Markland Hill Primary School

About Markland Hill Primary School

If you ask parents at Markland Hill Primary School whether they’d recommend it, 94% say yes. That figure comes from Ofsted’s Parent View survey, which collected 154 responses between September 2024 and September 2025. The same survey shows 84% of parents strongly agree their child is happy, and 87% strongly agree their child feels safe. Behaviour is another strong point: 77% strongly agree the school ensures pupils are well-behaved, and 76% of parents said bullying wasn’t applicable to their child, suggesting incidents are rare. The school is clearly popular — for the 2025/26 intake, it received 163 applications for just 45 places, an oversubscription ratio of 3.62. Only 44 of the 59 first-preference families got a place, so getting in isn’t guaranteed. That level of demand, combined with the parent satisfaction scores, paints a picture of a school that local families trust and value.

Academically, Markland Hill is a strong performer. In the 2023/24 Key Stage 2 results, 75% of pupils reached the expected standard in reading, writing and maths combined — well above the Bolton local authority average of 66%. The school sits 26th out of 97 primary schools in the borough, placing it in the top 25% locally. Its national percentile of roughly 20 means it outperforms four-fifths of primary schools across England. In individual subjects, 89% of pupils met expectations in both reading and writing, and 82% in maths. Higher-standard attainment is also solid: 39% reached the higher bar in reading, 36% in maths, and 34% in writing. Ofsted’s most recent graded inspection, in December 2024, awarded Outstanding across every category — quality of education, behaviour and attitudes, personal development, leadership and management, and early years provision. The school has held an Outstanding rating since at least its previous inspection in 2014.

The school is a mixed, non-religious state primary for children aged 4 to 11, with a capacity of 316 and currently 317 pupils on roll. Only 4.4% of pupils are eligible for free school meals, well below the national average, which reflects the area’s relative affluence. Facilities include a library, music rooms, a gymnasium, playing fields and a chapel. Sports on offer include cricket, football, swimming and dance, while clubs range from chess and book club to choir. For children with additional needs, the school lists support for specific learning difficulties like dyslexia, moderate learning difficulty, speech and language needs, hearing impairment, autistic spectrum disorder, and social, emotional and mental health needs. The nearest other Outstanding-rated primary is Johnson Fold Community Primary School, 1.1 km away. Markland Hill is best suited to families who prioritise strong academic outcomes, high parental satisfaction, and a school that’s consistently oversubscribed — and who are prepared to compete for a place.

Key Details

Frequently Asked Questions About Markland Hill Primary School

Helpful Guides for Parents