St Joseph's RC High School, Bolton
St Joseph's RC High School is a secondary school for pupils aged 11 to 16 in Bolton. It has a Roman Catholic religious character. It was rated Requires improvement at its last graded Ofsted inspection, in December 2022. Ofsted's ungraded inspection in March 2025 did not change this grade. Its 2026 GCSE results were the 15th-highest of the 20 schools in Bolton with published results, and 2,261st of 3,298 across England. It was 99% full in 2025.
- GCSE results
- Below England average
- Ofsted
- Requires improvement (2022)
- Demand
- Oversubscribed
- Attendance
- Better than England average
- Progress (2024)
- Below average
Year 7 applications for September 2027 close in 5 days
Deadline Saturday 31 October 2026. Apply to Bolton (the council where you live). Offers on 1 March.
Data last updated 26 Oct 2026
St Joseph's RC High School in detail
St Joseph's RC High School in its own words
In its own words: "We have a deep commitment to building a sense of community at St. Joseph's - a community, which recognises the dignity and worth of each individual and fosters recognition of our responsibilities to each other and the wider world. We aim to be a loving and reconciling community, based on mutual respect and tolerance."
From the headteacher's welcome: "Welcome to our community. Whether you are already a member of the St Joseph's family, considering joining us as a student, a prospective parent or would like to work at St Joseph's we hope that you will sense the warmth of our vibrant community."
Vision and values (school website)Headteacher's welcome (school website)
Source: The school's own website
Results
In 2026, pupils at St Joseph's RC High School averaged an Attainment 8 score of 42.4, the average grade across their best eight GCSEs. The average state school scored 46.6 in Bolton and 47 across England.
40% passed English and maths at grade 5 or above, against 48% in Bolton and 47% in England.
That is down from 44.8 in 2025.
Its most recent Progress 8 score, for 2024, was -0.14: pupils made below average progress compared with pupils nationally who started secondary school at the same level. Progress 8 was not published for 2026.
Disadvantaged pupils averaged an Attainment 8 of 33.1, against 45.9 for other pupils at the school - a gap of 12.8 points.
Pupils sat GCSEs in 25 subjects; after English and maths, the most popular were Religious Studies, Combined Science and History.
Getting a place at St Joseph's RC High School
For September 2026 entry, 218 families put St Joseph's RC High School as their first choice and 529 named it as one of their preferences, for 205 places offered. That is 1.1 first choices for every place. 17 families who put it first were not offered a place there.
Admissions history and your chances at St Joseph's RC High School
Compared with nearby schools
The nearest other state secondary schools to St Joseph's RC High School are Rivington and Blackrod High School (1.9 miles, Good, Attainment 8 45.4); Ladybridge High School (2.6 miles, Good, Attainment 8 45.8); Westhoughton High School (2.7 miles); and Westhoughton High School (2.7 miles, Requires improvement, Attainment 8 40.2).
St Joseph's RC High School's 2026 results were higher than 1 of these 3 schools.
Rivington and Blackrod High SchoolLadybridge High SchoolWesthoughton High SchoolWesthoughton High School
What parents say
103 parents answered Ofsted's Parent View survey about St Joseph's RC High School (as of September 2025): 86% would recommend the school, 91% say their child is happy there and 74% 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) (74%).
Where pupils go next
Of the 212 pupils who finished Year 11 in 2023/24, 84% stayed in education or training for at least two terms, including 62% to a further education college, 5% to an apprenticeship and 3% into work.
Who goes there
In 2026, 113 pupils (10.8%) received SEN support and 48 (4.6%) 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 autism.
Getting there
The nearest railway station is Horwich Parkway Rail Station, about 1190 metres away (roughly a 15-minute walk).
11 bus stops are within a five-minute walk; the closest is St Joseph's High School (outside), 50 metres away.
Suspensions and exclusions
In 2024/25, St Joseph's RC High School issued 204 suspensions, 19.4 for every 100 pupils (the average state school: 6.3), and 1 permanent exclusion.
