Hardy Mill Primary School
Bolton, BL2 4EF · Bolton · primary school
Check the area around this school
34th 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 the 3,377 schools whose pupils have similar backgrounds — a tougher field — and it places 4.6/10 among them, against 6.2/10 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 | 69.0 · 63 | 40% | 2.51 |
| Ofsted | 52 | 35% | 1.82 |
| Higher standard (RWM) 2024/25 | 9.0 · 61 | 25% | 1.53 |
Each measure is read as a position among comparable schools, so a school in the middle of the country scores 5. Full method.
Hardy Mill Primary School overview
How it's doing
In 2024/25, 69.0% 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 9.0% against a national median of 7%. Ofsted rated the school Good in January 2025. Narrow the comparison to the schools whose pupils have similar backgrounds — a tougher field — and it places 4.6 out of 10 among them, against 6.2 out of 10 nationally.
Beyond the classroom
The school provides both a breakfast club and an after-school club.
Getting in
The published school roll is 316 pupils against a stated capacity of 356. 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 progress from the expected standard to the higher standard? What specific activities are available within the after-school club? How does the school maintain its Good rating following the recent inspection?
What Ofsted said about Hardy Mill Primary School
Overview
Hardy Mill Primary School has taken effective action to maintain the standards identified at the previous inspection. Pupils settle quickly in this “friendly and nurturing” environment, developing a strong sense of belonging and enjoying their learning. The school fosters high expectations for achievement and provides a broad, balanced curriculum enriched by various extracurricular experiences.
Strengths
- Pupils are happy, behave well, and understand school values such as “respecting others” and “resilience in learning”.
- The curriculum is “broad, balanced and ambitious”, with a particular strength in phonics where pupils become “fluent and confident readers”.
- Staff foster a love of reading through book clubs, author visits, and ‘reading buddies’, while effectively supporting pupils with special educational needs and/or disabilities (SEND).
- The governing body provides “effective support and challenge”, and staff feel respected and supported by a dedicated ‘staff well-being team’.
- Pupils are prepared to become “responsible and active citizens” through community involvement and learning about diversity.
Areas to improve
- Teachers sometimes do not explain new learning sufficiently well, meaning some pupils lack a “secure understanding of new vocabulary and concepts”.
- Staff checks on pupils’ learning are not consistent, leading to some pupils developing “misconceptions and make some mistakes, including in their writing”.
Safeguarding
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 | 70% |
| 2023/24 | 53% |
| 2024/25 | 69% |
| 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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