Sharples Primary School, Bolton
Sharples Primary School is a primary school for pupils aged 3 to 11 in Bolton. It was rated Good at its last graded Ofsted inspection, in May 2019. Ofsted's ungraded inspection in February 2025 did not change this grade. Its 2025 Key Stage 2 results were the 64th-highest of the 89 schools in Bolton with published results, and 9,595th of 14,452 across England. It was full in 2025, at 105% of capacity.
- SATs results
- In line with England
- Ofsted
- Good (2019)
- Demand
- Every first choice offered
- 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
Sharples Primary School in detail
Sharples Primary School in its own words
In its own words: "The School has seven classes and a nursery. Children are admitted into the reception class from the beginning of the autumn term after their fourth birthday. Nursery children attend as either full-time or part-time pupils, 26 in each morning or afternoon session. There are up to 210 full-time pupils in the remainder of the school."
Clubs and activities named on the school's website include swimming, drama and forest school.
Vision and values (school website)Clubs (school website)
Source: The school's own website
Results
In 2025, 69% of Year 6 pupils at Sharples Primary School reached the expected standard in reading and 75% in maths. At the average state primary the figures were 77% and 78% in Bolton and 77% and 75% across England.
Results fell from 75% in reading and 81% in maths in 2024.
With small year groups, a few pupils can move these figures by several points.
Getting a place at Sharples Primary School
For September 2026 entry, 19 families put Sharples Primary School as their first choice and 64 named it as one of their preferences, for 24 places offered. It had fewer first-choice applications than places. Every family who put it first was offered a place there for 2026 entry.
Admissions history and your chances at Sharples Primary School
Compared with nearby schools
The nearest other state primary schools to Sharples Primary School are The Oaks Primary School (0.3 miles, Good, 85% reading, 88% maths); High Lawn Primary School (0.5 miles, Good, 73% reading, 77% maths); St Columba's RC Primary School (0.6 miles, Good, 79% reading, 93% maths); and St Paul's CofE Primary School, Astley Bridge (0.6 miles, Outstanding, 82% reading, 85% maths).
Each of them had higher 2025 results than Sharples Primary School.
The Oaks Primary SchoolHigh Lawn Primary SchoolSt Columba's RC Primary SchoolSt Paul's CofE Primary School, Astley Bridge
What parents say
22 parents answered Ofsted's Parent View survey about Sharples Primary School (as of September 2025): 96% would recommend the school, 100% say their child is happy there and 86% of those with a view say bullying is dealt with well.
The strongest agreement was that they are kept well informed about progress (100%); the weakest, that the school deals with bullying well (among parents with a view) (86%).
Who goes there
43.7% speak English as an additional language, against 18.8% on average, according to the 2026 school census.
The largest ethnic groups are Asian (62%), White British (19%) and other ethnic groups (6%).
In 2026, 25 pupils (10.2%) received SEN support and 15 (6.1%) 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.
Sharples Primary School has a resourced provision for visual impairment.
Getting there
The nearest railway station is Bromley Cross Rail Station, about 1100 metres away (roughly a 14-minute walk).
10 bus stops are within a five-minute walk; the closest is Hathaway Drive (opposite), 120 metres away.
Suspensions and exclusions
In 2024/25, Sharples Primary School issued 3 suspensions, 1.2 for every 100 pupils (the average state school: 6.3), and no permanent exclusions.
Secondary schools nearby
The secondary schools closest to Sharples Primary School are Sharples School (0.1 miles), Canon Slade School (0.6 miles), Turton School (0.7 miles) and Thornleigh Salesian College (1 mile).
Sharples SchoolCanon Slade SchoolTurton SchoolThornleigh Salesian College
Sources: DfE school performance data (averages: state mainstream schools); DfE school-level applications and offers; council admissions booklets; DfE appeals statistics; Ofsted Parent View; DfE school census and special educational needs statistics; NaPTAN (Department for Transport); DfE exclusions statistics
Location
Every family who put it first was offered a place for 2026 entry, so distance did not limit places that year.
Key Information
DfE GIASOfsted Rating
Ofsted · 2 years agoThis judgement is from May 2019, 7 years ago, longer than Ofsted's usual 4-year cycle: the school may have changed since.
Overall
Latest (ungraded) inspection: Standards have been maintained.
Ofsted Insights
From Ofsted's February 2025 inspection report.
What This School Does Well
Sharples Primary School is a welcoming community where children thrive and feel proud to be part of a diverse school. The school has a particular strength in teaching reading from an early age, with most children becoming confident readers. Staff are caring and skilled, providing especially strong support for children with special needs, including those with visual impairment.
