Bolton secondary schools league table 2025
Secondary and all-through schools teaching Key Stages 3 and 4. Ranked by the Success Index (England) from official English data; 24 schools in Bolton, North West. Rank positions shown on each profile are within England and North West.
- 180Canon Slade SchoolBolton · Academy Secondary53.9 Attainment 8 · 1,724 students
- 278St James's Church of England High SchoolBolton · Academy Secondary53.5 Attainment 8 · 1,053 students
- 378Bolton Islamic Girls SchoolBolton · Independent Secondary53.1 Attainment 8 · 115 students
- 477Sharples SchoolBolton · Academy Secondary55.6 Attainment 8 · 1,214 students
- 569Eden Boys' School, BoltonBolton · Academy Secondary53.0 Attainment 8 · 621 students
- 668Bolton Muslim Girls SchoolBolton · Academy Secondary54.7 Attainment 8 · 774 students
- 764Kearsley AcademyBolton · Academy Secondary51.8 Attainment 8 · 768 students
- 863Bolton School Girls' DivisionBolton · Independent All-through55.2 Attainment 8 · 1,057 students
- 962Rivington and Blackrod High SchoolBolton · Academy Secondary49.2 Attainment 8 · 1,626 students
- 1062Essa AcademyBolton · Academy Secondary53.0 Attainment 8 · 1,055 students
- 1159Little Lever SchoolBolton · Academy Secondary46.2 Attainment 8 · 1,085 students
- 1258St Joseph's RC High SchoolBolton · Local authority Secondary44.8 Attainment 8 · 1,047 students
- 1352Madrasatul Imam Muhammad ZakariyaBolton · Independent Secondary51.2 Attainment 8 · 122 students
- 1452Thornleigh Salesian CollegeBolton · Local authority Secondary45.7 Attainment 8 · 1,574 students
- 1551Westhoughton High SchoolBolton · Local authority Secondary44.4 Attainment 8 · 1,342 students
- 1648Turton SchoolBolton · Local authority Secondary43.7 Attainment 8 · 1,596 students
- 1747King's Leadership Academy BoltonBolton · Academy Secondary45.4 Attainment 8 · 910 students
- 1833Harper Green SchoolBolton · Academy Secondary42.8 Attainment 8 · 1,070 students
- 1932Ladybridge High SchoolBolton · Local authority Secondary41.7 Attainment 8 · 1,136 students
- 2028Mount St Joseph RC High School a Voluntary AcademyBolton · Academy Secondary37.4% Free school meals · 895 students
- 2124Bolton School Boys' DivisionBolton · Independent All-through34.3 Attainment 8 · 1,131 students
- 2220University Collegiate SchoolBolton · Academy Secondary36.7 Attainment 8 · 683 students
- 2318Smithills SchoolBolton · Academy Secondary36.5 Attainment 8 · 1,203 students
- 2416Bolton St Catherine's AcademyBolton · Academy All-through34.3 Attainment 8 · 1,003 students
| # | School | Sector | Success Index (England) | Key result | Students |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Canon Slade School Bolton · Secondary · Ages 11–18 | Academy | 80.1 Top 25% | 53.9 Attainment 8 | 1,724 |
| 2 | St James's Church of England High School Bolton · Secondary · Ages 11–16 | Academy | 78.0 Top 25% | 53.5 Attainment 8 | 1,053 |
| 3 | Bolton Islamic Girls School Bolton · Secondary · Ages 11–16 | Independent | 77.5 Top 25% | 53.1 Attainment 8 | 115 |
| 4 | Sharples School Bolton · Secondary · Ages 11–16 | Academy | 76.6 Top 25% | 55.6 Attainment 8 | 1,214 |
| 5 | Eden Boys' School, Bolton Bolton · Secondary · Ages 11–18 | Academy | 68.7 Top 50% | 53.0 Attainment 8 | 621 |
| 6 | Bolton Muslim Girls School Bolton · Secondary · Ages 11–16 | Academy | 67.6 Top 50% | 54.7 Attainment 8 | 774 |
| 7 | Kearsley Academy Bolton · Secondary · Ages 11–16 | Academy | 63.6 Top 50% | 51.8 Attainment 8 | 768 |
| 8 | Bolton School Girls' Division Bolton · All-through · Ages 7–18 | Independent | 63.1 Top 50% | 55.2 Attainment 8 | 1,057 |
