St Thomas CofE Primary School, Bolton

Ofsted's report card from its 19 May 2026 inspection grades St Thomas CofE Primary School on 7 areas: 1 strong standard and 6 expected standard. Report cards replaced single-word judgements in November 2025, on a five-point scale from exceptional to urgent improvement.

Personal development and wellbeing - Strong standard. "The school's wider offer is particularly effective."

Achievement - Expected standard. "Leaders ensure that pupils, including those who are disadvantaged, achieve well across the curriculum."

Attendance and behaviour - Expected standard. "Pupils enjoy school and want to attend."

Curriculum and teaching - Expected standard. "Leaders have acted decisively since the last inspection to strengthen the curriculum."

Early years - Expected standard. "Leaders have introduced a new curriculum in the early years."

Inclusion - Expected standard. "Leaders ensure that pupils with special educational needs and/or disabilities (SEND) are identified at an early stage."

Leadership and governance - Expected standard. "Leaders have an accurate understanding of the school's strengths and areas for development."

Safeguarding standards were met.

Ofsted's next steps for the school: "In a small number of subjects, leaders should strengthen teaching so that pupils develop more secure subject-specific knowledge"; "Leaders should further embed the school's approach to handwriting to enable pupils to write with more fluency and accuracy"; "Leaders should further strengthen support so that the small number of pupils who struggle to regulate their behaviour meet expectations more consistently and engage successfully in learning".

In 2025, 81% of Year 6 pupils at St Thomas CofE Primary School reached the expected standard in reading and 84% in maths. At the average state primary the figures were 77% and 78% in Bolton and 77% and 75% across England.

Results fell from 87% in reading and 90% in maths in 2024.

With small year groups, a few pupils can move these figures by several points.

For September 2026 entry, 28 families put St Thomas CofE Primary School as their first choice and 74 named it as one of their preferences, for 30 places offered. It had fewer first-choice applications than places. 1 family who put it first was not offered a place there.

The nearest other state primary schools to St Thomas CofE Primary School are Sacred Heart Roman Catholic Primary School (0.7 miles, Outstanding, 89% reading, 84% maths); Woodland Primary Academy (0.7 miles); The Gates Primary School (0.9 miles, Good, 93% reading, 93% maths); and St Bartholomew's CofE Primary School (0.9 miles, Good, 78% reading, 81% maths).

St Thomas CofE Primary School's 2025 results were higher than 1 of these 3 schools.

9.6% of pupils are eligible for free school meals, well below the average state school (25%), and 9.6% speak English as an additional language, against 18.8% on average, according to the 2026 school census.

The largest ethnic groups are White British (80%), Black (5%) and Mixed (5%).

In 2026, 21 pupils (8.8%) received SEN support and 7 (2.9%) 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 a moderate learning difficulty.

The nearest railway station is Daisy Hill Rail Station, about 0.9 miles away in a straight line.

9 bus stops are within a five-minute walk; the closest is Molyneux Road (opposite), 220 metres away.

In 2024/25, St Thomas CofE Primary School issued 4 suspensions, 1.7 for every 100 pupils (the average state school: 6.3), and no permanent exclusions.