Castle Hill Primary School, Bolton
Castle Hill Primary School is a primary school for pupils aged 3 to 11 in Bolton. It was rated Good at its last graded Ofsted inspection, in February 2023. Its 2025 Key Stage 2 results were the 24th-highest of the 89 schools in Bolton with published results, and 3,408th of 14,452 across England. It was full in 2025, at 101% of capacity.
- SATs results
- Above England average
- Ofsted
- Good (2023)
- Demand
- Every first choice offered
- Attendance
- Below England average
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
Castle Hill Primary School in detail
Castle Hill Primary School in its own words
The school runs a breakfast club from 7:45am.
Wraparound care (school website)
Source: The school's own website
Results
In 2025, 83% of Year 6 pupils at Castle Hill Primary School reached the expected standard in reading and 87% in maths. At the average state primary the figures were 77% and 78% in Bolton and 77% and 75% across England.
Results rose from 77% in reading and 74% in maths in 2024.
With small year groups, a few pupils can move these figures by several points.
Getting a place at Castle Hill Primary School
For September 2026 entry, 22 families put Castle Hill Primary School as their first choice and 60 named it as one of their preferences, for 29 places offered. It had fewer first-choice applications than places. Every family who put it first was offered a place there for 2026 entry.
Admissions history and your chances at Castle Hill Primary School
Compared with nearby schools
The nearest other state primary schools to Castle Hill Primary School are St Columba's RC Primary School (0.4 miles, Good, 79% reading, 93% maths); Tonge Moor Primary Academy (0.5 miles, Good, 59% reading, 57% maths); Moorgate Primary School (0.6 miles, Outstanding, 76% reading, 76% maths); and The Valley Community Primary School (0.7 miles, Outstanding, 92% reading, 90% maths).
Castle Hill Primary School's 2025 results were higher than 2 of these 4 schools.
St Columba's RC Primary SchoolTonge Moor Primary AcademyMoorgate Primary SchoolThe Valley Community Primary School
Who goes there
46.8% of pupils are eligible for free school meals, well above the average state school (25%), and 25.5% speak English as an additional language, against 18.8% on average, according to the 2026 school census.
The largest ethnic groups are White British (51%), Black (25%) and Asian (9%).
In 2026, 21 pupils (9.5%) received SEN support and 10 (4.5%) 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.
Getting there
The nearest railway station is Hall i' th' Wood Rail Station, about 310 metres away (roughly a 4-minute walk).
12 bus stops are within a five-minute walk; the closest is Haroldene Street (opposite), 140 metres away.
Suspensions and exclusions
In 2024/25, Castle Hill Primary School issued 4 suspensions, 1.7 for every 100 pupils (the average state school: 6.3), and no permanent exclusions.
Secondary schools nearby
The secondary schools closest to Castle Hill Primary School are Canon Slade School (0.6 miles); Eden Boys' School, Bolton (0.9 miles); Sharples School (1 mile); and Bolton St Catherine's Academy (1 mile).
Canon Slade SchoolEden Boys' School, BoltonSharples SchoolBolton St Catherine's Academy
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
Location
Every family who put it first was offered a place for 2026 entry, so distance did not limit places that year.
Key Information
DfE GIASOfsted Rating
Ofsted · 4 years agoOverall
Quality of Education
Behaviour & Attitudes
Personal Development
Leadership & Management
Early Years
Ofsted Insights
From Ofsted's February 2023 inspection report.
What This School Does Well
Castle Hill Primary School creates a safe, welcoming environment where children develop positive friendships and feel confident to speak to staff about any concerns. Teachers skilfully support all learners, including those with additional needs, to access an ambitious curriculum that builds knowledge progressively. The school excels at teaching reading through consistent phonics instruction and provides rich enrichment activities to broaden pupils' learning beyond the classroom.
Key Strengths
- Strong teaching of reading with consistent phonics instruction and effective support for struggling readers
- Excellent behaviour and positive relationships throughout the school, creating a calm learning environment
- Effective identification and support of pupils with SEND, ensuring they feel included and accepted
- Well-designed, ambitious curriculum that builds knowledge progressively across year groups
- Strong leadership that models positive values and sets high expectations
Areas for Improvement
- Some pupils struggle to remember previous learning in certain subjects, which holds back their understanding of new knowledge
- Early years book provision is underdeveloped, limiting children's access to quality fiction and non-fiction
- Governors do not review and challenge leaders' work in sufficient depth, particularly regarding SEND provision
- Some pupils do not attend school as often as they should, though attendance is improving
Safeguarding
Safeguarding arrangements are effective with regular staff training, vigilant monitoring of pupil wellbeing and attendance, and prompt action on concerns liaising with relevant services.
Extracurricular Activities
chess, choir, drama, sports, educational trips
Castle Hill Primary School is a good primary school where pupils are happy, feel safe, and develop positive relationships with staff. The school has improved from its previous 'Requires Improvement' rating and now provides an ambitious, well-designed curriculum that helps most pupils achieve well.
