St John the Evangelist RC Primary School, Bromley Cross, Bolton, Bolton
St John the Evangelist RC Primary School, Bromley Cross, Bolton is a primary school for pupils aged 5 to 11 in Bolton. It has a Roman Catholic religious character. It was rated Good at its last graded Ofsted inspection, in October 2014. Ofsted's ungraded inspection in January 2024 did not change this grade. Its 2025 Key Stage 2 results were the 72nd-highest of the 89 schools in Bolton with published results, and 10,716th of 14,452 across England. It was 81% full in 2025.
- SATs results
- Below England average
- Ofsted
- Good (2014)
- Demand
- Every first choice offered
- Attendance
- In line with England
Reception applications for September 2027 close in 80 days
Deadline Friday 15 January 2027. Apply to Bolton (the council where you live). Offers on 16 April.
Data last updated 27 Oct 2026
St John the Evangelist RC Primary School, Bromley Cross, Bolton in detail
Results
In 2025, 77% of Year 6 pupils at St John the Evangelist RC Primary School, Bromley Cross, Bolton reached the expected standard in reading and 61% in maths. At the average state primary the figures were 77% and 78% in Bolton and 77% and 75% across England.
Results fell from 67% in reading and 77% in maths in 2024.
With small year groups, a few pupils can move these figures by several points.
Getting a place at St John the Evangelist RC Primary School, Bromley Cross, Bolton
For September 2026 entry, 8 families put St John the Evangelist RC Primary School, Bromley Cross, Bolton as their first choice and 42 named it as one of their preferences, for 11 places offered. It had fewer first-choice applications than places. Every family who put it first was offered a place there for 2026 entry.
Compared with nearby schools
The nearest other state primary schools to St John the Evangelist RC Primary School, Bromley Cross, Bolton are Eagley Infant School (0.3 miles, Good); Eagley Junior School (0.5 miles, Good, 83% reading, 75% maths); The Oaks Primary School (0.5 miles, Good, 85% reading, 88% maths); and High Lawn Primary School (0.7 miles, Good, 73% reading, 77% maths).
Each of them had higher 2025 results than St John the Evangelist RC Primary School, Bromley Cross, Bolton.
Eagley Infant SchoolEagley Junior SchoolThe Oaks Primary SchoolHigh Lawn Primary School
Who goes there
10.5% of pupils are eligible for free school meals, well below the average state school (25%), and 9.9% speak English as an additional language, against 18.8% on average, according to the 2026 school census.
The largest ethnic groups are White British (74%), Asian (7%) and Mixed (6%).
Getting there
The nearest railway station is Bromley Cross Rail Station, about 1030 metres away (roughly a 13-minute walk).
9 bus stops are within a five-minute walk; the closest is Hospital Road (near), 90 metres away.
Suspensions and exclusions
In 2024/25, St John the Evangelist RC Primary School, Bromley Cross, Bolton issued 1 suspension, 0.6 for every 100 pupils (the average state school: 6.3), and no permanent exclusions.
Secondary schools nearby
The secondary schools closest to St John the Evangelist RC Primary School, Bromley Cross, Bolton are Turton School (0.6 miles) and Sharples School (0.7 miles).
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 · 3 years agoThis judgement is from October 2014, 12 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
From Ofsted's January 2024 inspection report.
What This School Does Well
St John the Evangelist is a caring school where children thrive. Pupils develop strong character through responsibility roles like the 'seeds and gardeners' programme, and the school creates an inclusive atmosphere where kindness is valued. With an ambitious curriculum supported by trips and visits, the school helps most pupils achieve well and develop interests through clubs and special events like 'St John's Got Talent'.
Key Strengths
- Warm, caring school community where pupils treat each other with kindness and include those who are alone
- Ambitious, well-organized curriculum with trips and visits to enhance learning
- Strong phonics teaching from Reception with support for pupils who fall behind
- Clear focus on reading with diverse book selections reflecting modern Britain
- High expectations for behaviour with calm, purposeful atmosphere throughout the school
Areas for Improvement
- Some subjects lack clear definition of essential knowledge pupils should remember, making it hard for teachers to help pupils retain important content
- Inconsistent use of pure letter sounds in phonics teaching slows progress for some pupils, particularly those who find reading more difficult
- Need for clearer identification of key knowledge in some early years areas
Safeguarding
Safeguarding arrangements are effective.
Extracurricular Activities
Gardening club, glow in the dark dodgeball, St John's Got Talent event, school councillors, charitable activities in local area
St John the Evangelist RC Primary School continues to be a good school where pupils are welcomed into a warm and caring community and achieve well against high expectations.
