Schools by area › Bolton › St James's Church of England High School
St James's Church of England High School
Secondary · Mixed · Ages 11–16 · Academy
Lucas Road, Farnworth, Bolton BL4 9RU · st-james.bolton.sch.uk · 01204 333000
Overview
- Ofsted
- Good
- 2019 framework · inspected Nov 2022
- GCSEs, 2024/25
- 53.5
- average Attainment 8 score. Bolton 45.7, England 46
- Demand for places
- 1.6
- first choices for each place · Year 7, September 2026
- Pupils
- 1,053
- 3 over 1,050 places · 100%
- Local authority
- Bolton
- Sixth form
- No
- Admissions
- Non-selective
- Free school meals
- 20.1%
- First language not English
- 12.7%
- School census 2025/26
The official school record (Department for Education)
Admissions
For Year 7 in September 2026, 315 families put the school first and 197 places were offered; 61% 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 | 197 | 315 | 1.6▲ | 61% |
| September 2025Sept 2025 | 200 | 359 | 1.8▲ | 55% |
| September 2024Sept 2024 | 198 | 358 | 1.8▲ | 55% |
| September 2023Sept 2023 | 207 | 355 | 1.7▲ | 57% |
| September 2022Sept 2022 | 204 | 306 | 1.5▲ | 62% |
Results
In 2024/25 the average Attainment 8 score at GCSE was 53.5, and 57.5% 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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| ▲53.5 | 46.0 | ||
| ▲57.5% | 45.4% | ||
| ▲81.6% | 64.8% | ||
| ▼38.2% | 40.5% | ||
| ▲4.69 | 4.09 |
Some years are for the predecessor school (URN 105266)
Where Year 11 leavers went
| Left in 2023/24 | Since 2021/22 | |
|---|---|---|
| School sixth form | 2.4 | 0 |
| Sixth form college | 15.3 | −7.4 |
| Further education | 71.3 | +13 |
| Other education | 0.5 | −0.9 |
| Apprenticeship | 1.9 | −0.9 |
| Employment | 1.9 | −3.8 |
| Not in a lasting destination | 4.8 | +0.1 |
| Activity not captured | 1.9 | 0 |
Ofsted
St James's Church of England High School was judged Good at its last graded inspection, on 2 November 2022, under Ofsted’s 2019 framework.
- Overall
- Good
- Inspected
- 2 Nov 2022
- Graded inspection
Safeguarding effectiveInspection reports
Graded areas
| Quality of education | Good |
|---|---|
| Behaviour and attitudes | Outstanding |
| Personal development | Outstanding |
| Leadership and management | Outstanding |
Previously: Outstanding, graded inspection, Dec 2011
Earlier inspections
Before September 2019
Dec 2011Outstanding
Outcomes for pupils Outstanding Quality of teaching, learning and assessment Outstanding Leadership and management Outstanding Oct 2008Good
Outcomes for pupils Good Quality of teaching, learning and assessment Good Leadership and management Good
What parents said
94% of the parents who answered Ofsted’s Parent View survey would recommend the school (166 replies, to 4 September 2023).
- Recommend
- 94%
- Replies
- 166
- 16% · 4 Sept 2023
based on the 69% who raised concerns
based on the 39% who had a child bullied
based on 22 parents (13%) with SEND