Canon Slade School
97%
Capacity
1,747
Pupils
2.5x
Demand
About Canon Slade School
Canon Slade School is a Church of England secondary in Bolton that parents clearly rate highly. In the most recent Parent View survey, covering September 2024 to September 2025, 86% of the 234 respondents said they would recommend the school to other parents. That confidence is backed by strong agreement on specific questions: 91% of parents agreed or strongly agreed that their child is happy, and 89% felt their child is safe. The school is also in high demand. For entry in 2025/26, Canon Slade received 758 applications for 297 places, an oversubscription ratio of 2.55, with 320 families listing it as their first preference. Of those, 283 were offered a place. The school is large, with 1,747 pupils on roll against a capacity of 1,800, and it has a sixth form. Just under 16% of pupils are eligible for free school meals, which is slightly above the national average for state secondaries.
Academically, Canon Slade performs well above the local average. Its Progress 8 score of 0.29 is significantly higher than the Bolton local authority average of 0.07, placing it 6th out of 19 schools in the borough and in the top 20% nationally. Pupils achieved an Attainment 8 score of 54.6, and 84.3% of students secured a grade 4 or above in English and maths. The school’s most recent Ofsted inspection, in October 2024, saw it jump from a Requires Improvement rating in November 2022 to Good across all five graded areas, including behaviour and attitudes, personal development, and leadership. In the sixth form, the school’s progress banding is rated Above average, with a value-added score of 0.16 and an average A-level grade of B- per entry. The school ranks 86th out of 445 secondaries in the North West region on Progress 8.
Canon Slade offers a wide range of facilities, including a theatre, chapel, sixth form centre, and extensive sports provision with tennis courts, playing fields, and a swimming programme. There are clubs covering everything from chess to the Duke of Edinburgh’s Award and Model United Nations. The school’s SEND register covers nine categories, including autistic spectrum disorder, speech and language needs, and physical disabilities, though the Parent View data suggests some mixed feelings on support: 54% of parents agreed or strongly agreed that SEND children get the support they need, while 54% disagreed or strongly disagreed. The school is oversubscribed and a Church of England foundation, so families should check the admissions criteria carefully. It suits parents who want a large, well-regarded secondary with strong academic outcomes, a clear sixth form pathway, and a faith-based ethos.
Key Details
| School Type | Secondary (State) |
| Age Range | 11 to 18 years |
| Gender | Mixed |
| Religious Character | Church of England |
| Address | Bradshaw Brow, Bolton, Bolton, BL2 3BP |
| Headteacher | James Gilhooly |
| Local Authority | Bolton |
| Number of Pupils | 1,747 |
| Free School Meals (FSM) | 15.9% |
| School Capacity | 1,747 / 1,800 (97% full) |
| Sixth Form | Yes |
Ofsted Inspection Breakdown
15 Oct 2024Quality of Education
Good
Since Sep 2024, Ofsted no longer assigns a single overall grade
Additional Provisions
Source: Ofsted, 27 Nov 2024. Ratings: 1=Outstanding, 2=Good, 3=Requires Improvement, 4=Inadequate.
League Table Position
Based on Progress 8 (+0.29)
859th of 3,141
Nationally
86th of 445
In North West
6th of 19
In Bolton
Source: Classpot analysis of DfE Progress 8 data
GCSE Results
2023/24Progress 8 Score
Students make more progress than similar students nationally
Attainment 8 (vs national avg)
Students achieve significantly higher grades than the national average
Source: Department for Education, 2023/24. Progress 8 compares to students with similar Key Stage 2 results.
A-Level Results
2023/24Average Points per Entry
Value Added Score
Best 3 A-Levels (Average)
'21/22
37.1
'22/23
35.4
'23/24
36.2
Source: Department for Education 16-18 Performance Tables, 2023/24. Value Added measures progress compared to students with similar GCSE results.
Where GCSE leavers go
2022/2350%
of GCSE leavers stay on for sixth form at this school (cohort: 269 pupils).
- School sixth form (stay)50%
- FE college34%
- Sixth form college9%
- Apprenticeship4%
- Employment3%
- Not sustained1%
99% of leavers had a sustained destination 6 months on.
Source: DfE Compare School & College Performance, KS4 pupil destinations 2022/23 (revised). Only state-funded schools are required to report.
Where school leavers go
2022/2369%
of A-level / Level 3 leavers go to higher education (cohort: 151 pupils).
Top-tier university progression
28%
Russell Group
34%
Top-third HE
3%
Oxford / Cambridge
Percentages of the whole cohort (not just HE-goers). Russell Group = 24 elite research universities. Top-third HE = top by mean UCAS tariff.
- University (HE)69%
- Employment15%
- Not sustained8%
- Apprenticeship5%
- Further education1%
Sources: DfE 16-18 destination measures (broad bucket); DfE KS5 student destinations file (Russell Group / top-third HE / Oxbridge). Level 3 cohort. “Sustained” means the pupil was in education, apprenticeship or employment for 6 months in the year following completion.
Sixth form A-level subjects
2022/23- Mathematics43
- Biology39
- Psychology39
- Chemistry25
- Geography25
- Physics23
- English Literature21
- Sociology20
- Art and Design18
- Economics18
- Film Studies18
- English Language16
Subjects with at least 3 entries in 2022/23. Number shown next to each subject is the number of pupils who sat that A-level exam — a rough indicator of subject popularity at this school. Source: DfE Compare School & College Performance.
Ofsted Parent View
234 responsesWould Recommend This School
Source: Ofsted Parent View (GOV.UK statistical data), Sep – Sep 2025
SEND Support
Source: Department for Education, 2024/25. Support availability based on current student population.
Facilities
12Facilities may vary. Contact the school for current availability.
Extracurriculars
18Sports
Clubs & Activities
Activities may vary by term. Contact the school for current offerings.
Admissions
2025/26Oversubscribed297
758
Good Demand
Popular school with more applications than places
320 families put this school as their 1st choice (42% of all applications)
Source: Department for Education, 2025/26. Data reflects national offer day applications and offers.
Class profile
2024/25Better than 75% of schools in England.
Better than 75% of schools in England.
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
2024/25Below the national average (25%).
Above the national median (10%) — a meaningful share speak English as an additional language.
Ethnic background
- White British68.2%
- Mixed6.3%
- Asian5.9%
- White (other)2.5%
- Black1.0%
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
2024/25Half of schools in England do better than this.
Half 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.
11
Total schools
11
Oversubscribed
8
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.
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Frequently Asked Questions About Canon Slade School
Helpful Guides for Parents
Ofsted Ratings Explained
Understand the 4 Ofsted ratings and what they mean
Understanding Progress 8
Learn how Progress 8 measures pupil progress from primary to GCSE
SEN & EHCP: A Parent's Guide
Understanding SEN support, EHC Plans and your legal rights
Understanding School Catchment Areas
How admission distances work and tips for maximising your choices
Contact Information
Bradshaw Brow, Bolton
Bolton, BL2 3BP
Journey to School
Journey times are estimates based on current conditions. Actual times may vary.
Opening Hours
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