St Bernard's RC Primary School, Bolton, Bolton
St Bernard's RC Primary School, Bolton is a primary school for pupils aged 4 to 11 in Bolton. It has a Roman Catholic religious character. It was rated Good at its last graded Ofsted inspection, in December 2012. Ofsted's ungraded inspection in November 2022 did not change this grade. Its 2025 Key Stage 2 results were the 34th-highest of the 89 schools in Bolton with published results, and 5,291st of 14,452 across England. It was 92% full in 2025.
- SATs results
- In line with England
- Ofsted
- Good (2012)
- Demand
- Every first choice offered
- Attendance
- In line with England
Reception applications for September 2027 close in 81 days
Deadline Friday 15 January 2027. Apply to Bolton (the council where you live). Offers on 16 April.
Data last updated 26 Oct 2026
St Bernard's RC Primary School, Bolton in detail
Results
In 2025, 84% of Year 6 pupils at St Bernard's RC Primary School, Bolton reached the expected standard in reading and 78% in maths. At the average state primary the figures were 77% and 78% in Bolton and 77% and 75% across England.
Results rose from 76% in reading and 79% in maths in 2024.
With small year groups, a few pupils can move these figures by several points.
Getting a place at St Bernard's RC Primary School, Bolton
For September 2026 entry, 19 families put St Bernard's RC Primary School, Bolton as their first choice and 46 named it as one of their preferences, for 23 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 St Bernard's RC Primary School, Bolton
Compared with nearby schools
The nearest other state primary schools to St Bernard's RC Primary School, Bolton are Beaumont Primary School (under 0.1 miles, Good, 87% reading, 94% maths); Ladybridge Community Primary School (0.2 miles, Good, 80% reading, 80% maths); St Mary's CofE Primary School, Deane (0.5 miles, Outstanding, 76% reading, 85% maths); and Lostock Primary School (0.7 miles).
St Bernard's RC Primary School, Bolton's 2025 results were higher than 2 of these 3 schools.
Beaumont Primary SchoolLadybridge Community Primary SchoolSt Mary's CofE Primary School, DeaneLostock Primary School
Who goes there
14.1% of pupils are eligible for free school meals, well below the average state school (25%), and 7% speak English as an additional language, against 18.8% on average, according to the 2026 school census.
The largest ethnic groups are White British (75%), Asian (14%) and Mixed (7%).
In 2026, 20 pupils (10.1%) received SEN support and 9 (4.5%) 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.
Getting there
The nearest railway station is Lostock Rail Station, about 1020 metres away (roughly a 13-minute walk).
13 bus stops are within a five-minute walk; the closest is Wendover Drive (near), 130 metres away.
Suspensions and exclusions
St Bernard's RC Primary School, Bolton recorded no suspensions or permanent exclusions in 2024/25.
Sources: DfE school performance data (averages: state mainstream schools); DfE school-level applications and offers; council admissions booklets; DfE appeals statistics; DfE school census and special educational needs statistics; NaPTAN (Department for Transport); DfE exclusions statistics
Key Information
DfE GIASOfsted Rating
Ofsted · 4 years agoThis judgement is from December 2012, 13 years ago, longer than Ofsted's usual 4-year cycle: the school may have changed since.
Overall
Latest (ungraded) inspection: The school remains Good.
Ofsted Insights
Ofsted rated this school Good at its December 2012 inspection - up from Requires Improvement.
Rated Good for
Leadership & management.
At a Glance
14.1%
Free School Meals
No
Boarding
No
Nursery
No
Sixth Form
No
Special Measures
Primary Performance (KS2)
Academic year 2024/25KS2 Results (% meeting expected standard)
Reading has improved from 76% to 84% (2024 to 2025). Maths has remained stable at around 78% (2024 to 2025). Writing has remained stable at around 88% (2024 to 2025).
Class Sizes
27.0
Avg class size
24.0
Infant (KS1)
31.5
KS2
5
Total classes
2 classes with more than 30 pupils
2025/26 academic year
How Does This School Compare?
Ranked against 5 nearby primary schools
Keep up with St Bernard's RC Primary School, Bolton
Before and after school care
Clubs on Ofsted's childcare register at or near St Bernard's RC Primary School, Bolton.
