Bolton College, Bolton
Data last updated 11 Sept 2026
Key Information
DfE GIASOfsted Rating
Ofsted · 8 months agoReport card - no overall grade (new Ofsted framework from Sep 2024)
Ofsted Insights
What This School Does Well
Bolton College creates a genuinely inclusive environment where students with different needs feel welcome and supported to succeed. The college has invested heavily in industry-standard facilities and equipment so students in health, construction and engineering learn using the same tools they will use in their jobs. Staff work closely with local employers to design courses that lead directly to employment, particularly for vulnerable learners.
Key Strengths
- Strong inclusive culture with effective support for students with high needs and disabilities
- High-quality specialist facilities including 3D anatomy visualisation, hospital ward simulation, and construction workshops
- Effective adult learning programmes with high achievement rates and positive progression to employment
- Good partnerships with employers including NHS, Bolton Council and Greater Manchester Colleges
- Students feel safe and know how to report concerns
Areas for Improvement
- Teaching quality is too inconsistent, particularly for young students and in tutorials
- GCSE students with low prior achievement do not make sufficient progress as curriculum is too complex for their ability level
- Too many students leave T-level courses early
- Assessment and feedback practices are weak - students do not routinely act on feedback
- Low attendance, particularly in tutorials
Safeguarding
Safeguarding standards are met - leaders have established an open culture in which safeguarding is everyone's responsibility and concerns are actively identified and managed.
Extracurricular Activities
Elite sports development activities, robotics clubs, drone clubs, aerodynamics clubs, leadership programmes, work experience, Royal Navy visiting speakers, mock interviews, conversation clubs
Bolton College is a further education provider in Bolton, Lancashire that offers programmes for young people and adults across vocational, academic and apprenticeship routes. The college has undergone significant organisational changes and campus improvements, with a new executive team working to raise curriculum quality.
At a Glance
No
Boarding
No
Nursery
No
Sixth Form
No
Special Measures
Sixth Form Performance (A-Level)
A-Level Results
c
Average grade
c
Best 3 A-Levels
z
Value added
1
A-Level students
2024/25 academic year
A-Level Subjects Offered
2023/24 academic year - entries by number of students
After A-Levels - Leaver Destinations
After A-Levels (Year 13) - 1,121 students
202223 data
University & Higher Education Destinations
2%
Top-third university
34%
Degree course
40%
Any L4+ destination
2%
Apprenticeships
Based on 344 students completing 16-18 study
2021/22 cohort - "Top-third" = most selective third of UK universities by student intake
Getting There
Bus Stops
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Capacity & Demand
Area Demand Pressure - Bolton
Based on MHCLG housing supply data for Bolton
Admissions Demand - Bolton
Places available
4,380
Applications
4,014
Got 1st preference
82.6%
Got preferred school
95.0%
Secondary admissions across Bolton (2025/26)
Inspection History(14)
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