St Stephen's CofE Primary School
Bolton, BL4 8PB · Bolton · primary school
Check the area around this school
74th 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.
Its results hold up when the comparison narrows to schools whose pupils have similar backgrounds — 2.6/10 against 2,557 of them, against 2.6/10 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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Expected standard (RWM) 2024/25 | 53.0 · 24 | 40% | 0.96 |
| 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 Stephen's CofE Primary School overview
How it's doing
In 2024/25, 53.0% of pupils reached the expected standard in reading, writing and maths, compared to the national median of 64%. 3.0% reached the higher standard, against a national median of 7%. Its results are much the same when the comparison narrows to schools whose pupils have similar backgrounds, so the gap is not explained by intake (2.6 out of 10 either way). Ofsted rated the school Good in July 2023.
Beyond the classroom
Pupils can join the choir, school council, and brass lessons, or take part in multi-skills, dodgeball, football, and gymnastics. An after-school club is also available.
Getting in
The published school roll is 183 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 activities are included in the after-school club? How does the school maintain its Good Ofsted rating following the 2023 inspection?
What Ofsted said about St Stephen's CofE Primary School
Overview
Pupils are happy to attend this caring school where they feel safe and welcome. Leaders maintain high expectations for behaviour and achievement, resulting in a happy and calm atmosphere where most pupils achieve well. The school is rated as Good across all inspection categories.
Strengths
- Leaders have introduced a new phonics scheme that is delivered effectively, with staff matching books to pupils’ phonic knowledge to help more children become fluent readers.
- The curriculum is ambitious and engages pupils, with learning sequenced logically from the early years to Year 6.
- Staff are adept at adapting the curriculum for pupils with special educational needs and/or disabilities (SEND), ensuring they follow the same curriculum as their peers.
- Pupils are polite, respectful, and behave well, with leaders dealing with any incidents of bullying quickly and effectively.
- Governors are knowledgeable about school work, and staff feel valued by leaders who have made decisions to reduce workload.
Areas to improve
- In some subjects, leaders have not finalised the most important subject-specific concepts, causing some pupils to struggle to remember essential prior learning.
- Assessment approaches in a small number of subjects do not currently enable teachers to check how well pupils have learned the knowledge needed to progress.
- There are inconsistencies in how well some curriculums are delivered because leaders are still establishing the support and training staff require.
Safeguarding
The arrangements for safeguarding are effective, with staff receiving appropriate training and using systems to record and report concerns while teaching pupils how to keep themselves safe.
Results over time
Expected standard (reading, writing, maths), the years we hold.
| Year | Expected standard (reading, writing, maths) |
|---|---|
| 2022/23 | 72% |
| 2023/24 | 60% |
| 2024/25 | 53% |
| 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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