Ofsted: Good trending_up Places Available emoji_events #5 in Bolton public Top 7% UK

St William of York Roman Catholic Primary School

verifiedData: DfE 2024/25–2025/26 · Ofsted

personMrs Clare Lightbown

location_onBolton, BL3 3DE

language Visit Website phone 1204333522

verified

Ofsted

Good

Inspected 2025

groups

Students

241

school

Expected Standard

84%

local_fire_department

Demand Ratio

0.9x

summarize

St William of York Roman Catholic Primary School is a Voluntary aided school primary school in Bolton, serving ages 3-11. Rated Good by Ofsted. Ranks in the top 7% of primary schools nationally.

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School Summary

St William of York Roman Catholic Primary School is a voluntary aided school in Bolton, admitting pupils aged 3-11. The school has approximately 230 pupils on roll, of whom 34% are eligible for free school meals.

In 2025, 84% of pupils met the expected standard in Reading, Writing and Maths combined, with 10% achieving the higher standard. The school ranks #5 of 88 primaries in Bolton and #414 of 14,143 nationally.

Ofsted last inspected the school in 2025. The school's current overall rating is Good. Inspectors assessed quality of education as Outstanding, behaviour and attitudes Outstanding, personal development Outstanding, and leadership and management Outstanding.

In the most recent admissions cycle, applications were at 0.9× capacity.

The pupil-to-qualified-teacher ratio is 23.7:1. There are no current teaching vacancies.

In the 2024/25 academic year, there were no permanent exclusions. The average suspension rate was 2.5 per 1,000 pupils per term.

verified Source: DfE 2024/25–2025/26 · Ofsted

Academic Performance

verified Data: UK Gov 2024/25

school

Primary Performance Trends (KS2)

2025

R/W/M Expected Standard

84%

LA 63%

Reading90% LA 75%

Writing87% LA 73%

Maths97% LA 75%

Read SS

108

Maths SS

108

GPS SS

106

Progress (0 = national avg)

Read

Write

Maths

2024

R/W/M Expected Standard

76%

LA 63%England 61%

Reading93% LA 75% · Eng 74%

Writing83% LA 73% · Eng 72%

Maths90% LA 76% · Eng 73%

Read SS

108

Maths SS

106

GPS SS

104

Progress (0 = national avg)

Read

Write

Maths

2023

R/W/M Expected Standard

83%

LA 63%England 60%

Reading87% LA 74% · Eng 73%

Writing83% LA 74% · Eng 71%

Maths87% LA 77% · Eng 73%

Read SS

105

Maths SS

106

GPS SS

105

Progress (0 = national avg)

0.7

Read

LA 0.3

-1.8 to 3.1

1.9

Write

LA 1.2

-0.5 to 4.2

2.0

Maths

LA 1.1

-0.3 to 4.2

2019

R/W/M Expected Standard

80%

LA 64%England 65%

Reading83% LA 70% · Eng 73%

Writing90% LA 79% · Eng 78%

Maths93% LA 78% · Eng 79%

Read SS

104

Maths SS

108

GPS SS

108

Progress (0 = national avg)

2.5

Read

LA 0.2

0.1 to 4.9

1.9

Write

LA 1.0

-0.3 to 4.1

4.9

Maths

LA 0.9

2.8 to 6.9

2018

R/W/M Expected Standard

63%

LA 64%

Reading70% LA 73%

Writing70% LA 78%

Maths77% LA 76%

Read SS

103

Maths SS

103

GPS SS

106

Progress (0 = national avg)

2.6

Read

LA 0.2

0.4 to 4.8

Write

LA 0.7

-1.1 to 3.1

1.8

Maths

LA 0.7

-0.2 to 3.8

Ofsted History

Publication Timeline

Report Archive

21 January 2025

Inspection Report

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28 March 2023

Inspection Report

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20 June 2017

Inspection Report

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23 May 2012

Inspection Report

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11 December 2008

Inspection Report

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21 September 2005

Inspection Report

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11 September 2000

Inspection Report

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Inspection Report

Inspection History

3 Evaluations

2025-01-21

S5 Inspection EIF

Not Judged

info

Why no overall grade?

