Thornleigh Salesian College
Bolton, BL1 6PQ · Bolton · secondary school
Check the area around this school
15th of 20 secondary schools in Bolton we can score. 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 — 3.4/10 against 828 of them, against 3.2/10 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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Grade 5+ English & maths 2025/26 | 37.0 · 30 | 46% | 1.38 |
| Progress 8 2023/24 | -0.22 · 33 | 38% | 1.28 |
| Attainment 8 2025/26 | 43.0 · 34 | 15% | 0.52 |
Each measure is read as a position among comparable schools, so a school in the middle of the country scores 5. Full method.
Thornleigh Salesian College overview
How it's doing
In 2024/25, 41.1% of pupils achieved grade 5 or above in English and maths. Attainment 8 was 45.7, compared to the national median of 44.6. Progress 8 was -0.22 in 2023/24, indicating pupils did worse than those nationally who started from the same place. Narrow the comparison to schools whose pupils have similar backgrounds and it does better still (4.7 out of 10 against similar schools, 4.0 out of 10 against all schools).
Beyond the classroom
Pupils participate in the Bolton Schools Dance Festival and receive music lessons.
Getting in
The published school roll is 1,574 pupils against a stated capacity of 1,650. 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 improve their progress scores? What specific support is available for students aiming to raise their attainment?
What Ofsted said about Thornleigh Salesian College
Overview
The inspection found that while pupils benefit from "high-quality pastoral care" and display "positive relationships with staff," the overall quality of education requires improvement due to uneven curriculum delivery. Leadership and management also require improvement, as the school lacks "rigorous processes" to monitor effectiveness, though behaviour and personal development are rated as good.
Strengths
- Pupils enjoy a "calm" environment where behaviour is "well managed" and they work "purposefully."
- Students in the sixth form receive "more effective teaching" and benefit from staff adapting learning to fill knowledge gaps.
- Personal development is "well considered," with pupils showing "compassion" and engaging in charitable works and clubs.
- The school has "robust systems" to identify additional needs and prioritises reading, with pupils reading for pleasure during form time.
- Staff well-being has been prioritised, with actions to reduce administrative burden helping staff "concentrate on teaching."
Areas to improve
- Teachers must adapt curriculum delivery to meet pupil needs, particularly for those with SEND, ensuring activities help pupils "consolidate their learning."
- Assessment strategies must be used "consistently well" to identify missed learning, preventing teachers from moving on before pupils are ready.
- Quality assurance systems must "rigorously evaluate the impact" of strategies to provide an accurate understanding of education quality.
Safeguarding
The report states that "the arrangements for safeguarding are effective."
Results over time
Attainment 8, the years we hold.
| Year | Attainment 8 |
|---|---|
| 2023/24 | 44.8 |
| 2024/25 | 45.7 |
| 2025/26 | 43.0 |
| 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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