At a Glance
46.8%
Free School Meals
No
Boarding
Yes
Nursery
No
Sixth Form
No
Special Measures
Primary Performance (KS2)
Academic year 2024/25KS2 Results (% meeting expected standard)
Reading has improved from 77% to 83% (2024 to 2025). Maths has improved from 74% to 87% (2024 to 2025). Writing has improved from 63% to 70% (2024 to 2025).
Class Sizes
26.6
Avg class size
26.7
Infant (KS1)
29.8
KS2
8
Total classes
1 class with more than 30 pupils
2025/26 academic year
How Does This School Compare?
Ranked against 5 nearby primary schools
Keep up with Castle Hill Primary School
Before and after school care
Clubs on Ofsted's childcare register at or near Castle Hill Primary School.
- Tonge Moor Out of School Club900m away · Not yet graded
Getting There
Train Stations
Bus Stops
Free school transport
Check free transport to Castle Hill Primary School from your postcode →
You apply to the council where you live. Castle Hill 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)
- Collisions
- 23
- Fatal
- 0
- Serious
- 7
- Children hurt
- 3
Within 500 m of the school's mapped location, police recorded 23 road collisions in which someone was injured in 2021 to 2025: none fatal, 7 serious and 16 slight.
3 children aged 0 to 15 were hurt: 1 on a bicycle and 2 in a vehicle or otherwise.
2 of the collisions happened on a weekday between 08:00 and 09:30 or 14:45 and 16:30, holidays included.
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 Castle Hill Primary School
Will you get a place at Castle Hill Primary School? Get the admissions report
Your home postcode, set against Castle Hill Primary School's admissions figures, in one report saved to your account.
What the report includes for Castle Hill Primary School:
- The straight-line distance from your home to Castle Hill 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 Castle Hill 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
101%
Over capacity
212 pupils
210 places
2 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: Every first choice offered
Inspection History(11)
SEND & SEN Provision
SEN Overview
21
SEN Support
10
EHC Plans
14.1%
of Total Pupils
2026 academic year
Provision & Specialist Facilities
Pupils by Need Type
Pupil Demographics
Ethnicity
2026 academic year
Key Indicators
220
Total Pupils
111
Boys
109
Girls
2026 academic year
Workforce
12
Teachers
18.3:1
Pupil-teacher ratio
£52,698
Mean salary
2026 data
School Funding
£8,612
Per pupil
£2055k
Total funding
£174k
Pupil premium
2025-26 financial year allocations
Pupil Absence2024/25
6.9%
Overall absence
25.4%
Persistent absence
193
Enrolments
Absence trend
Source: DfE pupil absence statistics. Persistent absence = pupils missing 10%+ sessions.
Secondary Schools Nearby
Secondary schools pupils are likely to move to
Castle Hill Primary School
Questions parents ask about Castle Hill Primary School
What are SATs results like at Castle Hill Primary School?
Of the pupils at Castle Hill Primary School who took the 2025 Key Stage 2 assessments, 83% reached the expected standard in reading and 87% did so in maths.
What is Castle Hill Primary School's Ofsted rating?
Castle Hill Primary School was rated Good at its most recent Ofsted inspection in February 2023. At its previous graded inspection in 2019 it was rated Requires Improvement.
What is the catchment area for Castle Hill Primary School?
No fixed boundary. When Castle Hill 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 Castle Hill Primary School?
Castle Hill Primary School was full in 2025, at 101% of its capacity, so places are allocated on the oversubscription criteria.
How big are the classes at Castle Hill Primary School?
Classes at Castle Hill Primary School average 26.6 pupils (2025/26). 1 class has more than 30 pupils - infant classes are capped at 30 by law, with limited exceptions.
How many pupils go to Castle Hill Primary School?
Castle Hill Primary School has around 220 pupils on roll. 47% are eligible for free school meals.
What is attendance like at Castle Hill Primary School?
6.9% of sessions were missed at Castle Hill Primary School in 2024/25. 25.4% of pupils were persistently absent (missing 10% or more of sessions).
How do I apply to Castle Hill Primary School?
Apply through Bolton's coordinated admissions process, naming Castle Hill 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.
Does Castle Hill Primary School have a breakfast club or after-school club?
Ofsted's childcare register lists an out-of-school club within a kilometre of Castle Hill Primary School: Tonge Moor Out of School Club (900m away, registered, not yet graded). The school may also run its own clubs, which don't have to register with Ofsted.
How many road collisions happen near Castle Hill Primary School?
Within 500 m of the school's mapped location, police recorded 23 road collisions in which someone was injured in 2021 to 2025: none fatal, 7 serious and 16 slight. 3 children aged 0 to 15 were hurt: 1 on a bicycle and 2 in a vehicle or otherwise. 2 of the collisions happened on a weekday between 08:00 and 09:30 or 14:45 and 16:30, holidays included. The typical figure for schools in Bolton is 14 (the median across 148 schools, same distance and years).
Where is Castle Hill Primary School?
Castle Hill Primary School is at Castle Hill Street, Tonge Moor, Bolton, Lancashire, BL2 2JT.
Source: Department for Transport, Road Safety Data (STATS19)