Primary schools nearby
The primary schools closest to St Joseph's RC High School are Claypool Primary School (0.3 miles), Chorley New Road Primary Academy (0.4 miles), St Mary's RC Primary School (0.4 miles) and Horwich Parish CofE Primary School (1 mile). Admission does not depend on which primary a child attends unless the school's policy names feeder schools.
Claypool Primary SchoolChorley New Road Primary AcademySt Mary's RC Primary SchoolHorwich Parish CofE Primary School
Sources: DfE school performance data (averages: state mainstream schools); DfE school-level applications and offers; council admissions booklets; DfE appeals statistics; Ofsted Parent View; DfE destination measures; DfE school census and special educational needs statistics; NaPTAN (Department for Transport); DfE exclusions statistics
Key Information
DfE GIASOfsted Rating
Ofsted · 2 years agoOverall
Quality of Education
Behaviour & Attitudes
Personal Development
Leadership & Management
Ofsted Insights
From Ofsted's March 2025 inspection report.
What This School Does Well
St Joseph's creates a caring community where pupils feel safe and proud to belong. The school has high expectations for both behaviour and achievement, with most pupils behaving well and being motivated to excel. Teachers build strong relationships with pupils and identify additional support needs early, ensuring all learners - including those with SEND - can succeed.
Key Strengths
- Strong support for pupils with SEND through the 'RAISE network' strategy, enabling them to access the curriculum and achieve well
- Improved reading support since the previous inspection, helping struggling readers develop confidence and fluency quickly
- Effective behaviour routines and positive relationships between staff and pupils creating calm, productive classrooms
- Well-considered curriculum in most subjects that helps pupils build secure foundations of knowledge
- Strong careers guidance and work experience opportunities preparing pupils well for their next steps
Areas for Improvement
- Key Stage 3 curriculum in some subjects lacks sufficient breadth and depth, limiting pupils' knowledge development
- Checks on pupils' learning sometimes fail to identify gaps in prior knowledge, meaning misconceptions go unnoticed and pupils don't achieve as well as they could
- PSHE curriculum is not delivered consistently well, leaving some pupils with limited opportunities to explore differences between people, British values and relationships in sufficient depth
Safeguarding
Safeguarding arrangements are effective, with the school creating an open and positive culture that puts pupils' interests first.
Extracurricular Activities
Duke of Edinburgh's Award scheme, educational visits to Houses of Parliament and universities, charitable projects, visits to local nursing homes, mentoring programmes, work placements
St Joseph's RC High School is a secondary comprehensive school that has improved from its previous 'Requires Improvement' rating. The school fosters a positive culture where pupils feel valued, behave well, and are motivated to achieve.
At a Glance
21.5%
Free School Meals
No
Boarding
No
Nursery
No
Sixth Form
No
Special Measures
What Parents Think
103 responsesSource: Ofsted Parent View, responses as at September 2025 - % who strongly agree or agree
Secondary Performance (GCSE)
Academic year 2025/26GCSE Results
2025/26 academic year
Progress 8 has remained stable at around -0.14 (2023 to 2024). Attainment 8 has declined from 47.8 to 42.4 (2023 to 2026). GCSE English & Maths 5+ has declined from 51% to 40% (2023 to 2026).
Performance by Group
| Group | Progress 8 | Attainment 8 | Eng+Maths 5+ |
|---|---|---|---|
| All pupils | - | 42.4 | 40% |
| Disadvantaged(56) | - | 33.1 | 23.2% |
| Not known to be disadvantaged(149) | - | 45.9 | 46.3% |
| Boys(110) | - | 40.0 | 38.2% |
| Girls(95) | - | 45.1 | 42.1% |
Show more breakdowns (2)
| Known or believed to be other than English(41) | - | 43.4 | 43.9% |
| Non mobile(194) | - | 43.6 | 42.3% |
2025/26 academic year - DfE performance tables data
GCSE Subjects Offered
+ 5 more subjects
2025/26 academic year - entries by number of pupils
After GCSEs - Leaver Destinations
After GCSEs (Year 11) - 212 students
2023/24 data
Exclusions & Suspensions
1
Permanent exclusions
0.10%
Exclusion rate
204
Suspensions
19.41%
Suspension rate
96 pupils received one or more suspensions out of 1,051 pupils
2024/25 academic year
How Does This School Compare?