At a Glance
10.5%
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 67% to 77% (2024 to 2025). Maths has declined from 77% to 61% (2024 to 2025). Writing has declined from 83% to 77% (2024 to 2025).
Class Sizes
23.1
Avg class size
21.7
Infant (KS1)
24.3
KS2
7
Total classes
2025/26 academic year
How Does This School Compare?
Ranked against 5 nearby primary schools
Keep up with St John the Evangelist RC Primary School, Bromley Cross, Bolton
Getting There
Bus Stops
Free school transport
You apply to the council where you live. St John the Evangelist RC Primary School, Bromley Cross, 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
- 1
- Serious
- 1
- Children hurt
- 1
Within 500 m of the school's mapped location, police recorded 5 road collisions in which someone was injured in 2021 to 2025: 1 fatal, 1 serious and 3 slight.
1 child aged 0 to 15 was hurt: 1 on foot.
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 John the Evangelist RC Primary School, Bromley Cross, Bolton
Will you get a place at St John the Evangelist RC Primary School, Bromley Cross, Bolton? Get the admissions report
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What the report includes for St John the Evangelist RC Primary School, Bromley Cross, Bolton:
- The straight-line distance from your home to St John the Evangelist RC Primary School, Bromley Cross, 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 John the Evangelist RC Primary School, Bromley Cross, 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
81%
Available places
170 pupils
210 places
40 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(7)
SEND & SEN Provision
SEN Overview
19
SEN Support
6
EHC Plans
15.4%
of Total Pupils
2026 academic year
Provision & Specialist Facilities
Pupils by Need Type
Pupil Demographics
Ethnicity
2026 academic year
Key Indicators
162
Total Pupils
64
Boys
98
Girls
2026 academic year
Workforce
8
Teachers
20.3:1
Pupil-teacher ratio
£53,635
Mean salary
2026 data
School Funding
£5,418
Per pupil
£1055k
Total funding
£41k
Pupil premium
2025-26 financial year allocations
Pupil Absence2024/25
4.3%
Overall absence
13.5%
Persistent absence
171
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 John the Evangelist RC Primary School, Bromley Cross, Bolton
Questions parents ask about St John the Evangelist RC Primary School, Bromley Cross, Bolton
What are SATs results like at St John the Evangelist RC Primary School, Bromley Cross, Bolton?
Of the pupils at St John the Evangelist RC Primary School, Bromley Cross, Bolton who took the 2025 Key Stage 2 assessments, 77% reached the expected standard in reading and 61% did so in maths.
What is St John the Evangelist RC Primary School, Bromley Cross, Bolton's Ofsted rating?
St John the Evangelist RC Primary School, Bromley Cross, Bolton's most recent Ofsted inspection, in January 2024, was ungraded, so it gave no overall grade. At its last graded inspection, in October 2014, it was rated Good.
What is the catchment area for St John the Evangelist RC Primary School, Bromley Cross, Bolton?
No fixed boundary. When St John the Evangelist RC Primary School, Bromley Cross, 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 John the Evangelist RC Primary School, Bromley Cross, Bolton?
St John the Evangelist RC Primary School, Bromley Cross, Bolton was not full in 2025: it ran at 81% of its 210 places.
How big are the classes at St John the Evangelist RC Primary School, Bromley Cross, Bolton?
Classes at St John the Evangelist RC Primary School, Bromley Cross, Bolton average 23.1 pupils (2025/26).
How many pupils go to St John the Evangelist RC Primary School, Bromley Cross, Bolton?
St John the Evangelist RC Primary School, Bromley Cross, Bolton has around 162 pupils on roll. 11% are eligible for free school meals.
What is attendance like at St John the Evangelist RC Primary School, Bromley Cross, Bolton?
4.3% of sessions were missed at St John the Evangelist RC Primary School, Bromley Cross, Bolton in 2024/25. 13.5% of pupils were persistently absent (missing 10% or more of sessions).
How do I apply to St John the Evangelist RC Primary School, Bromley Cross, Bolton?
Apply through Bolton's coordinated admissions process, naming St John the Evangelist RC Primary School, Bromley Cross, 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.
How many road collisions happen near St John the Evangelist RC Primary School, Bromley Cross, Bolton?
Within 500 m of the school's mapped location, police recorded 5 road collisions in which someone was injured in 2021 to 2025: 1 fatal, 1 serious and 3 slight. 1 child aged 0 to 15 was hurt: 1 on foot. 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 John the Evangelist RC Primary School, Bromley Cross, Bolton?
St John the Evangelist RC Primary School, Bromley Cross, Bolton is at Darwen Road, Bromley Cross, Bolton, Lancashire, BL7 9HT.
Source: Department for Transport, Road Safety Data (STATS19)