Eden Boys' School, Bolton
78%
Capacity
623
Pupils
3.1x
Demand
About Eden Boys' School, Bolton
Parents considering Eden Boys' School, Bolton will find strong signals of confidence from local families. In the 2025/26 admissions round, the school received 377 applications for just 121 places, giving an oversubscription ratio of 3.12. Of those applications, 224 were first-preference choices, and 115 first-preference offers were made, meaning the school is significantly over-subscribed and selective in practice. While the data does not include a formal parent-view survey percentage, the sheer volume of applications — more than three times the places available — speaks to its reputation among Bolton families. The school is a boys-only state secondary with a Muslim religious character, led by headteacher Arshad Ashraf, and it serves 623 pupils against a capacity of 800, so there is some room for growth. Around 30.7% of pupils are eligible for free school meals, which is above the national average, indicating a diverse intake.
Academically, Eden Boys' School is a strong performer. Its most recent graded Ofsted inspection in 2017 rated it Outstanding overall, and an ungraded inspection in 2023 confirmed the school remains Outstanding. The leadership and management were also rated Outstanding. In the 2023/24 exam results, the school achieved a Progress 8 score of 0.45, which is well above the Bolton local authority average of 0.07 and places it 5th out of 19 schools in the borough. Nationally, it ranks in the top 18% of schools by Progress 8. The Attainment 8 score was 48.4, and 72.1% of pupils achieved a grade 4 or above in English and maths. The school also has a strong focus on the English Baccalaureate, with 88.5% of pupils entered for EBacc subjects and 37.7% achieving a grade 4 or above across the EBacc. Progress in maths was particularly strong at 0.72, while English progress was more modest at 0.24.
The school offers a broad range of facilities including a theatre, library, science labs, sports hall, swimming pool, and playing fields, with sports such as rowing, cricket, swimming, and martial arts on offer. There is also a wide selection of clubs including Science Club, Orchestra, Chess, Debate, Model UN, and Coding. For pupils with additional needs, the school provides support for a range of SEND categories including dyslexia, autistic spectrum disorder, and speech, language and communication needs. Given its strong academic outcomes and oversubscribed status, this school will suit families who prioritise high standards and a structured, faith-based environment. Parents should be aware that securing a place is competitive, and early application is essential. The school does not have nursery provision, so it is strictly for secondary-age boys from Year 7 through to sixth form.
Key Details
| School Type | Secondary (State) |
| Age Range | 11 to 18 years |
| Gender | Boys |
| Religious Character | Muslim |
| Address | Wolfenden Street, Bolton, Bolton, BL1 3QE |
| Headteacher | Arshad Ashraf |
| Local Authority | Bolton |
| Number of Pupils | 623 |
| Free School Meals (FSM) | 30.7% |
| School Capacity | 623 / 800 (78% full) |
Ofsted Inspection Breakdown
4 Jul 2023Overall Effectiveness
Outstanding
Latest inspection (4 Jul 2023): School remains Outstanding
Source: Ofsted, 7 Jul 2017. Ratings: 1=Outstanding, 2=Good, 3=Requires Improvement, 4=Inadequate.
League Table Position
Based on Progress 8 (+0.45)
574th of 3,141
Nationally
57th of 445
In North West
5th 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.
Where GCSE leavers go
2022/232%
of GCSE leavers stay on for sixth form at this school (cohort: 123 pupils).
- Sixth form college57%
- FE college31%
- School sixth form (stay)2%
- Apprenticeship2%
- Not sustained2%
- Employment1%
95% 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.
SEND Support
Source: Department for Education, 2024/25. Support availability based on current student population.
Facilities
11Facilities may vary. Contact the school for current availability.
Extracurriculars
20Sports
Clubs & Activities
Activities may vary by term. Contact the school for current offerings.
Admissions
2025/26Oversubscribed121
377
High Demand
Competitive - many more applications than places available
224 families put this school as their 1st choice (59% of all applications)
Source: Department for Education, 2025/26. Data reflects national offer day applications and offers.
School day
Teaching hours
08:00 – 15:10
Source: edenboysbolton.com. Extracted automatically — confirm with the school before relying on these times.
Class profile
2024/25Better than 75% of schools in England.
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
- Asian77.1%
- Mixed3.3%
- Black1.0%
- White British0.3%
- White (other)0.2%
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
2024/25Better than half of schools in England.
Better than half of schools in England.
Pupils missing 10% or more of sessions.
Half of schools in England do better than this.
A pupil temporarily sent home for behaviour.
Permanent exclusion is rare — most schools have none in a given 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.
14
Total schools
14
Oversubscribed
11
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.
Was this page helpful?
Frequently Asked Questions About Eden Boys' School, Bolton
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
Wolfenden Street, Bolton
Bolton, BL1 3QE
Journey to School
Journey times are estimates based on current conditions. Actual times may vary.
Opening Hours
Parent Reviews
No reviews yet. Be the first to share your experience at Eden Boys' School, Bolton!
Write a Review