St Columba's RC Primary School, Bolton
Data last updated 11 Sept 2026
Location
Estimated admission likelihood based on school density and oversubscription data
Key Information
DfE GIASOfsted Rating
Overall
Ofsted Insights
What This School Does Well
St Columba's is a warm, friendly school where all children thrive. Teachers plan lessons carefully so every child is challenged at the right level, whether they are very able or need extra support. The school does an outstanding job of helping disadvantaged pupils catch up - by the end of primary school, free school meal pupils are actually two terms ahead in maths compared to other pupils.
Key Strengths
- Pupils make outstanding progress from their starting points, with attainment above national average by the end of Year 6
- Teaching is consistently good and very often outstanding across the whole school
- Excellent marking that clearly shows pupils what they need to do to improve
- Outstanding support for disabled pupils and those with special educational needs
- Exemplary pupil behaviour and strong caring ethos throughout the school
Areas for Improvement
- Increase opportunities in mathematics for pupils to use logic and reasoning skills to solve problems
Safeguarding
Safeguarding is effective with assigned key workers helping pupils understand how to stay safe, including internet safety.
Extracurricular Activities
Breakfast Club
St Columba's RC Primary School is an outstanding school where pupils make excellent progress in a warm and friendly environment. Many pupils of all abilities achieve above national expectations in English and mathematics.
At a Glance
33.0%
Free School Meals
No
Boarding
Yes
Nursery
No
Sixth Form
No
Special Measures
Primary Performance (KS2)
Academic year 2025/26KS2 Results (% meeting expected standard)
Reading has declined from 86% to 79%. Maths has remained stable at around 93%. Writing has remained stable at around 69%.
Class Sizes
28.1
Avg class size
28.7
Infant (KS1)
30.0
KS2
7
Total classes
2024/25 academic year
Getting There
Train Stations
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
112%
Over capacity
235 pupils
210 capacity
25 places over capacity
Area Demand Pressure - Bolton
Based on MHCLG housing supply data for Bolton
Admissions Demand - Bolton
Places available
4,105
Applications
3,501
Got 1st preference
89.7%
Got preferred school
97.6%
Primary admissions across Bolton (2025/26)
Inspection History(107)
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
6.01874%
Overall absence
15.46961%
Persistent absence
181
Enrolments
Absence trend
Source: DfE pupil absence statistics. Persistent absence = pupils missing 10%+ sessions.
Reviews
No reviews yet - be the first to leave one.
Secondary Schools Nearby
Secondary schools pupils are likely to move to
St Columba's RC Primary School
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.