Classpot

Kearsley Academy

Bolton, BL4 8HYSecondaryAges 11–16MixedState
Ofsted Rating
Good
Mar 2022
Progress 8
+0.55
Well above average
−20+2
Competition
0.8×
Not oversubscribed
107 1st-choice / 137 places
Ranking
🏆Top 25%
#441 of 3,141 nationally

About Kearsley Academy

Kearsley Academy sits within Bolton local authority, a secondary state school for mixed pupils aged 11 to 16. In Bolton’s league of 19 secondary schools, it ranks 4th by Progress 8 score, placing it comfortably in the top quarter of the local authority. The three schools ahead of it are Bolton Muslim Girls School, Sharples School, and Essa Academy, all of which post stronger Progress 8 scores. Kearsley’s own score of 0.55 is well above the Bolton average of 0.07, and the school’s national percentile of 14 means it outperforms the vast majority of schools across England. The school is oversubscribed: for 2025/26, it received 218 applications for 137 places, with 107 first-preference offers made. That ratio of 1.59 applicants per place suggests strong local demand, and the school’s Good Ofsted rating, awarded in 2022, reflects a significant improvement from its previous Requires Improvement judgement in 2019.

Key Details

School TypeSecondary (State)
Age Range11 to 16 years
GenderMixed
Religious CharacterDoes not apply
AddressSpringfield Road, Bolton, Bolton, BL4 8HY
HeadteacherRyan Baxter
Local AuthorityBolton
Number of Pupils780
Free School Meals (FSM)41.0%
School Capacity780 / 950 (82% full)

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

16 Mar 2022
View Report
Overall Effectiveness
Good
Quality of Education
Good
Behaviour & Attitudes
Good
Personal Development
Good
Leadership & Management
Good

Source: Ofsted, 16 May 2022. Ratings: 1=Outstanding, 2=Good, 3=Requires Improvement, 4=Inadequate.

Facilities

9
Playing FieldsTheatreSwimming PoolGymnasiumMusic RoomsArt StudiosSixth Form CentreLibraryChapel

Facilities may vary. Contact the school for current availability.

Extracurriculars

11

Sports

Martial ArtsBasketballRugbyCross CountryBadmintonRowing

Clubs & Activities

Film ClubChessDebateCodingDrama

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

SEND Support

AutismDyslexiaMental HealthSpeech & LanguageHearingVisionPhysicalLearning DifficultyMulti-Sensory

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

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Frequently Asked Questions About Kearsley Academy

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