Best secondary schools in Bolton
Bolton school lists only make sense once locked to a target postcode sector. This ranking covers 19 secondary schools in the Bolton local authority. Postcode area BL4 has the highest average school score (56.6 across 3 schools), while BL2 sits at the lower end (42.7). 79% of ranked Bolton secondary schools hold an Ofsted Outstanding or Good rating.
Top 10 secondary schools in Bolton on the LocaleIQ model
Ordered by composite score within the Bolton comparison pool. Rankings reflect published data, not editorial opinion.
More secondary schools in Bolton
Positions 11–19 in the Bolton ranking.
| # | School | LocaleIQ | Ofsted | Phase |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 11 | Little Lever School | 41.9 | Good | Secondary |
| 12 | King's Leadership Academy Bolton | 36.3 | Good | Secondary |
| 13 | Harper Green School | 29.8 | Good | Secondary |
| 14 | Ladybridge High School | 24.6 | Good | Secondary |
| 15 | University Collegiate School | 22.8 | Good | Secondary |
| 16 | Thornleigh Salesian College | 20.3 | Requires improvement | Secondary |
| 17 | Bolton St Catherine's Academy | 8.7 | Requires improvement | All-through |
| 18 | Smithills School | 7.8 | Requires improvement | Secondary |
| 19 | Westhoughton High School | 6.6 | Requires improvement | Secondary |
Keep exploring Bolton
Questions about secondary schools in Bolton
What is the best secondary school in Bolton?
Eden Boys' School, Bolton is the top-ranked secondary school in Bolton (LocaleIQ score 84.4 out of 100). Ofsted: Outstanding. Attainment 8 53.0. The score combines Ofsted outcome, Progress 8 and Attainment 8, and cohort-weighted percentile ranks within the Bolton secondary pool.
What is the best primary school in Bolton?
Egerton Primary School tops the Bolton primary school ranking (LocaleIQ 100). Ofsted: Good. KS2 expected 78% · higher 28%. See the full primary school ranking for Bolton for the complete list.
Which secondary schools in Bolton have the best GCSE results?
Attainment 8 measures average GCSE grades across eight subjects; Progress 8 compares actual grades against predictions based on KS2 — a positive figure means pupils outperformed expectations. Top performers in Bolton: Eden Boys' School, Bolton (Attainment 8 53.0); St James's Church of England High School (Attainment 8 53.5); Canon Slade School (Attainment 8 53.9). Both metrics feed into the LocaleIQ secondary school score.
Which secondary schools in Bolton are rated Outstanding by Ofsted?
1 secondary school in the Bolton ranking hold an Outstanding Ofsted rating: Eden Boys' School, Bolton. Outstanding means Ofsted judged the school exceptional in all inspection areas. LocaleIQ weighs DfE performance data alongside Ofsted, so a Good-rated school can still rank highly.
How many secondary schools are ranked in Bolton?
This ranking covers 19 secondary schools in the Bolton comparison pool. Schools without sufficient published data are excluded but may appear in the LocaleIQ directory.
Which area of Bolton has the best secondary schools?
By average LocaleIQ score across postcode areas, BL4 has the strongest cluster — 56.6 average across 3 ranked secondary schools. BL2 sits at the lower end (42.7 average). Bolton school lists only make sense once locked to a target postcode sector. Postcode averages mask individual variation — always review each school's full profile.
Ranking data last computed 29 March 2026.