Classpot

Smithills School

Bolton, BL1 6JSSecondaryAges 11–16MixedState
Ofsted Rating
Requires Improvement
Sep 2023
Progress 8
-0.04
Below average
−20+2
Competition
0.6×
Not oversubscribed
156 1st-choice / 268 places
Ranking
#1,612
of 3,141 nationally

About Smithills School

Smithills School sits within the Bolton local authority, a secondary state school for mixed pupils aged 11 to 16. In the most recent rankings based on Progress 8 scores, it placed 10th out of 19 schools in the borough, placing it just above the middle of the pack. The top-performing peers in Bolton include Bolton Muslim Girls School, Sharples School, and Essa Academy, all of which achieved significantly higher Progress 8 scores. Smithills’ own Progress 8 score of -0.04 is below the Bolton local authority average of 0.07, meaning pupils here make slightly less academic progress than their peers across the borough. The school is oversubscribed for the 2025/26 academic year, with 400 applications for 268 places and 156 first-preference offers, suggesting it remains a popular choice for local families despite its middling ranking.

Key Details

School TypeSecondary (State)
Age Range11 to 16 years
GenderMixed
Religious CharacterDoes not apply
AddressSmithills Dean Road, Smithills School, Bolton, Bolton, BL1 6JS
HeadteacherCarolyn Dewse
Local AuthorityBolton
Number of Pupils1,201
Free School Meals (FSM)40.4%
School Capacity1,201 / 1,250 (96% 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

19 Sept 2023
View Report
Overall Effectiveness
Requires improvement
Quality of Education
Requires improvement
Behaviour & Attitudes
Good
Personal Development
Good
Leadership & Management
Requires improvement

Source: Ofsted, 23 Oct 2023. Ratings: 1=Outstanding, 2=Good, 3=Requires Improvement, 4=Inadequate.

Facilities

13
LibrarySwimming PoolGymnasiumTennis CourtsICT SuiteSports HallAstro TurfScience LabsTheatrePlaying FieldsMusic RoomsArt StudiosChapel

Facilities may vary. Contact the school for current availability.

Extracurriculars

16

Sports

BadmintonTennisSwimmingDanceFootballRoundersAthleticsRugby

Clubs & Activities

OrchestraChoirGardeningDebateArt ClubBook ClubDramaEco Club

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

SEND Support

AutismDyslexiaMental HealthSpeech & LanguageHearingPhysicalLearning DifficultyMulti-SensoryOther

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

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Frequently Asked Questions About Smithills School

Smithills School has been rated "Requires Improvement" by Ofsted. This means the school is not yet good, but inspectors believe it can improve with the right support and changes.