Councils · England · Bolton
Schools in Bolton, and the dates that matter.
Every state school in the council area — 98 primary, 20 secondary — with Bolton’s application deadlines, offer days, and where to apply. One page, kept current from official sources.
September 2027 entry · Sources: Primary council source · Secondary council source
Primary · Reception 2027
15 January 2027
National deadline. Offers arrive 16 April. We suggest submitting by 8 January to stay clear of the rush.
Apply on Bolton's portal →Verify the exact date on the council's scheme →Secondary · Year 7 2027
31 October 2026
National deadline. Offers arrive 1 March. Grammar tests, where they apply, happen even earlier. We suggest submitting by 24 October to stay clear of the rush.
Apply on Bolton's portal →Verify the exact date on the council's scheme →01 / EVERY SCHOOL IN BOLTON
Find your shortlist.
All 141 state and independent schools in the council area, straight from the Department for Education’s register. Open any school for admissions details, Ofsted history and open days.
Primary · 98
All Saints CofE Primary School
Ofsted · Good
Beacon Primary School
Ofsted · Good
Beaumont Primary School
Ofsted · Good
Bishop Bridgeman CofE Primary School
Ofsted · Good
Blackrod Anglican/Methodist Primary School
Ofsted · Good
Blackrod Primary School
Ofsted · Outstanding
Blackshaw Primary School
Ofsted · Not judged
Bolton Parish Church, Church of England Primary School
Not judged yet
Bolton St Catherine's Academy
Ofsted · Requires improvement
Bowness Primary School
Ofsted · Good
Brandwood Primary School
Ofsted · Good
Brownlow Fold Primary School
Ofsted · Good
Castle Hill Primary School
Ofsted · Good
Cherry Tree Primary School
Ofsted · Good
Chorley New Road Primary Academy
Ofsted · Good
Church Road Primary School
Ofsted · Good
Clarendon Primary School
Ofsted · Good
Claypool Primary School
Ofsted · Good
Devonshire Road Primary School
Ofsted · Good
Eagley Infant School
Ofsted · Good
Eagley Junior School
Ofsted · Good
Eatock Primary School
Ofsted · Outstanding
Egerton Primary School
Ofsted · Good
Essa Primary Academy
Ofsted · Not judged
Gaskell Community Primary School
Ofsted · Requires improvement
Gilnow Primary School
Ofsted · Good
Hardy Mill Primary School
Ofsted · Good
Harwood Meadows Primary School
Ofsted · Good
Haslam Park Primary School
Ofsted · Good
Heathfield Primary School
Ofsted · Good
High Lawn Primary School
Ofsted · Not judged
Highfield Primary School
Ofsted · Good
Holy Infant and St Anthony RC Primary School
Ofsted · Good
Horwich Parish CofE Primary School
Ofsted · Good
Johnson Fold Community Primary School
Not judged yet
Kearsley West Primary School
Ofsted · Good
Ladybridge Community Primary School
Ofsted · Good
Lever Edge Primary Academy
Ofsted · Good
Leverhulme Community Primary School
Ofsted · Good
Lostock Primary School
Not judged yet
Markland Hill Primary School
Ofsted · Not judged
Masefield Primary School
Ofsted · Good
Moorgate Primary School
Ofsted · Outstanding
Mytham Primary School
Ofsted · Good
Our Lady of Lourdes RC Primary School
Ofsted · Not judged
Oxford Grove Primary School
Ofsted · Outstanding
Pikes Lane Primary School
Ofsted · Outstanding
Prestolee Primary School
Ofsted · Outstanding
Queensbridge Primary School
Ofsted · Good
Red Lane Primary School
Ofsted · Good
SS Osmund and Andrew's R.C. Primary School
Ofsted · Good
Sacred Heart R.C. Primary School
Ofsted · Outstanding
Sharples Primary School
Ofsted · Good
Spindle Point Primary School
Ofsted · Good
Ss Simon & Jude CofE Primary School, Bolton
Ofsted · Good
St Andrew's CofE Primary School, Over Hulton
Ofsted · Good
St Bartholomew's CofE Primary School
Ofsted · Good
St Bede Academy
Ofsted · Good
St Bernard's RC Primary School, Bolton
Ofsted · Good
St Brendan's RC Primary School, Harwood, Bolton
Ofsted · Good
St Catherine's CofE Primary School
Ofsted · Good
St Columba's RC Primary School
Ofsted · Good
St Ethelbert's Roman Catholic Primary School, a Voluntary Academy
Ofsted · Good
St George's CofE Primary School
Ofsted · Good
St Gregory's RC Primary School, A Voluntary Academy
Ofsted · Good
St James CofE Primary School, Daisy Hill
Ofsted · Good
St James CofE Primary School, Farnworth
Ofsted · Not judged
St John Church of England Primary School, Farnworth
Ofsted · Good
St John the Evangelist RC Primary School, Bromley Cross, Bolton
Ofsted · Good
St Joseph's RC Primary School, Halliwell, Bolton
