Classpot

St Matthew's CofE Primary School, Little Lever

Bolton, BL3 1BQPrimaryAges 5–11MixedState
Ofsted Rating
Good
Mar 2023
KS2 Results
48%
meeting expected standard in RWM
Competition
0.5×
Not oversubscribed
14 1st-choice / 26 places
Ranking
#11,087
of 13,686 nationally

About St Matthew's CofE Primary School, Little Lever

St Matthew's CofE Primary School in Little Lever was rated Good in its most recent Ofsted inspection in 2023, a significant improvement from its previous Requires Improvement rating in 2010. The school's leadership and management were also judged Good. However, the most telling academic metric is the proportion of pupils reaching the expected standard in reading, writing and maths combined at Key Stage 2, which stands at 48 per cent. This is well below the Bolton local authority average of 66 per cent, placing the school 78th out of 87 primary schools in the borough and in the bottom 50 per cent nationally. While individual subject results are stronger — 79 per cent of pupils met the expected standard in reading and 67 per cent in maths — writing is a notable weak spot, with only 55 per cent reaching the expected level and no pupils achieving the higher standard.

Key Details

School TypePrimary (State)
Age Range5 to 11 years
GenderMixed
Religious CharacterChurch of England
AddressNorris Street, Bolton, Bolton, BL3 1BQ
HeadteacherJohn Shawcross
Local AuthorityBolton
Number of Pupils195
Free School Meals (FSM)16.4%
School Capacity195 / 210 (93% 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

2 Mar 2023
View Report
Overall Effectiveness
Good
Leadership & Management
Good

Latest monitoring visit (2 Mar 2023): School remains Good

Source: Ofsted, 8 Nov 2012. Ratings: 1=Outstanding, 2=Good, 3=Requires Improvement, 4=Inadequate.

Facilities

6
Outdoor PlaygroundSensory RoomDining HallICT SuiteSports HallChapel

Facilities may vary. Contact the school for current availability.

Extracurriculars

13

Sports

Cross CountryTennisRoundersDanceAthleticsSwimmingCricket

Clubs & Activities

Science ClubArt ClubCodingGardeningFilm ClubChess

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

SEND Support

DyslexiaMental HealthSpeech & Language

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

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Frequently Asked Questions About St Matthew's CofE Primary School, Little Lever

St Matthew's CofE Primary School, Little Lever has been rated "Good" by Ofsted. This means the school provides a good standard of education and effectively supports all pupils to succeed.