Smithills School, Bolton
Data last updated 11 Sept 2026
Location
Estimated admission likelihood based on school density and oversubscription data. Admissions policy: Non-selective
Key Information
DfE GIASOfsted Rating
Overall
Ofsted Insights
What This School Does Well
Smithills School excels at creating a nurturing environment where pupils feel genuinely cared for and safe. The school has successfully reduced behaviour problems and suspensions through thoughtful, personalised support for struggling pupils. All pupils benefit from excellent enrichment opportunities and pastoral care, with staff going the extra mile to remove barriers to participation for disadvantaged pupils.
Key Strengths
- Strong safeguarding culture with clear systems and swift action on bullying or discrimination
- Significant improvements in behaviour and attendance through targeted support
- Effective personalised support for pupils with additional needs, including those learning English as an additional language
- Caring staff who know pupils well and prioritise disadvantaged pupils' progress
- Wide range of enrichment activities including performing arts, Duke of Edinburgh's Award, debate club, chess club and sports
Areas for Improvement
- Inconsistent teaching quality across the curriculum with teachers not routinely checking for and correcting misconceptions
- Pupil achievement remains below expectations in national examinations at key stage 4
- Personal development programme not taught consistently enough - pupils struggle to recall what they have learned
- Support for pupils with gaps in handwriting and number skills is at an early stage
- Leaders' improvements have been slow to show impact in some areas
Safeguarding
Safeguarding standards are met - the school has an open and positive culture where safeguarding is everyone's responsibility, concerns are acted upon, and pupils feel safe.
Extracurricular Activities
Performing arts productions, Duke of Edinburgh's Award scheme, debate club, chess club, sports clubs, work experience placements, college visits, careers day
Smithills School is a warm and welcoming community where pupils feel safe and behaviour has improved significantly. However, teaching quality is inconsistent and pupil achievement needs to strengthen, particularly in national examinations.
At a Glance
41.8%
Free School Meals
No
Boarding
No
Nursery
No
Sixth Form
No
Special Measures
Class Sizes
24.0
Avg class size
50
Total classes
2 classes with more than 30 pupils
2024/25 academic year
Getting There
Bus Stops
Commute Calculator
Find out if this school is reachable from your home - before you apply
What are my chances?
Enter your postcode to estimate your probability of getting a place.
Capacity & Demand
School Occupancy
96%
Near capacity
1,203 pupils
1,250 capacity
47 spare places available
Area Demand Pressure - Bolton
Based on MHCLG housing supply data for Bolton
Admissions Demand - Bolton
Places available
4,380
Applications
4,014
Got 1st preference
82.6%
Got preferred school
95.0%
Secondary admissions across Bolton (2025/26)
Inspection History(109)
House Prices
Moving into the catchment? See what homes near this school actually cost
SEN Provision
How many pupils have special educational needs, what types of support the school provides, and how it compares to similar schools.
Pupil Demographics
The school's pupil mix - ethnicity breakdown, free school meals eligibility, and English as an additional language. Useful context when evaluating school fit.
Teachers & Staff
Teacher qualification rates, pupil-to-teacher ratio, staff turnover, and salary data. Shows how well-resourced and stable the school's workforce is.
School Funding
Annual funding per pupil, total budget, pupil premium grants, and how the school's resources compare to similar schools nationally.
Pupil Absence2024/25
9.44306%
Overall absence
28.20313%
Persistent absence
1,280
Enrolments
Absence trend
Source: DfE pupil absence statistics. Persistent absence = pupils missing 10%+ sessions.
Reviews
No reviews yet - be the first to leave one.
Feeder Primary Schools
Primary schools that likely feed into this school, based on proximity
Smithills School
St Peter's Smithills Dean Church of England Primary School
Church Road Primary School
St Joseph's RC Primary School, Halliwell, Bolton
St Thomas C of E Primary School, Halliwell
Oxford Grove Primary School
Al-Huda Primary School
Johnson Fold Community Primary School
Holy Infant and St Anthony RC Primary School
Brownlow Fold Primary School
St Paul's CofE Primary School, Astley Bridge
Showing 10 of 15 linked schools
Nearby Schools
Do you work at this school?
Claim your profile free to get a verified badge, update your contact details, and see how many parents are viewing your page.