Birtenshaw School Bolton, Bolton
Birtenshaw School Bolton is a special school for pupils aged 3 to 19 in Bolton. It was rated Good at its last graded Ofsted inspection, in February 2013. Ofsted's ungraded inspection in February 2024 did not change this grade.
- Ofsted
- Good (2013)
- Demand
- Every first choice offered
Data last updated 1 Nov 2026
Birtenshaw School Bolton in detail
Compared with nearby schools
The nearest other special schools to Birtenshaw School Bolton are Firwood High School (1.7 miles, Good); LifeBridge ASEND (1.9 miles, Good); Breightmet School (2.3 miles, Requires improvement); and EdStart Schools Bolton (2.6 miles).
Firwood High SchoolLifeBridge ASENDBreightmet SchoolEdStart Schools Bolton
Where pupils go next
Of the 9 pupils who finished Year 11 in 2023/24, 100% stayed in education or training for at least two terms.
Who goes there
8% of pupils are eligible for free school meals, and 14.6% speak English as an additional language, according to the 2026 school census.
Almost every pupil at Birtenshaw School Bolton has an education, health and care plan (137 of 137 in 2026). The most common need among them is autism.
Birtenshaw School Bolton provides for pupils with autism and severe learning difficulties.
Getting there
The nearest railway station is Bromley Cross Rail Station, about 430 metres away (roughly a 5-minute walk).
6 bus stops are within a five-minute walk; the closest is Birtenshaw School (outside), 170 metres away.
Suspensions and exclusions
Birtenshaw School Bolton recorded no suspensions or permanent exclusions in 2024/25.
Sources: DfE destination measures; DfE school census and special educational needs statistics; NaPTAN (Department for Transport); DfE exclusions statistics
Key Information
DfE GIASOfsted Rating
Ofsted · 3 years agoThis judgement is from February 2013, 13 years ago, longer than Ofsted's usual 4-year cycle: the school may have changed since.
Overall
Ofsted Insights
Ofsted rated this school Good at its February 2013 inspection - up from Requires Improvement.
Rated Good for
Leadership & management.
At a Glance
8.0%
Free School Meals
No
Boarding
Yes
Nursery
Yes
Sixth Form
Autism, SLD
SEN Provision
No
Special Measures
How Does This School Compare?
Ranked against 5 nearby schools
Keep up with Birtenshaw School Bolton
Nurseries
The nearest nurseries and pre-schools to Birtenshaw School Bolton, with their latest published grades:
- St Andrews Playgroup - Pre-school, 0.4 milesOfsted, 25 May 2022: Good overall; safeguarding is effective
- Eagley School House Nursery - Day nursery, 0.5 milesOfsted, 15 June 2022: Outstanding overall; safeguarding is effective
- Stagecoach Bolton - Pre-school, 0.6 miles
- Little Lambs Nursery - Day nursery, 0.7 milesOfsted, 8 June 2022: Outstanding overall; safeguarding is effective
- Little Angels Nursery - Day nursery, 0.9 milesOfsted, 15 October 2021: Good overall; safeguarding is effective
Getting There
Train Stations
Bus Stops
Free school transport
Check free transport to Birtenshaw School Bolton from your postcode →
You apply to the council where you live. Birtenshaw School Bolton is in Bolton; for families living there:
Apply to Bolton for free school transport. Its policy is on the council's website.
Safety and surroundings
Road collisions within 500 m (2021 to 2025)
- Collisions
- 8
- Fatal
- 0
- Serious
- 3
- Children hurt
- 0
Within 500 m of the school's mapped location, police recorded 8 road collisions in which someone was injured in 2021 to 2025: none fatal, 3 serious and 5 slight.
The typical figure for schools in Bolton is 14 (the median across 148 schools, same distance and years).
Serious and slight are DfT estimates (severity adjustment). Source: Department for Transport, Road Safety Data (STATS19), Open Government Licence v3.0.
Commute and house prices
Your chances of a place at Birtenshaw School Bolton
Capacity & Demand
School Occupancy
98%
Near capacity
137 pupils
140 places
3 spare places
as recorded on GIAS
Across Bolton council
Places available
4,385
Applications
3,868
Got 1st preference
87.1%
Got preferred school
96.8%
All secondary applications across Bolton council (2026/27), not just this school.
This school: Every first choice offered
Inspection History(9)
SEND & SEN Provision
SEN Overview
0
SEN Support
137
EHC Plans
100.0%
of Total Pupils
2026 academic year
Provision & Specialist Facilities
Birtenshaw School Bolton provides for pupils with autism and severe learning difficulties.
Source: GIAS, Department for Education.
Pupils by Need Type
Pupil Demographics
Ethnicity
2026 academic year
Key Indicators
137
Total Pupils
113
Boys
24
Girls
2026 academic year
Pupil Absence2024/25
11.6%
Overall absence
27.4%
Persistent absence
106
Enrolments
Absence trend
Source: DfE pupil absence statistics. Persistent absence = pupils missing 10%+ sessions.
Feeder Primary Schools
Primary schools that likely feed into this school, based on proximity
Birtenshaw School Bolton
Showing 10 of 15 linked schools
Questions parents ask about Birtenshaw School Bolton
What is Birtenshaw School Bolton's Ofsted rating?
Birtenshaw School Bolton's most recent Ofsted inspection, in February 2024, was ungraded. At its last graded inspection, in February 2013, it was rated Good.
How many pupils go to Birtenshaw School Bolton?
Birtenshaw School Bolton has around 137 pupils on roll. 8% are eligible for free school meals.
Does Birtenshaw School Bolton have specialist SEN provision?
Birtenshaw School Bolton provides for pupils with autism and severe learning difficulties.
What is attendance like at Birtenshaw School Bolton?
11.6% of sessions were missed at Birtenshaw School Bolton in 2024/25. 27.4% of pupils were persistently absent.
How many road collisions happen near Birtenshaw School Bolton?
Within 500 m of the school's mapped location, police recorded 8 road collisions in which someone was injured in 2021 to 2025: none fatal, 3 serious and 5 slight. The typical figure for schools in Bolton is 14 (the median across 148 schools, same distance and years).
Where is Birtenshaw School Bolton?
Birtenshaw School Bolton is at Darwen Road, Bromley Cross, Bolton, Lancashire, BL7 9AB.
Source: Department for Transport, Road Safety Data (STATS19)