St Andrew's CofE Primary School, Over Hulton, Bolton

Ofsted's report card from its 24 February 2026 inspection grades St Andrew's CofE Primary School, Over Hulton on 7 areas: 2 expected standard and 5 needs attention. Report cards replaced single-word judgements in November 2025, on a five-point scale from exceptional to urgent improvement.

Attendance and behaviour - Expected standard. "Leaders know pupils well and promote high expectations for attendance and behaviour."

Personal development and wellbeing - Expected standard. "Leaders provide a broad and increasingly coherent programme for pupils' personal development and wellbeing."

Achievement - Needs attention. "Pupils' achievement is too variable across the school, reflecting weaknesses in knowledge of the basics of reading and writing for younger pupils."

Curriculum and teaching - Needs attention. "Leaders are developing the curriculum, but its design and implementation are not yet consistently effective across the school."

Early years - Needs attention. "The quality of provision is too inconsistent to ensure children develop the early skills they need to succeed."

Inclusion - Needs attention. "Leaders demonstrate a positive approach to inclusion and rightly prioritise this area."

Leadership and governance - Needs attention. "Leaders do not have robust systems in place for monitoring and tracking key aspects of the school's work."

Safeguarding standards were met.

Ofsted's next steps for the school: "Leaders must strengthen the identification of pupils with special educational needs and/or disabilities. They should ensure that adaptations and targeted support are implemented consistently so that pupils' needs are met promptly and they can access learning successfully"; "Leaders must secure a consistent approach to the teaching of early reading, writing and knowledge of the basics across early years and key stage 1 so that pupils build the essential knowledge and fluency needed to achieve well over time"; "Leaders must strengthen the accuracy and use of assessment so that gaps in pupils' knowledge are identified quickly and addressed before they widen"; "Leaders must ensure the indoor and outdoor learning environments in the early years are purposeful and language‑rich so that activities consistently promote high‑quality learning and support children's development of communication and early literacy"; "Leaders must establish robust systems for monitoring the actions on their school improvement plan so that leaders and governors can evaluate the impact accurately and drive sustained improvement".

From the headteacher's welcome: "St Andrew's School is delighted to confirm that the open days for Reception 2027 intake are as follows:- ‘Growing in faith, hope and love. But of these three the greatest is love’. Our school will continue to be a happy, welcoming and inclusive Christian environment, where everyone is treated equally and expectations are high."

The school runs a breakfast club from 7:30am and after-school care until 6:00pm, from £6 per session.

In 2025, 94% of Year 6 pupils at St Andrew's CofE Primary School, Over Hulton reached the expected standard in reading and 97% in maths. At the average state primary the figures were 77% and 78% in Bolton and 77% and 75% across England.

Results rose from 75% in reading and 81% in maths in 2024.

With small year groups, a few pupils can move these figures by several points.

For September 2026 entry, 27 families put St Andrew's CofE Primary School, Over Hulton as their first choice and 42 named it as one of their preferences, for 30 places offered. It had fewer first-choice applications than places. Every family who put it first was offered a place there for 2026 entry.

The nearest other state primary schools to St Andrew's CofE Primary School, Over Hulton are Heathfield Primary School (0.8 miles, Good, 88% reading, 88% maths); St Bede Academy (1.1 miles, Good, 69% reading, 77% maths); Essa Primary Academy (1.2 miles, Good, 75% reading, 78% maths); and St Mary's CofE Primary School, Deane (1.4 miles, Outstanding, 76% reading, 85% maths).

St Andrew's CofE Primary School, Over Hulton's 2025 results were higher than all 4 of them.

31 parents answered Ofsted's Parent View survey about St Andrew's CofE Primary School, Over Hulton (as of April 2026): 84% would recommend the school, 87% say their child is happy there and 33% of those with a view say bullying is dealt with well.

The strongest agreement was that their child feels safe (94%); the weakest, that the school deals with bullying well (among parents with a view) (33%).

11.2% of pupils are eligible for free school meals, well below the average state school (25%), and 11.2% speak English as an additional language, against 18.8% on average, according to the 2026 school census.

The largest ethnic groups are White British (71%), Asian (13%) and Mixed (10%).

In 2026, 22 pupils (10.7%) received SEN support and 5 (2.4%) 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 social, emotional and mental health needs.

The nearest railway station is Atherton Rail Station, about 1.2 miles away in a straight line.

11 bus stops are within a five-minute walk; the closest is Fletcher Street, 150 metres away.

St Andrew's CofE Primary School, Over Hulton recorded no suspensions or permanent exclusions in 2024/25.