University Collegiate School
72%
Capacity
604
Pupils
1.7x
Demand
About University Collegiate School
University Collegiate School’s headline Progress 8 score of -0.98 places it significantly below the Bolton local authority average of 0.07 for secondary schools, ranking it 20th out of 22 schools of its type in the borough. This is a stark contrast that parents will want to weigh carefully. The school’s Attainment 8 score sits at 35.2, and just 30% of pupils achieved a grade 5 or above in English and maths (the basics 95 measure). Only 6.7% of students entered the EBacc, and the EBacc average point score was 3.01. These figures paint a picture of a school where academic outcomes, on average, are notably lower than the local norm. However, it’s worth noting that the school serves a community with high disadvantage — 47% of pupils are eligible for free school meals — and its most recent Ofsted inspection in September 2024 rated it Good across all areas, a remarkable turnaround from its previous Inadequate rating in December 2022.
At Key Stage 5, the picture is more encouraging. The school’s value-added score of 0.21 is positive, and its progress banding is described as Average. The average points per entry were 23.14, equating to a D+ grade, and the best three A-levels averaged a D+ as well. With only 12 pupils in the sixth form cohort, these figures are based on a small group, so individual variation is high. The sixth form provision was also rated Good by Ofsted. In the parent view survey, 83% of respondents would recommend the school, and strong majorities agreed that their child is happy (89% combined agree/strongly agree) and that the school has high expectations (89% combined). Notably, 75% strongly agreed that the school gives SEND children the support they need, and the school lists provisions for a wide range of needs including Autistic Spectrum Disorder, Speech, Language & Communication needs, and Social, Emotional & Mental Health.
The school is oversubscribed for 2025/26, with 200 applications for 119 places and 67 first-preference offers, giving an oversubscription ratio of 1.68. Facilities include a swimming pool, sports hall, tennis courts, art studios, and a sixth form centre, with clubs ranging from Debate and Model UN to the Duke of Edinburgh’s Award and Gardening. Sports on offer include basketball, rugby, football, and athletics. University Collegiate School is a mixed, non-religious state secondary with a sixth form, and it clearly serves a high-priority community. For families whose children may need strong SEND support or who value a school that has demonstrably improved its behaviour and leadership under headteacher Ian Barry, this school could be a strong fit — but the academic data suggests it may not be the right choice for those prioritising top-tier exam results.
Key Details
| School Type | Secondary (State) |
| Age Range | 11 to 19 years |
| Gender | Mixed |
| Religious Character | None |
| Address | 85 Deane Road, Bolton, Bolton, BL3 5AG |
| Headteacher | Ian Barry |
| Local Authority | Bolton |
| Number of Pupils | 604 |
| Free School Meals (FSM) | 47.0% |
| School Capacity | 604 / 840 (72% full) |
| Sixth Form | Yes |
Ofsted Inspection Breakdown
24 Sept 2024Quality of Education
Good
Since Sep 2024, Ofsted no longer assigns a single overall grade
Additional Provisions
Source: Ofsted, 10 Nov 2024. Ratings: 1=Outstanding, 2=Good, 3=Requires Improvement, 4=Inadequate.
League Table Position
Based on Progress 8 (-0.98)
3007th of 3,141
Nationally
413th of 445
In North West
19th of 19
In Bolton
Source: Classpot analysis of DfE Progress 8 data
GCSE Results
2023/24Progress 8 Score
Students make significantly less progress than similar students nationally
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)
'22/23
23.1
'23/24
23.1
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: 49 pupils).
- School sixth form (stay)51%
- FE college18%
- Sixth form college12%
- Employment8%
- Not sustained6%
90% 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
2022/2347%
of A-level / Level 3 leavers go to higher education (cohort: 19 pupils).
Top-tier university progression
3%
Russell Group
6%
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)47%
- Employment26%
- Not sustained16%
- Apprenticeship5%
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- Chemistry16
- Biology14
- Mathematics11
- Physics4
- Geography3
- Psychology3
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.
Ofsted Parent View
36 responsesWould Recommend This School
Source: Ofsted Parent View (GOV.UK statistical data), Sep – Sep 2025
SEND Support
Source: Department for Education, 2024/25. Support availability based on current student population.
Facilities
7Facilities may vary. Contact the school for current availability.
Extracurriculars
14Sports
Clubs & Activities
Activities may vary by term. Contact the school for current offerings.
Admissions
2025/26Oversubscribed119
200
Good Demand
Popular school with more applications than places
67 families put this school as their 1st choice (34% 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
2024/25Among the highest-disadvantage schools.
Among the highest 25% — a diverse linguistic intake.
Ethnic background
- Asian38.2%
- White British18.2%
- White (other)6.5%
- Mixed5.1%
- Black1.5%
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.
16
Total schools
13
Oversubscribed
12
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.
Frequently Asked Questions About University Collegiate 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
85 Deane Road, Bolton
Bolton, BL3 5AG
Journey to School
Journey times are estimates based on current conditions. Actual times may vary.
Opening Hours
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