Turton School
100%
Capacity
1,606
Pupils
2.0x
Demand
About Turton School
Turton School is a large, mixed state secondary in Bolton that is currently operating at full capacity, with 1,606 pupils on roll against a stated capacity of 1,600. This is a school in clear demand: for the 2025/26 academic year, it received 521 total applications for 264 places, an oversubscription ratio of 1.97, and made 233 offers to first-preference applicants out of 236 who put it top of their list. The school’s intake reflects a broadly typical socioeconomic mix for the area, with 21.6% of pupils eligible for free school meals, which is slightly above the national average but in line with many Bolton secondaries. Headteacher Sam Gorse leads a non-denominational school with no religious character, and the school has its own official sixth form, meaning pupils can stay on site from age 11 through to 18.
Academically, Turton sits comfortably in the middle of the pack. Its Progress 8 score of 0.08 is almost exactly in line with the Bolton local authority average of 0.07, and the school ranks 9th out of 19 secondaries in the borough on this measure. Nationally, it places in the 43rd percentile, meaning it performs better than just under half of all schools. Attainment 8 sits at 48.7, and 67.2% of pupils achieved a grade 4 or above in English and maths. The school’s most recent Ofsted inspection, in March 2024, rated it Good across all five categories, including behaviour and attitudes, personal development, and leadership and management. This was a consistent result: its previous inspection in 2015 also awarded a Good overall. At A-level, the school’s value-added score of 0.33 is rated above average, with pupils achieving an average grade of B- per entry.
The school is well equipped for a comprehensive of its size, with facilities including a swimming pool, astro turf, tennis courts, a theatre, and a chapel. It offers a broad range of clubs and activities, from Model UN and the Duke of Edinburgh’s Award to gardening and orchestra. Its SEND provisions are extensive, covering specific learning difficulties like dyslexia, autistic spectrum disorder, and speech and language needs, as well as physical and sensory impairments. For families considering Turton, the data paints a picture of a solid, oversubscribed community school that delivers consistent, average-to-good outcomes without being exceptional in any one area. It is a pragmatic choice for parents who want a stable, well-run local school with a strong sixth form and plenty of extracurricular options, rather than a high-stakes academic hothouse.
Key Details
| School Type | Secondary (State) |
| Age Range | 11 to 18 years |
| Gender | Mixed |
| Religious Character | Does not apply |
| Address | Bromley Cross Road, Bolton, Bolton, BL7 9LT |
| Headteacher | Sam Gorse |
| Local Authority | Bolton |
| Number of Pupils | 1,606 |
| Free School Meals (FSM) | 21.6% |
| School Capacity | 1,606 / 1,600 (100% full) |
| Sixth Form | Yes |
Ofsted Inspection Breakdown
12 Mar 2024Overall Effectiveness
Good
Additional Provisions
Source: Ofsted, 7 May 2024. Ratings: 1=Outstanding, 2=Good, 3=Requires Improvement, 4=Inadequate.
League Table Position
Based on Progress 8 (+0.08)
1339th of 3,141
Nationally
138th of 445
In North West
9th of 19
In Bolton
Source: Classpot analysis of DfE Progress 8 data
GCSE Results
2023/24Progress 8 Score
Students make similar progress to students nationally with the same starting point
Attainment 8 (vs national avg)
Students achieve significantly higher grades than the national average
Source: Department for Education, 2023/24. Progress 8 compares to students with similar Key Stage 2 results.
A-Level Results
2023/24Average Points per Entry
Value Added Score
Best 3 A-Levels (Average)
'21/22
38.8
'22/23
33.7
'23/24
36.1
Source: Department for Education 16-18 Performance Tables, 2023/24. Value Added measures progress compared to students with similar GCSE results.
Where GCSE leavers go
2022/2351%
of GCSE leavers stay on for sixth form at this school (cohort: 232 pupils).
- School sixth form (stay)51%
- FE college28%
- Employment7%
- Not sustained7%
- Apprenticeship4%
- Sixth form college3%
93% of leavers had a sustained destination 6 months on.