Ofsted · Good
St Mary's CofE Primary School, Deane
Ofsted · Outstanding
St Mary's RC Primary School
Ofsted · Good
St Matthew's CofE Primary School, Bolton
Ofsted · Good
St Matthew's CofE Primary School, Little Lever
Ofsted · Good
St Maxentius CofE Primary School
Ofsted · Good
St Michael's CofE Primary School, Great Lever
Ofsted · Good
St Paul's CofE Primary School, Astley Bridge
Ofsted · Not judged
St Peter and St Paul RC Primary School a Voluntary Academy
Not judged yet
St Peter's CofE Primary School
Ofsted · Outstanding
St Peter's Smithills Dean Church of England Primary School
Ofsted · Good
St Saviour CofE Primary School, Ringley
Ofsted · Good
St Stephen and All Martyrs' CofE School, Lever Bridge
Ofsted · Good
St Stephen's CofE Primary School
Ofsted · Good
St Teresa's RC Primary School a Voluntary Academy
Ofsted · Good
St Thomas C of E Primary School, Halliwell
Ofsted · Good
St Thomas CofE Primary School
Ofsted · Good
St Thomas of Canterbury RC School
Ofsted · Good
St William of York Catholic Primary School
Ofsted · Good
Sunning Hill Primary School
Ofsted · Not judged
The Ferns Primary Academy
Ofsted · Good
The Gates Primary School
Ofsted · Good
The Oaks Primary School
Ofsted · Good
The Olive School, Bolton
Ofsted · Outstanding
The Olive Tree Primary School Bolton
Ofsted · Good
The Valley Community Primary School
Ofsted · Outstanding
Tonge Moor Primary Academy
Ofsted · Good
Walmsley CofE Primary School
Not judged yet
Washacre Primary Academy
Ofsted · Good
Secondary · 20
Bolton Muslim Girls School
Ofsted · Requires improvement
Bolton St Catherine's Academy
Ofsted · Requires improvement
Canon Slade School
Ofsted · Not judged
Eden Boys' School, Bolton
Ofsted · Outstanding
Essa Academy
Ofsted · Good
Harper Green School
Ofsted · Good
Kearsley Academy
Ofsted · Good
King's Leadership Academy Bolton
Ofsted · Good
Ladybridge High School
Ofsted · Good
Little Lever School
Ofsted · Good
Mount St Joseph RC High School a Voluntary Academy
Ofsted · Requires improvement
Rivington and Blackrod High School
Ofsted · Good
Sharples School
Ofsted · Good
Smithills School
Ofsted · Requires improvement
St James's Church of England High School
Ofsted · Good
St Joseph's RC High School
Ofsted · Requires improvement
Thornleigh Salesian College
Ofsted · Not judged
Turton School
Ofsted · Good
University Collegiate School
Ofsted · Not judged
Westhoughton High School
Ofsted · Requires improvement
Special & other · 24
Al Jamiah Al Islamiyyah
Ofsted · Requires improvement
Al-Huda Primary School
Ofsted · Good
Birtenshaw College
Ofsted · Requires improvement
Birtenshaw School Bolton
Ofsted · Good
Bolton College
Ofsted · Requires improvement
Bolton Islamic Girls School
Ofsted · Good
Bolton School Boys' Division
Not judged yet
Bolton School Girls' Division
Not judged yet
Bolton School Infant & Nursery School
Not judged yet
Bolton Sixth Form College
Ofsted · Good
Breightmet School
Not judged yet
Clevelands Prep School
Not judged yet
EdStart Schools Bolton
Not judged yet
Firwood High School
Ofsted · Good
Green Fold School
Ofsted · Outstanding
Ladywood School
Ofsted · Outstanding
Lever Park School
Ofsted · Good
LifeBridge ASEND
Ofsted · Good
Lord's School
Ofsted · Good
Madrasatul Imam Muhammad Zakariya
Ofsted · Good
Raise Education and Wellbeing School
Ofsted · Good
Rumworth School
Ofsted · Outstanding
Thomasson Memorial School
Ofsted · Good
Woodbridge College
Ofsted · Requires improvement
02 / HOW APPLYING WORKS HERE
One form, through Bolton.
If you live in Bolton, you apply through the council’s own portal — even for schools in another council’s area.
Preferences
List as many schools as the form allows — you’ll see the limit when you start your application. Rank in your true order; schools never see it.
Own-criteria schools
Some Bolton secondaries are academies or faith schools that set their own entry criteria — check each school’s page for extra forms before the deadline.
Plain-English guides
Primary admissions, explained
The 15 January deadline and how Reception offers work.
Secondary admissions, explained
The 31 October deadline and the traps that come earlier.
How school appeals work
Your right to appeal, and honest odds of success.
Waiting lists, explained
How they're ordered, and why positions move both ways.
03 / NEARBY
Looking across the border?
Families near Bolton often also shortlist schools in these neighbouring council areas.