Essa Academy
109%
Capacity
1,077
Pupils
2.9x
Demand
About Essa Academy
Essa Academy is a mixed, non-denominational secondary school in Bolton, serving 1,077 pupils aged 11 to 16. It sits third out of 19 schools in the local authority when ranked by Progress 8, placing it comfortably in Bolton’s top tier. The two schools ahead of it are Bolton Muslim Girls School and Sharples School, while Kearsley Academy sits just behind. The school is significantly oversubscribed: for 2025/26 entry, it received 584 applications for 204 places, with 196 of those as first preferences. That level of demand reflects its reputation in the area, and the school has held a Good rating from Ofsted since its most recent graded inspection in 2021, having improved from Requires Improvement in the previous inspection three years earlier.
Academically, Essa Academy’s Progress 8 score of 0.73 is well above average nationally and far exceeds the Bolton local authority average of 0.07. The school ranks 24th out of 445 secondary schools in the North West and 252nd nationally, putting it in the top 8% of schools across England. Its Attainment 8 score is 47.1, and 65.2% of pupils achieved a grade 4 or above in both English and maths, compared with 40.2% at grade 5 or above. Progress in English is particularly strong at 1.09, while maths sits at 0.43 and the EBacc subjects at 0.55. The EBacc average point score is 3.94, with 28.4% of pupils entering the EBacc combination and 15.7% achieving a grade 4 or above across it.
The school offers a wide range of facilities including a swimming pool, astro turf, science labs, music rooms, art studios, and a sixth form centre, though it only teaches up to Year 11. Sports on offer include martial arts, dance, tennis, and cricket, while clubs range from Model UN and orchestra to gardening and eco club. SEND provision is broad, covering specific learning difficulties like dyslexia, moderate learning difficulties, speech and language needs, hearing and visual impairments, physical disabilities, and autistic spectrum disorder. With 44.8% of pupils eligible for free school meals, the school serves a diverse and disadvantaged intake. It suits families who want a large, inclusive secondary with strong academic progress, particularly in English, and who are comfortable with a school that is heavily oversubscribed.
Key Details
| School Type | Secondary (State) |
| Age Range | 11 to 16 years |
| Gender | Mixed |
| Religious Character | None |
| Address | Lever Edge Lane, Bolton, Bolton, BL3 3HH |
| Headteacher | Mel Flynn |
| Local Authority | Bolton |
| Number of Pupils | 1,077 |
| Free School Meals (FSM) | 44.8% |
| School Capacity | 1,077 / 990 (109% full) |
Ofsted Inspection Breakdown
19 Oct 2021Overall Effectiveness
Good
Source: Ofsted, 5 Dec 2021. Ratings: 1=Outstanding, 2=Good, 3=Requires Improvement, 4=Inadequate.
League Table Position
Based on Progress 8 (+0.73)
252nd of 3,141
Nationally
24th of 445
In North West
3rd of 19
In Bolton
Source: Classpot analysis of DfE Progress 8 data
GCSE Results
2023/24Progress 8 Score
Students make significantly 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
2022/2351%
of GCSE leavers move to sixth form college (cohort: 186 pupils).
- Sixth form college51%
- FE college36%
- Not sustained9%
- Employment2%
89% 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
12Sports
Clubs & Activities
Activities may vary by term. Contact the school for current offerings.
Admissions
2025/26Oversubscribed204
584
Good Demand
Popular school with more applications than places
196 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.
Class profile
2024/25Better than half of schools in England.
Better than half 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
2024/25Among the highest-disadvantage schools.
Among the highest 25% — a diverse linguistic intake.
Ethnic background
- Asian51.9%
- White British4.7%
- Mixed3.7%
- White (other)3.4%
- Black0.6%
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.
75% 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.
17
Total schools
15
Oversubscribed
12
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 Essa Academy
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
Lever Edge Lane, Bolton
Bolton, BL3 3HH
Journey to School
Journey times are estimates based on current conditions. Actual times may vary.
