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Thornleigh Salesian College

Secondary · Mixed · Ages 11–18 · Voluntary aided

Sharples Park, Astley Bridge, Bolton BL1 6PQ · thornleigh.bolton.sch.uk · 01204 301351

On the mapSearch near BL1 6PQ

Overview

Ofsted
No overall grade
2019 framework · inspected Oct 2024
GCSEs, 2024/25
45.7
average Attainment 8 score. Bolton 45.7, England 46
Last distance offered
0.91 mi
1.46 km · Year 7, September 2026 entry · Category j: proximity · Bolton Council
Demand for places
0.9
first choices for each place · Year 7, September 2026
Pupils
1,574
95% of 1,650 places
Local authority
Bolton
Sixth form
Yes
Admissions
Non-selective
Free school meals
29.4%
First language not English
9.7%
School census 2025/26

The official school record (Department for Education)

Admissions

For Year 7 in September 2026, the last place offered under “Category j: proximity” went to a home 0.91 mi (1.46 km) from the school. Source: Bolton Council’s document.

For Year 7 in September 2026, 241 families put the school first and 260 places were offered; 94% of those families were offered a place there. Admission depends on the school’s own rules.

Demand for places

First choices against places

20222023202420252026September 2022: 276 (Places 279)276September 2023: 298 (Places 278)298September 2024: 278 (Places 274)278September 2025: 289 (Places 262)289September 2026: 241 (Places 260)241Places 260
Year 7PlacesFirst choicesPer place% offered
September 2026Sept 20262602410.994%
September 2025Sept 20252622891.1▲85%
September 2024Sept 20242742781▲87%
September 2023Sept 20232782981.1▲89%
September 2022Sept 2022279276192%

Last distance offered

Year 7 – Category j: proximityDistance
September 20260.91 mi1.46 km

Results

In 2024/25 the average Attainment 8 score at GCSE was 45.7, and 41.1% of pupils got grade 5 or above in English and maths. Across Bolton it was 45.7, and across England 46.

In 2024/25 the average A level result was grade B- (36.3 points per entry).

GCSE results

Attainment 8

2019/20 to 2020/21: no school results published15/1616/1717/1818/1921/2222/2323/2424/252016/17: 48.4 (England 46.3)48.42017/18: 49.5 (England 46.5)49.52018/19: 49.7 (England 46.7)49.72021/22: 51.3 (England 48.8)51.32022/23: 47.3 (England 46.3)47.32023/24: 44.8 (England 45.9)44.82024/25: 45.7 (England 46.0)45.7England 46.0
2024/25TrendSchoolEngland
●45.746.0
▼41.1%45.4%
▲68.4%64.8%
▼27.0%40.5%
▼3.864.09

Where Year 11 leavers went

2015/162016/172017/182018/192019/202021/222022/232023/24
Left in 2023/24Since 2021/22
School sixth form36.7+0.9
Sixth form college4.5+1.8
Further education40.4+0.3
Other education0.7+0.3
Apprenticeship4.9−1.3
Employment3.4−1.7
Not in a lasting destination5.6−2.2
Activity not captured3.7+1.8

A levels and other 16 to 18 results

A level average grade

2019/20 to 2020/21: no school results published15/1616/1717/1818/1921/2222/2323/2424/252015/16: 28.4 (England 30.5)C2016/17: 26.4 (England 31.1)C-2017/18: 32.0 (England 32.1)C+2018/19: 31.8 (England 32.9)C+2021/22: 36.4 (England 37.9)B-2022/23: 34.8 (England 34.2)C+2023/24: 32.9 (England 34.4)C+2024/25: 36.3 (England 35.0)B-England 35.0
2024/25TrendAverage gradeProgress
90 studentsB- (36.3)Average +0.01
90 studentsB- (36.3)Average +0.01
40 studentsDist- (33)Above average +0.38
13.5%AAB or better
88.5%finished their course
Earlier years: A levelStudentsAverage gradeProgress
2023/24119C+ (32.9)-0.24
2022/23114C+ (34.8)—
2021/22103B- (36.4)—
2018/19130C+ (31.8)+0.09
2017/18117C+ (32)-0.17
2016/17132C- (26.4)-0.35
2015/16165C (28.4)+0.18

Where sixth-form leavers went

2015/162016/172017/182018/192019/202021/222022/232023/24
Left in 2023/24Since 2021/22
University43.8−18.7
Further and other education7.6—
Further education6.8—
Other education0.7—
Apprenticeship8.2+1.9
Employment21.9−2.3
Not in a lasting destination11+7.1
Activity not captured7.5+4.4

Ofsted

Ofsted inspected Thornleigh Salesian College on 22 October 2024 under its 2019 framework. Inspections from September 2024 give no overall grade.

Overall
No overall grade
Inspected
22 Oct 2024
Graded inspection

Safeguarding effectiveInspection reports

Graded areas

Quality of educationRequires improvement
Behaviour and attitudesGood
Personal developmentGood
Leadership and managementRequires improvement
Sixth formGood

Previously: Remains Good, ungraded inspection, Nov 2019

Earlier inspections

September 2019 to November 2025

  • Nov 2019Ungraded inspectionRemains Good
    SafeguardingEffective

Before September 2019

  • Sept 2011Good
    Outcomes for pupilsGood
    Quality of teaching, learning and assessmentGood
    Leadership and managementGood
    16 to 19 study programmesRequires improvement
  • Oct 2008Requires improvement
    Outcomes for pupilsRequires improvement
    Quality of teaching, learning and assessmentRequires improvement
    Leadership and managementRequires improvement
    16 to 19 study programmesRequires improvement

What parents said

80% of the parents who answered Ofsted’s Parent View survey would recommend the school (186 replies, to 1 September 2025).

Recommend
80%
Replies
186
12% · 1 Sept 2025
Child is happy at school▼82% agreeEngland 89%
Child feels safe▼84% agreeEngland 90%
Pupils are well behaved▼79% agreeEngland 84%
School has high expectations●82% agreeEngland 84%
Child does well▼78% agreeEngland 87%
Told what child will learn▼72% agreeEngland 84%
Told how child is doing▼76% agreeEngland 85%
Good range of subjects●91% agreeEngland 91%
Can join clubs and activities●92% agreeEngland 91%
Supports personal development▼75% agreeEngland 79%
Concerns are dealt with properly▼69% agreeEngland 77%

based on the 75% who raised concerns

Bullying dealt with quickly▼43% agreeEngland 50%

based on the 37% who had a child bullied

Gets the SEND support they need▼61% agreeEngland 67%

based on 39 parents (21%) with SEND

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