This schoolOther secondary schools in Bolton
What did Ofsted find?
Ofsted data to 30 September 2026Inspection history
- 8 January 2025Ungraded inspection: Improved significantly
- 10 September 2013Graded inspection: Good · as Sharples School Science Specialist College, URN 105259
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 entry826 applications · 235 places offered · 344 named it first
- 2026 3.5; Bolton median median 2.1
- 2025 3.5; Bolton median median 2.2
- 2024 3.3; Bolton median median 2.3
- 2023 3.3; Bolton median median 2.3
- 2022 3.2; Bolton median median 2.1
- 2021 3.3; Bolton median median 2.2
- 2020 3.1; Bolton median median 2.3
- 2019 2.7; Bolton median median 2.3
- 2018 2.1; Bolton median median 2.1
- 2017 2.3; Bolton median median 1.9
- 2016 2.2; Bolton median median 1.8; as the previous school
- 2015 2.5; Bolton median median 2.1; as the previous school
- 2014 2.4; Bolton median median 2.2; as the previous school
- This school
- Bolton median
Dashed bars: as Sharples School Science Specialist College (URN 105259), the previous school.
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 | 235 | 826 | 3.5 | 344 | 1.46 |
| Sep 2025 | 234 | 821 | 3.5 | 355 | 1.52 |
| Sep 2024 | 241 | 793 | 3.3 | 328 | 1.36 |
| Sep 2023 | 238 | 775 | 3.3 | 305 | 1.28 |
| Sep 2022 | 240 | 778 | 3.2 | 304 | 1.27 |
| Sep 2021 | 238 | 781 | 3.3 | 272 | 1.14 |
| Sep 2020 | 237 | 745 | 3.1 | 280 | 1.18 |
| Sep 2019 | 232 | 635 | 2.7 | 251 | 1.08 |
| Sep 2018 | 236 | 504 | 2.1 | 209 | 0.89 |
| Sep 2017 | 202 | 471 | 2.3 | 198 | 0.98 |
| Sep 2016 * | 171 | 377 | 2.2 | 108 | 0.63 |
| Sep 2015 * | 167 | 410 | 2.5 | 134 | 0.80 |
| Sep 2014 * | 134 | 325 | 2.4 | 94 | 0.70 |
How did pupils do at GCSE?
DfE KS4 · 2025/26 provisionalEvery year as a table
| Year | Pupils | Attainment 8 | 5+ Eng & maths | 4+ Eng & maths | Progress 8 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2025/26 (prov.) | 231 | 56.5 | 73% | 86% | – |
| 2024/25 | 247 | 55.6 | 62% | 82% | – |
| 2023/24 | 236 | 56.5 | 66% | 78% | +0.86 |
| 2022/23 | 230 | 56.3 | 68% | 77% | +0.82 |
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
- Sharples SchoolThis schoolThis schoolImproved significantly20253.5applications per place 56.5Attainment 8
- 1.1 km · BoltonGood20242.0applications per place 44.0Attainment 8
- 1.2 km · BoltonGraded · no overall grade20242.6applications per place 54.0Attainment 8
- 1.4 km · BoltonGraded · no overall grade20242.4applications per place 43.0Attainment 8
- 1.8 km · BoltonRemains Outstanding20233.0applications per place 57.0Attainment 8
- 2.2 km · Bolton20261.5applications per place 41.4Attainment 8
- 2.9 km · BoltonGraded · no overall grade20251.2applications per place 36.9Attainment 8
- 3.9 km · BoltonGraded · no overall grade20242.0applications per place 41.4Attainment 8
- 4.7 km · BoltonGraded · no overall grade20251.9applications 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
- Academy converter
- Phase
- Secondary
- URN · DfE number
- 142232 · 350/4048
- Trust
- Sharples School A Multi Academy Trust
- Admissions policy
- Non-selective
- Capacity
- 1,080 pupils · 1,214 on roll
- Free school meals
- 27.5% of pupils (England median 23%)
- Opened
- 1 June 2016
- Replaced
- Sharples School Science Specialist College (URN 105259)
- Address
- Hill Cot Road, Sharples, Bolton, BL1 8SN
- Local authority
- Bolton
Data last changed 19 October 2026 · Report an error · Corrections · Sources