Pikes Lane Primary School
Bolton, BL3 5HU · Bolton · primary school
Check the area around this school
71st 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 — 4.4/10 against 2,028 of them, against 3.8/10 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 | 54.0 · 26 | 62% | 1.59 |
| Higher standard (RWM) 2024/25 | 8.0 · 57 | 38% | 2.19 |
Each measure is read as a position among comparable schools, so a school in the middle of the country scores 5. Full method.
Pikes Lane Primary School overview
How it's doing
In 2024/25, 54.0% of pupils reached the expected standard in reading, writing and maths, compared to the national median of 64%. A higher 8.0% reached the higher standard, against a national median of 7%. Narrow the comparison to schools whose pupils have similar backgrounds and it does better still (4.4 out of 10 against similar schools, 3.8 out of 10 against all schools).
Beyond the classroom
Pupils can join Cooking, STEM, Children University, Combat, Spanish, and Crafting Clubs, as well as Cheerleading and Netball. A breakfast club is also available.
Getting in
The published school roll is 512 pupils against a stated capacity of 518. 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 who are below the expected standard in maths? What does a typical day look like for a child attending the breakfast club? How are places allocated for the next academic year?
What Ofsted said about Pikes Lane Primary School
Overview
Pupils are described as “polite and well mannered” in a “place of calm” where they feel safe and respected. However, the report states that “many pupils are not well prepared for the next stage of their education” due to a curriculum that is not yet fully coherent across all subjects. Significant leadership changes have hampered progress, and governors have “not appropriately challenged or supported the school.”
Strengths
- Pupils demonstrate “good behaviour” and “positive relationships” with adults, creating an orderly environment for learning.
- Early reading provision is effective, with staff delivering phonics well so that “most pupils [are] fluent readers by Year 2.”
- Personal development is strong, with pupils learning to stay safe online and taking pride in “leadership roles and community activities.”
- The school “quickly identifies pupils with special educational needs and/or disabilities (SEND)” and adapts the curriculum to support them.
Areas to improve
- The curriculum in some subjects and the early years lacks clear sequencing of “fundamental knowledge,” leading to a “disjointed curriculum” where pupils do not build knowledge securely.
- Assessment checks fail to identify “gaps in knowledge sufficiently well,” allowing pupils to progress with “ongoing misconceptions” and unstable foundations.
- Early writing instruction is inconsistent, resulting in pupils who “struggle to write using a cursive or legible written form” by the end of Year 2.
- Governors do not evaluate the curriculum well enough to “challenge the school as effectively as they should.”
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 | 50% |
| 2024/25 | 54% |
| 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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