Ranked against 5 nearby secondary schools
Social & online
Keep up with St Joseph's RC High School
Getting There
Train Stations
Bus Stops
Free school transport
Check free transport to St Joseph's RC High School from your postcode →
You apply to the council where you live. St Joseph's RC High School 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
- 17
- Fatal
- 0
- Serious
- 4
- Children hurt
- 0
Within 500 m of the school's mapped location, police recorded 17 road collisions in which someone was injured in 2021 to 2025: none fatal, 4 serious and 13 slight.
No children aged 0 to 15 were among the people hurt.
5 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 Joseph's RC High School
Will you get a place at St Joseph's RC High School? Get the admissions report
Your home postcode, set against St Joseph's RC High School's admissions figures, in one report saved to your account.
What the report includes for St Joseph's RC High School:
- The straight-line distance from your home to St Joseph's RC High School.
- We hold no last distance offered figures from Bolton, so the report covers demand, alternatives and dates.
- Applications, first choices and offers at St Joseph's RC High School 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
99%
Near capacity
1,045 pupils
1,050 places
5 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
4,385
Applications
3,868
Got 1st preference
87.1%
Got preferred school
96.8%
All secondary applications across Bolton council (2026/27), not just this school.
This school: Oversubscribed
Inspection History(10)
SEND & SEN Provision
SEN Overview
113
SEN Support
48
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
1,047
Total Pupils
553
Boys
494
Girls
2026 academic year
Workforce
63
Teachers
16.6:1
Pupil-teacher ratio
£52,890
Mean salary
2026 data
School Funding
£6,872
Per pupil
£7561k
Total funding
£239k
Pupil premium
2025-26 financial year allocations
Pupil Absence2024/25
7.2%
Overall absence
21.3%
Persistent absence
1,081
Enrolments
Absence trend
Source: DfE pupil absence statistics. Persistent absence = pupils missing 10%+ sessions.
Feeder Primary Schools
Primary schools that likely feed into this school, based on proximity
St Joseph's RC High School
Questions parents ask about St Joseph's RC High School
What are GCSE results like at St Joseph's RC High School?
In the 2026 results, pupils at St Joseph's RC High School achieved an Attainment 8 score of 42.4. 40% passed GCSE English and maths at grade 5 or above.
What is St Joseph's RC High School's Ofsted rating?
St Joseph's RC High School's most recent Ofsted inspection, in March 2025, was ungraded, so it gave no overall grade. At its last graded inspection, in December 2022, it was rated Requires Improvement.
What is the catchment area for St Joseph's RC High School?
No fixed boundary. When St Joseph's RC High School 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 Joseph's RC High School?
St Joseph's RC High School was full in 2025, at 100% of its capacity, so places are allocated on the oversubscription criteria.
How big are the classes at St Joseph's RC High School?
Classes at St Joseph's RC High School average 25.4 pupils (2025/26).
How many pupils go to St Joseph's RC High School?
St Joseph's RC High School has around 1047 pupils on roll. 22% are eligible for free school meals.
What is attendance like at St Joseph's RC High School?
7.2% of sessions were missed at St Joseph's RC High School in 2024/25. 21.3% of pupils were persistently absent (missing 10% or more of sessions).
How do I apply to St Joseph's RC High School?
Apply through Bolton's coordinated admissions process, naming St Joseph's RC High School on your application. Applications for Year 7 places starting in September 2027 close on Saturday 31 October 2026, and offers are made on Monday 1 March 2027.
How many road collisions happen near St Joseph's RC High School?
Within 500 m of the school's mapped location, police recorded 17 road collisions in which someone was injured in 2021 to 2025: none fatal, 4 serious and 13 slight. No children aged 0 to 15 were among the people hurt. 5 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 Joseph's RC High School?
St Joseph's RC High School is at Sefton Lane, Horwich, Bolton, Lancashire, BL6 6HW.
Source: Department for Transport, Road Safety Data (STATS19)