Tottington High School
Bury, BL8 3LY · Bury · secondary school
Check the area around this school
12th of 12 secondary schools in Bury we can score, 14 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 816 schools whose pupils have similar backgrounds — a tougher field — and it places 0.5/10 among them, against 1.0/10 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 | 5 | 35% | 0.19 |
| Grade 5+ English & maths 2025/26 | 26.6 · 10 | 30% | 0.29 |
| Progress 8 2023/24 | -0.65 · 10 | 25% | 0.25 |
| Attainment 8 2025/26 | 38.9 · 15 | 10% | 0.15 |
Each measure is read as a position among comparable schools, so a school in the middle of the country scores 5. Full method.
Tottington High School overview
How it's doing
In 2024/25, 22.8% of pupils achieved Grade 5 or above in English and maths. Attainment 8 was 34.9, compared to the national median of 44.6. Progress 8 was -0.65 in 2023/24, indicating pupils did worse than those nationally who started from the same place. Narrow the comparison to the schools whose pupils have similar backgrounds — a tougher field — and it places 0.3 out of 10 among them, against 0.8 out of 10 nationally. Ofsted rated the school Requires improvement in July 2024.
Getting in
The published school roll is 811 pupils against a stated capacity of 975. 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
With a Progress 8 score of -0.65, what specific support is available for pupils who are falling behind in core subjects? How does the school plan to address the gap between its Attainment 8 score of 34.9 and the national median of 44.6? What changes have been implemented since the July 2024 inspection to move the rating away from Requires improvement?
What Ofsted said about Tottington High School
Overview
The report states that pupils are “beginning to benefit from the actions” taken by the school and trust to strengthen education, with most welcoming changes that are helping them feel “happier in school.” While leadership is rated “Good” and the curriculum offer is “much stronger,” inconsistencies in delivery and past staffing turbulence mean pupils do not yet achieve as well as they should. The overall effectiveness is judged as “Requires improvement.”
Strengths
- The school has an “accurate understanding of its strengths” and is working closely with the trust to drive improvement.
- Subject curriculums are “well organised,” ensuring staff know what to teach and when, supported by valued ‘curriculum conferencing’ time.
- Pupils have an “increasingly strong voice,” with extended breaktimes and reinvigorated pupil leaders taking a central role in anti-bullying efforts.
- The school provides “carefully targeted support” for pupils struggling with reading and offers “strong careers guidance.”
- Most pupils are “polite and well mannered,” and the atmosphere is typically “calm and orderly.”
Areas to improve
- Staff must develop their “pedagogical understanding” to deliver subject curriculums consistently well, as some lack understanding of agreed learning strategies.
- Staff need expertise to use assessment strategies consistently to ensure pupils’ prior knowledge is secure before introducing new content.
- The school should provide appropriate training so staff can effectively adapt learning for pupils with special educational needs and/or disabilities (SEND).
- Action is required to increase pupil participation in enrichment activities, particularly for vulnerable pupils, to ensure they benefit from opportunities to develop their talents.
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 | 40.4 |
| 2024/25 | 34.9 |
| 2025/26 | 38.9 |
| 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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