From autumn 2024, Ofsted stopped issuing a single headline grade (Outstanding / Good / RI / Inadequate). Instead, each inspection area is graded individually. This follows a major review after the death of headteacher Ruth Perry in 2023. The overall effectiveness field is left as "Not judged" in the published data.

Education

Outstanding

Behaviour

Outstanding

Development

Outstanding

Leadership

Outstanding

2017-06-20

Maintained Academy and School Short inspection Legacy

Good

Education

No Judgement

Behaviour

No Judgement

Development

No Judgement

Leadership

Good

2012-05-23

None Legacy

Good

Education

No Judgement

Behaviour

No Judgement

Development

No Judgement

Leadership

Good

Wellbeing, SEN & Pastoral Care

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Behaviour & Discipline (Suspensions & Exclusions)

Official Department for Education (DfE) data. Suspensions measure temporary removals due to behavior, while exclusions represent permanent removals.

Suspension Rate

1.3%per term

warning Above Average

National average: 0.8% for this term (primary).

Pupils Suspended 1+ Times

0.9%(2 pupils)

Spring term 2025

Represents the proportion of unique students suspended at least once in this term.

Permanent Exclusions

0pupils

verified Excellent (Zero)

National average: 1.225% of pupils excluded per term.

Pastoral Context: In the Spring term of 2025, this school served a headcount of 230 pupils. During this period, there were 3 temporary suspensions. The school's suspension rate was 1.3%, which is above the termly national average of 0.8%.

View Historical Disciplinary Records (2017–2025)keyboard_arrow_down

Year / Term	Headcount	Suspensions	Susp. Rate	Nat. Avg
2024/25 (Spring term)	230	3	1.3%	0.8%
2024/25 (Autumn term)	222	8	3.6%	0.9%
2023/24 (Summer term)	237	0	0.0%	0.8%
2023/24 (Spring term)	234	0	0.0%	0.7%
2023/24 (Autumn term)	232	0	0.0%	0.8%
2022/23 (Summer term)	248	0	0.0%	0.7%
2022/23 (Spring term)	241	0	0.0%	0.6%
2022/23 (Autumn term)	228	0	0.0%	0.6%
2021/22 (Summer term)	239	0	0.0%	0.5%
2021/22 (Spring term)	230	0	0.0%	0.5%
2021/22 (Autumn term)	222	2	0.9%	0.5%
2020/21 (Summer term)	239	0	0.0%	0.4%
2020/21 (Spring term)	234	0	0.0%	0.1%
2020/21 (Autumn term)	226	1	0.4%	0.4%
2019/20 (Summer term)	239	0	0.0%	0.0%
2019/20 (Spring term)	239	0	0.0%	0.4%
2019/20 (Autumn term)	232	0	0.0%	0.6%
2018/19 (Summer term)	249	0	0.0%	0.4%
2018/19 (Spring term)	243	1	0.4%	0.5%
2018/19 (Autumn term)	229	2	0.9%	0.5%
2017/18 (Summer term)	239	1	0.4%	0.5%
2017/18 (Spring term)	230	2	0.9%	0.4%
2017/18 (Autumn term)	223	5	2.2%	0.5%
2016/17 (Summer term)	250	0	0.0%	0.4%
2016/17 (Spring term)	245	5	2.0%	0.4%
2016/17 (Autumn term)	236	4	1.7%	0.5%

Source: DfE Suspensions and Permanent Exclusions in England. Data represents termly statistics as published by the Department for Education.

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psychology_alt

Supported Special Educational Needs (SEN)

Primary areas of need currently supported by the school. A high number often indicates specialized internal units or high staff experience in these areas.

