Harper Green School, Bolton

From the headteacher's welcome: "I'm delighted to welcome you to Harper Green School. Founded in 1927, our school has been at the heart of the local community for almost 100 years. Today, we're incredibly proud of the successful, forward-thinking and nurturing environment we've created - one where young people feel supported, challenged and inspired to achieve their very best."

Clubs and activities named on the school's website include football, cricket, tennis, athletics, badminton, dance, drama, STEM and Duke of Edinburgh.

Coming up: an open day on Saturday 31 October 2026 and an open day on Monday 1 March 2027. Check the school's website before you go, as dates can change.

In 2026, pupils at Harper Green School averaged an Attainment 8 score of 42.6, the average grade across their best eight GCSEs. The average state school scored 46.6 in Bolton and 47 across England.

40% passed English and maths at grade 5 or above, against 48% in Bolton and 47% in England.

That is in line with 2025, when the score was 42.8.

Its most recent Progress 8 score, for 2024, was -0.11: pupils made below average progress compared with pupils nationally who started secondary school at the same level. Progress 8 was not published for 2026.

Disadvantaged pupils averaged an Attainment 8 of 36.9, against 47.1 for other pupils at the school - a gap of 10.2 points.

Pupils sat GCSEs in 24 subjects; after English and maths, the most popular were Combined Science, Geography and Art and Design.

For September 2026 entry, 104 families put Harper Green School as their first choice and 287 named it as one of their preferences, for 198 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 secondary schools to Harper Green School are St James's Church of England High School (0.4 miles, Good, Attainment 8 48.1); Mount St Joseph RC High School a Voluntary Academy (0.5 miles, Attainment 8 41.5); King's Leadership Academy Bolton (1.2 miles, Good, Attainment 8 49); and Kearsley Academy (1.3 miles, Good, Attainment 8 51.1).

Harper Green School's 2026 results were higher than 1 of these 4 schools.

Harper Green School is one of 3 schools run by Leverhulme Academy Church of England and Community Trust, an academy trust.

Of the 210 pupils who finished Year 11 in 2023/24, 79% stayed in education or training for at least two terms, including 56% to a further education college, 4% to an apprenticeship and 4% into work.

45.4% of pupils are eligible for free school meals, well above the average state school (25%), and 38.8% speak English as an additional language, against 18.8% on average, according to the 2026 school census.

The largest ethnic groups are White British (45%), Asian (33%) and Black (10%).

In 2026, 117 pupils (10.9%) received SEN support and 21 (2%) 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 a moderate learning difficulty.

The nearest railway station is Moses Gate Rail Station, about 960 metres away (roughly a 12-minute walk).

11 bus stops are within a five-minute walk; the closest is Daffodil Road (opposite), 180 metres away.

Measured by the 2025 English Indices of Deprivation, the neighbourhood Harper Green 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, Harper Green School issued 422 suspensions, 37.5 for every 100 pupils (the average state school: 6.3), and 4 permanent exclusions.

The primary schools closest to Harper Green School are The Ferns Primary Academy (under 0.1 miles), Our Lady of Lourdes RC Primary School (0.3 miles), Queensbridge Primary School (0.4 miles) and Highfield Primary School (0.4 miles). Admission does not depend on which primary a child attends unless the school's policy names feeder schools.