St Paul's CofE Primary School, Astley Bridge, Bolton
St Paul's CofE Primary School, Astley Bridge is a primary school for pupils aged 2 to 11 in Bolton, part of Forward As One Church of England Multi Academy Trust. It has a Church of England religious character. It was rated Outstanding at its last graded Ofsted inspection, in June 2013. Ofsted's ungraded inspection in October 2024 did not change this grade. Its 2025 Key Stage 2 results were the 29th-highest of the 89 schools in Bolton with published results, and 4,096th of 14,452 across England. For 2026 entry it had 1.2 first-choice applications for every place. It was full in 2025, at 104% of capacity.
- SATs results
- Above England average
- Ofsted
- Outstanding (2013)
- Demand
- Oversubscribed
- Attendance
- Better than England average
Reception applications for September 2027 close in 75 days
Deadline Friday 15 January 2027. Apply to Bolton (the council where you live). Offers on 16 April.
Data last updated 1 Nov 2026
St Paul's CofE Primary School, Astley Bridge in detail
Results
In 2025, 82% of Year 6 pupils at St Paul's CofE Primary School, Astley Bridge reached the expected standard in reading and 85% in maths. At the average state primary the figures were 77% and 78% in Bolton and 77% and 75% across England.
Results rose from 84% 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 Paul's CofE Primary School, Astley Bridge
For September 2026 entry, 36 families put St Paul's CofE Primary School, Astley Bridge as their first choice and 89 named it as one of their preferences, for 30 places offered. That is 1.2 first choices for every place. 6 families who put it first were not offered a place there.
Admissions history and your chances at St Paul's CofE Primary School, Astley Bridge
Compared with nearby schools
The nearest other state primary schools to St Paul's CofE Primary School, Astley Bridge are Holy Infant and St Anthony RC Primary School (0.3 miles, Good, 68% reading, 61% maths); The Valley Community Primary School (0.5 miles, Outstanding, 92% reading, 90% maths); Sharples Primary School (0.6 miles, Good, 69% reading, 75% maths); and St Thomas C of E Primary School, Halliwell (0.7 miles, Good, 71% reading, 71% maths).
St Paul's CofE Primary School, Astley Bridge's 2025 results were higher than 3 of these 4 schools.
Holy Infant and St Anthony RC Primary SchoolThe Valley Community Primary SchoolSharples Primary SchoolSt Thomas C of E Primary School, Halliwell
The trust
St Paul's CofE Primary School, Astley Bridge is one of 17 schools run by Forward As One Church of England Multi Academy Trust, an academy trust.
Across the trust's primary schools, 69% of Year 6 pupils met the expected standard in reading, writing and maths in 2024/25.
All 17 schools in Forward As One Church of England Multi Academy Trust
What parents say
36 parents answered Ofsted's Parent View survey about St Paul's CofE Primary School, Astley Bridge (as of September 2025): 83% would recommend the school, 86% say their child is happy there and 57% of those with a view say bullying is dealt with well.
The strongest agreement was that the school supports their child's wider development (89%); the weakest, that the school deals with bullying well (among parents with a view) (57%).
Who goes there
63.7% speak English as an additional language, against 18.8% on average, according to the 2026 school census.
The largest ethnic groups are Asian (64%), Black (18%) and White British (11%).
In 2026, 15 pupils (6%) received SEN support and 15 (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 speech, language and communication needs.
Staffing
St Paul's CofE Primary School, Astley Bridge had 16 teachers in 2026, one for every 14 pupils: more teachers per pupil than a typical primary school, at about one for every 20.
Getting there
The nearest railway station is Hall i' th' Wood Rail Station, about 1190 metres away (roughly a 15-minute walk).
16 bus stops are within a five-minute walk; the closest is Nell Street, 110 metres away.
Suspensions and exclusions
St Paul's CofE Primary School, Astley Bridge recorded no suspensions or permanent exclusions in 2024/25.
Secondary schools nearby
The secondary schools closest to St Paul's CofE Primary School, Astley Bridge are Eden Boys' School, Bolton (0.5 miles); Thornleigh Salesian College (0.5 miles); Sharples School (0.6 miles); and Canon Slade School (0.9 miles).
