Kearsley Academy

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.

Academically, Kearsley delivers results that stand out in the region. Its Progress 8 score of 0.55 is classified as well above average nationally, and every component of that measure is positive: English progress sits at 1.34, open subjects at 0.53, and EBacc subjects at 0.31, while maths progress is a more modest 0.16. Attainment 8, which captures average GCSE performance across eight subjects, is 51.4, and 71.8 per cent of pupils achieved a grade 4 or above in both English and maths, compared with 57 per cent at grade 5 or above. The EBacc average point score is 4.57, and 43.7 per cent of pupils entered the EBacc combination. In the North West, Kearsley ranks 43rd out of 445 schools by Progress 8, placing it in the top 10 per cent regionally. The school’s Ofsted report from March 2022 rated every inspected category — quality of education, behaviour and attitudes, personal development, and leadership and management — as Good.

The school’s facilities are notably generous for a state secondary: a swimming pool, theatre, gymnasium, playing fields, music rooms, art studios, and a library are all on site. Sports offered include martial arts, basketball, rugby, cross country, badminton, and rowing, while clubs cover film, chess, debate, coding, and drama. Kearsley’s SEND provision is broad, supporting pupils with specific learning difficulties such as dyslexia, moderate learning difficulties, social, emotional and mental health needs, speech and language communication needs, hearing and visual impairments, multi-sensory impairment, physical disability, and autistic spectrum disorder. With 41 per cent of pupils eligible for free school meals, the school serves a relatively disadvantaged intake but achieves strong outcomes. There is no sixth form on site, so pupils leave at 16. This is a school that suits families looking for a non-selective, inclusive secondary with strong academic momentum, a wide range of extracurricular activities, and a clear track record of improvement.

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