Westhoughton High School, Bolton

Ofsted's report card from its 27 January 2026 inspection grades Westhoughton High School on 6 areas: 1 expected standard, 4 needs attention and 1 urgent improvement. Report cards replaced single-word judgements in November 2025, on a five-point scale from exceptional to urgent improvement.

Personal development and wellbeing - Expected standard. "Leaders have developed a personal development programme rooted in the school's 'LEARN' values."

Achievement - Needs attention. "Pupils' attainment in national tests at the end of key stage 4 is typically in line with national averages."

Curriculum and teaching - Needs attention. "The school curriculum is ambitious and well designed."

Inclusion - Needs attention. "The school is committed to inclusion."

Leadership and governance - Needs attention. "Leaders have taken effective steps to improve several aspects of the school's work."

Attendance and behaviour - Urgent improvement. "Pupils' attendance rates are too low and too many pupils are late to school or lessons."

Safeguarding standards were met.

Ofsted's next steps for the school: "Leaders should improve pupils' attendance and punctuality, particularly for disadvantaged pupils and those with special educational needs and/or disabilities, so that more pupils attend school regularly and engage fully with their learning"; "Leaders should ensure that staff implement the school's behaviour expectations and routines consistently, including during social times and when following up sanctions, so that pupils' behaviour improves and disruption to learning is minimised"; "Leaders and governors should strengthen their oversight of the school's work so that they have a clearer understanding of what is working well and where improvement is needed. This includes ensuring that systems for monitoring behaviour and sanctions enable leaders to identify patterns and evaluate the impact of their actions"; "Leaders should ensure that staff use assessment effectively to identify gaps in pupils' knowledge, including in handwriting and mathematical knowledge, so that these gaps are addressed quickly and pupils can access the wider curriculum successfully".

In its own words: "At Westhoughton High school the beliefs and opinions of all people are valued. Our core values lie at the heart of our school community and are understood by everyone."

From the headteacher's welcome: "I am delighted to welcome you to Westhoughton High School. WHS is an integral part of our locality and together we will ensure Westhoughton is a school we are all proud of."

Clubs and activities named on the school's website include drama, photography and Duke of Edinburgh.

In 2026, pupils at Westhoughton High School averaged an Attainment 8 score of 40.2, the average grade across their best eight GCSEs. The average state school scored 46.6 in Bolton and 47 across England.

37% passed English and maths at grade 5 or above, against 48% in Bolton and 47% in England.

That is down from 44.4 in 2025.

Its most recent Progress 8 score, for 2024, was -0.64: pupils made well 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 31.4, against 43.2 for other pupils at the school - a gap of 11.8 points.

Pupils sat GCSEs in 27 subjects; after English and maths, the most popular were Combined Science, History and Art and Design.

For September 2026 entry, 221 families put Westhoughton High School as their first choice and 369 named it as one of their preferences, for 258 places offered. It had fewer first-choice applications than places. Every family who put it first was offered a place there for 2026 entry.

The nearest other state secondary schools to Westhoughton High School are Westhoughton High School (under 0.1 miles); Ladybridge High School (2.1 miles, Good, Attainment 8 45.8); Atherton High School (2.1 miles, Good, Attainment 8 46.2); and Outwood Academy Hindley (2.2 miles, Attainment 8 44.3).

Each of them had higher 2026 results than Westhoughton High School.

259 parents answered Ofsted's Parent View survey about Westhoughton High School (as of April 2026): 70% would recommend the school, 66% say their child is happy there and 41% of those with a view say bullying is dealt with well.

The strongest agreement was that they are kept well informed about progress (71%); the weakest, that the school deals with bullying well (among parents with a view) (41%).

Of the 267 pupils who finished Year 11 in 2023/24, 82% stayed in education or training for at least two terms, including 69% to a further education college, 6% to an apprenticeship and 2% into work.

6% speak English as an additional language, against 18.8% on average, according to the 2026 school census.

In 2026, 184 pupils (13.7%) received SEN support and 36 (2.7%) 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 social, emotional and mental health needs.

The nearest railway station is Westhoughton Rail Station, about 880 metres away (roughly a 11-minute walk).

11 bus stops are within a five-minute walk; the closest is Westhoughton High School (near), 120 metres away.

In 2024/25, Westhoughton High School issued 708 suspensions, 52.9 for every 100 pupils (the average state school: 6.3), and 6 permanent exclusions.

The primary schools closest to Westhoughton High School are Sacred Heart Roman Catholic Primary School (0.3 miles), Woodland Primary Academy (0.4 miles), St Bartholomew's CofE Primary School (0.4 miles) and St Thomas CofE Primary School (0.5 miles). Admission does not depend on which primary a child attends unless the school's policy names feeder schools.