Rumworth School, Bolton
Rumworth School is a special school for pupils aged 11 to 19 in Bolton. It was rated Outstanding at its last graded Ofsted inspection, in April 2014. Ofsted's ungraded inspection in March 2024 did not change this grade.
- Ofsted
- Outstanding (2014)
Data last updated 26 Oct 2026
Rumworth School in detail
Compared with nearby schools
The nearest other special schools to Rumworth School are Thomasson Memorial School (1.4 miles, Good); Raise Education and Wellbeing School (1.5 miles, Good); LifeBridge ASEND (2.1 miles, Good); and EdStart Schools Bolton (2.2 miles).
Thomasson Memorial SchoolRaise Education and Wellbeing SchoolLifeBridge ASENDEdStart Schools Bolton
Where pupils go next
Of the 32 pupils who finished Year 11 in 2023/24, 91% stayed in education or training for at least two terms, including 9% to a further education college.
Who goes there
44.9% of pupils are eligible for free school meals, and 13.9% speak English as an additional language, according to the 2026 school census.
Almost every pupil at Rumworth School has an education, health and care plan (360 of 361 in 2026). The most common need among them is autism.
Rumworth School provides for pupils with moderate learning difficulties.
Getting there
The nearest railway station is Lostock Rail Station, about 0.9 miles away in a straight line.
7 bus stops are within a five-minute walk; the closest is Ladybridge High School (outside), 90 metres away.
Suspensions and exclusions
In 2024/25, Rumworth School issued 27 suspensions, 8 for every 100 pupils, and 2 permanent exclusions.
Sources: DfE destination measures; DfE school census and special educational needs statistics; NaPTAN (Department for Transport); DfE exclusions statistics
Key Information
DfE GIASOfsted Rating
Ofsted · 3 years agoThis judgement is from April 2014, 12 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
From Ofsted's March 2024 inspection report.
What This School Does Well
Rumworth School creates a warm, inclusive environment where pupils feel happy and supported by adults who know them very well. Teachers use inventive ways to break learning into manageable steps and adapt teaching for each pupil's needs. The school offers impressive opportunities for personal development, including woodland activities, show gardens, and school performances that parents find deeply moving.
Key Strengths
- Exceptionally effective and ambitious curriculum with high expectations for all pupils
- Exceptional focus on developing communication and language skills tailored to individual needs
- Reading has very high profile with excellent support for all levels
- Staff skilfully help pupils regulate behaviour and manage emotions
- Comprehensive careers education and work experience opportunities, including professional-standard horticulture and catering programmes
Safeguarding
Safeguarding arrangements are effective, with staff quick to notice and respond sensitively to pupils experiencing distress or discomfort.
Extracurricular Activities
School show rehearsals and performances, woodland activities, show garden design, horticulture and catering programmes, work experience and work placements
Rumworth School continues to be an outstanding special school where pupils with SEND achieve highly and benefit from exceptionally strong, caring relationships with adults. Staff are passionate about providing the very best education, with no ceiling to their ambitions for what pupils can achieve.
At a Glance
44.9%
Free School Meals
No
Boarding
No
Nursery
Yes
Sixth Form
MLD
SEN Provision
No
Special Measures
How Does This School Compare?
Ranked against 5 nearby schools
Keep up with Rumworth School
Getting There
Bus Stops
Free school transport
Check free transport to Rumworth School from your postcode →
You apply to the council where you live. Rumworth 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
- 5
- 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, 5 serious and 4 slight.
2 children aged 0 to 15 were hurt.
1 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
109%
Over capacity
361 pupils
330 places
31 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)
SEND & SEN Provision
SEN Overview
1
SEN Support
360
EHC Plans
100.0%
of Total Pupils
2026 academic year
Provision & Specialist Facilities
Rumworth School provides for pupils with moderate learning difficulties.
Source: GIAS, Department for Education.
Pupils by Need Type
Pupil Demographics
Ethnicity
2026 academic year
Key Indicators
361
Total Pupils
244
Boys
117
Girls
2026 academic year
Workforce
75
Teachers
4.8:1
Pupil-teacher ratio
£50,609
Mean salary
2026 data
Pupil Absence2024/25
10.0%
Overall absence
29.8%
Persistent absence
245
Enrolments
Absence trend
Source: DfE pupil absence statistics. Persistent absence = pupils missing 10%+ sessions.
Feeder Primary Schools
Primary schools that likely feed into this school, based on proximity
Rumworth School
Showing 10 of 14 linked schools
Questions parents ask about Rumworth School
What are GCSE results like at Rumworth School?
In the 2026 results, pupils at Rumworth School achieved an Attainment 8 score of 3.4. 0% passed GCSE English and maths at grade 5 or above.
What is Rumworth School's Ofsted rating?
Rumworth School's most recent Ofsted inspection, in March 2024, was ungraded, so it gave no overall grade. At its last graded inspection, in April 2014, it was rated Outstanding.
What is the catchment area for Rumworth School?
No fixed boundary. When Rumworth School is oversubscribed, Bolton allocates places by its published criteria, usually ending with home-to-school distance.
How many pupils go to Rumworth School?
Rumworth School has around 361 pupils on roll. 45% are eligible for free school meals.
Does Rumworth School have specialist SEN provision?
Rumworth School provides for pupils with moderate learning difficulties.
What is attendance like at Rumworth School?
10% of sessions were missed at Rumworth School in 2024/25. 29.8% of pupils were persistently absent (missing 10% or more of sessions).
How do I apply to Rumworth School?
Apply through Bolton's coordinated admissions process, naming Rumworth 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 Rumworth 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, 5 serious and 4 slight. 2 children aged 0 to 15 were hurt. 1 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 Rumworth School?
Rumworth School is at Armadale Road, Ladybridge, Bolton, Lancashire, BL3 4TP.
Source: Department for Transport, Road Safety Data (STATS19)