Oxford Grove Primary School, Bolton
Oxford Grove Primary School is a primary school for pupils aged 3 to 11 in Bolton. It was rated Outstanding at its last graded Ofsted inspection, in February 2023. Its 2025 Key Stage 2 results were the 26th-highest of the 89 schools in Bolton with published results, and 3,885th of 14,452 across England. For 2026 entry it had 1.2 first-choice applications for every place. It was full in 2025, at 101% of capacity.
- SATs results
- Above England average
- Ofsted
- Outstanding (2023)
- Demand
- Oversubscribed
- Attendance
- In line with England
Reception applications for September 2027 close in 80 days
Deadline Friday 15 January 2027. Apply to Bolton (the council where you live). Offers on 16 April.
Data last updated 27 Oct 2026
Oxford Grove Primary School in detail
Results
In 2025, 85% of Year 6 pupils at Oxford Grove Primary School reached the expected standard in reading and 83% in maths. At the average state primary the figures were 77% and 78% in Bolton and 77% and 75% across England.
Results fell from 86% in reading and 90% in maths in 2024.
Getting a place at Oxford Grove Primary School
For September 2026 entry, 71 families put Oxford Grove Primary School as their first choice and 175 named it as one of their preferences, for 59 places offered. That is 1.2 first choices for every place. 17 families who put it first were not offered a place there.
Admissions history and your chances at Oxford Grove Primary School
Compared with nearby schools
The nearest other state primary schools to Oxford Grove Primary School are St Joseph's RC Primary School, Halliwell, Bolton (under 0.1 miles, Good, 71% reading, 74% maths); Brownlow Fold Primary School (0.2 miles, Good, 67% reading, 63% maths); The Olive School, Bolton (0.3 miles, Outstanding, 98% reading, 98% maths); and St Thomas C of E Primary School, Halliwell (0.3 miles, Good, 71% reading, 71% maths).
Oxford Grove Primary School's 2025 results were higher than 3 of these 4 schools.
St Joseph's RC Primary School, Halliwell, BoltonBrownlow Fold Primary SchoolThe Olive School, BoltonSt Thomas C of E Primary School, Halliwell
Who goes there
59.5% of pupils are eligible for free school meals, well above the average state school (25%), and 79.1% speak English as an additional language, against 18.8% on average, according to the 2026 school census.
The largest ethnic groups are Asian (60%), White British (17%) and Mixed (8%).
In 2026, 98 pupils (21.8%) received SEN support and 26 (5.8%) 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 Bolton Rail Station, about 1.4 miles away in a straight line.
7 bus stops are within a five-minute walk; the closest is Rushey Fold Lane (opposite), 230 metres away.
The area around the school
Measured by the 2025 English Indices of Deprivation, the neighbourhood Oxford Grove Primary 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
Oxford Grove Primary School recorded no suspensions or permanent exclusions in 2024/25.
Secondary schools nearby
The secondary schools closest to Oxford Grove Primary School are Eden Boys' School, Bolton (0.6 miles); Smithills School (0.7 miles); and Thornleigh Salesian College (0.9 miles).
Eden Boys' School, BoltonSmithills SchoolThornleigh Salesian College
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); English Indices of Deprivation 2025 (MHCLG); data.police.uk street-level crime; DfE exclusions statistics
Location
Our estimate from how close the nearest similar schools are and how oversubscribed the council's schools are. It is not a published boundary.
Key Information
DfE GIASOfsted Rating
Ofsted · 4 years agoOverall
Quality of Education
Behaviour & Attitudes
Personal Development
Leadership & Management
Early Years
Ofsted Insights
Ofsted rated this school Outstanding at its February 2023 inspection.
Rated Outstanding for
Quality of education, Behaviour & attitudes, Personal development, Leadership & management, Early years.
At a Glance
59.5%
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 remained stable at around 85% (2024 to 2025). Maths has declined from 90% to 83% (2024 to 2025). Writing has remained stable at around 88% (2024 to 2025).
Class Sizes
30.1
Avg class size
30.0
Infant (KS1)
30.3
KS2
9
Total classes
2 classes with more than 30 pupils
2025/26 academic year
How Does This School Compare?
