Westhoughton High School, Bolton
Westhoughton High School is a secondary school for pupils aged 11 to 16 in Bolton.
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
Westhoughton High School in detail
Results
Westhoughton High School has no published results of its own yet. Before it became an academy in 2027, under its previous registration (URN 105252), its pupils had an average Attainment 8 score of 40.2 and 37% passing English and maths at grade 5 or above in the 2026 GCSE results.
Getting a place at Westhoughton High School
Across Bolton, 87% of families were offered their first-choice secondary school for 2026 entry, and 97% were offered one of the schools they named.
In 2026, families in Bolton lodged 337 appeals against secondary school offers; 288 reached a hearing and 73 succeeded (25.3% of those heard).
Compared with nearby schools
The nearest other state secondary schools to Westhoughton High School are Westhoughton High School (under 0.1 miles, Requires improvement, Attainment 8 40.2); 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).
Westhoughton High SchoolLadybridge High SchoolAtherton High SchoolOutwood Academy Hindley
Getting there
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.
Sources: DfE school performance data; GIAS establishment links; DfE school-level applications and offers; council admissions booklets; DfE appeals statistics; NaPTAN (Department for Transport)
Location
Our estimate from how close the nearest similar schools are and how oversubscribed the council's schools are. It is not a published boundary.
Key Information
DfE GIASOfsted Rating
Westhoughton High School has not been inspected by Ofsted since it became an academy in March 2027. Before that, as Westhoughton High School (URN 105252), it was rated Requires Improvement in May 2023. See Westhoughton High School's inspections
At a Glance
No
Boarding
No
Nursery
No
Sixth Form
No
Special Measures
Results at Westhoughton High School before it became an academy in 2027 (GCSE)
Academic year 2025/26Published under the school's previous registration (URN 105252). There are no figures for it in its current form yet, so these are shown separately.
GCSE Results
2025/26 academic year
Progress 8 has remained stable at around -0.64 (2023 to 2024). Attainment 8 has declined from 43.3 to 40.2 (2023 to 2026). GCSE English & Maths 5+ has declined from 41% to 37% (2023 to 2026).
How Does This School Compare?
Ranked against 5 nearby secondary schools
Keep up with Westhoughton High School
Getting There
Train Stations
Bus Stops
Free school transport
Check free transport to Westhoughton High School from your postcode →
You apply to the council where you live. Westhoughton High School is in Bolton; for families living there:
Apply to Bolton for free school transport. Its policy is on the council's website.
Commute and house prices
Applications and offers at Westhoughton High School before it became an academy in 2027
Published under the school's previous registration (URN 105252). There are no figures for it in its current form yet, so these are shown separately.
| Entry year | Places offered | First choices | Named at all | First choices per place | First choices not offered |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2026 | 258 | 221 | 369 | 0.9 | 0 |
| 2025 | 259 | 254 | 434 | 1.0 | 18 |
| 2024 | 266 | 235 | 426 | 0.9 | 0 |
| 2023 | 278 | 288 | 565 | 1.0 | 25 |
| 2022 | 262 | 291 | 507 | 1.1 | 42 |
| 2021 | 269 | 309 | 522 | 1.1 | 51 |
| 2020 | 257 | 242 | 489 | 0.9 | 3 |
| 2019 | 267 | 236 | 461 | 0.9 | 6 |
| 2018 | 251 | 209 | 413 | 0.8 | 0 |
| 2017 | 239 | 212 | 332 | 0.9 | 0 |
| 2016 | 209 | 185 | 313 | 0.9 | 2 |
| 2015 | 205 | 164 | 275 | 0.8 | 0 |
| 2014 | 173 | 142 | 256 | 0.8 | 0 |
Source: DfE, Primary and secondary school applications and offers (school-level file). "Places offered" is the number of offers made on national offer day, which can differ from the school's published admission number.
Capacity & Demand
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.
Absence at Westhoughton High School before it became an academy in 20272024/25
Published under the school's previous registration (URN 105252). There are no figures for it in its current form yet, so these are shown separately.
11.1%
Overall absence
31.8%
Persistent absence
1,392
Enrolments
Absence trend
Source: DfE pupil absence statistics. Persistent absence = pupils missing 10%+ sessions.
Questions parents ask about Westhoughton High School
Are there exam results for Westhoughton High School?
Westhoughton High School has no published results of its own yet. Before it became an academy in 2027, under its previous registration (URN 105252), its pupils had an average Attainment 8 score of 40.2 and 37% passing English and maths at grade 5 or above in the 2026 GCSE results.
What is Westhoughton High School's Ofsted rating?
Westhoughton High School has not been inspected by Ofsted since it became an academy in March 2027. Before that, as Westhoughton High School (URN 105252), it was rated Requires Improvement in May 2023.
What is the catchment area for Westhoughton High School?
No fixed boundary. When Westhoughton High School is oversubscribed, Bolton allocates places by its published criteria, usually ending with home-to-school distance.
How do I apply to Westhoughton High School?
Apply through Bolton's coordinated admissions process, naming Westhoughton 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.
Where is Westhoughton High School?
Westhoughton High School is at Bolton Road, Westhoughton, Bolton, Lancashire, BL5 3BZ.