Bolton’s best performing schools have been named as ‘league tables’ published
The data, which is subject to change, shows how well each high school in Bolton performed in the Year 11 exams, with the table detailing the percentage of pupils achieving 9-4 grades in English and maths, together with stronger results of 9-5, in English and maths.
Numbers of pupils achieving the benchmark of five or more good GCSEs including English and maths has also been published.
Overall schools in Bolton were above the national average on all measures, including the numbers of young people leaving school with five more good GCSEs including English and maths.
The national average is 54.8 per cent and in Bolton that figure is 59.7 per cent, and the number leaving with strong passes in English and maths, 9-5 stands at 43.5 per cent compared to 41.5 per cent, the national average
Pupils achieving standard passes in the two core subjects, 9-4, for Bolton is 64.4 per cent compared to the national average of 59.1 per cent.
Bolton Council’s Executive Cabinet Member for Children’s Services, Cllr Martin Donaghy, said:“Bolton is lucky to have many excellent secondary schools performing above the national average in English and Maths, alongside other subjects.
“These figures reflect the hard work and dedication of our teachers, school staff, students and their families.
“With the support of Bolton Council, these schools are giving our young people the best possible start in life by preparing them for their next steps.”
Delight on GCSE results day at Sharples School(Image: )
The top performing school is Sharples School, where 78.9 per cent of teenagers left with the gold standard of five or more GCSEs including English and maths, and where 82.2 per cent achieved good grades in English and maths.
Headteacher Caroline Molyneux said: “Everyone at Sharples School is delighted with the 2025 results and the performance tables out this week just highlight the hard work that goes into every single day by staff, students and their families.”
The Bishop Fraser Trust had two of its schools in the top five, Canon Slade School, which was placed number two and St James’ CE School in Farnworth which was placed number three based on the numbers of young people leaving with five or more good GCSEs, including English and maths.
Cath Anderson(Image: )
Cath Anderson, headteacher of St James’ CE High School said: “I speak for the whole St James’s team when I say we are incredibly proud of our Class of 2025. They’ve achieved a truly outstanding set of results — the best our school has ever seen. Every one of our students should feel so proud of what they’ve accomplished. This year, 81.7% of our students achieved grade 4 or above in both English and maths.
“These results aren’t just numbers; they represent life chances, opportunities, and the rewards of real hard work. At St James’s, we are ambitious for all our students, and over their five years with us we coach and support each of them to be ambitious for themselves. I look forward to seeing what they go on to achieve next, and the positive impact they’ll have on Bolton and beyond.”
St James’s student Chloe Corrigan seeing her GSCE results for the first time. She got five 9s, three 8s, one 7 and one 6.(Image: )
READ MORE: St James’ CE High School Farnworth pupils finish GCSEs
Bolton GCSEs 2025: Updates and reaction from schools
Canon Slade pupils on GCSE day(Image: )
James Gilhooley, headteacher Canon Slade School, said: “We are absolutely delighted with another stunning set of results this year, both at GCSE and in our post-16 provision. These outcomes are a reflection of our students’ determination and resilience, supported every step of the way by dedicated staff and families who always go the extra mile. We couldn’t be prouder of what our young people have achieved and the bright futures that now await them.”
St James’ CE High School pupils on GCSE day(Image: )
Dr Tuesday Humby, Chief Executive of the Bishop Fraser Trust, added: “I’m absolutely delighted to see the majority of our schools achieving results that sit significantly above national averages. However, at The Bishop Fraser Trust, we place just as much emphasis on our children’s personal development as we do on academic success. So, it’s wonderful to know that our pupils are leaving us not only with great results, but also as resilient young people with real character — and, quite simply, as great citizens.
“Our schools should also be celebrated for the huge amount of truly enriching experiences they facilitate to help our children develop the confidence and curiosity to embrace the next stage of their lives.”
Secondary school performance tables for Bolton(Image: )
Four of the schools in the top performing are faith schools, with pupils at Eden Boys School and Bolton Muslim Girls School also being ranked in the top five.
Bolton Muslim Girls School(Image: BMGS)
Headteacher of Bolton Muslim Girls School, Idrish Patel said he was delighted with the results.
He told The Bolton News: “This was a cohort affected by Covid and we had no previous results to go off.
“Everyone worked together, collaborated, staff, teachers, governors and pupils to make this happen.”
Bolton School despite being the borough’s top performing school is placed near the bottom of the table, as will be the case with many independent schools.
Head of Foundation at Bolton School, Philip Britton said: “As it always the case, results tables only measure part of what a school does, and education is so much about the development of a rounded person as well as an examination outcome.
“However, exam results do very often provide the passport to the next stage of life, and we are very proud of how we add value to what every student achieves at Bolton School.
“The official tables do not include some of the exam boards we use, such as International GCSE. If we add those back in then the Girls’ Division scores an attainment 8 of 68.7 and the Boys’ Division scores 67.4.”
Source – INDIA TV
