Schools by area › Bolton › Sharples School
Sharples School
Secondary · Mixed · Ages 11–16 · Academy
Hill Cot Road, Sharples, Bolton BL1 8SN · sharplesschool.co.uk · 01204 333253
Overview
- Ofsted
- Improved significantly
- Ungraded inspection · Jan 2025
- GCSEs, 2024/25
- 55.6
- average Attainment 8 score. Bolton 45.7, England 46
- Last distance offered
- 1.10 mi
- 1.77 km · Year 7, September 2026 entry · Criterion 6: proximity · Bolton Council
- Demand for places
- 1.5
- first choices for each place · Year 7, September 2026
- Pupils
- 1,214
- 134 over 1,080 places · 112%
- Local authority
- Bolton
- Sixth form
- No
- Admissions
- Non-selective
- Free school meals
- 27.5%
- First language not English
- 31.8%
- School census 2025/26
The official school record (Department for Education)
Admissions
For Year 7 in September 2026, the last place offered under “Criterion 6: proximity” went to a home 1.10 mi (1.77 km) from the school. Source: Bolton Council’s document.
For Year 7 in September 2026, 344 families put the school first and 235 places were offered; 68% of those families were offered a place there. Admission depends on the school’s own rules.
Demand for places
First choices against places
| Year 7 | Places | First choices | Per place | % offered |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| September 2026Sept 2026 | 235 | 344 | 1.5▲ | 68% |
| September 2025Sept 2025 | 234 | 355 | 1.5▲ | 63% |
| September 2024Sept 2024 | 241 | 328 | 1.4▲ | 70% |
| September 2023Sept 2023 | 238 | 305 | 1.3▲ | 70% |
| September 2022Sept 2022 | 240 | 304 | 1.3▲ | 71% |
Last distance offered
| Year 7 – Criterion 6: proximity | Distance | |
|---|---|---|
| September 2026 | 1.10 mi1.77 km | |
Results
In 2024/25 the average Attainment 8 score at GCSE was 55.6, and 61.9% 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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| ▲55.6 | 46.0 | ||
| ▲61.9% | 45.4% | ||
| ▲82.2% | 64.8% | ||
| ▼29.1% | 40.5% | ||
| ▲4.73 | 4.09 |
Some years are for the predecessor school (URN 105259)
Where Year 11 leavers went
| Left in 2023/24 | Since 2021/22 | |
|---|---|---|
| School sixth form | 14 | −0.2 |
| Sixth form college | 29.2 | −2.7 |
| Further education | 44.5 | +6.3 |
| Other education | 1.3 | +0.3 |
| Apprenticeship | 0.8 | −2.1 |
| Employment | 1.7 | −2.7 |
| Not in a lasting destination | 7.2 | +2.3 |
| Activity not captured | 1.3 | −1.2 |
Ofsted
At an ungraded inspection on 8 January 2025, Ofsted’s outcome for Sharples School was: Improved significantly.
- Outcome
- Improved significantly
- Inspected
- 7 Jan 2025
- Ungraded inspection
Safeguarding effectiveInspection reports
Previously: Remains Good, ungraded inspection, May 2019
Earlier inspections
Before September 2019
May 2019Ungraded inspectionRemains Good
Safeguarding Effective Sept 2013Good
Outcomes for pupils Good Quality of teaching, learning and assessment Good Leadership and management Good Jan 2011Good
Outcomes for pupils Good Quality of teaching, learning and assessment Good Leadership and management Good
What parents said
92% of the parents who answered Ofsted’s Parent View survey would recommend the school (75 replies, to 1 September 2025).
- Recommend
- 92%
- Replies
- 75
- 6% · 1 Sept 2025
based on the 65% who raised concerns
based on the 29% who had a child bullied
based on 13 parents (17%) with SEND