Key Strengths
- Strong focus on reading with most pupils becoming fluent and accurate readers by the end of Year 6 - phonics is taught well from Nursery onwards
- Excellent support for pupils with special educational needs and disabilities, including those with visual impairment in the specially resourced provision
- High-quality personal development activities that build confidence and independence, such as cooking, fundraising and Duke of Edinburgh's Award
- Improved attendance rates through well-targeted support for pupils who need it most
- Respectful and inclusive school community where pupils support each other and celebrate diversity
Areas for Improvement
- Writing skills development - some pupils lack fluency in writing due to underdeveloped letter formation, though the school has recently adapted its curriculum to address this
- Ensuring consistent support for pupils who struggle with early writing skills so they can record their ideas more confidently
Safeguarding
Safeguarding arrangements are effective and the school creates a positive culture that puts pupils' interests first.
Extracurricular Activities
Duke of Edinburgh's Award, fundraising for local charities, prefects, school councillors, well-being warriors
Sharples Primary School has maintained the good standards from its previous inspection. Pupils thrive in this happy and harmonious school with high aspirations for all.
At a Glance
20.0%
Free School Meals
No
Boarding
Yes
Nursery
No
Sixth Form
Resourced provision: Vision
SEN Provision
No
Special Measures
What Parents Think
22 responsesSource: Ofsted Parent View, responses as at September 2025 - % who strongly agree or agree
Primary Performance (KS2)
Academic year 2024/25KS2 Results (% meeting expected standard)
Reading has declined from 75% to 69% (2024 to 2025). Maths has declined from 81% to 75% (2024 to 2025). Writing has remained stable at around 78% (2024 to 2025).
Class Sizes
30.6
Avg class size
29.3
Infant (KS1)
32.5
KS2
8
Total classes
4 classes with more than 30 pupils
2025/26 academic year
How Does This School Compare?
Ranked against 5 nearby primary schools
Social & online
Keep up with Sharples Primary School
Getting There
Bus Stops
Free school transport
Check free transport to Sharples Primary School from your postcode →
You apply to the council where you live. Sharples 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)
No injury road collisions were reported to the police within 500 m of the school's mapped location in 2021 to 2025.
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 Sharples Primary School
Will you get a place at Sharples Primary School? Get the admissions report
Your home postcode, set against Sharples Primary School's admissions figures, in one report saved to your account.
What the report includes for Sharples Primary School:
- The straight-line distance from your home to Sharples 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 Sharples 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
105%
Over capacity
221 pupils
210 places
11 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: Every first choice offered
Inspection History(9)
SEND & SEN Provision
SEN Overview
25
SEN Support
15
EHC Plans
16.3%
of Total Pupils
2026 academic year
Provision & Specialist Facilities
Sharples Primary School has a resourced provision for visual impairment.
Source: GIAS, Department for Education.
Pupils by Need Type
Pupil Demographics
Ethnicity
2026 academic year
Key Indicators
245
Total Pupils
128
Boys
117
Girls
2026 academic year
Workforce
12
Teachers
20.4:1
Pupil-teacher ratio
£50,362
Mean salary
2026 data
School Funding
£5,682
Per pupil
£1401k
Total funding
£64k
Pupil premium
2025-26 financial year allocations
Pupil Absence2024/25
4.8%
Overall absence
9.5%
Persistent absence
199
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
Sharples Primary School
Questions parents ask about Sharples Primary School
What are SATs results like at Sharples Primary School?
Of the pupils at Sharples Primary School who took the 2025 Key Stage 2 assessments, 69% reached the expected standard in reading and 75% did so in maths.
What is Sharples Primary School's Ofsted rating?
Sharples Primary School's most recent Ofsted inspection, in February 2025, was ungraded, so it gave no overall grade. At its last graded inspection, in May 2019, it was rated Good.
What is the catchment area for Sharples Primary School?
No fixed boundary. When Sharples 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 Sharples Primary School?
Sharples Primary School was full in 2025, at 105% of its capacity, so places are allocated on the oversubscription criteria.
How big are the classes at Sharples Primary School?
Classes at Sharples Primary School average 30.6 pupils (2025/26). 4 classes have more than 30 pupils - infant classes are capped at 30 by law, with limited exceptions.
How many pupils go to Sharples Primary School?
Sharples Primary School has around 245 pupils on roll. 20% are eligible for free school meals.
Does Sharples Primary School have specialist SEN provision?
Sharples Primary School has a resourced provision for visual impairment.
What is attendance like at Sharples Primary School?
4.8% of sessions were missed at Sharples Primary School in 2024/25. 9.5% of pupils were persistently absent (missing 10% or more of sessions).
How do I apply to Sharples Primary School?
Apply through Bolton's coordinated admissions process, naming Sharples 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.
How many road collisions happen near Sharples Primary School?
No injury road collisions were reported to the police within 500 m of the school's mapped location in 2021 to 2025. The typical figure for schools in Bolton is 14 (the median across 148 schools, same distance and years).
Where is Sharples Primary School?
Sharples Primary School is at Hugh Lupus Street, Bolton, Greater Manchester, BL1 8RU.
Source: Department for Transport, Road Safety Data (STATS19)