Schools by area › Bolton › Smithills School
Smithills School
Secondary · Mixed · Ages 11–16 · Academy
Smithills Dean Road, Bolton BL1 6JS · smithillsschool.net · 01204 842382
Overview
- Ofsted
- Report card
- Mar 2026 · graded by area, with no overall grade
- GCSEs, 2024/25
- 36.5
- average Attainment 8 score. Bolton 45.7, England 46
- Demand for places
- 0.6
- first choices for each place · Year 7, September 2026
- Pupils
- 1,203
- 96% of 1,250 places
- Local authority
- Bolton
- Sixth form
- No
- Admissions
- Non-selective
- Free school meals
- 41.8%
- First language not English
- 60.7%
- School census 2025/26
The official school record (Department for Education)
Admissions
For Year 7 in September 2026, 127 families put the school first and 226 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 | 226 | 127 | 0.6 | 100% |
| September 2025Sept 2025 | 268 | 156 | 0.6 | 100% |
| September 2024Sept 2024 | 252 | 139 | 0.6 | 100% |
| September 2023Sept 2023 | 259 | 159 | 0.6 | 100% |
| September 2022Sept 2022 | 239 | 153 | 0.6 | 100% |
Results
In 2024/25 the average Attainment 8 score at GCSE was 36.5, and 20.1% 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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| ▼36.5 | 46.0 | ||
| ▼20.1% | 45.4% | ||
| ▼47.0% | 64.8% | ||
| ▼32.1% | 40.5% | ||
| ▼3.25 | 4.09 |
Where Year 11 leavers went
| Left in 2023/24 | Since 2021/22 | |
|---|---|---|
| School sixth form | 0.5 | −1.2 |
| Sixth form college | 35.7 | −16.6 |
| Further education | 49.3 | +17.9 |
| Other education | 0.5 | — |
| Employment | 2.4 | +1.2 |
| Not in a lasting destination | 8.2 | +0.6 |
| Activity not captured | 3.4 | −1.3 |
Ofsted
Ofsted inspected Smithills School on 31 March 2026 and published a report card: each area has its own grade, and there is no overall grade.
- Inclusion: Expected standard
- Curriculum and teaching: Needs attention
- Achievement: Needs attention
- Attendance and behaviour: Expected standard
- Personal development and well-being: Needs attention
- Leadership and governance: Needs attention
- Inspected
- 31 Mar 2026
- Report card
- Safeguarding
- Met
Graded areas
| Inclusion | Expected standard |
|---|---|
| Curriculum and teaching | Needs attention |
| Achievement | Needs attention |
| Attendance and behaviour | Expected standard |
| Personal development and well-being | Needs attention |
| Leadership and governance | Needs attention |
Previously: Requires improvement, graded inspection, Sept 2023
Earlier inspections
September 2019 to November 2025
- Oct 2024Monitoring visitEffective action
Sept 2023Requires improvement
Quality of education Requires improvement Behaviour and attitudes Good Personal development Good Leadership and management Requires improvement Safeguarding Effective
Before September 2019
Jun 2018Good
Outcomes for pupils Requires improvement Quality of teaching, learning and assessment Good Personal development, behaviour and welfare Good Leadership and management Good Safeguarding Effective Nov 2016Inadequate
Outcomes for pupils Inadequate Quality of teaching, learning and assessment Inadequate Personal development, behaviour and welfare Requires improvement Leadership and management Inadequate Safeguarding Effective Sept 2012Requires improvement
Outcomes for pupils Requires improvement Quality of teaching, learning and assessment Requires improvement Leadership and management Good
What parents said
67% of the parents who answered Ofsted’s Parent View survey would recommend the school (45 replies, to 6 April 2026).
- Recommend
- 67%
- Positive
- 51%
- Replies
- 45
- 4% · 6 Apr 2026
based on the 93% who raised concerns
based on 18 parents (40%) whose child was bullied
based on 12 parents (27%) with SEND