Blackshaw Primary School, Bolton
Data last updated 11 Sept 2026
Location
Estimated admission likelihood based on school density and oversubscription data
Key Information
DfE GIASOfsted Rating
Ofsted · 2 years agoOverall
Quality of Education
Behaviour & Attitudes
Personal Development
Leadership & Management
Early Years
Ofsted Insights
What This School Does Well
Blackshaw Primary School excels at creating a bright, warm environment where pupils feel safe and respected. The school has particularly strong early years provision where expert teaching ignites children's curiosity through carefully planned activities. Teachers use clear explanations and skilled questioning to help all pupils, including disadvantaged learners, make good progress.
Key Strengths
- Teaching and learning in early years is a significant strength, with expert questioning and planning that ignites children's interests
- Strong subject knowledge ensures clear explanations that help pupils understand their learning
- Pupils' good behaviour and positive attitudes contribute significantly to their progress
- Specialist teachers enhance learning, including music instruction on a range of instruments
- Leadership team accurately identifies areas for improvement and plans appropriate actions
Areas for Improvement
- Handwriting quality, while improving in some classes, is not consistently good across the school
- Most-able pupils are not always challenged as fully as they could be in some classes
- Teachers need to deepen their understanding of the new National Curriculum to use it most effectively
Safeguarding
Safeguarding is effective, with pupils feeling safe at school and staff receiving appropriate training, supported by governors' oversight through a safeguarding working party.
Extracurricular Activities
Safety day, friendship week, specialist music lessons (violin, drums, guitar), dojo points reward system for behaviour
Blackshaw Primary School continues to be good, with leadership maintaining quality education since the last inspection in 2011. The school has a culture where everyone strives to help pupils reach their full potential, with strong relationships between adults and pupils underpinning learning.
At a Glance
20.0%
Free School Meals
No
Boarding
Yes
Nursery
No
Sixth Form
No
Special Measures
What Parents Think
36 responsesSource: Ofsted Parent View - % who strongly agree or agree
Primary Performance (KS2)
Academic year 2025/26KS2 Results (% meeting expected standard)
Reading has improved from 63% to 72%. Maths has declined from 83% to 79%. Writing has improved from 57% to 72%.
Class Sizes
27.9
Avg class size
27.3
Infant (KS1)
29.8
KS2
8
Total classes
2024/25 academic year
Getting There
Bus Stops
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Capacity & Demand
School Occupancy
104%
Over capacity
218 pupils
210 capacity
8 places over capacity
Area Demand Pressure - Bolton
Based on MHCLG housing supply data for Bolton
Admissions Demand - Bolton
Places available
4,105
Applications
3,501
Got 1st preference
89.7%
Got preferred school
97.6%
Primary admissions across Bolton (2025/26)
Inspection History(6)
House Prices
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SEN Provision
How many pupils have special educational needs, what types of support the school provides, and how it compares to similar schools.
Pupil Demographics
The school's pupil mix - ethnicity breakdown, free school meals eligibility, and English as an additional language. Useful context when evaluating school fit.
Teachers & Staff
Teacher qualification rates, pupil-to-teacher ratio, staff turnover, and salary data. Shows how well-resourced and stable the school's workforce is.
School Funding
Annual funding per pupil, total budget, pupil premium grants, and how the school's resources compare to similar schools nationally.
Pupil Absence2024/25
4.1972%
Overall absence
11.17318%
Persistent absence
179
Enrolments
Absence trend
Source: DfE pupil absence statistics. Persistent absence = pupils missing 10%+ sessions.
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Secondary Schools Nearby
Secondary schools pupils are likely to move to
Blackshaw Primary School
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