Brownlow Fold Primary School, Bolton

Ofsted's report card from its 10 February 2026 inspection grades Brownlow Fold Primary School on 7 areas: 7 expected standard. Report cards replaced single-word judgements in November 2025, on a five-point scale from exceptional to urgent improvement.

Achievement - Expected standard. "Pupils make generally secure progress through the curriculum, with most achieving results in national tests that are broadly in line with national averages."

Attendance and behaviour - Expected standard. "Leaders prioritise pupils' attendance and have established rigorous systems to monitor, track and respond to absence."

Curriculum and teaching - Expected standard. "Leaders understand the quality of the curriculum and teaching well."

Early years - Expected standard. "Leaders have set a clear intent for a purposeful, language-rich early years environment."

Inclusion - Expected standard. "Leaders identify pupils' individual needs with precision."

Leadership and governance - Expected standard. "Leaders' monitoring gives them an accurate view of priorities, safeguarding and overall practice."

Personal development and wellbeing - Expected standard. "Pupils engage positively with school life and speak confidently about their experiences."

Safeguarding standards were met.

Ofsted's next steps for the school: "Leaders should refine how well staff check pupils' transcription and vocabulary knowledge, helping to ensure that all pupils, particularly lower attaining pupils, secure these foundational skills as well as they can"; "Leaders should ensure that pupils develop a secure understanding of the fundamental British values and the different ways that discrimination can occur"; "Governors should further strengthen their assurance practices in specific aspects of the school's development work so that their oversight, support and challenge are consistently robust across all areas".

In 2025, 67% of Year 6 pupils at Brownlow Fold Primary School reached the expected standard in reading and 63% in maths. At the average state primary the figures were 77% and 78% in Bolton and 77% and 75% across England.

Results were similar in 2024 (74% in reading, 61% in maths).

With small year groups, a few pupils can move these figures by several points.

For September 2026 entry, 16 families put Brownlow Fold Primary School as their first choice and 49 named it as one of their preferences, for 21 places offered. It had fewer first-choice applications than places. Every family who put it first was offered a place there for 2026 entry.

The nearest other state primary schools to Brownlow Fold Primary School are The Olive School, Bolton (under 0.1 miles, Outstanding, 98% reading, 98% maths); St Thomas C of E Primary School, Halliwell (0.2 miles, Good, 71% reading, 71% maths); St Joseph's RC Primary School, Halliwell, Bolton (0.2 miles, Good, 71% reading, 74% maths); and Oxford Grove Primary School (0.2 miles, Outstanding, 85% reading, 83% maths).

Each of them had higher 2025 results than Brownlow Fold Primary School.

79.3% speak English as an additional language, against 18.8% on average, according to the 2026 school census.

The largest ethnic groups are Asian (69%), Black (8%) and other ethnic groups (8%).

In 2026, 33 pupils (14.2%) received SEN support and 4 (1.7%) 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 speech, language and communication needs.

Brownlow Fold Primary School had 13 teachers in 2026, one for every 16 pupils: more teachers per pupil than a typical primary school, at about one for every 20.

The nearest railway station is Bolton Rail Station, about 1.3 miles away in a straight line.

10 bus stops are within a five-minute walk; the closest is Lytton Street (opposite), 110 metres away.

Measured by the 2025 English Indices of Deprivation, the neighbourhood Brownlow Fold Primary School stands in is among the 10% most deprived neighbourhoods in England. This describes where the school is, not where its pupils live.

In 2024/25, Brownlow Fold Primary School issued 8 suspensions, 3.4 for every 100 pupils (the average state school: 6.3), and no permanent exclusions.

The secondary schools closest to Brownlow Fold Primary School are Eden Boys' School, Bolton (0.4 miles); Smithills School (0.8 miles); and Thornleigh Salesian College (0.8 miles).