Green Fold School, Bolton
Green Fold School is a special school for pupils aged 4 to 11 in Bolton. It was rated Outstanding at its last graded Ofsted inspection, in November 2023.
- Ofsted
- Outstanding (2023)
Data last updated 26 Oct 2026
Green Fold School in detail
Compared with nearby schools
The nearest other special schools to Green Fold School are Raise Education and Wellbeing School (0.9 miles, Good); Thomasson Memorial School (1 mile, Good); Birtenshaw College (1.5 miles, Requires improvement); and Lake House School (1.8 miles).
Raise Education and Wellbeing SchoolThomasson Memorial SchoolBirtenshaw CollegeLake House School
Who goes there
41.3% of pupils are eligible for free school meals, and 22.1% speak English as an additional language, according to the 2026 school census.
Almost every pupil at Green Fold School has an education, health and care plan (172 of 172 in 2026). The most common need among them is autism.
Green Fold School provides for pupils with speech, language and communication needs, autism, physical disability, severe learning difficulties and profound and multiple learning difficulties.
Getting there
The nearest railway station is Moses Gate Rail Station, about 1.4 miles away in a straight line.
19 bus stops are within a five-minute walk; the closest is Cherry Tree Primary School (outside), 90 metres away.
The area around the school
Measured by the 2025 English Indices of Deprivation, the neighbourhood Green Fold School stands in is among the 20% most deprived neighbourhoods in England. This describes where the school is, not where its pupils live.
Suspensions and exclusions
Green Fold School recorded no suspensions or permanent exclusions in 2024/25.
Sources: DfE school census and special educational needs statistics; NaPTAN (Department for Transport); English Indices of Deprivation 2025 (MHCLG); data.police.uk street-level crime; DfE exclusions statistics
Key Information
DfE GIASOfsted Rating
Ofsted · 3 years agoOverall
Quality of Education
Behaviour & Attitudes
Personal Development
Leadership & Management
Early Years
Ofsted Insights
From Ofsted's November 2023 inspection report.
What This School Does Well
Green Fold provides an Outstanding education where every child with special educational needs is supported to thrive. Staff genuinely care for pupils and skilfully help them develop independence, emotional regulation, and academic skills through a carefully designed curriculum. The school goes above and beyond for families, with parents praising staff for their exceptional dedication and support.
Key Strengths
- Highly ambitious and effective curriculum with rich, engaging learning experiences for all pupils
- Exceptional relationships between staff and pupils, with expert emotional and behavioural support
- Strong focus on communication and language development, with early reading skills taught from early years
- Impressive range of activities and experiences including residentials, sports competitions, and trips
- Close partnership with mainstream school and other professionals to support individual pupil targets
Safeguarding
Safeguarding arrangements are effective, with staff creating an open, positive culture that prioritises pupils' interests and wellbeing.
Extracurricular Activities
Residential trips, curling and boccia competitions, national challenges, joint activities with neighbouring mainstream primary school, regular outings and trips
Green Fold School is an Outstanding primary special school for pupils with complex autism and profound learning difficulties. All pupils flourish in this nurturing environment where staff are passionate about providing exceptional education tailored to each child's unique needs.
At a Glance
41.3%
Free School Meals
No
Boarding
No
Nursery
No
Sixth Form
Speech and language, Autism, Physical +2
SEN Provision
No
Special Measures
Primary Performance (KS2)
Academic year 2024/25KS2 Results (% meeting expected standard)
How Does This School Compare?
Ranked against 5 nearby schools
Keep up with Green Fold School
Getting There
Bus Stops
Free school transport
Check free transport to Green Fold School from your postcode →
You apply to the council where you live. Green Fold 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
- 13
- Fatal
- 0
- Serious
- 4
- Children hurt
- 4
Within 500 m of the school's mapped location, police recorded 13 road collisions in which someone was injured in 2021 to 2025: none fatal, 4 serious and 9 slight.
4 children aged 0 to 15 were hurt: 4 on foot.
5 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
Capacity & Demand
School Occupancy
130%
Over capacity
172 pupils
132 places
40 pupils over capacity
as recorded on GIAS
Area Demand Pressure - Bolton
Based on MHCLG Live Table 122 (2024-25, last 5 years) for Bolton
Across Bolton council
Places available
4,385
Applications
3,868
Got 1st preference
87.1%
Got preferred school
96.8%
All secondary applications across Bolton council (2026/27), not just this school.
Inspection History(6)
Ungraded inspection: The school remains Outstanding, but Ofsted raised concerns; its next inspection will be a full graded one.
SEND & SEN Provision
SEN Overview
0
SEN Support
172
EHC Plans
100.0%
of Total Pupils
2026 academic year
Provision & Specialist Facilities
Green Fold School provides for pupils with speech, language and communication needs, autism, physical disability, severe learning difficulties and profound and multiple learning difficulties.
Source: GIAS, Department for Education.
Pupils by Need Type
Pupil Demographics
Ethnicity
2026 academic year
Key Indicators
172
Total Pupils
119
Boys
53
Girls
2026 academic year
Workforce
31
Teachers
5.5:1
Pupil-teacher ratio
£47,801
Mean salary
2026 data
Pupil Absence2024/25
11.1%
Overall absence
29.7%
Persistent absence
158
Enrolments
Absence trend
Source: DfE pupil absence statistics. Persistent absence = pupils missing 10%+ sessions.
Linked Schools
Schools linked by geographic proximity
Questions parents ask about Green Fold School
What are SATs results like at Green Fold School?
Of the pupils at Green Fold School who took the 2025 Key Stage 2 assessments, 0% reached the expected standard in reading and 0% did so in maths.
What is Green Fold School's Ofsted rating?
Green Fold School was rated Outstanding at its most recent Ofsted inspection in November 2023.
What is the catchment area for Green Fold School?
No fixed boundary. When Green Fold School is oversubscribed, Bolton allocates places by its published criteria, usually ending with home-to-school distance.
How many pupils go to Green Fold School?
Green Fold School has around 172 pupils on roll. 41% are eligible for free school meals.
Does Green Fold School have specialist SEN provision?
Green Fold School provides for pupils with speech, language and communication needs, autism, physical disability, severe learning difficulties and profound and multiple learning difficulties.
What is attendance like at Green Fold School?
11.1% of sessions were missed at Green Fold School in 2024/25. 29.7% of pupils were persistently absent (missing 10% or more of sessions).
How do I apply to Green Fold School?
Apply through Bolton's coordinated admissions process, naming Green Fold School on your application. The national closing date in England is 31 October for secondary places and 15 January for primary places, in the year before your child starts.
How many road collisions happen near Green Fold School?
Within 500 m of the school's mapped location, police recorded 13 road collisions in which someone was injured in 2021 to 2025: none fatal, 4 serious and 9 slight. 4 children aged 0 to 15 were hurt: 4 on foot. 5 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 Green Fold School?
Green Fold School is at Highfield Road, Farnworth, Bolton, Lancashire, BL4 0NS.
Source: Department for Transport, Road Safety Data (STATS19)