Academy converter · Bolton

Rivington and Blackrod High School

11–18Ages
1,626Pupils
SecondaryPhase
Church of EnglandReligious character
Sixth formAges 16–18
143773URN

Rivington Lane, Horwich, Bolton, BL6 7RU · School website

Applications per placeCircle size: applicationsThis school

Latest Ofsted

Graded inspection · Jun 2023 Previous framework

Good

Quality of education
Behaviour and attitudes
Personal development
Leadership and management

What Ofsted found

Applications per place · Sept 2026

2.1per place

close to Bolton median (2.1)

Fewer applicationsMore

This schoolOther secondary schools in Bolton

582 applications for 278 places · 11th of 20 in Bolton

Every year since 2014

Attainment 8 · 2025/26 (provisional)

45.4of 90

Bolton 45.4 England 46.0

11th of 20 in Bolton

All GCSE results

What did Ofsted find?

Ofsted data to 30 September 2026

Overall effectiveness: Good · 14 June 2023Ofsted's previous 4-point scale (to August 2024)
Area	Outstanding	Good	Requires improvement	Inadequate
Quality of education		Good
Behaviour and attitudes		Good
Personal development		Good
Leadership and management		Good
Sixth form provision		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

2.1applications per place, Year 7

close to Bolton median (2.1) close to England median (2.2)

582 applications · 278 places offered · 280 named it first

FaithMay give priority to families of the faith.

2026 2.1; Bolton median median 2.1
2025 1.9; Bolton median median 2.2
2024 1.7; Bolton median median 2.3
2023 1.5; Bolton median median 2.3
2022 1.7; Bolton median median 2.1
2021 1.8; Bolton median median 2.2
2020 1.7; Bolton median median 2.3
2019 1.4; Bolton median median 2.3
2018 1.7; Bolton median median 2.1
2017 1.7; Bolton median median 1.9
2016 1.9; Bolton median median 1.8; as the previous school
2015 2.0; Bolton median median 2.1; as the previous school
2014 1.9; Bolton median median 2.2; as the previous school

More applications per place than the Bolton median in 0 of 10 years.

This school
Bolton median

Dashed bars: as Rivington and Blackrod High School (URN 105261), 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	278	582	2.1	280	1.01
Sep 2025	287	531	1.9	281	0.98
Sep 2024	291	489	1.7	248	0.85
Sep 2023	318	478	1.5	235	0.74
Sep 2022	254	435	1.7	196	0.77
Sep 2021	209	382	1.8	157	0.75
Sep 2020	294	505	1.7	232	0.79
Sep 2019	308	416	1.4	171	0.56
Sep 2018	316	524	1.7	232	0.73
Sep 2017	325	552	1.7	258	0.79
Sep 2016 *	316	589	1.9	277	0.88
Sep 2015 *	298	609	2.0	292	0.98
Sep 2014 *	314	603	1.9	302	0.96

How did pupils do at GCSE?

DfE KS4 · 2025/26 provisional

240 pupils took GCSEs in 2025/26.

Attainment 8 (out of 90)45.411th of 20 in Bolton

Bolton 45.4 England 46.0

Grade 5 or above in English and maths45%10th of 20 in Bolton

Bolton 40% England 45%

Grade 4 or above in English and maths65%

Bolton 61% England 66%

This school
Bolton median
England median

Progress 8 (2023/24, the latest published)+0.10

−20 = national average+2

Every year as a table

Year	Pupils	Attainment 8	5+ Eng & maths	4+ Eng & maths	Progress 8
2025/26 (prov.)	240	45.4	45%	65%	–
2024/25	276	49.2	53%	72%	–
2023/24	270	48.4	49%	73%	+0.10
2022/23	262	45.8	47%	64%	−0.16

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

Rivington and Blackrod High SchoolThis school
This school

Good2023

2.1applications per place 45.4Attainment 8
St Joseph's RC High School
3.0 km · Bolton

Graded · no overall grade2025

2.6applications per place 42.4Attainment 8
Albany Academy
5.9 km · Lancashire

Good2024

3.9applications per place 45.1Attainment 8
Holy Cross Catholic High School
6.2 km · Lancashire

Remains Good2022

3.2applications per place 55.4Attainment 8
Smithills School
6.4 km · Bolton

2026

1.5applications per place 41.4Attainment 8
Ladybridge High School
6.9 km · Bolton

Good2022

2.3applications per place 45.8Attainment 8
Thornleigh Salesian College
7.1 km · Bolton

Graded · no overall grade2024

2.4applications per place 43.0Attainment 8
Westhoughton High School
7.2 km · Bolton

Requires significant improvement 2026

1.4applications per place 40.2Attainment 8
Southlands High School
7.5 km · Lancashire

Requires improvement2024

1.7applications per place 40.4Attainment 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: 143773 · 350/4501
Trust: Leverhulme Academy Church of England and Community Trust
Admissions policy: Non-selective
Religious character: Church of England
Capacity: 1,888 pupils · 1,626 on roll
Free school meals: 26.1% of pupils (England median 23%)
SEN provision: Resourced provision
Opened: 1 March 2017
Replaced: Rivington and Blackrod High School (URN 105261)
Address: Rivington Lane, Horwich, Bolton, BL6 7RU
Local authority: Bolton

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