Blackrod Anglican/Methodist Primary School, Bolton
Blackrod Anglican/Methodist Primary School is a primary school for pupils aged 3 to 11 in Bolton. It has a Church of England/Methodist religious character. It was rated Good at its last graded Ofsted inspection, in February 2012. Ofsted's ungraded inspection in January 2023 did not change this grade. Its 2025 Key Stage 2 results were the 68th-highest of the 89 schools in Bolton with published results, and 10,218th of 14,452 across England. For 2026 entry it had 1.2 first-choice applications for every place. It was full in 2025, at 108% of capacity.
- SATs results
- Below England average
- Ofsted
- Good (2012)
- Demand
- Oversubscribed
- Attendance
- In line with England
Reception applications for September 2027 close in 81 days
Deadline Friday 15 January 2027. Apply to Bolton (the council where you live). Offers on 16 April.
Data last updated 26 Oct 2026
Blackrod Anglican/Methodist Primary School in detail
Blackrod Anglican/Methodist Primary School in its own words
From the headteacher's welcome: "Blackrod Anglican / Methodist Primary School, to give us our Sunday name, is a church school with a Christian foundation at the heart of our community."
Coming up: an admissions event on Saturday 7 November 2026 and an open day on Saturday 7 November 2026. Check the school's website before you go, as dates can change.
All school open days in Bolton
Headteacher's welcome (school website)
Source: The school's own website
Results
In 2025, 66% of Year 6 pupils at Blackrod Anglican/Methodist Primary School reached the expected standard in reading and 75% in maths. At the average state primary the figures were 77% and 78% in Bolton and 77% and 75% across England.
Results fell from 81% in reading and 81% in maths in 2024.
With small year groups, a few pupils can move these figures by several points.
Getting a place at Blackrod Anglican/Methodist Primary School
For September 2026 entry, 35 families put Blackrod Anglican/Methodist Primary School as their first choice and 66 named it as one of their preferences, for 29 places offered. That is 1.2 first choices for every place. 8 families who put it first were not offered a place there.
Admissions history and your chances at Blackrod Anglican/Methodist Primary School
Compared with nearby schools
The nearest other state primary schools to Blackrod Anglican/Methodist Primary School are Blackrod Primary School (0.9 miles, Outstanding, 89% reading, 93% maths); St David Haigh and Aspull CofE Primary School (1.2 miles, Good, 94% reading, 94% maths); St Catherine's CofE Primary School (1.4 miles, Good, 69% reading, 69% maths); and Our Lady's RC Primary School Wigan (1.6 miles, Outstanding, 91% reading, 97% maths).
Blackrod Anglican/Methodist Primary School's 2025 results were higher than 1 of these 4 schools.
Blackrod Primary SchoolSt David Haigh and Aspull CofE Primary SchoolSt Catherine's CofE Primary SchoolOur Lady's RC Primary School Wigan
Who goes there
1.9% speak English as an additional language, against 18.8% on average, according to the 2026 school census.
In 2026, 41 pupils (15.8%) received SEN support and 27 (10.4%) had an education, health and care plan, against 16.2% and 4.6% at the average state school. The most common need among them is autism.
Blackrod Anglican/Methodist Primary School has a SEN unit for autism: 10 places, 11 pupils on roll.
Getting there
The nearest railway station is Blackrod Rail Station, about 0.8 miles away in a straight line.
11 bus stops are within a five-minute walk; the closest is Vicarage Road West (opposite), 150 metres away.
Suspensions and exclusions
In 2024/25, Blackrod Anglican/Methodist Primary School issued 3 suspensions, 1.2 for every 100 pupils (the average state school: 6.3), and no permanent exclusions.
Sources: DfE school performance data (averages: state mainstream schools); DfE school-level applications and offers; council admissions booklets; DfE appeals statistics; DfE school census and special educational needs statistics; NaPTAN (Department for Transport); DfE exclusions statistics
Key Information
DfE GIASOfsted Rating
Ofsted · 4 years agoThis judgement is from February 2012, 14 years ago, longer than Ofsted's usual 4-year cycle: the school may have changed since.
Overall
Latest (ungraded) inspection: The school remains Good.
