Canon Slade School
Bolton, BL2 3BP · Bolton · secondary school
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4th of 20 secondary schools in Bolton we can score. Local and same-phase on purpose: a national table mostly measures who attends.
Its results hold up when the comparison narrows to schools whose pupils have similar backgrounds — 7.6/10 against 810 of them, against 8.0/10 nationally. So this is not simply a reflection of who attends. Both figures are results only, without the inspection grade. A lower figure here means a stronger comparison group, not a weaker school.
How this is worked out
| Measure | Percentile | Weight | Adds |
|---|---|---|---|
| Grade 5+ English & maths 2025/26 | 63.3 · 85 | 46% | 3.93 |
| Progress 8 2023/24 | 0.29 · 72 | 38% | 2.77 |
| Attainment 8 2025/26 | 54.0 · 83 | 15% | 1.27 |
Each measure is read as a position among comparable schools, so a school in the middle of the country scores 5. Full method.
Canon Slade School overview
How it's doing
In 2024/25, 57.0% of pupils achieved Grade 5 or above in English and maths. Attainment 8 was 53.9, compared to the national median of 44.6. Progress 8 was +0.29 in 2023/24, indicating pupils did better than those nationally who started from the same place. Narrow the comparison to the schools whose pupils have similar backgrounds — a tougher field — and it places 6.8 out of 10 among them, against 7.6 out of 10 nationally.
Getting in
The published school roll is 1,724 pupils against a stated capacity of 1,800. These whole-school figures do not establish entry-year vacancies or the likelihood of an offer. Confirm entry-year availability and admissions criteria with the school or local authority.
Worth asking on a visit
How does the school support pupils to close the gap between their current attainment and the national median? What specific support is available for students aiming to improve their Progress 8 scores?
What Ofsted said about Canon Slade School
Overview
The report describes a school where “positive relationships and mutual respect are at the heart” of the community, creating a caring culture in which pupils “flourish.” Inspectors found that the school provides a “broad, ambitious curriculum” and has taken “effective action to improve the quality of education” since the previous inspection. Leaders are “rightly proud of the improvements made” and remain committed to refining the quality of education provided.
Strengths
- Pupils feel “known and understood as individuals,” fostering happiness and strong pastoral support, particularly for sixth-form students.
- The curriculum is “well organised” with logical progression from Year 7 to Year 13, supported by staff with “strong subject knowledge.”
- Pupils with special educational needs and/or disabilities (SEND) “achieve highly, alongside their peers” due to effective staff training and support.
- The school’s approach to reading is “strong,” with gaps in knowledge “swiftly identified” and pupils receiving “highly effective support.”
- Personal development is catered for “very well,” including a careers programme interwoven through education and opportunities for pupil leadership.
Areas to improve
- Some staff do not use assessment strategies effectively to “pinpoint any gaps in pupils’ learning,” leading to unaddressed misconceptions.
- The school should ensure staff are supported to use assessment strategies effectively to “identify and remedy any missed or forgotten learning.”
Safeguarding
The report states that “the arrangements for safeguarding are effective.”
Results over time
Attainment 8, the years we hold.
| Year | Attainment 8 |
|---|---|
| 2023/24 | 54.6 |
| 2024/25 | 53.9 |
| 2025/26 | 54.0 |
| England | 44.9 |
Source: DfE Explore Education Statistics. “England” is the median of the 3,682 state schools in England we hold a 2025/26 figure for — a school-level median, not the DfE's pupil-weighted national figure.
Your offer chance
—Based on official applications/offers, distance and catchment where we have it. Bands only — never a percentage.
Sibling, faith, looked-after and other criteria can override distance. Always confirm with the school or local authority.
Next dates
- Secondary application deadline31 Oct 2026
- Secondary National Offer Day1 Mar 2027
- Secondary application deadline31 Oct 2027
- Secondary National Offer Day1 Mar 2028
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