St Stephen and All Martyrs' CofE School, Lever Bridge

About St Stephen and All Martyrs' CofE School, Lever Bridge

St Stephen and All Martyrs' CofE School in Lever Bridge has turned a corner. In its most recent Ofsted inspection in 2023, the school was rated Good overall, a clear improvement from its previous Requires Improvement rating in 2019. The inspection report shows particular strength in personal development, which was graded Outstanding, while leadership, behaviour, the quality of education and early years provision all landed at Good. The most telling exam metric is the proportion of pupils reaching the expected standard in reading, writing and maths combined: 67 per cent. That sits just above the Bolton local authority average of 66 per cent, placing the school 43rd out of 87 primary schools in the borough. Nationally, it ranks in the 38th percentile, a solidly mid-table performance that reflects steady progress rather than headline-grabbing results.

Looking closer at the 2023/24 Key Stage 2 results, the picture is one of consistent, if unspectacular, achievement. In reading, 77 per cent of pupils met the expected standard, with an average scaled score of 104. Writing matched that 77 per cent, while maths came in at 80 per cent, with an average score of 103. Where the school really stands out is in the higher standard: 20 per cent of pupils achieved above the expected level in reading, 13 per cent in writing and 10 per cent in maths. That's a respectable showing for a school of 187 pupils, though the combined higher-standard figure for all three subjects is zero, suggesting that while many children are hitting the expected mark, very few are exceeding it across the board. The school's ranking score of 67 places it in the top 50 per cent of Bolton primaries, and it sits comfortably within the middle tier of North West schools.

The school is a Church of England primary for children aged 4 to 11, with a capacity of 210 and currently 187 on roll. It was oversubscribed for 2025/26 entry, with 32 applications for 29 places and 18 first-preference offers made. Facilities include a chapel, sensory room, art studios, sports hall and playing fields, and the extracurricular offering covers netball, swimming, cricket and dance, plus clubs like Eco Club and Science Club. The school's SEND provision is broad, supporting pupils with autistic spectrum disorder, speech and language needs, dyslexia, hearing impairment and social, emotional and mental health needs. For families seeking a faith-based primary in Bolton that has improved its Ofsted rating and delivers solid, above-average core results without being among the very highest performers, St Stephen and All Martyrs' is a practical, well-supported option.

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