Schools by area › Bolton › Westhoughton High School
Westhoughton High School
Secondary · Mixed · Ages 11–16 · Community school
Bolton Road, Westhoughton, Bolton BL5 3BZ · westhoughton-high.org · 01942 814122
Overview
- Ofsted
- Report card
- Jan 2026 · graded by area, with no overall grade
- GCSEs, 2024/25
- 44.4
- average Attainment 8 score. Bolton 45.7, England 46
- Last distance offered
- No limit
- Year 7, September 2026 entry · Bolton Council
- Demand for places
- 0.9
- first choices for each place · Year 7, September 2026
- Pupils
- 1,342
- 99% of 1,350 places
- Local authority
- Bolton
- Sixth form
- No
- Admissions
- Non-selective
- Free school meals
- 23%
- First language not English
- 6%
- School census 2025/26
The official school record (Department for Education)
Admissions
For Year 7 in September 2026, everyone who applied was offered a place. Source: Bolton Council’s document.
For Year 7 in September 2026, 221 families put the school first and 258 places were offered; 100% of those families were offered a place there. Admission depends on the school’s own rules.
First choices against places
| Year 7 | Places | First choices | Per place | % offered |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| September 2026Sept 2026 | 258 | 221 | 0.9 | 100% |
| September 2025Sept 2025 | 259 | 254 | 1 | 93% |
| September 2024Sept 2024 | 266 | 235 | 0.9 | 100% |
| September 2023Sept 2023 | 278 | 288 | 1▲ | 91% |
| September 2022Sept 2022 | 262 | 291 | 1.1▲ | 86% |
Results
In 2024/25 the average Attainment 8 score at GCSE was 44.4, and 40.5% of pupils got grade 5 or above in English and maths. Across Bolton it was 45.7, and across England 46.
GCSE results
Attainment 8
| 2024/25 | Trend | School | England |
|---|---|---|---|
| ●44.4 | 46.0 | ||
| ▼40.5% | 45.4% | ||
| ▼60.3% | 64.8% | ||
| ▼6.6% | 40.5% | ||
| ▼3.62 | 4.09 |
Where Year 11 leavers went
| Left in 2023/24 | Since 2021/22 | |
|---|---|---|
| Sixth form college | 13.5 | −0.8 |
| Further education | 68.5 | +3.7 |
| Apprenticeship | 6 | +1.5 |
| Employment | 2.2 | −5.6 |
| Not in a lasting destination | 6.7 | +0.6 |
| Activity not captured | 3 | +0.5 |
Ofsted
Ofsted inspected Westhoughton High School on 27 January 2026 and published a report card: each area has its own grade, and there is no overall grade.
- Inclusion: Needs attention
- Curriculum and teaching: Needs attention
- Achievement: Needs attention
- Attendance and behaviour: Urgent improvement
- Personal development and well-being: Expected standard
- Leadership and governance: Needs attention
- Inspected
- 27 Jan 2026
- Report card
- Safeguarding
- Met
Graded areas
| Inclusion | Needs attention |
|---|---|
| Curriculum and teaching | Needs attention |
| Achievement | Needs attention |
| Attendance and behaviour | Urgent improvement |
| Personal development and well-being | Expected standard |
| Leadership and governance | Needs attention |
Previously: Requires improvement, graded inspection, May 2023
Earlier inspections
September 2019 to November 2025
May 2023Requires improvement
Quality of education Requires improvement Behaviour and attitudes Requires improvement Personal development Requires improvement Leadership and management Requires improvement Safeguarding Effective Nov 2021Ungraded inspectionConcerns
Safeguarding Effective
Before September 2019
Oct 2015Good
Outcomes for pupils Good Quality of teaching, learning and assessment Good Personal development, behaviour and welfare Outstanding Leadership and management Good Safeguarding Effective Sept 2013Requires improvement
Outcomes for pupils Requires improvement Quality of teaching, learning and assessment Requires improvement Leadership and management Requires improvement
What parents said
70% of the parents who answered Ofsted’s Parent View survey would recommend the school (259 replies, to 6 April 2026).
- Recommend
- 70%
- Positive
- 63%
- Replies
- 259
- 19% · 6 Apr 2026
based on the 88% who raised concerns
based on 75 parents (29%) whose child was bullied
based on 80 parents (31%) with SEND