St Matthew's CofE Primary School, Little Lever
Bolton, BL3 1BQ · Bolton · primary school
Check the area around this school
80th 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 3,494 schools whose pupils have similar backgrounds — a tougher field — and it places 1.1/10 among them, against 1.7/10 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 | 42.0 · 10 | 40% | 0.38 |
| Ofsted | 52 | 35% | 1.82 |
| Higher standard (RWM) 2024/25 | 3.0 · 29 | 25% | 0.73 |
Each measure is read as a position among comparable schools, so a school in the middle of the country scores 5. Full method.
St Matthew's CofE Primary School, Little Lever overview
How it's doing
In 2024/25, 42.0% of pupils reached the expected standard in reading, writing and maths, compared to the national median of 64%. The higher standard was reached by 3.0%, against a national median of 7%. Ofsted rated the school Good in May 2023. Narrow the comparison to the schools whose pupils have similar backgrounds — a tougher field — and it places 1.1 out of 10 among them, against 1.7 out of 10 nationally.
Getting in
The published school roll is 196 pupils against a stated capacity of 210. 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 specific steps are taken to improve attainment in writing? How does the school maintain its Good rating following the 2023 inspection?
What Ofsted said about St Matthew's CofE Primary School, Little Lever
Overview
St Matthew’s CofE Primary School continues to be a good school, described as a "caring and nurturing" environment where pupils are happy and well cared for. Leaders maintain high aspirations for all pupils, including those with special educational needs and/or disabilities, who achieve well across a broad and enriched curriculum.
Strengths
- Pupils are "respectful to each other and to adults" and behave well, with bullying dealt with effectively on the rare occasions it occurs.
- Reading is promoted well, with teachers using strong subject knowledge to teach phonics clearly and ensuring books are "closely matched to the sounds that pupils have learned."
- Pupils with SEND receive effective support, taking part in all aspects of the curriculum and learning more as they progress.
- Pastoral support is a strength, with clear routines maintaining a "calm and orderly atmosphere" and helping pupils manage their emotions.
- Staff feel valued and work as a team, with governors holding leaders to account effectively to drive improvement.
Areas to improve
- In a small number of subjects, leaders have not identified clearly enough what knowledge pupils should learn, meaning pupils miss "building blocks essential for future learning." Leaders must carefully set out this knowledge.
Safeguarding
The arrangements for safeguarding are effective, with a "culture of vigilance" where staff know how to spot signs of risk and leaders are "tenacious in following these up."
Results over time
Expected standard (reading, writing, maths), the years we hold.
| Year | Expected standard (reading, writing, maths) |
|---|---|
| 2022/23 | 65% |
| 2023/24 | 48% |
| 2024/25 | 42% |
| 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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