Schools by area › Bolton › Harper Green School
Harper Green School
Secondary · Mixed · Ages 11–16 · Academy
Harper Green Road, Farnworth, Bolton BL4 0DH · harper-green.bolton.sch.uk · 01204 572941
Overview
- Ofsted
- Good
- 2019 framework · inspected Jan 2023
- GCSEs, 2024/25
- 42.8
- average Attainment 8 score. Bolton 45.7, England 46
- Last distance offered
- No limit
- Year 7, September 2026 entry · Bolton Council
- Demand for places
- 0.5
- first choices for each place · Year 7, September 2026
- Pupils
- 1,070
- 86% of 1,250 places
- Local authority
- Bolton
- Sixth form
- No
- Admissions
- Non-selective
- Free school meals
- 45.4%
- First language not English
- 38.8%
- School census 2025/26
The official school record (Department for Education)
Admissions
For Year 7 in September 2026, everyone who applied was offered a place. Source: Bolton Council’s document.
For Year 7 in September 2026, 104 families put the school first and 198 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 | 198 | 104 | 0.5 | 100% |
| September 2025Sept 2025 | 229 | 91 | 0.4 | 100% |
| September 2024Sept 2024 | 235 | 128 | 0.5 | 100% |
| September 2023Sept 2023 | 267 | 129 | 0.5 | 100% |
| September 2022Sept 2022 | 215 | 173 | 0.8 | 100% |
Results
In 2024/25 the average Attainment 8 score at GCSE was 42.8, and 36% 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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| ▼42.8 | 46.0 | ||
| ▼36.0% | 45.4% | ||
| ▼58.4% | 64.8% | ||
| ▼30.4% | 40.5% | ||
| ▼3.70 | 4.09 |
Some years are for the predecessor school (URN 105257)
Where Year 11 leavers went
| Left in 2023/24 | Since 2021/22 | |
|---|---|---|
| School sixth form | 0.5 | −0.3 |
| Sixth form college | 21.9 | −6.6 |
| Further education | 55.7 | +6.3 |
| Other education | 0.5 | — |
| Apprenticeship | 4.3 | +1.5 |
| Employment | 4.3 | +1.1 |
| Not in a lasting destination | 8.1 | −4.8 |
| Activity not captured | 4.8 | +2.4 |
Ofsted
Harper Green School was judged Good at its last graded inspection, on 10 January 2023, under Ofsted’s 2019 framework.
- Overall
- Good
- Inspected
- 10 Jan 2023
- Graded inspection
Safeguarding effectiveInspection reports
Graded areas
| Quality of education | Good |
|---|---|
| Behaviour and attitudes | Good |
| Personal development | Good |
| Leadership and management | Good |
Previously: Requires improvement, graded inspection, Feb 2020
Earlier inspections
September 2019 to November 2025
Feb 2020Requires improvement
Quality of education Requires improvement Behaviour and attitudes Good Personal development Good Leadership and management Good Safeguarding Effective
Before September 2019
Oct 2015Requires improvement
Outcomes for pupils Requires improvement Quality of teaching, learning and assessment Requires improvement Personal development, behaviour and welfare Good Leadership and management Requires improvement Safeguarding Effective Oct 2013Requires improvement
Outcomes for pupils Requires improvement Quality of teaching, learning and assessment Requires improvement Leadership and management Requires improvement
What parents said
42% of the parents who answered Ofsted’s Parent View survey would recommend the school (117 replies, to 1 January 2024).
- Recommend
- 42%
- Replies
- 117
- 10% · 1 Jan 2024
based on the 79% who raised concerns
based on the 49% who had a child bullied
based on 39 parents (33%) with SEND