| 9 | Rivington and Blackrod High School Bolton · Secondary · Ages 11–18 | Academy | 61.7 Top 50% | 49.2 Attainment 8 | 1,626 |
| 10 | Essa Academy Bolton · Secondary · Ages 11–16 | Academy | 61.5 Top 50% | 53.0 Attainment 8 | 1,055 |
| 11 | Little Lever School Bolton · Secondary · Ages 11–16 | Academy | 58.5 Top 50% | 46.2 Attainment 8 | 1,085 |
| 12 | St Joseph's RC High School Bolton · Secondary · Ages 11–16 | Local authority | 57.5 Top 50% | 44.8 Attainment 8 | 1,047 |
| 13 | Madrasatul Imam Muhammad Zakariya Bolton · Secondary · Ages 11–19 | Independent | 52.2 Top 50% | 51.2 Attainment 8 | 122 |
| 14 | Thornleigh Salesian College Bolton · Secondary · Ages 11–18 | Local authority | 51.9 Top 50% | 45.7 Attainment 8 | 1,574 |
| 15 | Westhoughton High School Bolton · Secondary · Ages 11–16 | Local authority | 50.6 Top 50% | 44.4 Attainment 8 | 1,342 |
| 16 | Turton School Bolton · Secondary · Ages 11–18 | Local authority | 47.7 Lower 50% | 43.7 Attainment 8 | 1,596 |
| 17 | King's Leadership Academy Bolton Bolton · Secondary · Ages 11–16 | Academy | 46.9 Lower 50% | 45.4 Attainment 8 | 910 |
| 18 | Harper Green School Bolton · Secondary · Ages 11–16 | Academy | 33.1 Lower 50% | 42.8 Attainment 8 | 1,070 |
| 19 | Ladybridge High School Bolton · Secondary · Ages 11–16 | Local authority | 32.2 Lower 50% | 41.7 Attainment 8 | 1,136 |
| 20 | Mount St Joseph RC High School a Voluntary Academy Bolton · Secondary · Ages 11–16 | Academy | 28.2 Lower 50% | 37.4% Free school meals | 895 |
| 21 | Bolton School Boys' Division Bolton · All-through · Ages 7–18 | Independent | 24.0 Lower 50% | 34.3 Attainment 8 | 1,131 |
| 22 | University Collegiate School Bolton · Secondary · Ages 11–19 | Academy | 19.6 Lower 50% | 36.7 Attainment 8 | 683 |
| 23 | Smithills School Bolton · Secondary · Ages 11–16 | Academy | 17.9 Lower 50% | 36.5 Attainment 8 | 1,203 |
| 24 | Bolton St Catherine's Academy Bolton · All-through · Ages 2–16 | Academy | 15.8 Lower 50% | 34.3 Attainment 8 | 1,003 |
Canon Slade School in Bolton leads the 2025 list of secondary schools in Bolton with a Success Index (England) of 80.1. Of the 24 schools shown, 15 are academy, 5 are local authority, 4 are independent.
For the full picture see the wider North West secondary schools league table, every school on the Bolton page, or the comparison tool to put a shortlist side by side.
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Frequently asked questions
What is the best secondary school in Bolton?
Canon Slade School in Bolton, North West ranks first among secondary schools in Bolton with a Success Index (England) of 80.1 out of 100 (Pupils on roll: 1,724).
How are secondary schools in Bolton ranked?
Each school's Success Index (England) combines 9 factors: ks2: reading, writing & maths expected standard (35%), ks2: higher standard (20%), ks2: reading progress (10%), ks2: maths progress (10%), progress 8 (20%), attainment 8 (30%), grade 5+ in english & maths (15%), a level points per entry (10%), community advantage (fewer pupils on free school meals) (15%). Each factor is a percentile against schools of the same type across England. Schools with fewer than 60 students are excluded from rankings.
Are these 2025 rankings official?
No. They are computed by Success Tutoring from official English data (DfE – Get Information About Schools; DfE – Compare school and college performance). Independent schools rarely appear in the performance tables, so most receive no attainment components and no score.