Home › Areas › Bolton › Best primary schools

Best primary schools in Bolton

88 of 100 primary schools ranked by Met expected standard (RWM) · all Bolton schools · secondary schools

Ranked on Met expected standard (RWM), 2024/25 — the most recent year each school has published. Official data, not our opinion — but the ranking is only as good as the measure, and a single number never describes a school.

81 of 100 rated Good or Outstanding
15 oversubscribed on first preference
10 Good or better and undersubscribed — the overlooked ones
Median Met expected standard (RWM): 66.0% (best 95.0%)

#	School	Met expected standard (RWM)	Ofsted	Places	Catchment
1	The Olive School, Bolton Bolton	95.0%	Outstanding	oversubscribed 1.8 first prefs per place, 2026/27	approximate
2	St Andrew's CofE Primary School, Over Hulton Bolton	90.0%	Good	about even 0.9 first prefs per place, 2026/27	approximate
3	Bowness Primary School Bolton	86.0%	Good	about even 1.0 first prefs per place, 2026/27	approximate
4	Beaumont Primary School BOLTON	84.0%	Not judged	oversubscribed 1.87 first prefs per place, 2026/27	approximate
5	Masefield Primary School Bolton	84.0%	Good	oversubscribed 2.07 first prefs per place, 2026/27	approximate
6	St William of York Roman Catholic Primary School Bolton	84.0%	Not judged	about even 0.96 first prefs per place, 2026/27	approximate
7	The Gates Primary School Bolton	84.0%	Good	about even 1.07 first prefs per place, 2026/27	approximate
8	The Valley Community Primary School Bolton	83.0%	Outstanding	about even 1.08 first prefs per place, 2026/27	approximate
9	St Gregory's RC Primary School, A Voluntary Academy Bolton	82.0%	Good	about even 0.86 first prefs per place, 2026/27	approximate
10	Kearsley West Primary School Bolton	81.0%	Good	about even 1.0 first prefs per place, 2026/27	approximate
11	Oxford Grove Primary School Bolton	80.0%	Outstanding improving	oversubscribed 1.2 first prefs per place, 2026/27	approximate
12	Gaskell Community Primary School Bolton	79.0%	Not judged declining	about even 0.97 first prefs per place, 2026/27	approximate
13	Our Lady of Lourdes RC Primary School Bolton	79.0%	Not judged	about even 1.07 first prefs per place, 2026/27	approximate
14	St Paul's CofE Primary School, Astley Bridge Bolton	79.0%	Not judged	oversubscribed 1.2 first prefs per place, 2026/27	approximate
15	The Oaks Primary School Bolton	79.0%	Good	about even 0.87 first prefs per place, 2026/27	approximate
16	Blackrod Primary School BOLTON	78.0%	Outstanding improving	about even 0.98 first prefs per place, 2026/27	approximate
17	Egerton Primary School Bolton	78.0%	Good	about even 1.07 first prefs per place, 2026/27	approximate
18	St Thomas CofE Primary School Bolton	78.0%	Good	about even 0.93 first prefs per place, 2026/27	approximate
19	Markland Hill Primary School Bolton	77.0%	Not judged improving	oversubscribed 1.26 first prefs per place, 2026/27	approximate
20	Prestolee Primary School Manchester	77.0%	Outstanding	about even 0.97 first prefs per place, 2026/27	approximate
21	The Ferns Primary Academy Bolton	76.0%	Good	undersubscribed 0.85 first prefs per place, 2026/27	approximate
22	Heathfield Primary School Bolton	75.0%	Good	oversubscribed 1.33 first prefs per place, 2026/27	approximate
23	The Olive Tree Primary School Bolton Bolton	75.0%	Good declining	about even 1.15 first prefs per place, 2026/27	approximate
24	Haslam Park Primary School Bolton	74.0%	Good	undersubscribed 0.78 first prefs per place, 2026/27	approximate
25	Sacred Heart Roman Catholic Primary School Bolton	74.0%	Outstanding	about even 0.97 first prefs per place, 2026/27	approximate
26	Spindle Point Primary School Bolton	74.0%	Good	about even 1.03 first prefs per place, 2026/27	approximate
27	Sunning Hill Primary School Bolton	74.0%	Not judged improving	about even 1.13 first prefs per place, 2026/27	approximate
28	Horwich Parish CofE Primary School Bolton hidden gem	73.0%	Good	undersubscribed 0.72 first prefs per place, 2026/27	approximate
29	St Bernard's RC Primary School, Bolton Bolton	72.0%	Good	undersubscribed 0.83 first prefs per place, 2026/27	approximate
30	Eagley Junior School Bolton	70.0%	Not judged	—	approximate
31	Eatock Primary School Bolton	70.0%	Outstanding improving	oversubscribed 1.27 first prefs per place, 2026/27	approximate
32	Blackshaw Primary School Bolton	69.0%	Not judged	about even 1.04 first prefs per place, 2026/27	approximate
33	Hardy Mill Primary School Bolton	69.0%	Good	about even 0.98 first prefs per place, 2026/27	approximate
34	Ladybridge Community Primary School Bolton	69.0%	Good	undersubscribed 0.8 first prefs per place, 2026/27	approximate
35	St Columba's RC Primary School Bolton	69.0%	Good	about even 0.93 first prefs per place, 2026/27	approximate
36	Devonshire Road Primary School Bolton	68.0%	Good improving	about even 0.86 first prefs per place, 2026/27	approximate
37	Castle Hill Primary School Bolton hidden gem	67.0%	Good improving	undersubscribed 0.76 first prefs per place, 2026/27	approximate
38	Moorgate Primary School Bolton	67.0%	Outstanding improving	oversubscribed 2.46 first prefs per place, 2026/27	approximate
39	St James CofE Primary School, Farnworth Bolton	67.0%	Not judged	about even 0.92 first prefs per place, 2026/27	approximate
40	St Saviour CofE Primary School, Ringley Manchester	67.0%	Good	oversubscribed 1.2 first prefs per place, 2026/27	approximate
41	All Saints CofE Primary School Bolton	66.0%	Good	oversubscribed 1.17 first prefs per place, 2026/27	approximate
42	Essa Primary Academy BOLTON	66.0%	Not judged improving	undersubscribed 0.8 first prefs per place, 2026/27	approximate
