St Joseph's RC Primary School, Halliwell, Bolton
About St Joseph's RC Primary School, Halliwell, Bolton
St Joseph's RC Primary School in Halliwell, Bolton, is a state primary for children aged 3 to 11, currently home to 229 pupils against a capacity of 240. That leaves a small amount of headroom, but the school is clearly in demand: for the 2025/26 intake, it received 59 applications for just 23 places, an oversubscription ratio of 2.57. Only 16 of those applications were first-preference, meaning the school is popular but not the very first choice for every family. The pupil body is notably diverse in terms of disadvantage, with 39% of children eligible for free school meals, well above the national average and a figure that gives the school a distinctly different intake profile from many of its neighbours. As a Roman Catholic school, its admissions criteria will naturally prioritise faith families, but the high FSM rate suggests it serves a genuinely mixed community, not a narrow demographic. The school also offers nursery provision, so families can join from age three.
Key Details
The full report on this school
What 15 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 EnglishStrengths, concerns and what inspectors flagged
- Parent View survey resultsWhat parents told Ofsted — when the school has 10+ responses
- Where Ofsted and parents disagreeGaps to probe + questions to ask at the open day
- Admissions & catchmentAdmission criteria, distance cutoffs (where the LA publishes them)
- Nearby schools comparedBackup options with Ofsted, demand and distance
- Attendance & behaviour dataPersistent absentees, suspensions and exclusions vs national
Ofsted Inspection Breakdown
20 Nov 2024Latest monitoring visit (20 Nov 2024): Standards maintained
Source: Ofsted, 7 Oct 2019. Ratings: 1=Outstanding, 2=Good, 3=Requires Improvement, 4=Inadequate.
Facilities
5Facilities may vary. Contact the school for current availability.
Extracurriculars
9Sports
Clubs & Activities
Activities may vary by term. Contact the school for current offerings.
SEND Support
Source: Department for Education, 2024/25. Support availability based on current student population.
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