Brownlow Fold Primary School, Bolton

Primary
Community school
Mixed
Ages 311

Data last updated 11 Sept 2026

Location

Very likely (~328m)Possible (~469m)Unlikely (~610m)Confidence: high

Estimated admission likelihood based on school density and oversubscription data

Key Information

DfE GIAS
Head:Mrs Julie Cheung
Pupils:232 / 266 capacity
LA:Bolton
Phone:01204333511
Address:Darley Street, Bolton, BL1 3DX
Admissions:Not applicable
Status:open

Ofsted Rating

Ofsted · 7 months ago

Report card - no overall grade (new Ofsted framework from Sep 2024)

Achievement
Expected Standard
Behaviour
Expected Standard
Personal Development
Expected Standard
Leadership
Expected Standard
Early Years
Expected Standard
Inspected 10 February 2026View full report
URN:105149
UKPRN:10078453
Diocese:Not applicable
Constituency:Bolton North East
Urban/Rural:Urban: Nearer to a major town or city

Ofsted Insights

What This School Does Well

Brownlow Fold excels at supporting all pupils to succeed, with particular strength in early reading and helping disadvantaged or struggling pupils catch up. The school creates a calm, caring environment where children feel safe and confident. Leaders work closely with families and use tailored approaches to remove barriers to learning, ensuring every child gets the support they need.

Key Strengths

  • Early reading is taught effectively through well-structured phonics, with pupils progressing confidently
  • Leaders prioritize attendance and support for disadvantaged pupils and those with SEND, resulting in above-average attendance rates for these groups
  • Strong inclusive practice with targeted support precisely matched to individual pupil needs
  • Calm, settled behaviour across the school with positive relationships between staff and pupils
  • Well-organized early years curriculum with a strong focus on language development

Areas for Improvement

  • Some pupils, particularly low prior attainers, have gaps in key vocabulary, transcription and grammar that limit their progress
  • Teachers sometimes move learning on before ensuring all pupils have secure understanding
  • Governors' assurance regarding some elements of the school's work could be more secure

Safeguarding

Safeguarding standards are met - leaders have created an open culture where safeguarding is everyone's responsibility, concerns are actively identified and managed, and pupils feel safe.

Extracurricular Activities

School council, eco representatives, curriculum ambassadors, trips, clubs, visits from professionals

Brownlow Fold Primary School is a well-run school where pupils make generally secure progress through a carefully sequenced curriculum. Leaders have made clear improvements since the previous inspection, with strong systems in place for attendance, behaviour and support for vulnerable pupils.

At a Glance

37.4%

Free School Meals

No

Boarding

Yes

Nursery

No

Sixth Form

No

Special Measures

Primary Performance (KS2)

Academic year 2025/26

KS2 Results (% meeting expected standard)

2024
2025
Reading-7ppMaths+2ppWriting-8pp

Reading has declined from 74% to 67%. Maths has remained stable at around 63%. Writing has declined from 68% to 60%.

Class Sizes

27.4

Avg class size

27.0

Infant (KS1)

30.5

KS2

7

Total classes

2 classes with more than 30 pupils

2024/25 academic year

Getting There

Bus Stops

Lytton Street (opp)
108m · 2 min walk
Wordsworth Street (nr)
220m · 4 min walk
Keats Walk (opp)
289m · 5 min walk
Camrose Gardens (opp)
373m · 6 min walk
Rushey Fold Lane (nr)
392m · 6 min walk
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Capacity & Demand

School Occupancy

87%

Available places

232 pupils

266 capacity

34 spare places available

Area Demand Pressure - Bolton

Medium pressure
New homes approved:5,330
Projected new pupils:1,333

Based on MHCLG housing supply data for Bolton

Admissions Demand - Bolton

Low demand0.85x oversubscription

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(8)

10 February 2026Report card
Achievement
Behaviour
Personal Development
Leadership
Early Years
19 January 2022
3 November 2016

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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.

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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.

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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.

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School Funding

Annual funding per pupil, total budget, pupil premium grants, and how the school's resources compare to similar schools nationally.

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Pupil Absence
2024/25

4.7839%

Overall absence

12.1547%

Persistent absence

181

Enrolments

Authorised3.10825%
Unauthorised1.67565%
Persistent (10%+)12.1547%
Severe (50%+)0.55249%

Absence trend

4.25409%
18/19
7.08682%
20/21
7.13237%
21/22
6.40922%
22/23
5.64786%
23/24
4.7839%
24/25
Overall absence rate

Source: DfE pupil absence statistics. Persistent absence = pupils missing 10%+ sessions.

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