolton

Graded · no overall grade2024

2.0applications per place 41.4Attainment 8
Canon Slade School
3.1 km · Bolton

Graded · no overall grade2024

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

Good2024

2.0applications per place 44.0Attainment 8
Bolton Muslim Girls School
3.8 km · Bolton

Graded · no overall grade2025

1.9applications per place 56.5Attainment 8
Ladybridge High School
3.8 km · Bolton

Good2022

2.3applications per place 45.8Attainment 8

School details

Type: Academy converter
Phase: Secondary
URN · DfE number: 140500 · 350/4049
Trust: The Bolton Impact Trust
Admissions policy: Non-selective
Capacity: 1,250 pupils · 1,203 on roll
Free school meals: 41.8% of pupils (England median 23%)
Opened: 1 January 2014
Replaced: Smithills School (URN 105260)
Address: Smithills Dean Road, Smithills School, Bolton, BL1 6JS
Local authority: Bolton

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