Smithills School
Bolton, BL1 6JS · Bolton · secondary school
17th of 19 secondary schools in Bolton we can score, 20 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 — 3.8/10 against 489 of them, against 2.1/10 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 2024/25 | 20.1 · 4 | 30% | 0.12 |
| Progress 8 2023/24 | -0.04 · 47 | 25% | 1.18 |
| Attainment 8 2024/25 | 36.5 · 9 | 10% | 0.09 |
Each measure is read as a position among comparable schools, so a school in the middle of the country scores 5. Full method.
Get to know the school
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 starting from the same point. Ofsted rated the school "Requires improvement" in March 2026. Narrow the comparison to schools whose pupils have similar backgrounds and it does better still (3.8 out of 10 against similar schools, 2.1 out of 10 against all schools).
Beyond the classroom. Pupils can join the Duke of Edinburgh Award, attend the Drama Workshop, and visit the Anderton Centre.
Getting in. There are 1201 pupils in a school with 1250 places, leaving 49 spare places. The school is close to full, so places are likely to be competitive.
Worth asking on a visit. How does the school support pupils in raising their Attainment 8 scores towards the national median? What specific actions are being taken to address the "Requires improvement" rating? How does the school manage entry given the limited number of spare places?
Written by AI from this school's published results, inspection record and its own website — not by Ofsted, the school, or SchoolsGPT staff. Every figure above comes from the sources on this page. Check anything that matters with the school.
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.
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