Primary school

St Columba's RC Primary School

  • Voluntary Aided School
  • ages 3–11
  • Mixed
  • Roman Catholic
  • Bolton
  • BL2 3AR
Ofsted Good · inspected Apr 2024

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Results · 2024/25

Ranked 5,648 of 15,057 primaries in England · top 38%

Top % in England, by year
2015/16: top 11%11%2016/17: top 58%2017/18: top 63%2018/19: top 63%2022/23: top 25%2023/24: top 37%2024/25: top 38%No exams

Against North West

Expected standard, RWM69% · North West 63%Small cohort: 29 pupils in 2024/25 (under 30)
Higher standard, RWM7% · North West 6%Small cohort: 29 pupils in 2024/25 (under 30)
Reading score106 · North West 105Small cohort: 29 pupils in 2024/25 (under 30)
Maths score108 · North West 105Small cohort: 29 pupils in 2024/25 (under 30)
Show KS2 results by year

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

Expected standard, RWM
2015/16: 77% · 30 pupils · North West 55%2016/17: 60% · 30 pupils · North West 64%2017/18: 62% · 29 pupils · North West 68%2018/19: 63% · 30 pupils · North West 67%2022/23: 72% · 29 pupils · North West 61%2023/24: 68% · 28 pupils · North West 63%2024/25: 69% · 29 pupils · North West 63%77%60%No exams
Higher standard, RWM
2015/16: 3% · 30 pupils · North West 3%2016/17: 10% · 30 pupils · North West 7%2017/18: 7% · 29 pupils · North West 8%2018/19: 0% · 30 pupils · North West 9%2022/23: 3% · 29 pupils · North West 6%2023/24: 4% · 28 pupils · North West 5%2024/25: 7% · 29 pupils · North West 6%10%0%No exams
Reading score
2015/16: 104 · 30 pupils · North West 1022016/17: 104 · 30 pupils · North West 1042017/18: 105 · 29 pupils · North West 1052018/19: 102 · 30 pupils · North West 1042022/23: 106 · 29 pupils · North West 1052023/24: 105 · 28 pupils · North West 1052024/25: 106 · 29 pupils · North West 105106102No exams
Maths score
2015/16: 106 · 30 pupils · North West 1032016/17: 106 · 30 pupils · North West 1042017/18: 104 · 29 pupils · North West 1052018/19: 105 · 30 pupils · North West 1052022/23: 106 · 29 pupils · North West 1042023/24: 107 · 28 pupils · North West 1042024/25: 108 · 29 pupils · North West 105108104No exams

Getting in · 2026

First-choice families who got in100.0%
28 of 28 who put it first2014 · 100.0%2026 · 100.0%
By preference
ChoiceAppliedOffered
1st2828
2nd62
3rd60

Last distance offered: London only

Inspections · 2005–2024

  1. 2005Good
  2. 2008Good
  3. 2013Outstanding
  4. 2024Good

5 strong areas

  • Personal development
  • Quality of education
  • Behaviour and attitudes
  • Early years provision
  • Effectiveness of leadership and management

0 weak areas

5 areas graded · safeguarding effective

Pupils · 2024/25

On roll · Jan 2026235
Free school meals (past 6 years)30.4%
First language not English16.5%
SEN support22.5%
EHC plan3.4%
Absence (sessions missed)6.0%
Persistently absent pupils15.5%

Girls 55.1%Boys 44.9%

111.9% full · 210 places

Parent View

Earlier survey (before Nov 2025) · as at 2 Sep 2024 · 31 responses (13% of pupils)

  • My child is happy at this school71% agree
  • My child feels safe at this school87.1% agree
  • The school makes sure its pupils are well behaved74.2% agree
  • My child has been bullied and the school dealt with the bullying quickly and effectively · 51.6% not applicable46.7% agree
  • The school makes me aware of what my child will learn during the year90.3% agree
  • When I have raised concerns with the school they have been dealt with properly · 9.7% not applicable64.3% agree
  • My child has special educational needs and/or disabilities, and the school gives them the support they need to succeed50% agree
  • The school has high expectations for my child77.4% agree
  • My child does well at this school83.9% agree
  • The school lets me know how my child is doing71% agree
  • There is a good range of subjects available to my child at this school83.9% agree
  • My child can take part in clubs and activities at this school77.4% agree
  • The school supports my child's wider personal development58.1% agree
  • I would recommend this school to another parent64.5% yes

Workforce · 2025/26

Pupils per teacher20.9
Pupils per adult9.3
  • Classroom teachers 8.8
  • Leadership 2
  • Teaching assistants 13.4
  • Other support 3

Teachers 10.8 FTE · Whole workforce 27.2 · 35 people

Financials · 2025/26

Income per pupil£7,434
Spend per pupil£7,349
Staff spend per pupil£5,785
Reserve per pupil£520
  • +£117,064revenue reserve
  • +£19,092in-year balance

Grants £7,216 · self-generated £218 · premises £398 per pupil