Smithills School
Bolton, BL1 6JS · Bolton · secondary school
Check the area around this school
16th of 20 secondary schools in Bolton we can score. 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 — 5.4/10 against 492 of them, against 3.3/10 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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Ofsted | 9 | 35% | 0.32 |
| Grade 5+ English & maths 2025/26 | 34.5 · 24 | 30% | 0.70 |
| Progress 8 2023/24 | -0.04 · 47 | 25% | 1.18 |
| Attainment 8 2025/26 | 41.4 · 26 | 10% | 0.26 |
Each measure is read as a position among comparable schools, so a school in the middle of the country scores 5. Full method.
Smithills School overview
How it's doing
In 2024/25, 20.1% of pupils achieved Grade 5 or above in English and maths. Attainment 8 was 36.5, compared to the national median of 44.6. Progress 8 was -0.04 in 2023/24, indicating pupils did slightly worse than peers nationally who started from the same place. Narrow the comparison to schools whose pupils have similar backgrounds and it does better still (3.5 out of 10 against similar schools, 2.1 out of 10 against all schools). Ofsted inspected the school in March 2026 under the new framework, which grades areas separately without an overall grade.
Beyond the classroom
Pupils can join the Duke of Edinburgh Award, attend the Drama Workshop, and visit the Anderton Centre.
Getting in
The published school roll is 1,203 pupils against a stated capacity of 1,250. 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 for the Duke of Edinburgh Award? How does the new Ofsted framework affect day-to-day teaching priorities?
What Ofsted said about Smithills School
Overview
The report describes Smithills School as a "warm and welcoming environment" where pupils feel safe and valued. While attendance and behaviour are at an "Expected standard" with clear improvements, overall achievement and teaching quality require attention due to inconsistencies in delivery and gaps in foundational skills.
Strengths
- Leaders have created a "warm and nurturing environment" where pupils "trust staff" and report feeling safe.
- Attendance is "broadly in line with national averages" and continues to improve through targeted support for barriers.
- Behaviour systems have been strengthened, resulting in a "marked reduction" in suspensions and exclusions.
- Staff build "positive relationships" with pupils, fostering a culture of mutual respect where bullying is rare.
- Inclusion is effective, with appropriate support for pupils with special educational needs and those new to English.
Areas to improve
- Leaders must ensure teaching is consistently effective, particularly by checking for and correcting misconceptions to help pupils build knowledge securely.
- The personal development programme needs strengthening to ensure consistent delivery and that pupils retain what they have learned.
- Leaders should improve systems for evaluating the impact of their work and address gaps in pupils' foundational handwriting and mathematics skills.
Safeguarding
The safeguarding standards are met, with leaders establishing an "open culture in which safeguarding is everyone's responsibility" and concerns are actively managed.
Results over time
Attainment 8, the years we hold.
| Year | Attainment 8 |
|---|---|
| 2023/24 | 39.5 |
| 2024/25 | 36.5 |
| 2025/26 | 41.4 |
| 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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