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Essa Academy

Secondary · Mixed · Ages 11–16 · Sponsored academy

Lever Edge Lane, Bolton BL3 3HH · esa.northerneducationtrust.org · 01204 333222

On the mapSearch near BL3 3HH

Overview

Ofsted
Report card
Jan 2026 · graded by area, with no overall grade
GCSEs, 2024/25
53
average Attainment 8 score. Bolton 45.7, England 46
Last distance offered
0.82 mi
1.32 km · Year 7, September 2026 entry · Criterion 7: proximity · Bolton Council
Demand for places
1.1
first choices for each place · Year 7, September 2026
Pupils
1,055
65 over 990 places · 107%
Local authority
Bolton
Admissions
Non-selective
Free school meals
49%
First language not English
57.6%
School census 2025/26
Trust
Northern Education Trust

The official school record (Department for Education)

Admissions

For Year 7 in September 2026, the last place offered under “Criterion 7: proximity” went to a home 0.82 mi (1.32 km) from the school. Source: Bolton Council’s document.

For Year 7 in September 2026, 222 families put the school first and 200 places were offered; 85% 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: 171 (Places 229)171September 2023: 182 (Places 237)182September 2024: 214 (Places 203)214September 2025: 196 (Places 204)196September 2026: 222 (Places 200)222Places 200
Year 7PlacesFirst choicesPer place% offered
September 2026Sept 20262002221.1▲85%
September 2025Sept 2025204196188%
September 2024Sept 20242032141.1▲79%
September 2023Sept 20232371820.898%
September 2022Sept 20222291710.798%

Last distance offered

Year 7 – Criterion 7: proximityDistance
September 20260.82 mi1.32 km

Results

In 2024/25 the average Attainment 8 score at GCSE was 53, and 54% 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

2019/20 to 2020/21: no school results published15/1616/1717/1818/1921/2222/2323/2424/252016/17: 39.4 (England 46.3)39.42017/18: 39.0 (England 46.5)39.02018/19: 44.4 (England 46.7)44.42021/22: 45.8 (England 48.8)45.82022/23: 45.7 (England 46.3)45.72023/24: 47.1 (England 45.9)47.12024/25: 53.0 (England 46.0)53.0England 46.0
2024/25TrendSchoolEngland
▲5346
▲54.0%45.4%
▲75.0%64.8%
▼19.5%40.5%
▲4.434.09

Where Year 11 leavers went

2015/162016/172017/182018/192019/202021/222022/232023/24
Left in 2023/24Since 2021/22
Sixth form college52.9+2
Further education36.3+2.8
Other education0.50
Apprenticeship1.5+1
Not in a lasting destination5.4−3.6
Activity not captured3.4+1

Ofsted

Ofsted inspected Essa Academy on 20 January 2026 and published a report card: each area has its own grade, and there is no overall grade.

Inspected
20 Jan 2026
Report card
Safeguarding
Met

Inspection reports

Graded areas

InclusionStrong standard
Curriculum and teachingStrong standard
AchievementStrong standard
Attendance and behaviourStrong standard
Personal development and well-beingStrong standard
Leadership and governanceStrong standard

Previously: Good, graded inspection, Oct 2021

Earlier inspections

September 2019 to November 2025

  • Oct 2021Good
    Quality of educationGood
    Behaviour and attitudesGood
    Personal developmentGood
    Leadership and managementGood
    SafeguardingEffective

Before September 2019

  • May 2018Requires improvement
    Outcomes for pupilsRequires improvement
    Quality of teaching, learning and assessmentRequires improvement
    Personal development, behaviour and welfareRequires improvement
    Leadership and managementRequires improvement
    SafeguardingEffective
  • Jan 2014Good
    Outcomes for pupilsGood
    Quality of teaching, learning and assessmentGood
    Leadership and managementGood
  • Jun 2011Good
    Outcomes for pupilsGood
    Quality of teaching, learning and assessmentGood
    Leadership and managementOutstanding

What parents said

77% of the parents who answered Ofsted’s Parent View survey would recommend the school (26 replies, to 6 April 2026).

Recommend
77%
Positive
53%
Replies
26
2% · 6 Apr 2026
Child is happy at school▼73% agreeEngland 84%
Child feels safe●84% agreeEngland 85%
Pupils are well behaved▼73% agreeEngland 78%
Gets the right support to learn▼70% agreeEngland 78%
School communicates well▼62% agreeEngland 77%
Acts in child’s best interests▼65% agreeEngland 76%
Concerns are dealt with properly▼66% agreeEngland 74%

based on the 100% who raised concerns

Bullying dealt with quickly▼40% agreeEngland 43%

based on 5 parents (19%) whose child was bullied

Gets the SEND support they need▼50% agreeEngland 63%

based on 6 parents (23%) with SEND

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