Gaskell Community Primary School
Bolton, BL1 2QG · Bolton · primary school
Check the area around this school
14th of 88 primary schools in Bolton we can score, 97 in total — the rest without enough published data. Local and same-phase on purpose: a national table mostly measures who attends.
Narrow the comparison to schools whose pupils have similar backgrounds and it does better still — 9.1/10 against 1,958 of them, against 8.0/10 nationally. 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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Expected standard (RWM) 2024/25 | 79.0 · 86 | 62% | 5.28 |
| Higher standard (RWM) 2024/25 | 11.0 · 71 | 38% | 2.72 |
Each measure is read as a position among comparable schools, so a school in the middle of the country scores 5. Full method.
Gaskell Community Primary School overview
How it's doing
In 2024/25, 79.0% of pupils reached the expected standard in reading, writing and maths, compared to the national median of 64%. For the higher standard, the figure was 11.0% against a national median of 7%. Narrow the comparison to schools whose pupils have similar backgrounds and it does better still (9.1 out of 10 against similar schools, 8.0 out of 10 against all schools).
Getting in
The published school roll is 472 pupils against a stated capacity of 420. 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
What support is available for pupils who do not reach the expected standard? How are places allocated for new entrants given the current over-enrolment?
What Ofsted said about Gaskell Community Primary School
Overview
Gaskell Community Primary School is described as an “extremely warm and caring school” where pupils feel “happy and safe.” The report highlights a “calm and purposeful atmosphere for learning,” driven by high aspirations and a strong ethos of kindness. Since the previous inspection, the school has taken “quick and decisive action” to improve its curriculum and leadership, resulting in significant progress.
Strengths
- Pupils exhibit “positive attitudes to learning” and achieve well, supported by teachers with “strong subject knowledge.”
- The curriculum is “well-considered,” offering experiences that “broaden their understanding of the world,” including trips and clubs.
- Attendance is “strong,” with rates of persistent absence having “declined significantly.”
- Staff well-being and workload are “considered carefully,” and the governing body now “holds the school to account effectively.”
- Pupils with special educational needs and/or disabilities (SEND) are well supported and “achieve well.”
Areas to improve
- In a few subjects, teachers do not check what pupils have learned well enough, meaning they cannot “identify and address gaps in pupils’ knowledge.”
- Some pupils struggling with reading do not receive consistent support to “catch up quickly enough to leave key stage 1 with secure phonics knowledge.”
Safeguarding
The report states that “the arrangements for safeguarding are effective.”
Results over time
Expected standard (reading, writing, maths), the years we hold.
| Year | Expected standard (reading, writing, maths) |
|---|---|
| 2022/23 | 65% |
| 2023/24 | 71% |
| 2024/25 | 79% |
| England | 64% |
Source: DfE Explore Education Statistics. “England” is the median of the 14,326 state schools in England we hold a 2024/25 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
- Primary (Reception) application deadline15 Jan 2027
- Primary National Offer Day16 Apr 2027
- Primary (Reception) application deadline15 Jan 2028
- Primary National Offer Day17 Apr 2028
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