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Westhoughton High School

Bolton, BL5 3BZSecondaryAges 11–16MixedState
Ofsted Rating
Requires Improvement
May 2023
Progress 8
-0.64
Well below average
−20+2
Competition
1.0×
Not oversubscribed
254 1st-choice / 259 places
Ranking
#2,790
of 3,141 nationally

About Westhoughton High School

Westhoughton High School is currently rated Requires Improvement by Ofsted, following its most recent graded inspection in 2023. This marks a decline from its previous Good rating in 2015, with inspectors noting that the quality of education, personal development, behaviour and attitudes, and leadership and management all require improvement. The most telling academic metric is the school’s Progress 8 score of -0.64, which is classified as well below average nationally. This means that, on average, pupils achieved nearly two-thirds of a grade less per subject than students with similar starting points across England. In Bolton, where the local authority average Progress 8 score is 0.07, Westhoughton ranks 18th out of 22 state secondary schools. Its Attainment 8 score sits at 43.1, and just 39 per cent of pupils achieved a grade 5 or above in English and maths GCSEs, compared with 59.2 per cent at the standard pass threshold of grade 4.

Key Details

School TypeSecondary (State)
Age Range11 to 16 years
GenderMixed
Religious CharacterDoes not apply
AddressBolton Road, Bolton, Bolton, BL5 3BZ
HeadteacherNeil Coe
Local AuthorityBolton
Number of Pupils1,338
Free School Meals (FSM)22.9%
School Capacity1,338 / 1,350 (99% 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

10 May 2023
View Report
Overall Effectiveness
Requires improvement
Quality of Education
Requires improvement
Behaviour & Attitudes
Requires improvement
Personal Development
Requires improvement
Leadership & Management
Requires improvement

Source: Ofsted, 27 Jun 2023. Ratings: 1=Outstanding, 2=Good, 3=Requires Improvement, 4=Inadequate.

Facilities

13
Art StudiosMusic RoomsTheatreAstro TurfLibraryPlaying FieldsICT SuiteSixth Form CentreScience LabsSports HallSwimming PoolDining HallChapel

Facilities may vary. Contact the school for current availability.

Extracurriculars

13

Sports

RoundersSwimmingFootballCross CountryTennisHockeyDance

Clubs & Activities

DramaEco ClubCodingModel United NationsDuke of EdinburghNewspaper

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

SEND Support

AutismDyslexiaMental HealthSpeech & LanguageVisionPhysicalLearning Difficulty

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

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Frequently Asked Questions About Westhoughton High School

Westhoughton High School has been rated "Requires Improvement" by Ofsted. This means the school is not yet good, but inspectors believe it can improve with the right support and changes.