Ladywood School, Bolton
Ladywood School is a special school for pupils aged 4 to 11 in Bolton, part of Woodbridge Trust. It was rated Outstanding at its last graded Ofsted inspection, in June 2011. Ofsted's ungraded inspection in January 2023 did not change this grade.
- Ofsted
- Outstanding (2011)
Data last updated 26 Oct 2026
Ladywood School in detail
Compared with nearby schools
The nearest other special schools to Ladywood School are Imagine Wellbeing Primary Ltd (1.1 miles); Millwood Primary Special School (1.3 miles, Outstanding); Breightmet School (1.4 miles, Requires improvement); and Lake House School (1.4 miles).
Imagine Wellbeing Primary LtdMillwood Primary Special SchoolBreightmet SchoolLake House School
The trust
Ladywood School is one of 2 schools run by Woodbridge Trust, an academy trust.
Who goes there
39.1% of pupils are eligible for free school meals, and 13.3% speak English as an additional language, according to the 2026 school census.
Almost every pupil at Ladywood School has an education, health and care plan (233 of 233 in 2026). The most common need among them is autism.
Getting there
The nearest railway station is Farnworth Rail Station, about 1.4 miles away in a straight line.
Suspensions and exclusions
Ladywood School recorded no suspensions or permanent exclusions in 2024/25.
Sources: DfE school census and special educational needs statistics; NaPTAN (Department for Transport); DfE exclusions statistics
Key Information
DfE GIASOfsted Rating
Ofsted · 4 years agoThis judgement is from June 2011, 15 years ago, longer than Ofsted's usual 4-year cycle: the school may have changed since.
Overall
Latest (ungraded) inspection: The school remains Outstanding.
Ofsted Insights
Ofsted rated this school Outstanding at its June 2011 inspection - unchanged since its previous inspection.
Rated Outstanding for
Leadership & management.
At a Glance
39.1%
Free School Meals
No
Boarding
No
Nursery
No
Sixth Form
No
Special Measures
Primary Performance (KS2)
Academic year 2024/25KS2 Results (% meeting expected standard)
Maths has remained stable at around 0% (2024 to 2025).
How Does This School Compare?
Ranked against 5 nearby schools
Keep up with Ladywood School
Before and after school care
Ladywood School is on the Department for Education's free breakfast clubs programme (list updated July 2026), which pays for a free breakfast club for pupils before school. Source: Free breakfast clubs: schools on the programme, Department for Education Free breakfast clubs in Bolton
Getting There
Bus Stops
Free school transport
Check free transport to Ladywood School from your postcode →
You apply to the council where you live. Ladywood 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
- 9
- Fatal
- 0
- Serious
- 3
- Children hurt
- 2
Within 500 m of the school's mapped location, police recorded 9 road collisions in which someone was injured in 2021 to 2025: none fatal, 3 serious and 6 slight.
2 children aged 0 to 15 were hurt: 1 on foot and 1 on a bicycle.
3 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
101%
Over capacity
233 pupils
230 places
3 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(2)
Ungraded inspection: The school remains Outstanding.
SEND & SEN Provision
SEN Overview
0
SEN Support
233
EHC Plans
100.0%
of Total Pupils
2026 academic year
Provision & Specialist Facilities
Pupils by Need Type
Pupil Demographics
Ethnicity
2026 academic year
Key Indicators
233
Total Pupils
170
Boys
63
Girls
2026 academic year
Workforce
48
Teachers
4.9:1
Pupil-teacher ratio
£54,410
Mean salary
2026 data
Pupil Absence2024/25
8.0%
Overall absence
30.7%
Persistent absence
179
Enrolments
Absence trend
Source: DfE pupil absence statistics. Persistent absence = pupils missing 10%+ sessions.
Questions parents ask about Ladywood School
What are SATs results like at Ladywood School?
Of the pupils at Ladywood School who took the 2025 Key Stage 2 assessments, 0% reached the expected standard in reading and 0% did so in maths.
What is Ladywood School's Ofsted rating?
Ladywood School's most recent Ofsted inspection, in January 2023, was ungraded, so it gave no overall grade. At its last graded inspection, in June 2011, it was rated Outstanding.
What is the catchment area for Ladywood School?
No fixed boundary. When Ladywood School is oversubscribed, Bolton allocates places by its published criteria, usually ending with home-to-school distance.
How many pupils go to Ladywood School?
Ladywood School has around 233 pupils on roll. 39% are eligible for free school meals.
What is attendance like at Ladywood School?
8% of sessions were missed at Ladywood School in 2024/25. 30.7% of pupils were persistently absent (missing 10% or more of sessions).
How do I apply to Ladywood School?
Apply through Bolton's coordinated admissions process, naming Ladywood 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.
Does Ladywood School have a breakfast club or after-school club?
Ladywood School is on the Department for Education's free breakfast clubs programme (list updated July 2026), which pays for a free breakfast club for pupils before school.
How many road collisions happen near Ladywood School?
Within 500 m of the school's mapped location, police recorded 9 road collisions in which someone was injured in 2021 to 2025: none fatal, 3 serious and 6 slight. 2 children aged 0 to 15 were hurt: 1 on foot and 1 on a bicycle. 3 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 Ladywood School?
Ladywood School is at Masefield Road, Little Lever, Bolton, Lancashire, BL3 1NG.
Source: Department for Transport, Road Safety Data (STATS19)