Ofsted Insights
From Ofsted's January 2023 inspection report.
What This School Does Well
This is a warm, caring school where children arrive smiling and keen to learn. Teachers have good subject knowledge and create calm, purposeful classrooms where pupils behave well and look after each other. The school is particularly strong at supporting all pupils, including those with additional needs, to access the same curriculum as their peers.
Key Strengths
- Pupils are enthusiastic learners who behave very well and feel happy and safe at school
- Teachers have good subject knowledge and the school has a well-designed curriculum that builds on what pupils already know
- Reading is prioritized with consistent phonics teaching and pupils enjoy visiting the local library
- Pupils with SEND are exceptionally well supported and fully included in school life
- Staff well-being is prioritized and parents are overwhelmingly supportive of the school
Areas for Improvement
- Teachers do not always identify and address misconceptions before moving learning on
- In some subjects, teachers do not check thoroughly enough what pupils have remembered to identify gaps in knowledge
Safeguarding
Safeguarding is effective with a strong culture in place, well-trained staff, and pupils learning how to stay safe both in school and online.
Extracurricular Activities
WHAM (warm hearts and active minds), dodgeball, choir, eco-club, peace patrol, community change makers, school council
Blackrod Anglican/Methodist Primary School is a good school where pupils are eager to learn, behave well, and enjoy warm relationships with staff. Leaders have created an ambitious, well-designed curriculum with strong phonics teaching and excellent support for pupils with SEND.
At a Glance
16.9%
Free School Meals
No
Boarding
Yes
Nursery
No
Sixth Form
SEN unit: Autism
SEN Provision
No
Special Measures
Primary Performance (KS2)
Academic year 2024/25KS2 Results (% meeting expected standard)
Reading has declined from 81% to 66% (2024 to 2025). Maths has declined from 81% to 75% (2024 to 2025). Writing has improved from 77% to 81% (2024 to 2025).
Class Sizes
27.8
Avg class size
29.0
Infant (KS1)
31.8
KS2
9
Total classes
3 classes with more than 30 pupils
2025/26 academic year
How Does This School Compare?
Ranked against 5 nearby primary schools
Latest from Blackrod Anglican/Methodist Primary School
May Half Term Holiday Club 2026
1 May 2026
Year 5 Swimming Lessons May 2026
30 Apr 2026
Tennis Club April 26 to end of school year 26
24 Apr 2026
Jam Coding Club April / May 2026
24 Apr 2026
Extra Curriculum Clubs List April/May 2026
24 Apr 2026
Easter Holiday Club 2026
21 Mar 2026
From Blackrod Anglican/Methodist Primary School's website. School Signal is not affiliated with the school.
Social & online
Keep up with Blackrod Anglican/Methodist Primary School
Getting There
Bus Stops
Free school transport
Check free transport to Blackrod Anglican/Methodist Primary School from your postcode →
You apply to the council where you live. Blackrod Anglican/Methodist Primary School 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)
No injury road collisions were reported to the police within 500 m of the school's mapped location in 2021 to 2025.
The typical figure for schools in Bolton is 14 (the median across 148 schools, same distance and years).
Serious and slight counts use the Department for Transport's severity adjustment, which allows for changes in how police forces record injuries; they are estimates, rounded to whole numbers. Distances are in a straight line. Source: Department for Transport, Road Safety Data (STATS19), Open Government Licence v3.0.
Commute and house prices
Your chances of a place at Blackrod Anglican/Methodist Primary School
Will you get a place at Blackrod Anglican/Methodist Primary School? Get the admissions report
Your home postcode, set against Blackrod Anglican/Methodist Primary School's admissions figures, in one report saved to your account.
What the report includes for Blackrod Anglican/Methodist Primary School:
- The straight-line distance from your home to Blackrod Anglican/Methodist Primary School.
- We hold no last distance offered figures from Bolton, so the report covers demand, alternatives and dates.
- Applications, first choices and offers at Blackrod Anglican/Methodist Primary School for 2014 to 2026 entry.
- How many families in Bolton got their first choice, and how often appeals there succeed.
- The nearest state schools to your home, with Ofsted rating, demand and last distance offered where published.
