St William of York Roman Catholic Primary School, Bolton
St William of York Roman Catholic Primary School is a primary school for pupils aged 3 to 11 in Bolton. It has a Roman Catholic religious character. It was rated Good at its last graded Ofsted inspection, in June 2017. Ofsted's ungraded inspection in January 2025 did not change this grade. Its 2025 Key Stage 2 results were the 6th-highest of the 89 schools in Bolton with published results, and 749th of 14,452 across England. It was 98% full in 2025.
- SATs results
- Above England average
- Ofsted
- Good (2017)
- Demand
- Every first choice offered
- Attendance
- Better than England average
Reception applications for September 2027 close in 81 days
Deadline Friday 15 January 2027. Apply to Bolton (the council where you live). Offers on 16 April.
Data last updated 26 Oct 2026
St William of York Roman Catholic Primary School in detail
Results
In 2025, 90% of Year 6 pupils at St William of York Roman Catholic Primary School reached the expected standard in reading and 97% in maths. At the average state primary the figures were 77% and 78% in Bolton and 77% and 75% across England.
Results were similar in 2024 (93% in reading, 90% in maths).
With small year groups, a few pupils can move these figures by several points.
Getting a place at St William of York Roman Catholic Primary School
For September 2026 entry, 22 families put St William of York Roman Catholic Primary School as their first choice and 51 named it as one of their preferences, for 23 places offered. It had fewer first-choice applications than places. Every family who put it first was offered a place there for 2026 entry.
Admissions history and your chances at St William of York Roman Catholic Primary School
Compared with nearby schools
The nearest other state primary schools to St William of York Roman Catholic Primary School are Lever Edge Primary Academy (0.3 miles, Good, 73% reading, 83% maths); Bishop Bridgeman CofE Primary School (0.3 miles, Good, 80% reading, 80% maths); Ss Simon & Jude CofE Primary School, Bolton (0.4 miles, Good, 70% reading, 85% maths); and Clarendon Primary School (0.4 miles, Good, 80% reading, 80% maths).
St William of York Roman Catholic Primary School's 2025 results were higher than all 4 of them.
Lever Edge Primary AcademyBishop Bridgeman CofE Primary SchoolSs Simon & Jude CofE Primary School, BoltonClarendon Primary School
What parents say
28 parents answered Ofsted's Parent View survey about St William of York Roman Catholic Primary School (as of September 2025): 96% would recommend the school, 96% say their child is happy there and 80% of those with a view say bullying is dealt with well.
The strongest agreement was that their child feels safe (100%); the weakest, that the school deals with bullying well (among parents with a view) (80%).
Who goes there
50.2% speak English as an additional language, against 18.8% on average, according to the 2026 school census.
The largest ethnic groups are Asian (43%), White British (25%) and Black (15%).
In 2026, 34 pupils (14.6%) received SEN support and 15 (6.4%) 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.
Getting there
The nearest railway station is Bolton Rail Station, about 1 mile away in a straight line.
16 bus stops are within a five-minute walk; the closest is Nugent Road (near), 110 metres away.
The area around the school
Measured by the 2025 English Indices of Deprivation, the neighbourhood St William of York Roman Catholic Primary School stands in is among the 10% most deprived neighbourhoods in England. This describes where the school is, not where its pupils live.
Suspensions and exclusions
In 2024/25, St William of York Roman Catholic Primary School issued 11 suspensions, 4.8 for every 100 pupils (the average state school: 6.3), and no permanent exclusions.
Secondary schools nearby
The secondary schools closest to St William of York Roman Catholic Primary School are King's Leadership Academy Bolton (0.5 miles), Bolton Muslim Girls School (0.5 miles), Mount St Joseph RC High School a Voluntary Academy (0.6 miles) and Essa Academy (0.6 miles).
King's Leadership Academy BoltonBolton Muslim Girls SchoolMount St Joseph RC High School a Voluntary AcademyEssa Academy
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 school census and special educational needs statistics; NaPTAN (Department for Transport); English Indices of Deprivation 2025 (MHCLG); data.police.uk street-level crime; DfE exclusions statistics
Key Information
DfE GIASOfsted Rating
Ofsted · 2 years agoThis judgement is from June 2017, 9 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 Insights
From Ofsted's January 2025 inspection report.
What This School Does Well
This school excels at creating a positive, inclusive environment where pupils thrive academically and personally. With outstanding teaching in English and mathematics, strong reading promotion from early years, and exceptional support for all learners including those with SEND, your child will receive a high-quality education. The school's strong focus on behaviour, values, and diversity means pupils develop excellent character alongside their academic skills.
Key Strengths
- Exceptionally effective English and mathematics curriculum with pupils achieving significantly better outcomes than national averages
- Impeccable pupil behaviour and conduct, supported by strong trusting relationships between staff and pupils
- Highly effective approach to reading, with pupils becoming fluent readers by the end of key stage 1
- Excellent personal development and diversity education, helping pupils become well-informed modern British citizens
- Expert support for pupils with SEND and those speaking English as an additional language
Safeguarding
Safeguarding arrangements are effective, with the school creating an open and positive culture that puts pupils' interests first.
