Academy sponsor led · Bolton

Bowness Primary School

3–11Ages
129Pupils
PrimaryPhase
142030URN

Church Street, Little Lever, Bolton, BL3 1BT · School website

Applications per placeCircle size: applicationsThis school

Latest Ofsted

Graded GoodOct 2018

School remains GoodUngraded inspection · Jul 2023

What Ofsted found

Applications per place · Sept 2026

2.6per place

0.5 above Bolton median (2.0)

Fewer applicationsMore

This schoolOther primary schools in Bolton

51 applications for 20 places · 21st of 91 in Bolton

Every year since 2014

SATs · reading, writing and maths · 2024/25

86%met the expected standard

Bolton 66% England 64%

Reading, writing and maths

What did Ofsted find?

Ofsted data to 30 September 2026

Graded GoodOct 2018

School remains GoodUngraded inspection · Jul 2023

Inspection history

6 July 2023
Ungraded inspection: School remains Good
2 October 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

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

51 applications · 20 places offered · 20 named it first

2026 2.6; Bolton median median 2.0
2025 2.4; Bolton median median 2.0
2024 2.2; Bolton median median 2.1
2023 2.3; Bolton median median 1.9
2022 1.8; Bolton median median 2.1
2021 3.1; Bolton median median 2.1
2020 2.4; Bolton median median 2.2
2019 2.4; Bolton median median 2.1
2018 2.8; Bolton median median 2.1
2017 1.3; Bolton median median 2.0
2016 1.5; Bolton median median 2.1
2015 2.5; Bolton median median 2.2; as the previous school
2014 1.8; Bolton median median 2.1; as the previous school

This school
Bolton median

Dashed bars: as Bowness Primary School (URN 105197), the previous school.

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	20	51	2.6	20	1.00
Sep 2025	14	34	2.4	11	0.79
Sep 2024	19	42	2.2	17	0.89
Sep 2023	14	32	2.3	11	0.79
Sep 2022	19	35	1.8	19	1.00
Sep 2021	10	31	3.1	7	0.70
Sep 2020	11	26	2.4	10	0.91
Sep 2019	7	17	2.4	7	1.00
Sep 2018	9	25	2.8	9	1.00
Sep 2017	15	19	1.3	10	0.67
Sep 2016	16	24	1.5	11	0.69
Sep 2015 *	6	15	2.5	4	0.67
Sep 2014 *	9	16	1.8	7	0.78

How did pupils do in SATs?

DfE KS2 · 2024/25

Reading 100% · Writing 86% · Maths 100% → all three 86% met the expected standard, End of Year 6

Reading, writing and maths: expected standard86%3rd of 87 in Bolton

Bolton 66% England 64%

Reading

Expected standard100%

Bolton 79% England 78%

Higher standard43%

Bolton 31% England 33%

Average scaled score 110 (100 = expected standard)

Writing

Expected standard86%

Bolton 77% England 75%

Greater depth21%

Bolton 15% England 12%

Maths

Expected standard100%

Bolton 78% England 77%

Higher standard43%

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	86%	14%	110	109
2023/24	68%	14%	107	105
2022/23	56%	11%	104	103

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

Bowness Primary SchoolThis school
This school

Remains Good2023

2.6applications per place 86%met the SATs standard
St Teresa's RC Primary School a Voluntary Academy
0.4 km · Bolton

Good2021

2.3applications per place
St Matthew's CofE Primary School, Little Lever
0.5 km · Bolton

Remains Good2023

2.3applications per place 42%met the SATs standard
Mytham Primary School
0.9 km · Bolton

Remains Good2023

1.9applications per place 56%met the SATs standard
Masefield Primary School
1.2 km · Bolton

Remains Good · improving2024

2.9applications per place 84%met the SATs standard
All Saints CofE Primary School
1.2 km · Bolton

2026

1.9applications per place 66%met the SATs standard
Blackshaw Primary School
1.4 km · Bolton

Graded · no overall grade2024

1.9applications per place 69%met the SATs standard
SS Osmund and Andrew's R.C. Primary School
1.5 km · Bolton

Remains Good2023

1.5applications per place 57%met the SATs standard
St Gregory's RC Primary School, A Voluntary Academy
1.6 km · Bolton

Good2024

2.4applications per place 82%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: Academy sponsor led
Phase: Primary
URN · DfE number: 142030 · 350/2007
Trust: Prestolee Multi Academy Trust
Capacity: 156 pupils · 129 on roll
Free school meals: 44.1% of pupils (England median 23%)
Nursery: Has nursery classes
Opened: 1 December 2015
Replaced: Bowness Primary School (URN 105197)
Address: Church Street, Little Lever, Bolton, BL3 1BT
Local authority: Bolton

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