St James's Church of England High School
Bolton, BL4 9RU · Bolton · secondary school
8th 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.
Its results hold up when the comparison narrows to schools whose pupils have similar backgrounds — 6.8/10 against 923 of them, against 6.6/10 nationally. So this is not simply a reflection of who attends. 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 | 52 | 35% | 1.81 |
| Grade 5+ English & maths 2024/25 | 57.5 · 78 | 30% | 2.35 |
| Progress 8 2023/24 | -0.07 · 45 | 25% | 1.12 |
| Attainment 8 2024/25 | 53.5 · 82 | 10% | 0.82 |
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, 57.5% of pupils achieved Grade 5 or above in English and maths. Attainment 8 was 53.5, compared to the national median of 44.6. Progress 8 was -0.07 in 2023/24, indicating pupils did slightly worse than those nationally who started from the same place. Its results hold up when the comparison narrows to schools whose pupils have similar backgrounds, so they are not simply a reflection of who attends (6.8 out of 10 against similar schools, 6.6 out of 10 against all schools). Ofsted rated the school Good in 2022.
Beyond the classroom. Pupils join Chess, Science, and Art Clubs, or play Cricket and Dance. The arts programme includes the SPIRIT Theatre Company, School Orchestra, and annual productions. Trips range from local sixth form colleges to bi-annual visits to London and New York theatres. Both breakfast and after-school clubs are available.
Getting in. The school has 1064 pupils in a facility with 1050 places, meaning it is over capacity by 14. Consequently, places are competitive.
Worth asking on a visit. How does the school manage the 14-pupil overage in daily operations? What specific support is offered to pupils whose Progress 8 scores fall below the national baseline? How are the annual London and New York theatre trips funded for families?
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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