Sharples School, Bolton

In its own words: "We aim to provide our students with the knowledge, skills and qualities that will enable them to become successful citizens of the future. Sharples School aspires to be an outstanding school, a school where:"

From the headteacher's welcome: "My name is Caroline Molyneux and I am very proud to be the Headteacher of Sharples School. I have been at Sharples School for over ten years now, and it is a privilege to be given the opportunity to lead the school through its next chapter."

Clubs and activities named on the school's website include football, netball, tennis, athletics, basketball, badminton, swimming, running, dance and drama.

The school runs a breakfast club from 8:00am.

In 2026, pupils at Sharples School averaged an Attainment 8 score of 56.5, the average grade across their best eight GCSEs. The average state school scored 46.6 in Bolton and 47 across England.

73% passed English and maths at grade 5 or above, against 48% in Bolton and 47% in England.

That is in line with 2025, when the score was 55.6.

Its most recent Progress 8 score, for 2024, was 0.86: pupils made well above average progress compared with pupils nationally who started secondary school at the same level. Progress 8 was not published for 2026.

Disadvantaged pupils averaged an Attainment 8 of 51, against 58.9 for other pupils at the school - a gap of 7.9 points.

Pupils sat GCSEs in 26 subjects; after English and maths, the most popular were Combined Science, Religious Studies and History.

For September 2026 entry, 344 families put Sharples School as their first choice and 826 named it as one of their preferences, for 235 places offered. That is 1.5 first choices for every place. 109 families who put it first were not offered a place there.

The nearest other state secondary schools to Sharples School are Turton School (0.7 miles, Good, Attainment 8 44); Canon Slade School (0.7 miles, Requires improvement, Attainment 8 54); Thornleigh Salesian College (0.9 miles, Good, Attainment 8 43); and Eden Boys' School, Bolton (1.1 miles, Outstanding, Attainment 8 57).

Sharples School's 2026 results were higher than 3 of these 4 schools.

Sharples School is run by its own single-school academy trust.

75 parents answered Ofsted's Parent View survey about Sharples School (as of September 2025): 92% would recommend the school, 93% say their child is happy there and 79% of those with a view say bullying is dealt with well.

The strongest agreement was that their child feels safe (97%); the weakest, that the school deals with bullying well (among parents with a view) (79%).

Of the 236 pupils who finished Year 11 in 2023/24, 89% stayed in education or training for at least two terms, including 45% to a further education college, 1% to an apprenticeship and 2% into work.

31.8% speak English as an additional language, against 18.8% on average, according to the 2026 school census.

The largest ethnic groups are Asian (49%), White British (33%) and Black (6%).

In 2026, 130 pupils (10.7%) received SEN support and 56 (4.6%) 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 Bromley Cross Rail Station, about 1150 metres away (roughly a 14-minute walk).

12 bus stops are within a five-minute walk; the closest is Sharples High School (outside), 100 metres away.

In 2024/25, Sharples School issued 56 suspensions, 4.6 for every 100 pupils (the average state school: 6.3), and 3 permanent exclusions.

The primary schools closest to Sharples School are Sharples Primary School (0.1 miles), The Oaks Primary School (0.2 miles), High Lawn Primary School (0.4 miles) and Holy Infant and St Anthony RC Primary School (0.6 miles). Admission does not depend on which primary a child attends unless the school's policy names feeder schools.