Academy converter · Bolton

St James CofE Primary School, Farnworth

2–11Ages
357Pupils
PrimaryPhase
Church of EnglandReligious character
142944URN

Hillside Avenue, Farnworth, Bolton, BL4 9QB · School website

Applications per placeCircle size: applicationsThis school

Latest Ofsted

Graded inspection · Oct 2024 Previous framework

No overall grade given

Quality of education
Behaviour and attitudes
Personal development
Leadership and management

What Ofsted found

Applications per place · Sept 2026

2.2per place

close to Bolton median (2.0)

Fewer applicationsMore

This schoolOther primary schools in Bolton

56 applications for 26 places · 38th of 91 in Bolton

Every year since 2014

SATs · reading, writing and maths · 2024/25

67%met the expected standard

Bolton 66% England 64%

Reading, writing and maths

What did Ofsted find?

Ofsted data to 30 September 2026

Graded inspection · 15 October 2024Ofsted's previous 4-point scale (to August 2024). Between September 2024 and November 2025 Ofsted graded areas but gave no overall grade.
Area	Outstanding	Good
Quality of education		Good
Behaviour and attitudes		Good
Personal development		Good
Leadership and management		Good
Early years provision	Outstanding

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

2.2applications per place, Reception

close to Bolton median (2.0) close to England median (2.2)

56 applications · 26 places offered · 24 named it first

FaithMay give priority to families of the faith.

2026 2.2; Bolton median median 2.0
2025 1.8; Bolton median median 2.0
2024 1.6; Bolton median median 2.1
2023 1.9; Bolton median median 1.9
2022 1.5; Bolton median median 2.1
2021 1.6; Bolton median median 2.1
2020 1.5; Bolton median median 2.2
2019 1.4; Bolton median median 2.1
2018 1.5; Bolton median median 2.1
2017 1.4; Bolton median median 2.0
2016 1.6; Bolton median median 2.1; as the previous school
2015 1.5; Bolton median median 2.2; as the previous school
2014 1.5; Bolton median median 2.1; as the previous school

More applications per place than the Bolton median in 1 of 10 years.

This school
Bolton median

Dashed bars: as St James CofE Primary School, Farnworth (URN 105208), 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	26	56	2.2	24	0.92
Sep 2025	30	55	1.8	29	0.97
Sep 2024	45	72	1.6	43	0.96
Sep 2023	38	72	1.9	34	0.89
Sep 2022	37	54	1.5	30	0.81
Sep 2021	39	62	1.6	33	0.85
Sep 2020	38	56	1.5	34	0.89
Sep 2019	30	43	1.4	23	0.77
Sep 2018	28	41	1.5	26	0.93
Sep 2017	37	50	1.4	29	0.78
Sep 2016 *	35	56	1.6	33	0.94
Sep 2015 *	37	56	1.5	33	0.89
Sep 2014 *	37	56	1.5	35	0.95

How did pupils do in SATs?

DfE KS2 · 2024/25

Reading 79% · Writing 73% · Maths 77% → all three 67% met the expected standard, End of Year 6

Reading, writing and maths: expected standard67%36th of 87 in Bolton

Bolton 66% England 64%

Reading

Expected standard79%

Bolton 79% England 78%

Higher standard31%

Bolton 31% England 33%

Average scaled score 106 (100 = expected standard)

Writing

Expected standard73%

Bolton 77% England 75%

Greater depth12%

Bolton 15% England 12%

Maths

Expected standard77%

Bolton 78% England 77%

Higher standard33%

Bolton 26% England 24%

Average scaled score 106 (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	67%	8%	106	106
2023/24	45%	9%	102	103
2022/23	57%	10%	103	105

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

St James CofE Primary School, FarnworthThis school
This school

Graded · no overall grade2024

2.2applications per place 67%met the SATs standard
Queensbridge Primary School
0.5 km · Bolton

Good2023

2.1applications per place 58%met the SATs standard
The Ferns Primary Academy
0.7 km · Bolton

2026

2.0applications per place 76%met the SATs standard
Our Lady of Lourdes RC Primary School
0.8 km · Bolton

Graded · no overall grade2024

2.0applications per place 79%met the SATs standard
St Peter's CofE Primary School
0.9 km · Bolton

2025

1.9applications per place 58%met the SATs standard
Highfield Primary School
0.9 km · Bolton

2026

1.8applications per place 66%met the SATs standard
Dukesgate Academy
1.2 km · Salford

Remains Good2024

1.9applications per place 76%met the SATs standard
North Walkden Primary School
1.2 km · Salford

2026

1.3applications per place 34%met the SATs standard
St Gregory's RC Primary School, A Voluntary Academy
1.4 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 converter
Phase: Primary
URN · DfE number: 142944 · 350/3016
Trust: Archbishop Temple Church of England Multi Academy Trust
Religious character: Church of England
Capacity: 362 pupils · 357 on roll
Free school meals: 43.1% of pupils (England median 23%)
Nursery: Has nursery classes
Opened: 1 August 2016
Replaced: St James CofE Primary School, Farnworth (URN 105208)
Address: Hillside Avenue, Farnworth, Bolton, BL4 9QB
Local authority: Bolton

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