Classpot

Sharples School

Bolton, BL1 8SNSecondaryAges 11–16MixedState
Ofsted Rating
Good
Jan 2025
Progress 8
+0.86
Well above average
−20+2
Competition
1.5×
Oversubscribed
355 1st-choice / 234 places
Ranking
🏆Top 5%
#151 of 3,141 nationally

About Sharples School

Sharples School, a mixed secondary in Bolton for pupils aged 11 to 16, holds a Good rating from Ofsted following its most recent inspection in 2025, where inspectors noted that the school has improved significantly since its previous graded inspection. The real story, however, is in the exam data. Sharples achieved a Progress 8 score of 0.86 in the 2023/24 academic year, which is classified as well above average nationally. To put that in context, the average Progress 8 score for secondary schools in Bolton is just 0.07, so Sharples is comfortably outperforming its local authority peers. That score also places the school second out of 19 schools in Bolton and 16th out of 445 schools across the North West region. Nationally, it ranks 151st out of 3,141 schools, putting it in the top 5 per cent of all schools in the country.

Key Details

School TypeSecondary (State)
Age Range11 to 16 years
GenderMixed
Religious CharacterDoes not apply
AddressHill Cot Road, Bolton, Bolton, BL1 8SN
HeadteacherCaroline Molyneux
Local AuthorityBolton
Number of Pupils1,218
Free School Meals (FSM)28.1%
School Capacity1,218 / 1,080 (113% full)

The full report on this school

What 75 parents told Ofsted, the inspection in plain English, 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 Jan 2025
View Report
Overall Effectiveness
Good
Leadership & Management
Good

Latest monitoring visit (8 Jan 2025): Improved significantly

Source: Ofsted, 30 Sept 2013. Ratings: 1=Outstanding, 2=Good, 3=Requires Improvement, 4=Inadequate.

Facilities

9
LibraryArt StudiosScience LabsPlaying FieldsSixth Form CentreICT SuiteTheatreSports HallChapel

Facilities may vary. Contact the school for current availability.

Extracurriculars

11

Sports

Cross CountryGymnasticsRowingSwimmingCricketTennis

Clubs & Activities

ChessNewspaperScience ClubBook ClubDebate

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

SEND Support

AutismDyslexiaMental HealthSpeech & LanguageHearingVisionPhysicalLearning DifficultyOther

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

School day

Verified

Teaching hours

08:45 – 15:15

Breakfast club

08:00-08:45

Source: sharplesschool.co.uk. Extracted automatically — confirm with the school before relying on these times.

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Frequently Asked Questions About Sharples School

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