43	Highfield Primary School Bolton	66.0%	Good	about even 0.92 first prefs per place, 2026/27	approximate
44	Sharples Primary School Bolton	66.0%	Good	undersubscribed 0.79 first prefs per place, 2026/27	approximate
45	St Mary's CofE Primary School, Deane Bolton	66.0%	Outstanding improving	undersubscribed 0.8 first prefs per place, 2026/27	approximate
46	St James CofE Primary School, Daisy Hill Bolton	65.0%	Good	undersubscribed 0.8 first prefs per place, 2026/27	approximate
47	St Stephen and All Martyrs' CofE School, Lever Bridge Bolton	65.0%	Good	about even 0.86 first prefs per place, 2026/27	approximate
48	Clarendon Primary School Bolton	63.0%	Good	about even 0.9 first prefs per place, 2026/27	approximate
49	Lever Edge Primary Academy Bolton	63.0%	Good	about even 0.91 first prefs per place, 2026/27	approximate
50	Red Lane Primary School Bolton	63.0%	Not judged	about even 0.9 first prefs per place, 2026/27	approximate
51	St Bartholomew's CofE Primary School Bolton	63.0%	Not judged improving	oversubscribed 1.3 first prefs per place, 2026/27	approximate
52	Church Road Primary School Bolton	62.0%	Good improving	about even 1.0 first prefs per place, 2026/27	approximate
53	Harwood Meadows Primary School Bolton	62.0%	Good	about even 0.92 first prefs per place, 2026/27	approximate
54	Ss Simon & Jude CofE Primary School, Bolton Bolton	62.0%	Good declining	about even 0.93 first prefs per place, 2026/27	approximate
55	St Catherine's CofE Primary School Bolton	62.0%	Good	undersubscribed 0.82 first prefs per place, 2026/27	approximate
56	St Ethelbert's Roman Catholic Primary School, a Voluntary Academy Bolton	62.0%	Good	about even 0.85 first prefs per place, 2026/27	approximate
57	Bishop Bridgeman CofE Primary School Bolton	61.0%	Good	about even 0.89 first prefs per place, 2026/27	approximate
58	High Lawn Primary School Bolton	61.0%	Not judged	about even 0.91 first prefs per place, 2026/27	approximate
59	St Joseph's RC Primary School, Halliwell, Bolton Bolton	61.0%	Good improving	about even 0.94 first prefs per place, 2026/27	approximate
60	St Maxentius CofE Primary School Bolton	61.0%	Good	about even 0.91 first prefs per place, 2026/27	approximate
61	Chorley New Road Primary Academy Bolton	60.0%	Good	about even 1.07 first prefs per place, 2026/27	approximate
62	St George's CofE Primary School Bolton	60.0%	Good	about even 1.1 first prefs per place, 2026/27	approximate
63	St Michael's CofE Primary School, Great Lever Bolton	59.0%	Good	about even 0.93 first prefs per place, 2026/27	approximate
64	St Peter's Smithills Dean Church of England Primary School Bolton	59.0%	Good	about even 1.07 first prefs per place, 2026/27	approximate
65	Queensbridge Primary School Bolton	58.0%	Good	about even 1.14 first prefs per place, 2026/27	approximate
66	St John the Evangelist RC Primary School, Bromley Cross, Bolton Bolton hidden gem	58.0%	Good improving	undersubscribed 0.73 first prefs per place, 2026/27	approximate
67	St Peter's CofE Primary School Bolton	58.0%	Outstanding	about even 1.0 first prefs per place, 2026/27	approximate
68	SS Osmund and Andrew's R.C. Primary School Bolton	57.0%	Good	undersubscribed 0.8 first prefs per place, 2026/27	approximate
69	Blackrod Anglican/Methodist Primary School Bolton	56.0%	Good	oversubscribed 1.21 first prefs per place, 2026/27	approximate
70	Brandwood Primary School Bolton	56.0%	Good	about even 0.91 first prefs per place, 2026/27	approximate
71	Mytham Primary School Bolton	56.0%	Good	about even 0.9 first prefs per place, 2026/27	approximate
72	St Mary's RC Primary School Horwich, Bolton	56.0%	Good	about even 1.03 first prefs per place, 2026/27	approximate
73	St Brendan's RC Primary School, Harwood, Bolton Bolton	55.0%	Good declining	about even 1.0 first prefs per place, 2026/27	approximate
74	Pikes Lane Primary School Bolton	54.0%	Not judged improving	about even 0.91 first prefs per place, 2026/27	approximate
75	Brownlow Fold Primary School Bolton hidden gem	53.0%	Good	undersubscribed 0.76 first prefs per place, 2026/27	approximate
76	Gilnow Primary School Bolton	53.0%	Good improving	undersubscribed 0.78 first prefs per place, 2026/27	approximate
77	St Stephen's CofE Primary School Bolton hidden gem	53.0%	Good	undersubscribed 0.75 first prefs per place, 2026/27	approximate
78	Holy Infant and St Anthony RC Primary School Bolton hidden gem	52.0%	Good	undersubscribed 0.67 first prefs per place, 2026/27	approximate
79	St Thomas of Canterbury RC School Bolton	52.0%	Good	undersubscribed 0.77 first prefs per place, 2026/27	approximate
80	St Thomas C of E Primary School, Halliwell Bolton	50.0%	Good	about even 0.85 first prefs per place, 2026/27	approximate
81	St Bede Academy Bolton	49.0%	Good	about even 0.93 first prefs per place, 2026/27	approximate
82	St Matthew's CofE Primary School, Bolton Bolton hidden gem	47.0%	Good	undersubscribed 0.63 first prefs per place, 2026/27	approximate
83	Leverhulme Community Primary School Bolton	45.0%	Good	undersubscribed 0.79 first prefs per place, 2026/27	approximate
84	Cherry Tree Primary School Bolton	44.0%	Good	about even 0.89 first prefs per place, 2026/27	approximate
85	Tonge Moor Primary Academy Bolton	44.0%	Good	about even 0.9 first prefs per place, 2026/27	approximate
86	St Matthew's CofE Primary School, Little Lever Bolton hidden gem	42.0%	Good	undersubscribed 0.33 first prefs per place, 2026/27	approximate
87	Beacon Primary School Bolton	36.0%	Good	about even 0.86 first prefs per place, 2026/27	approximate
88	Claypool Primary School Bolton	34.0%	Good	about even 0.93 first prefs per place, 2026/27	approximate

