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Academy converter · Bolton

St James's Church of England High School

  • 11–16Ages
  • 1,053Pupils
  • SecondaryPhase
  • Church of EnglandReligious character
  • 144046URN

Lucas Road, Farnworth, Bolton, BL4 9RU · School website

Applications per placeCircle size: applicationsThis school
Latest Ofsted

Graded inspection · Nov 2022 Previous framework

Good
  • Quality of education
  • Behaviour and attitudes
  • Personal development
  • Leadership and management
What Ofsted found
Applications per place · Sept 2026
3.7per place
1.6 above Bolton median (2.1)
Fewer applicationsMore

This schoolOther secondary schools in Bolton

732 applications for 197 places · 1st of 20 in Bolton
Every year since 2014
Attainment 8 · 2025/26 (provisional)
48.1of 90
8th of 20 in Bolton
All GCSE results

What did Ofsted find?

Ofsted data to 30 September 2026
Overall effectiveness: Good · 2 November 2022Ofsted's previous 4-point scale (to August 2024)
AreaOutstandingGoodRequires improvementInadequate
Quality of educationGood
Behaviour and attitudesOutstanding
Personal developmentOutstanding
Leadership and managementOutstanding

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
3.7applications per place, Year 7
1.6 above Bolton median (2.1) 1.5 above England median (2.2)

732 applications · 197 places offered · 315 named it first

FaithMay give priority to families of the faith.

  1. 2026 3.7; Bolton median median 2.1
  2. 2025 4.0; Bolton median median 2.2
  3. 2024 4.1; Bolton median median 2.3
  4. 2023 4.2; Bolton median median 2.3
  5. 2022 4.2; Bolton median median 2.1
  6. 2021 4.3; Bolton median median 2.2
  7. 2020 4.6; Bolton median median 2.3
  8. 2019 4.5; Bolton median median 2.3
  9. 2018 5.0; Bolton median median 2.1
  10. 2017 4.5; Bolton median median 1.9; as the previous school
  11. 2016 4.7; Bolton median median 1.8; as the previous school
  12. 2015 4.0; Bolton median median 2.1; as the previous school
  13. 2014 4.0; Bolton median median 2.2; as the previous school
More applications per place than the Bolton median in 9 of 9 years.
  • This school
  • Bolton median

Dashed bars: as St James's Church of England High School (URN 105266), 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.

EntryPlacesApplicationsPer placeFirst preferencesFirst-pref. ratio
Sep 20261977323.73151.60
Sep 20252008064.03591.80
Sep 20241988164.13581.81
Sep 20232078724.23551.71
Sep 20222048624.23061.50
Sep 20212099054.33761.80
Sep 20202049344.63661.79
Sep 20192209984.53791.72
Sep 20182081,0425.03931.89
Sep 2017 *2089434.53881.87
Sep 2016 *2029514.73651.81
Sep 2015 *2008054.03261.63
Sep 2014 *2078184.03201.55

How did pupils do at GCSE?

DfE KS4 · 2025/26 provisional

207 pupils took GCSEs in 2025/26.

Attainment 8 (out of 90)48.18th of 20 in Bolton
Grade 5 or above in English and maths54%8th of 20 in Bolton
Grade 4 or above in English and maths72%
  • This school
  • Bolton median
  • England median
Progress 8 (2023/24, the latest published)−0.07
−20 = national average+2
Every year as a table
YearPupilsAttainment 85+ Eng & maths4+ Eng & mathsProgress 8
2025/26 (prov.)20748.154%72%–
2024/2520753.558%82%–
2023/2420947.949%69%−0.07
2022/2320949.048%73%−0.24

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

  • 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
144046 · 350/5400
Trust
The Bishop Fraser Trust
Admissions policy
Non-selective
Religious character
Church of England
Capacity
1,050 pupils · 1,053 on roll
Free school meals
20.1% of pupils (England median 23%)
Opened
1 December 2017
Replaced
St James's Church of England High School (URN 105266)
Address
Lucas Road, Farnworth, Bolton, BL4 9RU
Local authority
Bolton

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