Source: DfE Compare School & College Performance, KS4 pupil destinations 2022/23 (revised). Only state-funded schools are required to report.
Where school leavers go
2022/2357%
of A-level / Level 3 leavers go to higher education (cohort: 126 pupils).
Top-tier university progression
14%
Russell Group
20%
Top-third HE
Percentages of the whole cohort (not just HE-goers). Russell Group = 24 elite research universities. Top-third HE = top by mean UCAS tariff.
- University (HE)57%
- Employment15%
- Not sustained13%
- Apprenticeship10%
- Further education1%
- Other education1%
Sources: DfE 16-18 destination measures (broad bucket); DfE KS5 student destinations file (Russell Group / top-third HE / Oxbridge). Level 3 cohort. “Sustained” means the pupil was in education, apprenticeship or employment for 6 months in the year following completion.
Sixth form A-level subjects
2022/23- Geography31
- Mathematics20
- English Literature19
- Psychology19
- Business Studies:Single18
- Chemistry14
- Sociology14
- Art and Design (Graphics)13
- Economics13
- Art and Design (Photography)12
- Biology12
- English Language11
Subjects with at least 3 entries in 2022/23. Number shown next to each subject is the number of pupils who sat that A-level exam — a rough indicator of subject popularity at this school. Source: DfE Compare School & College Performance.
SEND Support
Source: Department for Education, 2024/25. Support availability based on current student population.
Facilities
13Facilities may vary. Contact the school for current availability.
Extracurriculars
15Sports
Clubs & Activities
Activities may vary by term. Contact the school for current offerings.
Admissions
2025/26Oversubscribed264
521
Good Demand
Popular school with more applications than places
236 families put this school as their 1st choice (45% of all applications)
Source: Department for Education, 2025/26. Data reflects national offer day applications and offers.
Class profile
2024/25Better than 75% of schools in England.
Better than 75% of schools in England.
Lower is generally better — fewer pupils per teacher or per class means more individual attention. Sources: DfE School Workforce Census & Schools, pupils and their characteristics, 2024/25.
Pupils & demographics
2024/25Below the national average (25%).
Below most schools — predominantly English as first language.
Ethnic background
- White British89.5%
- Mixed3.8%
- Asian2.4%
- White (other)0.8%
- Black0.2%
Source: DfE Schools, pupils and their characteristics (2024/25). Percentages may not sum to 100% — pupils classified as “unclassified”, “refused” or minor categories are not shown.
Attendance & Behaviour
2024/2575% of schools in England do better than this.
75% of schools in England do better than this.
Pupils missing 10% or more of sessions.
75% of schools in England do better than this.
A pupil temporarily sent home for behaviour.
Permanent exclusion is rare — most schools have none in a given year.
Ranks vs all state-funded schools in England. Source: DfE Pupil absence in schools & Suspensions and permanent exclusions.
Catchment & Local Competition
No catchment data published for this school
The dashed grey ring is a generic 1-mile reference area — it's not an admission boundary. Real catchment depends on year, demand, and council criteria. We currently have real data for about 6% of UK schools and are actively expanding the database.
⚠ This school is oversubscribed — without published cutoff data we can't show how far places reach. Check your council's admissions page.
Schools within 1 mile (reference area)
1 mile is a fixed reference, not this school's catchment.
11
Total schools
10
Oversubscribed
8
Primary
Don’t use the dashed grey ring as a catchment boundary — it’s a reference area for counting nearby schools only. Real admission boundaries depend on year-by-year demand and council criteria; ask the school or council for authoritative info.
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Frequently Asked Questions About Turton School
Helpful Guides for Parents
Ofsted Ratings Explained
Understand the 4 Ofsted ratings and what they mean
Understanding Progress 8
Learn how Progress 8 measures pupil progress from primary to GCSE
SEN & EHCP: A Parent's Guide
Understanding SEN support, EHC Plans and your legal rights
Understanding School Catchment Areas
How admission distances work and tips for maximising your choices
Contact Information
Bromley Cross Road, Bolton
Bolton, BL7 9LT
Journey to School
Journey times are estimates based on current conditions. Actual times may vary.
