Secondary school

Thornleigh Salesian College

  • Voluntary Aided School
  • ages 11–18
  • Mixed
  • Roman Catholic
  • Bolton
  • BL1 6PQ
  • Sixth form
Ofsted areas (no overall grade) · inspected Oct 2024

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Results · 2024/25

Ranked 1,640 of 3,280 secondaries in England · top 50%

Top % in England, by year
2015/16: top 14%14%2016/17: top 37%2017/18: top 31%2018/19: top 32%2021/22: top 36%2022/23: top 43%2023/24: top 55%2024/25: top 50%No exams

A-level results

#65 of 178 North West sixth forms, state and independent, 2024/25

Independent and selective (grammar) schools choose their pupils, so high results partly reflect who gets in, not only teaching. Some independent schools don't publish results.

Against North West

Attainment 845.7 · North West 44.46/10 Middle−16 pts since 21/22
Grade 5+ English and maths41.1% · North West 40%6/10 Middle−24.9 pts since 21/22
EBacc point score3.86 · North West 3.826/10 Middle−16.4 pts since 21/22
Progress 8 · 2023/24-0.22 · North West −0.165/10 Middle−28.8 pts since 18/19
A level points per entry36.28 · North West 32.98/10 Above+16.6 pts since 21/22
Show exam results by year

No exams 2019/20–21

Attainment 8
2015/16: 57 · 228 pupils · North West 49.62016/17: 48.4 · 224 pupils · North West 45.42017/18: 49.5 · 220 pupils · North West 45.052018/19: 49.7 · 223 pupils · North West 45.12021/22: 51.3 · 257 pupils · North West 46.92022/23: 47.3 · 256 pupils · North West 44.32023/24: 44.8 · 267 pupils · North West 442024/25: 45.7 · 263 pupils · North West 44.45744.8No exams
Grade 5+ English and maths
2016/17: 37% · 224 pupils · North West 37%2017/18: 45% · 220 pupils · North West 38%2018/19: 48% · 223 pupils · North West 38%2021/22: 59% · 257 pupils · North West 45%2022/23: 41% · 256 pupils · North West 39%2023/24: 44.6% · 267 pupils · North West 39.7%2024/25: 41.1% · 263 pupils · North West 40%59%37%No exams
A level points per entry
2015/16: 28.36 · 165 pupils · North West 28.42016/17: 26.4 · 132 pupils · North West 29.242017/18: 31.99 · 117 pupils · North West 30.22018/19: 31.75 · 130 pupils · North West 31.62021/22: 36.39 · 103 pupils · North West 35.972022/23: 34.82 · 114 pupils · North West 31.932023/24: 32.9 · 119 pupils · North West 32.72024/25: 36.28 · 90 pupils · North West 32.936.3926.4No exams

Getting in · 2026

First-choice families who got in94.2%
227 of 241 who put it first2014 · 83.6%2026 · 94.2%
By preference
ChoiceAppliedOffered
1st241227
2nd20130
3rd1923

Last distance offered: London only

Inspections · 2006–2024

  • Personal developmentGood
  • Quality of educationRequires improvement
  • Behaviour and attitudesGood
  • Sixth form provisionGood
  • Leadership and managementRequires improvement
  • SafeguardingEffective
  1. 2006Satisfactory
  2. 2008Satisfactory
  3. 2011Good
  4. 2015Ungraded visit
  5. 2019Remains Good
  6. 2024Lowest Requires improvement

Pupils · 2024/25

On roll · Jan 20261,574
Free school meals (past 6 years)29.6%
First language not English9.8%
SEN support12.8%
EHC plan2.2%
Absence (sessions missed)8.5%
Persistently absent pupils24.0%

Girls 51.3%Boys 48.7%

95.4% full · 1,650 places · 225 in sixth form

Parent View

Earlier survey (before Nov 2025) · as at 1 Sep 2025 · 186 responses (11.8% of pupils)

  • My child is happy at this school81.7% agree
  • My child feels safe at this school83.9% agree
  • The school makes sure its pupils are well behaved78.5% agree
  • My child has been bullied and the school dealt with the bullying quickly and effectively · 63.4% not applicable44.1% agree
  • The school makes me aware of what my child will learn during the year71.5% agree
  • When I have raised concerns with the school they have been dealt with properly · 24.7% not applicable68.6% agree
  • Does your child have special educational needs and/or disabilities (SEND)?21% yes
  • My child has SEND, and the school gives them the support they need to succeed · asked only of the 21% who said Yes above61.5% agree
  • The school has high expectations for my child82.3% agree
  • My child does well at this school78% agree
  • The school lets me know how my child is doing75.8% agree
  • There is a good range of subjects available to my child at this school91.4% agree
  • My child can take part in clubs and activities at this school91.9% agree
  • The school supports my child's wider personal development74.7% agree
  • I would recommend this school to another parent80.1% yes

Workforce · 2025/26

Pupils per teacher14.4
Pupils per adult11.1
  • Classroom teachers 99.9
  • Leadership 9
  • Teaching assistants 18.3
  • Other support 34.4

Teachers 108.9 FTE · Whole workforce 161.6 · 172 people

Financials · 2025/26

Income per pupil£7,774
Spend per pupil£7,883
Staff spend per pupil£6,411
Reserve per pupil£674
  • +£1,063,787revenue reserve
  • −£171,520in-year balance

Grants £7,668 · self-generated £120 · premises £495 per pupil

Destinations · 2023/24 leavers

After Year 11

267 students, followed through 2024/25 · Provisional

  • Sustained90.6%
  • Education82.4%
  • Apprenticeship4.9%
  • Employment3.4%
  • Not sustained5.6%
  • Unknown3.7%

After sixth form (16–18)

146 students, followed through 2024/25 · Provisional

  • Sustained81.5%
  • Education51.4%
  • Higher education43.8%
  • Apprenticeship8.2%
  • Employment21.9%
  • Not sustained11%
  • Unknown7.5%