1
The Valley Community Primary School
Bolton • Lancashire • BL1 8JG
1
21 Nov 2023
Top 10 Primary schools in BL1
Updated for the latest inspections (median graded year: 2019)
This Top 10 showcases primary schools in the postcode area of BL1. It’s built from the latest graded Ofsted inspections. We rank Outstanding (grade 1) above Good (grade 2), then prioritise newer inspections. As tie-breakers, we consider the “Quality of education” sub-judgement (where available), then %FSM and school size.
Total primary schools
20
Outstanding
3
Good
12
Median inspection year
2019
Ofsted grade mix (graded schools)
O: 19% · G: 75% · RI: 6% · I: 0%
2
Oxford Grove Primary School
Bolton • Lancashire • BL1 3EJ
1
21 Mar 2023
3
The Olive School, Bolton
Bolton • Greater Manchester • BL1 8HT
1
16 Sep 2019
4
The Oaks Primary School
Bolton • Lancashire • BL1 7HS
2
31 Jan 2024
5
Devonshire Road Primary School
Bolton • Lancashire • BL1 4ND
2
14 Nov 2022
6
Church Road Primary School
Bolton • Lancashire • BL1 5RU
2
13 Feb 2020
7
St Joseph's RC Primary School, Halliwell, Bolton
Bolton • Lancashire • BL1 3EJ
2
7 Oct 2019
8
Sharples Primary School
Bolton • BL1 8RU
2
26 Jun 2019
9
St Matthew's CofE Primary School, Bolton
Bolton • Lancashire • BL1 2JL
2
6 Mar 2017
10
St Thomas C of E Primary School, Halliwell
Bolton • Lancashire • BL1 3JB
2
13 Sep 2016
How we rank these schools
- Headline Ofsted grade: Outstanding (1) outranks Good (2), then RI (3), then Inadequate (4).
- More recent graded inspection dates rank higher.
- Where available, we use the Quality of education sub-judgement as a tie-breaker.
- Lower free school meals (%) may break remaining ties.
- Larger roll (pupil count) is a final tie-breaker.
Only the ten highest-ranked schools are shown; we also list “near misses” just below.
About Ofsted grades
- Outstanding (1): Highest judgement across key areas.
- Good (2): Strong effectiveness; meets standards consistently.
- Requires improvement (3): Not yet good; clear areas to improve.
- Inadequate (4): Significant weaknesses found.
Ungraded Section 8 visits check whether the previous graded judgement still stands, but they don’t replace it.
Data freshness & coverage
We refresh inspections and school snapshots regularly. If a school was inspected very recently, its report may not yet appear here.
Top-10 pages only appear for areas with at least 10 primary schools that have a graded Ofsted inspection.
Map of the Top 10
Also highly rated nearby
- Holy Infant and St Anthony RC Primary School 2 • May 2016
- St Thomas of Canterbury RC School 2 • Jul 2014
- Gilnow Primary School 2 • Nov 2012
- Brownlow Fold Primary School 2 • Nov 2011
- St Peter's Smithills Dean Church of England Primary School 2 • Nov 2011
- Gaskell Community Primary School 3 • Feb 2023
- Markland Hill Primary School Not judged • Jan 2025
- Johnson Fold Community Primary School Not judged • Dec 2024
- St Paul's CofE Primary School, Astley Bridge Not judged • Nov 2024
- High Lawn Primary School Not judged • Nov 2024