Also in Bolton

12 further primary schools with no published Met expected standard (RWM) for the latest year — usually too small a cohort to report, newly opened, or a special school. Listed because leaving them out would make this a misleading picture of Bolton, not a fairer one.

Al-Huda Primary School Ofsted: Good
Bolton Parish Church, Church of England Primary School Ofsted: Good
Bolton School Infant & Nursery School
Clevelands Prep School
Eagley Infant School Ofsted: Good
Johnson Fold Community Primary School Ofsted: Not judged
Lostock Primary School Ofsted: Outstanding
St John Church of England Primary School, Farnworth Ofsted: Good
St Peter and St Paul RC Primary School a Voluntary Academy Ofsted: Good
St Teresa's RC Primary School a Voluntary Academy Ofsted: Good hidden gem
Walmsley CofE Primary School Ofsted: Requires improvement
Washacre Primary Academy Ofsted: Good hidden gem

Applying in Bolton

Knowing which school is best is only half of it — these are the deadlines that decide whether you can apply at all.

Secondary application deadline 2026-10-31 · 2027 entry Secondary Common Application Form (CAF) deadline for September 2027 entry (Year 7). National statutory deadline 31 October 2026; apply via your home local authority. Selective/grammar registration, if any, is a separate earlier deadline.
Primary (Reception) application deadline 2027-01-15 · 2027 entry Primary (Reception) application deadline for September 2027 entry. National statutory deadline 15 January 2027; apply via your home local authority.
Secondary National Offer Day 2027-03-01 · 2027 entry Secondary National Offer Day for September 2027 entry — state school Year 7 place offers (1 March).
Primary National Offer Day 2027-04-16 · 2027 entry Primary National Offer Day for September 2027 entry — Reception place offers (16 April).
Secondary application deadline 2027-10-31 · 2028 entry Secondary Common Application Form (CAF) deadline for September 2028 entry (Year 7). National statutory deadline 31 October 2027; apply via your home local authority. Selective/grammar registration, if any, is a separate earlier deadline.
Primary (Reception) application deadline 2028-01-15 · 2028 entry Primary (Reception) application deadline for September 2028 entry. National statutory deadline 15 January 2028; apply via your home local authority.

Rankings compare published results. They do not tell you which school your child will get into — that depends on where you live, sibling and faith priority, and how many people apply this year. Ask below, or check the Bolton admission criteria.

Have a specific question about admissions, scores or dates?

Ask SchoolsGPT