- The After School ClubAt the school · Not yet graded
Getting There
Train Stations
Bus Stops
Free school transport
Check free transport to St Bernard's RC Primary School, Bolton from your postcode →
You apply to the council where you live. St Bernard's RC Primary School, Bolton 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
- 5
- Fatal
- 0
- Serious
- 2
- Children hurt
- 2
Within 500 m of the school's mapped location, police recorded 5 road collisions in which someone was injured in 2021 to 2025: none fatal, 2 serious and 3 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
Your chances of a place at St Bernard's RC Primary School, Bolton
Will you get a place at St Bernard's RC Primary School, Bolton? Get the admissions report
Your home postcode, set against St Bernard's RC Primary School, Bolton's admissions figures, in one report saved to your account.
What the report includes for St Bernard's RC Primary School, Bolton:
- The straight-line distance from your home to St Bernard's RC Primary School, Bolton.
- We hold no last distance offered figures from Bolton, so the report covers demand, alternatives and dates.
- Applications, first choices and offers at St Bernard's RC Primary School, Bolton 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
92%
Near capacity
194 pupils
210 places
16 spare places 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(6)
SEND & SEN Provision
SEN Overview
20
SEN Support
9
EHC Plans
14.6%
of Total Pupils
2026 academic year
Provision & Specialist Facilities
Pupils by Need Type
Pupil Demographics
Ethnicity
2026 academic year
Key Indicators
199
Total Pupils
109
Boys
90
Girls
2026 academic year
Workforce
9
Teachers
22.1:1
Pupil-teacher ratio
£50,304
Mean salary
2026 data
School Funding
£5,218
Per pupil
£1098k
Total funding
£27k
Pupil premium
2025-26 financial year allocations
Pupil Absence2024/25
4.3%
Overall absence
9.3%
Persistent absence
182
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
St Bernard's RC Primary School, Bolton
Questions parents ask about St Bernard's RC Primary School, Bolton
What are SATs results like at St Bernard's RC Primary School, Bolton?
Of the pupils at St Bernard's RC Primary School, Bolton who took the 2025 Key Stage 2 assessments, 84% reached the expected standard in reading and 78% did so in maths.
What is St Bernard's RC Primary School, Bolton's Ofsted rating?
St Bernard's RC Primary School, Bolton's most recent Ofsted inspection, in November 2022, was ungraded, so it gave no overall grade. At its last graded inspection, in December 2012, it was rated Good.
What is the catchment area for St Bernard's RC Primary School, Bolton?
No fixed boundary. When St Bernard's RC Primary School, Bolton is oversubscribed, Bolton allocates places by its published criteria, usually ending with home-to-school distance.
Is it hard to get a place at St Bernard's RC Primary School, Bolton?
St Bernard's RC Primary School, Bolton was not full in 2025: it ran at 92% of its 210 places.
How big are the classes at St Bernard's RC Primary School, Bolton?
Classes at St Bernard's RC Primary School, Bolton average 27 pupils (2025/26). 2 classes have more than 30 pupils - infant classes are capped at 30 by law, with limited exceptions.
How many pupils go to St Bernard's RC Primary School, Bolton?
St Bernard's RC Primary School, Bolton has around 199 pupils on roll. 14% are eligible for free school meals.
What is attendance like at St Bernard's RC Primary School, Bolton?
4.3% of sessions were missed at St Bernard's RC Primary School, Bolton in 2024/25. 9.3% of pupils were persistently absent (missing 10% or more of sessions).
How do I apply to St Bernard's RC Primary School, Bolton?
Apply through Bolton's coordinated admissions process, naming St Bernard's RC Primary School, Bolton 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.
Does St Bernard's RC Primary School, Bolton have a breakfast club or after-school club?
Ofsted's childcare register lists an out-of-school club at the school: The After School Club (registered, not yet graded). The school may also run its own clubs, which don't have to register with Ofsted.
How many road collisions happen near St Bernard's RC Primary School, Bolton?
Within 500 m of the school's mapped location, police recorded 5 road collisions in which someone was injured in 2021 to 2025: none fatal, 2 serious and 3 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 St Bernard's RC Primary School, Bolton?
St Bernard's RC Primary School, Bolton is at Wendover Drive, Ladybridge, Bolton, Lancashire, BL3 4RX.
Source: Department for Transport, Road Safety Data (STATS19)