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St Joseph's RC Primary School, Halliwell, Bolton

St Joseph's RC Primary School, Halliwell, Bolton

Bolton, BL1 3EJPrimary School·Ages 3-11
Goodby Ofsted

95%

Capacity

229

Pupils

2.6x

Demand

About St Joseph's RC Primary School, Halliwell, Bolton

St Joseph's RC Primary School, Halliwell, Bolton is a state-funded Roman Catholic primary school serving the Bolton community, welcoming children from age 3 to 11. The school has 229 pupils on roll and is near full capacity (95% of 240 places). Nursery provision is also available on site.

Ofsted has rated St Joseph's RC Primary School, Halliwell, Bolton "Good", the school is led by headteacher Nicola Rabbett, it falls under Bolton local authority.

In terms of academic performance, 71% of pupils met the expected standard in Reading, Writing and Maths at KS2 — above the national average. Additionally, ranked 3716th out of 13,686 schools in England. Additionally, 31st out of 87 in Bolton.

St Joseph's RC Primary School, Halliwell, Bolton is a popular choice with families — it received 59 applications for 23 places, making it 2.6x oversubscribed. Of these, 16 were first-preference applications.

St Joseph's RC Primary School, Halliwell, Bolton parent feedback on Ofsted Parent View is very positive, with 93% recommending the school (15 responses).

For children with special educational needs, the school offers support across 3 areas, including Social, Emotional & Mental Health, Speech, Language & Communication, Autistic Spectrum Disorder. Parents should contact the school's SENCO for specific details about provision.

On-site facilities at St Joseph's RC Primary School, Halliwell, Bolton include Music Rooms, Outdoor Playground, ICT Suite, Art Studios, Chapel.

Beyond the classroom, pupils can take part in sports such as Football, Swimming, Gymnastics, Tennis, as well as clubs including Coding, Gardening, Choir, Drama and 1 more.

The proportion of pupils eligible for free school meals is 39.0%, which is well above the national average for primary schools in England.

For families exploring primary schools in Bolton, St Joseph's RC Primary School, Halliwell, Bolton is one of the options available in the North West region. Use Classpot to compare it side-by-side with nearby alternatives and find the best fit for your child.

Key Details

School TypePrimary (State)
Age Range3 to 11 years
GenderMixed
Religious CharacterRoman Catholic
AddressShepherd Cross Street, Bolton, Bolton, BL1 3EJ
HeadteacherNicola Rabbett
Local AuthorityBolton
Number of Pupils229
Free School Meals (FSM)39.0%
School Capacity229 / 240 (95% full)
Nursery ClassesYes

Ofsted Inspection Breakdown

20 Nov 2024
View Report

Overall Effectiveness

Good

Latest inspection (20 Nov 2024): Standards maintained

Improved
Quality of Education
Good
Behaviour & Attitudes
Good
Personal Development
Good
Leadership & Management
Good

Additional Provisions

Early Years Provision
Good

Source: Ofsted, 7 Oct 2019. Ratings: 1=Outstanding, 2=Good, 3=Requires Improvement, 4=Inadequate.

League Table Position

Based on KS2 Reading, Writing & Maths (71%)

3716th of 13,686

Nationally

Top 50%

527th of 2,065

In North West

Top 50%

31st of 87

In Bolton

Top 50%

Source: Classpot analysis of DfE KS2 Reading, Writing & Maths data

KS2 SATs Results

2023/24

Reading, Writing & Maths Combined

71%

Expected Standard

10%

Higher Standard

ReadingAvg Score: 105
Expected:77%
Higher:35%
Writing
Expected:71%
Higher:16%
MathsAvg Score: 104
Expected:77%
Higher:19%
RWM Expected Standard % over timeStable +2%

'22/23

69%

'23/24

71%

Source: Department for Education, 2023/24. National expected standard benchmark is around 65%.

Ofsted Parent View

15 responses

Would Recommend This School

93%Excellent
Needs Attentionbelow 70%
SEND support
0%
Bullying dealt with
33%
Concerns dealt with
60%
Strengths95%+ agree
Happy at schoolWell behaved pupilsAware of curriculumChild does wellProgress updatesSubject range

Source: Ofsted Parent View (GOV.UK statistical data), Sep – Sep 2025

SEND Support

AutismMental HealthSpeech & Language

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

Facilities

5
Music RoomsOutdoor PlaygroundICT SuiteArt StudiosChapel

Facilities may vary. Contact the school for current availability.

Extracurriculars

9

Sports

FootballSwimmingGymnasticsTennis

Clubs & Activities

CodingGardeningChoirDramaScience Club

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

Admissions

2025/26Oversubscribed
Places

23

Applications

59

Good Demand

Popular school with more applications than places

Applications to places ratio2.6x
0x1x2x3x5x+

16 families put this school as their 1st choice (27% of all applications)

Source: Department for Education, 2025/26. Data reflects national offer day applications and offers.

Frequently Asked Questions About St Joseph's RC Primary School, Halliwell, Bolton

St Joseph's RC Primary School, Halliwell, Bolton has been rated "Good" by Ofsted. This means the school provides a good standard of education and effectively supports all pupils to succeed.

Contact Information

01204333055www.st-josephrcp.bolton.sch.uk

Shepherd Cross Street, Bolton

Bolton, BL1 3EJ

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Shepherd Cross Street, Bolton

Bolton, BL1 3EJ

Journey to School

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Opening Hours

Monday8:30 AM - 3:30 PM
Tuesday8:30 AM - 3:30 PM
Wednesday8:30 AM - 3:30 PM
Thursday8:30 AM - 3:30 PM
Friday8:30 AM - 3:30 PM
SaturdayClosed
SundayClosed

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