Devonshire Road Primary School

About Devonshire Road Primary School

Devonshire Road Primary School is a popular choice among Bolton families, and the numbers back that up. For the 2025/26 admissions round, the school received 131 applications for just 60 places, giving it an oversubscription ratio of 2.18. Of those, 64 families put it down as their first preference, and 58 of those were offered a spot. That level of demand suggests a strong local reputation. ParentView data isn’t available in this dataset, but the sheer volume of applications — more than double the places on offer — tells its own story about how the school is perceived by the community it serves. It’s a state primary for mixed genders aged 4 to 11, with no religious character and no nursery provision. Headteacher Emma Hodge leads a school that is operating very close to its capacity of 420 pupils, with 418 currently on roll.

Academically, Devonshire Road performs solidly against local benchmarks. In the 2023/24 Key Stage 2 results, 70% of pupils reached the expected standard in reading, writing and maths combined — above the Bolton local authority average of 66%. That places the school 35th out of 87 primary schools in the borough, putting it in the top half locally and the top 50% nationally. A closer look at individual subjects shows 80% of pupils met the expected standard in maths, 77% in writing, and 75% in reading. At the higher standard, 11% achieved the top marks across all three subjects. The school’s most recent Ofsted inspection, in October 2022, rated it Good overall, with an Outstanding grade for personal development. All other categories — quality of education, behaviour and attitudes, leadership and management, and early years provision — were judged Good.

The school offers a practical range of facilities including a library, outdoor playground, forest school, sensory room, playing fields, and a dining hall. Sports provision covers tennis, football, athletics, gymnastics and dance, while after-school clubs include art, science and drama. For families with children who have additional needs, the school lists support for specific learning difficulties like dyslexia, moderate learning difficulties, and speech, language and communication needs. With an oversubscription rate of 2.18, it’s a school that requires a first-preference application to have a realistic chance of a place. It suits families who want a well-regarded local primary with above-average outcomes, a strong Ofsted record, and a clear focus on personal development — all within a school that feels genuinely in demand.

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