Eden Boys' School, BoltonThornleigh Salesian CollegeSharples SchoolCanon Slade School
Sources: DfE school performance data (averages: state mainstream schools); DfE school-level applications and offers; council admissions booklets; DfE appeals statistics; DfE multi-academy trust performance data; Ofsted Parent View; DfE school census and special educational needs statistics; DfE school workforce census; NaPTAN (Department for Transport); DfE exclusions statistics
Key Information
DfE GIASOfsted Rating
Ofsted · 2 years agoThis judgement is from June 2013, 13 years ago, longer than Ofsted's usual 4-year cycle: the school may have changed since.
Overall
Quality of Education
Behaviour & Attitudes
Personal Development
Leadership & Management
Early Years
Ofsted's report, in its own words
What is it like to attend this school?
St Paul's is an exciting place to learn. Pupils thrive in this happy school. Relationships between adults and pupils are exceptionally strong. The school's 'four pillars' help to ensure that everybody is made to feel welcome and respected. Children in the early years, along with any new pupils in other year groups, settle into school life quickly.
Pupils know that the school expects them to be 'ready, respectful and safe.' This inspires them to be the very best that they can be. Pupils' behaviour is exemplary. They show great consideration and politeness towards others. Pupils glow with pride when they receive 'smart cards' in recognition of their superb attitudes to school life.
What does the school do well and what does it need to do better?
The school is relentless in its pursuit to empower pupils in becoming independent and inquisitive learners. Working with the trust, the school has designed an engaging curriculum from the early years to Year 6 that successfully meets pupils' needs and interests.
The school serves a diverse community. Many children who join the school in the early years and in other year groups, speak English as an additional language. Staff support these children to develop strong communication and language skills. The school ensures that pupils have mastered the foundational knowledge in subjects before moving on to more difficult concepts. There are regular opportunities to revisit learning. Staff identify and quickly address any gaps in learning. Pupils make strong connections between new knowledge and prior learning. This helps them to gain an impressive depth of knowledge.
From Ofsted's October 2024 ungraded inspection report: the opening paragraphs of each section, quoted word for word. Read the full report Contains public sector information licensed under the Open Government Licence v3.0.
Ofsted Insights
Ofsted rated this school Outstanding at its June 2013 inspection - up from Good.
Rated Outstanding for
Leadership & management.
At a Glance
25.9%
Free School Meals
No
Boarding
Yes
Nursery
No
Sixth Form
No
Special Measures
What Parents Think
36 responsesSource: Ofsted Parent View, responses as at September 2025 - % who strongly agree or agree
Primary Performance (KS2)
Academic year 2024/25KS2 Results (% meeting expected standard)
Reading has remained stable at around 82% (2024 to 2025). Maths has improved from 77% to 85% (2024 to 2025). Writing has remained stable at around 85% (2024 to 2025).
Class Sizes
30.8
Avg class size
30.0
Infant (KS1)
31.7
KS2
6
Total classes
3 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 Paul's CofE Primary School, Astley Bridge
Before and after school care
St Paul's CofE Primary School, Astley Bridge is on the Department for Education's free breakfast clubs programme (list updated July 2026), which pays for a free breakfast club for pupils before school. Source: Free breakfast clubs: schools on the programme, Department for Education Free breakfast clubs in Bolton
Nurseries
The nearest nurseries and pre-schools to St Paul's CofE Primary School, Astley Bridge, with their latest published grades:
- Seymour Road Nursery Ltd - Day nursery, under 0.1 milesOfsted, 9 April 2024: Good overall; safeguarding is effective
- Kids Planet Astley Bridge - Day nursery, 0.2 milesOfsted, 10 October 2023: Good overall; safeguarding is effective
- Shining Stars Nursery - Day nursery, 0.4 miles
- Tic Tots Day Nursery & Creche - Day nursery, 0.6 milesOfsted, 22 March 2023: Good overall; safeguarding is effective
- THE KIDZ ZONE LTD - Day nursery, 0.6 miles
Getting There
Bus Stops
Free school transport
Check free transport to St Paul's CofE Primary School, Astley Bridge from your postcode →
You apply to the council where you live. St Paul's CofE Primary School, Astley Bridge 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
- 49
- Fatal
- 1
- Serious
- 13
- Children hurt
- 8
Within 500 m of the school's mapped location, police recorded 49 road collisions in which someone was injured in 2021 to 2025: 1 fatal, 13 serious and 35 slight.
