Secondary school

Sharples School

  • Academy Converter
  • ages 11–16
  • Mixed
  • Bolton
  • BL1 8SN
  • No sixth form
Ofsted Good · inspected Sep 2013 Top school 2024/25

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Results · 2024/25

Ranked 437 of 3,280 secondaries in England · top 14%

Top % in England, by year
2015/16: top 59%59%2016/17: top 31%2017/18: top 33%2018/19: top 14%2021/22: top 18%2022/23: top 13%13% · 2022/232023/24: top 13%2024/25: top 14%No exams

Against North WestArrows: North West rank change since 2021/22

Attainment 855.6 · North West 44.410/10 Top 10%+5.7 pts
Grade 5+ English and maths61.9% · North West 40%9/10 Top 20%+5.5 pts
EBacc point score4.73 · North West 3.829/10 Top 20%+7.6 pts
Progress 8 · 2023/24+0.86 · North West −0.1610/10 Top 10%
Show exam results by year

No exams 2019/20–21

Attainment 8
2015/16: 48.9 · 149 pupils · North West 49.62016/17: 49.5 · 125 pupils · North West 45.42017/18: 49.2 · 146 pupils · North West 45.052018/19: 55.3 · 125 pupils · North West 45.12021/22: 56.1 · 204 pupils · North West 46.92022/23: 56.3 · 230 pupils · North West 44.32023/24: 56.5 · 236 pupils · North West 442024/25: 55.6 · 247 pupils · North West 44.456.548.9No exams
Grade 5+ English and maths
2016/17: 48% · 125 pupils · North West 37%2017/18: 47% · 146 pupils · North West 38%2018/19: 59% · 125 pupils · North West 38%2021/22: 65% · 204 pupils · North West 45%2022/23: 68% · 230 pupils · North West 39%2023/24: 66.1% · 236 pupils · North West 39.7%2024/25: 61.9% · 247 pupils · North West 40%68%47%No exams

Getting in · 2026

First-choice families who got in68.3%
235 of 344 who put it first2014 · 100.0%2026 · 68.3%
By preference
ChoiceAppliedOffered
1st344235
2nd2930
3rd1860

Last distance offered: London only

Inspections · 2006–2025

  1. 2006Satisfactoryas predecessor
  2. 2009Inadequateas predecessor
  3. 2011Goodas predecessor
  4. 2013Goodas predecessor
  5. 2019Remains Good
  6. 2025Ungraded visit

4 strong areas

  • Quality of teaching
  • Achievement of pupils
  • Leadership and management
  • Behaviour and safety of pupils

0 weak areas

4 areas graded · inspected as predecessor

Pupils · 2024/25

On roll · Jan 20261,214
Free school meals (past 6 years)29.3%
First language not English33.7%
SEN support9.3%
EHC plan3.2%
Absence (sessions missed)5.5%
Persistently absent pupils11.4%

Girls 56.2%Boys 43.8%

112.4% full · 1,080 places

Parent View

Earlier survey (before Nov 2025) · as at 1 Sep 2025 · 75 responses (6.2% of pupils)

  • My child is happy at this school93.3% agree
  • My child feels safe at this school97.3% agree
  • The school makes sure its pupils are well behaved96% agree
  • My child has been bullied and the school dealt with the bullying quickly and effectively · 70.7% not applicable68.2% agree
  • The school makes me aware of what my child will learn during the year84% agree
  • When I have raised concerns with the school they have been dealt with properly · 34.7% not applicable81.6% agree
  • Does your child have special educational needs and/or disabilities (SEND)?17.3% yes
  • My child has SEND, and the school gives them the support they need to succeed · asked only of the 17.3% who said Yes above46.1% agree
  • The school has high expectations for my child94.7% agree
  • My child does well at this school90.7% agree
  • The school lets me know how my child is doing88% agree
  • There is a good range of subjects available to my child at this school98.7% agree
  • My child can take part in clubs and activities at this school98.7% agree
  • The school supports my child's wider personal development86.7% agree
  • I would recommend this school to another parent92% yes

Workforce · 2025/26

Pupils per teacher15.9
Pupils per adult10.2
  • Classroom teachers 70.3
  • Leadership 6
  • Teaching assistants 23.8
  • Other support 32

Teachers 76.3 FTE · Whole workforce 132.2 · 149 people

Financials · 2024/25

Income per pupil£7,827
Spend per pupil£7,722
Staff spend per pupil£5,926
Reserve per pupil£1,500
  • +£1,828,000revenue reserve
  • +£128,000in-year balance

Grants £7,855 · self-generated £182 · premises £453 per pupil

Multi-academy trust: SHARPLES SCHOOL A MULTI ACADEMY TRUST (1 academies) · trust reserve £1,828,000 · Reserves in a multi-academy trust belong to the trust; this academy's figures include the share of central costs the trust gives it

Destinations · 2023/24 leavers

After Year 11

236 students, followed through 2024/25 · Provisional

  • Sustained91.5%
  • Education89%
  • Apprenticeship0.8%
  • Employment1.7%
  • Not sustained7.2%
  • Unknown1.3%