Speech, Language & Communication 28 pupils

Social, Emotional & Mental Health 5 pupils

Specific Learning Difficulty 4 pupils

Moderate Learning Difficulty 3 pupils

Severe Learning Difficulty 2 pupils

Physical Disability 1 pupils

Other Difficulty/Disability 1 pupils

health_and_safety

Parent View on Pastoral Care

Results from the official Ofsted Parent View survey, reflecting direct parent sentiment regarding the school environment.

My child is happy at this school.

100.0%Positive

My child feels safe at this school.

100.0%Positive

My child has been bullied and the school dealt with the bullying quickly and effectively.

8.0%Positive

View All Survey Responseskeyboard_arrow_down

The school makes sure its pupils are well behaved.

strongly agree84%

agree16%

The school makes me aware of what my child will learn during the year.

strongly agree92%

agree8%

When I have raised concerns with the school they have been dealt with properly

strongly agree48%

agree16%

don't know4%

not applicable32%

Does your child have special educational needs and/or disabilities (SEND)?

My child has special educational needs and/or disabilities, and the school gives them the support they need to succeed.

The school has high expectations for my child.

strongly agree76%

agree12%

disagree4%

don't know8%

My child does well at this school.

strongly agree72%

agree24%

strongly disagree4%

The school lets me know how my child is doing.

strongly agree76%

agree24%

There is a good range of subjects available to my child at this school.

strongly agree84%

agree16%

My child can take part in clubs and activities at this school.

strongly agree92%

agree4%

don't know4%

The school supports my child's wider personal development.

strongly agree76%

agree24%

I would recommend this school to another parent.

yes100%

Top Primary Schools in Bolton

Other highly-ranked schools in the same local authority

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The Olive School, Bolton

Outstanding

location_on Bolton, BL1 8HT

emoji_events #1 in LA

St Paul's CofE Primary School, Astley Bridge

Outstanding

location_on Bolton, BL1 8QA

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Our Lady of Lourdes RC Primary School

Good

location_on Bolton, BL4 0BP

emoji_events #3 in LA

The Valley Community Primary School

Outstanding

location_on Bolton, BL1 8JG

emoji_events #4 in LA

Kearsley West Primary School

Good

location_on Bolton, BL4 9BZ

emoji_events #6 in LA

Prestolee Primary School

Outstanding

location_on Manchester, M26 1HJ

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View all schools in Bolton arrow_forward

School Summary

Academic Performance

Primary Performance Trends (KS2)

Ofsted History

Publication Timeline

Inspection History

Admissions Insight

How Places Are Allocated

Faith Priority (Roman Catholic)

Distance to School

School Capacity

Primary Admission Trends

Students & School Environment

School Size

Language Diversity

Inclusive Support

Attendance

Ethnicity Breakdown

Wellbeing, SEN & Pastoral Care

Behaviour & Discipline (Suspensions & Exclusions)

Supported Special Educational Needs (SEN)

Parent View on Pastoral Care

My child is happy at this school.

My child feels safe at this school.

My child has been bullied and the school dealt with the bullying quickly and effectively.

The school makes sure its pupils are well behaved.

The school makes me aware of what my child will learn during the year.

When I have raised concerns with the school they have been dealt with properly

Does your child have special educational needs and/or disabilities (SEND)?

My child has special educational needs and/or disabilities, and the school gives them the support they need to succeed.

The school has high expectations for my child.

My child does well at this school.

The school lets me know how my child is doing.

There is a good range of subjects available to my child at this school.

My child can take part in clubs and activities at this school.

The school supports my child's wider personal development.

I would recommend this school to another parent.

Funding & Staffing

School Funding Allocation

Funding Breakdown

Staffing

Teacher Turnover

Top Primary Schools in Bolton

The Olive School, Bolton

St Paul's CofE Primary School, Astley Bridge

Our Lady of Lourdes RC Primary School

The Valley Community Primary School

Kearsley West Primary School

Prestolee Primary School