Schools by area › Bolton › Kearsley Academy
Kearsley Academy
Secondary · Mixed · Ages 11–16 · Sponsored academy
Springfield Road, Kearsley, Bolton BL4 8HY · ka.northerneducationtrust.org · 01204 332555
Overview
- Ofsted
- Report card
- Jul 2026 · graded by area, with no overall grade
- GCSEs, 2024/25
- 51.8
- average Attainment 8 score. Bolton 45.7, England 46
- Demand for places
- 0.9
- first choices for each place · Year 7, September 2026
- Pupils
- 768
- 81% of 950 places
- Local authority
- Bolton
- Sixth form
- No
- Admissions
- Non-selective
- Free school meals
- 43.1%
- First language not English
- 16.3%
- School census 2025/26
The official school record (Department for Education)
Admissions
For Year 7 in September 2026, 146 families put the school first and 170 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 | 170 | 146 | 0.9 | 100% |
| September 2025Sept 2025 | 137 | 107 | 0.8 | 100% |
| September 2024Sept 2024 | 170 | 115 | 0.7 | 100% |
| September 2023Sept 2023 | 175 | 106 | 0.6 | 100% |
| September 2022Sept 2022 | 175 | 111 | 0.6 | 100% |
Results
In 2024/25 the average Attainment 8 score at GCSE was 51.8, and 59.4% of pupils got grade 5 or above in English and maths. Across Bolton it was 45.7, and across England 46.
In 2016/17 the average A level result was grade E- (6.25 points per entry).
GCSE results
Attainment 8
| 2024/25 | Trend | School | England |
|---|---|---|---|
| ▲51.8 | 46.0 | ||
| ▲59.4% | 45.4% | ||
| ▲72.7% | 64.8% | ||
| ▼34.3% | 40.5% | ||
| ▲4.47 | 4.09 |
Where Year 11 leavers went
| Left in 2023/24 | Since 2021/22 | |
|---|---|---|
| School sixth form | 0.7 | — |
| Sixth form college | 14.1 | +4.3 |
| Further education | 61.3 | −2.3 |
| Other education | 1.4 | +0.7 |
| Apprenticeship | 2.8 | −3.5 |
| Employment | 6.3 | +0.7 |
| Not in a lasting destination | 9.9 | −1.3 |
| Activity not captured | 3.5 | +0.7 |
A levels and other 16 to 18 results
A level average grade
| 2016/17 | Trend | Average grade | Progress |
|---|---|---|---|
| 7 students | E- (6.3) | +0.10 | |
| 7 students | E- (6.3) | +0.10 | |
| Applied general18 students | — | +0.19 |
| Earlier years: A level | Students | Average grade | Progress |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2015/16 | 16 | E- (7) | -0.95 |
Where sixth-form leavers went
| Left in 2017/18 | Since 2016/17 | |
|---|---|---|
| University | 20 | +4 |
| Employment | 10 | −25 |
| Not in a lasting destination | 60 | +28 |
| Activity not captured | 10 | 0 |
Ofsted
Ofsted inspected Kearsley Academy on 7 July 2026 and published a report card: each area has its own grade, and there is no overall grade.
- Inclusion: Strong standard
- Curriculum and teaching: Exceptional
- Achievement: Strong standard
- Attendance and behaviour: Strong standard
- Personal development and well-being: Strong standard
- Leadership and governance: Strong standard
- Inspected
- 7 Jul 2026
- Report card
- Safeguarding
- Met
Graded areas
| Inclusion | Strong standard |
|---|---|
| Curriculum and teaching | Exceptional |
| Achievement | Strong standard |
| Attendance and behaviour | Strong standard |
| Personal development and well-being | Strong standard |
| Leadership and governance | Strong standard |
Previously: Good, graded inspection, Mar 2022
Earlier inspections
September 2019 to November 2025
Mar 2022Good
Quality of education Good Behaviour and attitudes Good Personal development Good Leadership and management Good Safeguarding Effective
Before September 2019
Feb 2019Requires improvement
Outcomes for pupils Requires improvement Quality of teaching, learning and assessment Requires improvement Personal development, behaviour and welfare Requires improvement Leadership and management Requires improvement Safeguarding Effective May 2015Good
Outcomes for pupils Good Quality of teaching, learning and assessment Good Leadership and management Good 16 to 19 study programmes Good May 2013Requires improvement
Outcomes for pupils Requires improvement Quality of teaching, learning and assessment Requires improvement Leadership and management Requires improvement
What parents said
93% of the parents who answered Ofsted’s Parent View survey would recommend the school (15 replies, to 6 April 2026).
- Recommend
- 93%
- Replies
- 15
- 2% · 6 Apr 2026
based on the 93% who raised concerns
based on 4 parents (27%) whose child was bullied
based on 8 parents (53%) with SEND