Primary school

Sharples Primary School

  • Community School
  • ages 3–11
  • Mixed
  • Bolton
  • BL1 8RU
Ofsted Good · inspected May 2019

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Results · 2024/25

Ranked 6,959 of 15,057 primaries in England · top 47%

Top % in England, by year
2015/16: top 42%42%2016/17: top 77%2017/18: top 64%2018/19: top 41%2022/23: top 28%28% · 2022/232023/24: top 34%2024/25: top 47%No exams

Against North WestArrows: North West rank change since 2018/19

Expected standard, RWM66% · North West 63%6/10 Middle
Higher standard, RWM6% · North West 6%5/10 Middle−36.3 pts
Reading score104 · North West 1053/10 Below−43 pts
Maths score105 · North West 1055/10 Middle+21.8 pts
Show KS2 results by year

No exams 2019/20–21Not published 2021/22

Expected standard, RWM
2015/16: 59% · 29 pupils · North West 55%2016/17: 50% · 30 pupils · North West 64%2017/18: 62% · 29 pupils · North West 68%2018/19: 70% · 30 pupils · North West 67%2022/23: 70% · 33 pupils · North West 61%2023/24: 69% · 32 pupils · North West 63%2024/25: 66% · 32 pupils · North West 63%70%50%No exams
Higher standard, RWM
2015/16: 0% · 29 pupils · North West 3%2016/17: 13% · 30 pupils · North West 7%2017/18: 0% · 29 pupils · North West 8%2018/19: 17% · 30 pupils · North West 9%2022/23: 9% · 33 pupils · North West 6%2023/24: 6% · 32 pupils · North West 5%2024/25: 6% · 32 pupils · North West 6%17%0%No exams
Reading score
2015/16: 100 · 29 pupils · North West 1022016/17: 105 · 30 pupils · North West 1042017/18: 104 · 29 pupils · North West 1052018/19: 106 · 30 pupils · North West 1042022/23: 103 · 33 pupils · North West 1052023/24: 105 · 32 pupils · North West 1052024/25: 104 · 32 pupils · North West 105106100No exams
Maths score
2015/16: 103 · 29 pupils · North West 1032016/17: 104 · 30 pupils · North West 1042017/18: 103 · 29 pupils · North West 1052018/19: 104 · 30 pupils · North West 1052022/23: 106 · 33 pupils · North West 1042023/24: 104 · 32 pupils · North West 1042024/25: 105 · 32 pupils · North West 105106103No exams

Getting in · 2026

First-choice families who got in100.0%
19 of 19 who put it first2014 · 100.0%2026 · 100.0%
By preference
ChoiceAppliedOffered
1st1919
2nd120
3rd332

Last distance offered: London only

Inspections · 2005–2025

  1. 2005Good
  2. 2009Outstanding
  3. 2012Satisfactory
  4. 2014Good
  5. 2018Remains Good
  6. 2019Good
  7. 2025Ungraded visit

5 strong areas

  • Outcomes for pupils
  • Early years provision
  • Effectiveness of leadership and management
  • Personal development, behaviour and welfare
  • Quality of teaching, learning and assessment

0 weak areas

5 areas graded

Pupils · 2024/25

On roll · Jan 2026245
Free school meals (past 6 years)21.3%
First language not English40.3%
SEN support11.1%
EHC plan4.7%
Absence (sessions missed)4.8%
Persistently absent pupils9.6%

Girls 49%Boys 51%

116.7% full · 210 places

Parent View

Earlier survey (before Nov 2025) · as at 1 Sep 2025 · 22 responses (8.7% of pupils)

  • My child is happy at this school100% agree
  • My child feels safe at this school100% agree
  • The school makes sure its pupils are well behaved100% agree
  • My child has been bullied and the school dealt with the bullying quickly and effectively · 68.2% not applicable85.7% agree
  • The school makes me aware of what my child will learn during the year100% agree
  • When I have raised concerns with the school they have been dealt with properly · 36.4% not applicable92.9% agree
  • Does your child have special educational needs and/or disabilities (SEND)?0% yes
  • My child has SEND, and the school gives them the support they need to succeed · asked only of the 0% who said Yes above0% agree
  • The school has high expectations for my child90.9% agree
  • My child does well at this school95.5% agree
  • The school lets me know how my child is doing100% agree
  • There is a good range of subjects available to my child at this school100% agree
  • My child can take part in clubs and activities at this school95.5% agree
  • The school supports my child's wider personal development95.5% agree
  • I would recommend this school to another parent95.5% yes

Workforce · 2025/26

Pupils per teacher20.4
Pupils per adult10.5
  • Classroom teachers 8.8
  • Leadership 3
  • Teaching assistants 11.2
  • Other support 2.7

Teachers 11.8 FTE · Whole workforce 25.6 · 32 people

Financials · 2025/26

Income per pupil£6,891
Spend per pupil£6,870
Staff spend per pupil£5,116
Reserve per pupil£759
  • +£182,840revenue reserve
  • +£5,085in-year balance

Grants £6,689 · self-generated £202 · premises £490 per pupil