8 children aged 0 to 15 were hurt: 5 on foot, 1 on a bicycle and 2 in a vehicle or otherwise.
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 are DfT estimates (severity adjustment). Source: Department for Transport, Road Safety Data (STATS19), Open Government Licence v3.0.
Commute and house prices
Your chances of a place at St Paul's CofE Primary School, Astley Bridge
Will you get a place at St Paul's CofE Primary School, Astley Bridge?
For 2026 entry it had 36 first choices for 30 places. The report sets your home postcode against these figures.
£9.99 once (inc. VAT; £19.99 for up to three schools), or Pro £9 a month, every report included, cancel any time. What's in the report
Capacity & Demand
School Occupancy
104%
Over capacity
219 pupils
210 places
9 pupils over capacity in 2025
2025, DfE school capacity data
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: Oversubscribed
Future places in the local planning area
DfE estimates the Astley Bridge Primary planning area (Bolton) will need 24 more primary places than it is due to have in 2027/28.
Source: Department for Education, School capacity: Academic year 2024/25 (published 19 March 2026), estimates of future school place demand by planning area. Council pupil forecasts against reported places, counting places councils and DfE plan to add or remove; rounded to whole places. Explore Education Statistics
Inspection History(2)
SEND & SEN Provision
SEN Overview
15
SEN Support
15
EHC Plans
12.0%
of Total Pupils
2026 academic year
Provision & Specialist Facilities
Pupils by Need Type
Pupil Demographics
Ethnicity
2026 academic year
Key Indicators
251
Total Pupils
108
Boys
143
Girls
2026 academic year
Workforce
16
Teachers
15.7:1
Pupil-teacher ratio
£45,466
Mean salary
2026 data
School Funding
£5,660
Per pupil
£1389k
Total funding
£89k
Pupil premium
2025-26 financial year allocations
Pupil Absence2024/25
4.2%
Overall absence
9.1%
Persistent absence
198
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 Paul's CofE Primary School, Astley Bridge
Questions parents ask about St Paul's CofE Primary School, Astley Bridge
What are SATs results like at St Paul's CofE Primary School, Astley Bridge?
Of the pupils at St Paul's CofE Primary School, Astley Bridge who took the 2025 Key Stage 2 assessments, 82% reached the expected standard in reading and 85% did so in maths.
What is St Paul's CofE Primary School, Astley Bridge's Ofsted rating?
St Paul's CofE Primary School, Astley Bridge's most recent Ofsted inspection, in October 2024, was ungraded. At its last graded inspection, in June 2013, it was rated Outstanding.
Is it hard to get a place at St Paul's CofE Primary School, Astley Bridge?
St Paul's CofE Primary School, Astley Bridge was full in 2025, at 104% of its 210 places.
How big are the classes at St Paul's CofE Primary School, Astley Bridge?
Classes at St Paul's CofE Primary School, Astley Bridge average 30.8 pupils (2025/26). 3 classes have more than 30 pupils.
How many pupils go to St Paul's CofE Primary School, Astley Bridge?
St Paul's CofE Primary School, Astley Bridge has around 251 pupils on roll. 26% are eligible for free school meals.
What is attendance like at St Paul's CofE Primary School, Astley Bridge?
4.2% of sessions were missed at St Paul's CofE Primary School, Astley Bridge in 2024/25. 9.1% of pupils were persistently absent.
Does St Paul's CofE Primary School, Astley Bridge have a breakfast club or after-school club?
St Paul's CofE Primary School, Astley Bridge is on the Department for Education's free breakfast clubs programme (list updated July 2026).
How many road collisions happen near St Paul's CofE Primary School, Astley Bridge?
Within 500 m of the school's mapped location, police recorded 49 road collisions in which someone was injured in 2021 to 2025: 1 fatal, 13 serious and 35 slight. 8 children aged 0 to 15 were hurt: 5 on foot, 1 on a bicycle and 2 in a vehicle or otherwise. 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 Paul's CofE Primary School, Astley Bridge?
St Paul's CofE Primary School, Astley Bridge is at Newnham Street, Astley Bridge, Bolton, Lancashire, BL1 8QA.
Source: Department for Transport, Road Safety Data (STATS19)