Ranked against 5 nearby primary schools
Keep up with Oxford Grove Primary School
Before and after school care
Oxford Grove Primary 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
Clubs on Ofsted's childcare register at or near Oxford Grove Primary School.
- Astronauts Afterschool Club670m away · Not yet graded
- Premier Education WAC - Gaskell Community Primary School940m away · Not yet graded
Getting There
Bus Stops
Free school transport
Check free transport to Oxford Grove Primary School from your postcode →
You apply to the council where you live. Oxford Grove 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
- 27
- Fatal
- 0
- Serious
- 4
- Children hurt
- 11
Within 500 m of the school's mapped location, police recorded 27 road collisions in which someone was injured in 2021 to 2025: none fatal, 4 serious and 23 slight.
11 children aged 0 to 15 were hurt: 6 on foot, 1 on a bicycle and 4 in a vehicle or otherwise.
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
Your chances of a place at Oxford Grove Primary School
Will you get a place at Oxford Grove Primary School? Get the admissions report
Your home postcode, set against Oxford Grove Primary School's admissions figures, in one report saved to your account.
What the report includes for Oxford Grove Primary School:
- The straight-line distance from your home to Oxford Grove 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 Oxford Grove 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
424 pupils
420 places
4 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: Oversubscribed
Inspection History(7)
SEND & SEN Provision
SEN Overview
98
SEN Support
26
EHC Plans
27.6%
of Total Pupils
2026 academic year
Provision & Specialist Facilities
Pupils by Need Type
Pupil Demographics
Ethnicity
2026 academic year
Key Indicators
449
Total Pupils
233
Boys
216
Girls
2026 academic year
Workforce
20
Teachers
22.4:1
Pupil-teacher ratio
£50,336
Mean salary
2026 data
School Funding
£6,291
Per pupil
£3133k
Total funding
£359k
Pupil premium
2025-26 financial year allocations
Pupil Absence2024/25
4.5%
Overall absence
12.3%
Persistent absence
375
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
Oxford Grove Primary School
Questions parents ask about Oxford Grove Primary School
What are SATs results like at Oxford Grove Primary School?
Of the pupils at Oxford Grove Primary School who took the 2025 Key Stage 2 assessments, 85% reached the expected standard in reading and 83% did so in maths.
What is Oxford Grove Primary School's Ofsted rating?
Oxford Grove Primary School was rated Outstanding at its most recent Ofsted inspection in February 2023. At its previous graded inspection in 2012 it was rated Good.
What is the catchment area for Oxford Grove Primary School?
No fixed boundary. When Oxford Grove 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 Oxford Grove Primary School?
Oxford Grove 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 Oxford Grove Primary School?
Classes at Oxford Grove Primary School average 30.1 pupils (2025/26). 2 classes have more than 30 pupils - infant classes are capped at 30 by law, with limited exceptions.
How many pupils go to Oxford Grove Primary School?
Oxford Grove Primary School has around 449 pupils on roll. 60% are eligible for free school meals.
What is attendance like at Oxford Grove Primary School?
4.5% of sessions were missed at Oxford Grove Primary School in 2024/25. 12.3% of pupils were persistently absent (missing 10% or more of sessions).
How do I apply to Oxford Grove Primary School?
Apply through Bolton's coordinated admissions process, naming Oxford Grove 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 Oxford Grove Primary School have a breakfast club or after-school club?
Oxford Grove Primary 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. Ofsted's childcare register lists 2 out-of-school clubs within a kilometre of Oxford Grove Primary School: Astronauts Afterschool Club (670m away, registered, not yet graded) and Premier Education WAC - Gaskell Community Primary School (940m away, registered, not yet graded).
How many road collisions happen near Oxford Grove Primary School?
Within 500 m of the school's mapped location, police recorded 27 road collisions in which someone was injured in 2021 to 2025: none fatal, 4 serious and 23 slight. 11 children aged 0 to 15 were hurt: 6 on foot, 1 on a bicycle and 4 in a vehicle or otherwise. 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 Oxford Grove Primary School?
Oxford Grove Primary School is at Shepherd Cross Street, Bolton, Lancashire, BL1 3EJ.
Source: Department for Transport, Road Safety Data (STATS19)