Classpot

Gilnow Primary School

Bolton, BL1 4LGPrimaryAges 3–11MixedState
Ofsted Rating
Good
Jun 2022
KS2 Results
36%
meeting expected standard in RWM
Competition
0.8×
Not oversubscribed
22 1st-choice / 27 places
Ranking
#12,876
of 13,686 nationally

About Gilnow Primary School

Gilnow Primary School in Bolton is a state-funded, mixed-gender primary for children aged 3 to 11, and it is currently running very close to full capacity with 231 pupils against a school capacity of 236. The proportion of pupils eligible for free school meals stands at 26.7%, which is notably higher than the national average for primary schools and signals a catchment area with above-average levels of socioeconomic deprivation. Demand for places is strong: for the 2025/26 academic year, the school received 43 applications for just 27 places, giving an oversubscription ratio of 1.59. Of those, 22 families put Gilnow as their first preference, and all 22 were offered a place. The school has a non-religious character, offers nursery provision, and is led by headteacher Kate Hesketh. Its most recent Ofsted inspection in 2022 rated the school Good overall, with leadership and management also judged Good. This marks a clear improvement from its previous graded inspection in 2012, when it was rated Requires Improvement.

Key Details

School TypePrimary (State)
Age Range3 to 11 years
GenderMixed
Religious CharacterDoes not apply
AddressGilnow Gardens, Bolton, Bolton, BL1 4LG
HeadteacherKate Hesketh
Local AuthorityBolton
Number of Pupils231
Free School Meals (FSM)26.7%
School Capacity231 / 236 (98% full)
Nursery ClassesYes

The full report on this school

The inspection in plain English, admissions context, and how this school compares to nearby alternatives — all in one full school report.

  • Ofsted inspection in plain English
    Strengths, concerns and what inspectors flagged
  • Parent View survey results
    What parents told Ofsted — when the school has 10+ responses
  • Where Ofsted and parents disagree
    Gaps to probe + questions to ask at the open day
  • Admissions & catchment
    Admission criteria, distance cutoffs (where the LA publishes them)
  • Nearby schools compared
    Backup options with Ofsted, demand and distance
  • Attendance & behaviour data
    Persistent absentees, suspensions and exclusions vs national
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Ofsted Inspection Breakdown

8 Jun 2022
View Report
Overall Effectiveness
Good
Leadership & Management
Good

Latest monitoring visit (8 Jun 2022): School remains Good

Source: Ofsted, 23 Nov 2012. Ratings: 1=Outstanding, 2=Good, 3=Requires Improvement, 4=Inadequate.

Facilities

8
Dining HallLibraryPlaying FieldsICT SuiteSensory RoomOutdoor PlaygroundArt StudiosChapel

Facilities may vary. Contact the school for current availability.

Extracurriculars

13

Sports

FootballCricketDanceAthleticsSwimmingCross CountryNetball

Clubs & Activities

CodingChessChoirEco ClubArt ClubDrama

Activities may vary by term. Contact the school for current offerings.

SEND Support

Mental HealthSpeech & LanguageVisionPhysicalLearning DifficultySevere Learning

Source: Department for Education, 2024/25. Support availability based on current student population.

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Frequently Asked Questions About Gilnow Primary School

Gilnow Primary School has been rated "Good" by Ofsted. This means the school provides a good standard of education and effectively supports all pupils to succeed.