Extracurricular Activities
Before-school club, enrichment activities to widen pupils' experiences, exceptionally varied extra-curricular offer
St William of York Catholic Primary School provides pupils with a wonderful and happy learning experience with high expectations and impressive achievements. The school has been rated Outstanding across all key areas, including quality of education, behaviour, personal development, and leadership.
At a Glance
30.5%
Free School Meals
No
Boarding
Yes
Nursery
No
Sixth Form
No
Special Measures
What Parents Think
28 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 90% (2024 to 2025). Maths has improved from 90% to 97% (2024 to 2025). Writing has improved from 83% to 87% (2024 to 2025).
Class Sizes
25.9
Avg class size
30.0
Infant (KS1)
30.3
KS2
9
Total classes
1 class with more than 30 pupils
2025/26 academic year
How Does This School Compare?
Ranked against 5 nearby primary schools
Keep up with St William of York Roman Catholic Primary School
Getting There
Bus Stops
Free school transport
Check free transport to St William of York Roman Catholic Primary School from your postcode →
You apply to the council where you live. St William of York Roman Catholic Primary 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
- 19
- Fatal
- 1
- Serious
- 3
- Children hurt
- 5
Within 500 m of the school's mapped location, police recorded 19 road collisions in which someone was injured in 2021 to 2025: 1 fatal, 3 serious and 15 slight.
5 children aged 0 to 15 were hurt: 4 on foot and 1 in a vehicle or otherwise.
4 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 William of York Roman Catholic Primary School
Will you get a place at St William of York Roman Catholic Primary School? Get the admissions report
Your home postcode, set against St William of York Roman Catholic Primary School's admissions figures, in one report saved to your account.
What the report includes for St William of York Roman Catholic Primary School:
- The straight-line distance from your home to St William of York Roman Catholic Primary 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 William of York Roman Catholic Primary 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
98%
Near capacity
205 pupils
210 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
4,015
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)
Ungraded inspection: The school remains Good and may be improving; its next inspection will be a full graded one.
SEND & SEN Provision
SEN Overview
34
SEN Support
15
EHC Plans
21.0%
of Total Pupils
2026 academic year
Provision & Specialist Facilities
Pupils by Need Type
Pupil Demographics
Ethnicity
2026 academic year
Key Indicators
233
Total Pupils
106
Boys
127
Girls
2026 academic year
Workforce
10
Teachers
23.3:1
Pupil-teacher ratio
£53,719
Mean salary
2026 data
School Funding
£6,101
Per pupil
£1399k
Total funding
£94k
Pupil premium
2025-26 financial year allocations
Pupil Absence2024/25
4.0%
Overall absence
9.1%
Persistent absence
187
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 William of York Roman Catholic Primary School
Questions parents ask about St William of York Roman Catholic Primary School
What are SATs results like at St William of York Roman Catholic Primary School?
Of the pupils at St William of York Roman Catholic Primary School who took the 2025 Key Stage 2 assessments, 90% reached the expected standard in reading and 97% did so in maths.
What is St William of York Roman Catholic Primary School's Ofsted rating?
St William of York Roman Catholic Primary School's most recent Ofsted inspection, in January 2025, was ungraded, so it gave no overall grade. At its last graded inspection, in June 2017, it was rated Good.
What is the catchment area for St William of York Roman Catholic Primary School?
No fixed boundary. When St William of York Roman Catholic Primary 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 William of York Roman Catholic Primary School?
St William of York Roman Catholic Primary School was close to full in 2025, at 98% of its capacity.
How big are the classes at St William of York Roman Catholic Primary School?
Classes at St William of York Roman Catholic Primary School average 25.9 pupils (2025/26). 1 class has more than 30 pupils - infant classes are capped at 30 by law, with limited exceptions.
How many pupils go to St William of York Roman Catholic Primary School?
St William of York Roman Catholic Primary School has around 233 pupils on roll. 31% are eligible for free school meals.
What is attendance like at St William of York Roman Catholic Primary School?
4% of sessions were missed at St William of York Roman Catholic Primary School in 2024/25. 9.1% of pupils were persistently absent (missing 10% or more of sessions).
How do I apply to St William of York Roman Catholic Primary School?
Apply through Bolton's coordinated admissions process, naming St William of York Roman Catholic Primary School 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 William of York Roman Catholic Primary School?
Within 500 m of the school's mapped location, police recorded 19 road collisions in which someone was injured in 2021 to 2025: 1 fatal, 3 serious and 15 slight. 5 children aged 0 to 15 were hurt: 4 on foot and 1 in a vehicle or otherwise. 4 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 William of York Roman Catholic Primary School?
St William of York Roman Catholic Primary School is at Nugent Road, Bolton, Lancashire, BL3 3DE.
Source: Department for Transport, Road Safety Data (STATS19)