Bishop Bridgeman CofE Primary School
103%
Capacity
484
Pupils
2.4x
Demand
About Bishop Bridgeman CofE Primary School
Bishop Bridgeman CofE Primary School in Bolton is a Church of England primary that is currently oversubscribed, with 100 applications for 41 places in the 2025/26 admissions round. That works out at roughly 2.4 applicants per place, and of those, 34 families put the school as their first preference. The school has 484 pupils on roll, which is slightly above its official capacity of 472, suggesting it is a popular choice among local families. The proportion of pupils eligible for free school meals stands at 29.7%, which is notably higher than the national primary average of around 23%, indicating the school serves a community with above-average levels of disadvantage. Despite this, the school has maintained a Good rating from Ofsted since at least 2012, with its most recent graded inspection in 2022 confirming the same overall effectiveness.
Academically, Bishop Bridgeman performs broadly in line with local averages. In the 2023/24 Key Stage 2 results, 64% of pupils reached the expected standard in reading, writing and maths combined, just two percentage points below the Bolton local authority average of 66%. The school sits 46th out of 87 primary schools in the borough, placing it in the top half of Bolton primaries. Looking at individual subjects, 75% met the expected standard in maths and 72% in both reading and writing. Higher-attaining pupils are less common here: only 2% achieved the higher standard across all three subjects, though 16% did so in maths. Progress scores are not available in the data, so it is hard to say how much value the school adds, but the attainment figures suggest a solid, if not exceptional, academic profile.
The school offers a range of facilities including a library, dining hall, playing fields, music rooms, sports hall and a chapel, which reflects its Church of England foundation. Sports provision is strong, with cricket, tennis, netball, athletics, football, swimming and dance all on offer, alongside clubs for chess, choir and science. SEND support is comprehensive, covering moderate learning difficulties, social, emotional and mental health needs, speech and language communication, hearing and visual impairments, physical disability and other difficulties. The school also has a nursery provision for children from age three. Given its oversubscription, families living close to the school or with a church connection may have an advantage in the admissions process. This is a school that suits families who value a community-focused, inclusive primary with a Christian character and a solid academic record.
Key Details
| School Type | Primary (State) |
| Age Range | 3 to 11 years |
| Gender | Mixed |
| Religious Character | Church of England |
| Address | Rupert Street, Bolton, Bolton, BL3 6PY |
| Headteacher | Mike Lonsdale |
| Local Authority | Bolton |
| Number of Pupils | 484 |
| Free School Meals (FSM) | 29.7% |
| School Capacity | 484 / 472 (103% full) |
| Nursery Classes | Yes |
Ofsted Inspection Breakdown
27 Sept 2022Overall Effectiveness
Good
Additional Provisions
Source: Ofsted, 11 Jan 2023. Ratings: 1=Outstanding, 2=Good, 3=Requires Improvement, 4=Inadequate.
League Table Position
Based on KS2 Reading, Writing & Maths (64%)
6261st of 13,686
Nationally
902nd of 2,065
In North West
46th of 87
In Bolton
Source: Classpot analysis of DfE KS2 Reading, Writing & Maths data
KS2 SATs Results
2023/24Reading, Writing & Maths Combined
64%
Expected Standard
2%
Higher Standard
'22/23
56%
'23/24
64%
Source: Department for Education, 2023/24. National expected standard benchmark is around 65%.
SEND Support
Source: Department for Education, 2024/25. Support availability based on current student population.
Facilities
6Facilities may vary. Contact the school for current availability.
Extracurriculars
10Sports
Clubs & Activities
Activities may vary by term. Contact the school for current offerings.
Admissions
2025/26Oversubscribed41
100
Good Demand
Popular school with more applications than places
34 families put this school as their 1st choice (34% of all applications)
Source: Department for Education, 2025/26. Data reflects national offer day applications and offers.
School day
Teaching hours
08:50 – 15:20
Source: bishop-bridgeman.bolton.sch.uk. Extracted automatically — confirm with the school before relying on these times.
Class profile
2024/2575% of schools in England do better than this.
Half of schools in England do better than this.
Lower is generally better — fewer pupils per teacher or per class means more individual attention. Sources: DfE School Workforce Census & Schools, pupils and their characteristics, 2024/25.
Pupils & demographics
2024/25Above the national average (25%) — higher-disadvantage intake.
Among the highest 25% — a diverse linguistic intake.
Ethnic background
- Asian59.9%
- White British13.8%
- Mixed6.0%
- White (other)5.0%
- Black2.5%
Source: DfE Schools, pupils and their characteristics (2024/25). Percentages may not sum to 100% — pupils classified as “unclassified”, “refused” or minor categories are not shown.
Attendance & Behaviour
2024/2575% of schools in England do better than this.
75% of schools in England do better than this.
Pupils missing 10% or more of sessions.
Half of schools in England do better than this.
A pupil temporarily sent home for behaviour.
Like most schools in England, no pupils were permanently excluded this year.
Ranks vs all state-funded schools in England. Source: DfE Pupil absence in schools & Suspensions and permanent exclusions.
Catchment & Local Competition
No catchment data published for this school
The dashed grey ring is a generic 1-mile reference area — it's not an admission boundary. Real catchment depends on year, demand, and council criteria. We currently have real data for about 6% of UK schools and are actively expanding the database.
⚠ This school is oversubscribed — without published cutoff data we can't show how far places reach. Check your council's admissions page.
Schools within 1 mile (reference area)
1 mile is a fixed reference, not this school's catchment.
21
Total schools
17
Oversubscribed
14
Primary
Don’t use the dashed grey ring as a catchment boundary — it’s a reference area for counting nearby schools only. Real admission boundaries depend on year-by-year demand and council criteria; ask the school or council for authoritative info.
Frequently Asked Questions About Bishop Bridgeman CofE Primary School
Helpful Guides for Parents
Ofsted Ratings Explained
Understand the 4 Ofsted ratings and what they mean
How to Choose a Primary School
Step-by-step guide to choosing the right primary school
KS2 SATs Explained
A parent's guide to Year 6 SATs and how results are reported
SEN & EHCP: A Parent's Guide
Understanding SEN support, EHC Plans and your legal rights
Contact Information
Rupert Street, Bolton
Bolton, BL3 6PY
Journey to School
Journey times are estimates based on current conditions. Actual times may vary.
Opening Hours
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