- Key dates for September 2027 entry and how to apply.
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Capacity & Demand
School Occupancy
108%
Over capacity
226 pupils
210 places
16 pupils over capacity in 2025
2025, DfE school capacity data
Area Demand Pressure - Bolton
Based on MHCLG Live Table 122 (2024-25, last 5 years) for Bolton
Across Bolton council
Places available
4,015
Applications
3,455
Got 1st preference
89.5%
Got preferred school
96.8%
All primary applications across Bolton council (2026/27), not just this school.
This school: Oversubscribed
Inspection History(7)
SEND & SEN Provision
SEN Overview
41
SEN Support
27
EHC Plans
26.2%
of Total Pupils
2026 academic year
Provision & Specialist Facilities
Blackrod Anglican/Methodist Primary School has a SEN unit for autism: 10 places, 11 pupils on roll.
Source: GIAS, Department for Education.
Pupils by Need Type
Pupil Demographics
Ethnicity
2026 academic year
Key Indicators
260
Total Pupils
138
Boys
122
Girls
2026 academic year
Workforce
13
Teachers
20.0:1
Pupil-teacher ratio
£50,425
Mean salary
2026 data
School Funding
£5,451
Per pupil
£1340k
Total funding
£71k
Pupil premium
2025-26 financial year allocations
Pupil Absence2024/25
5.0%
Overall absence
11.7%
Persistent absence
196
Enrolments
Absence trend
Source: DfE pupil absence statistics. Persistent absence = pupils missing 10%+ sessions.
Questions parents ask about Blackrod Anglican/Methodist Primary School
What are SATs results like at Blackrod Anglican/Methodist Primary School?
Of the pupils at Blackrod Anglican/Methodist Primary School who took the 2025 Key Stage 2 assessments, 66% reached the expected standard in reading and 75% did so in maths.
What is Blackrod Anglican/Methodist Primary School's Ofsted rating?
Blackrod Anglican/Methodist Primary School's most recent Ofsted inspection, in January 2023, was ungraded, so it gave no overall grade. At its last graded inspection, in February 2012, it was rated Good.
What is the catchment area for Blackrod Anglican/Methodist Primary School?
No fixed boundary. When Blackrod Anglican/Methodist Primary School is oversubscribed, Bolton allocates places by its published criteria, usually ending with home-to-school distance.
Is it hard to get a place at Blackrod Anglican/Methodist Primary School?
Blackrod Anglican/Methodist Primary School was full in 2025, at 108% of its capacity, so places are allocated on the oversubscription criteria.
How big are the classes at Blackrod Anglican/Methodist Primary School?
Classes at Blackrod Anglican/Methodist Primary School average 27.8 pupils (2025/26). 3 classes have more than 30 pupils - infant classes are capped at 30 by law, with limited exceptions.
How many pupils go to Blackrod Anglican/Methodist Primary School?
Blackrod Anglican/Methodist Primary School has around 260 pupils on roll. 17% are eligible for free school meals.
Does Blackrod Anglican/Methodist Primary School have specialist SEN provision?
Blackrod Anglican/Methodist Primary School has a SEN unit for autism: 10 places, 11 pupils on roll.
What is attendance like at Blackrod Anglican/Methodist Primary School?
5% of sessions were missed at Blackrod Anglican/Methodist Primary School in 2024/25. 11.7% of pupils were persistently absent (missing 10% or more of sessions).
How do I apply to Blackrod Anglican/Methodist Primary School?
Apply through Bolton's coordinated admissions process, naming Blackrod Anglican/Methodist Primary School on your application. Applications for Reception places starting in September 2027 close on Friday 15 January 2027, and offers are made on Friday 16 April 2027.
How many road collisions happen near Blackrod Anglican/Methodist Primary School?
No injury road collisions were reported to the police within 500 m of the school's mapped location in 2021 to 2025. The typical figure for schools in Bolton is 14 (the median across 148 schools, same distance and years).
Where is Blackrod Anglican/Methodist Primary School?
Blackrod Anglican/Methodist Primary School is at Vicarage Road West, Blackrod, Bolton, Lancashire, BL6 5DE.
Source: Department for Transport, Road Safety Data (STATS19)