Harwood Meadows Primary School, Bolton

Ofsted's report card from its 28 April 2026 inspection grades Harwood Meadows 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, including those who are disadvantaged and those with special educational needs and/or disabilities, learn effectively."

Attendance and behaviour - Expected standard. "Leaders place great importance on making sure that pupils attend school every day."

Curriculum and teaching - Expected standard. "Leaders have a comprehensive understanding of the curriculum and how well it is taught across the school."

Early years - Expected standard. "Children arrive at school eager to learn and play."

Inclusion - Expected standard. "Leaders place a high importance on including everyone in all that is on offer in the school."

Leadership and governance - Expected standard. "Leaders act as role models and demonstrate care, compassion and reflection in their work."

Personal development and wellbeing - Expected standard. "Leaders aim for pupils to develop ‘roots to grow and wings to fly'."

Safeguarding standards were met.

Ofsted's next steps for the school: "Leaders should ensure that teachers consistently use the agreed teaching approaches to support pupils to achieve as well as they can in writing"; "Leaders, including governors, should ensure that they routinely evaluate the pupil premium strategy to ensure it reduces barriers and maximises impact for disadvantaged pupils to achieve well"; "Leaders should ensure that staff's interactions with children in the early years during play activities help to extend and deepen their learning".

From the headteacher's welcome: "Welcome to our wonderful school! It is with great pleasure that I say hello to you on behalf of all the children, staff and governors at Harwood Meadows. I thoroughly enjoy working at Harwood Meadows and sincerely hope that you and your child's journey with us proves to be equally happy."

Clubs and activities named on the school's website include tennis, multi-sports, karate, choir and gardening.

In 2025, 76% of Year 6 pupils at Harwood Meadows Primary School reached the expected standard in reading and 79% 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 (70% in reading, 81% in maths).

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

For September 2026 entry, 23 families put Harwood Meadows Primary School as their first choice and 59 named it as one of their preferences, for 25 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 Harwood Meadows Primary School are Hardy Mill Primary School (0.3 miles, Good, 87% reading, 80% maths); St Brendan's RC Primary School, Harwood, Bolton (0.5 miles, Good, 74% reading, 71% maths); Red Lane Primary School (0.7 miles, Good, 80% reading, 75% maths); and St Maxentius CofE Primary School (1 mile, Good, 82% reading, 70% maths).

Harwood Meadows Primary School's 2025 results were higher than 2 of these 4 schools.

Harwood Meadows Primary School is run by its own single-school academy trust.

5.8% speak English as an additional language, against 18.8% on average, according to the 2026 school census.

The largest ethnic groups are White British (82%) and Mixed (9%).

In 2026, 35 pupils (15.6%) received SEN support and 6 (2.7%) 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.

The nearest railway station is Hall i' th' Wood Rail Station, about 1.3 miles away in a straight line.

13 bus stops are within a five-minute walk; the closest is Christ Church (outside), 150 metres away.

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

In 2024/25, Harwood Meadows Primary School issued 6 suspensions, 2.8 for every 100 pupils (the average state school: 6.3), and no permanent exclusions.

The secondary schools closest to Harwood Meadows Primary School are Bolton St Catherine's Academy (0.4 miles), Canon Slade School (1.2 miles) and Turton School (1.7 miles).