Ofsted: Requires improvement trending_up Places Available emoji_events #12 in Bolton public Top 25% UK

St Joseph's RC High School

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

personMr A McCabe

location_onBolton, BL6 6HW

language Visit Website phone 1204697456

verified

Ofsted

Requires improvement

Inspected 2025

groups

Students

1,034

trending_up

Attainment 8

44.8

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GCSE Rank

#12 in Bolton

#1,771 of 3,216 nationally

summarize

St Joseph's RC High School is a Voluntary aided school secondary school in Bolton, serving ages 11-16. Currently Requires Improvement according to Ofsted — the school is working to raise standards.

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School Summary

St Joseph's RC High School is a voluntary aided school in Bolton, admitting pupils aged 11-16. The school has approximately 1,051 pupils on roll, of whom 22% are eligible for free school meals.

In 2025, pupils achieved an Attainment 8 score of 44.8, placing the school #12 in Bolton and #1,771 of 3,216 nationally. 49.80% of pupils achieved grade 5 or above in English and Maths. 13.5% of all GCSE entries were graded 9–7.

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

In the most recent admissions cycle, applications were at 1.0× capacity.

The pupil-to-qualified-teacher ratio is 18.3:1. There are no current teaching vacancies.

In the 2024/25 academic year, there was 1 permanent exclusion. The average suspension rate was 7.1 per 1,000 pupils per term.

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

Academic Performance

verified Data: UK Gov 2024/25

analytics

Secondary Performance Trends (KS4)

2025

Progress 8 Score

Attainment 8

44.8

Grade 5+ E&M

49.80%

Grade 9–7 (all GCSEs)13.5%

Entering EBacc41.10%

EBacc APS3.99

2024

Progress 8 Score

-0.14

vs National Avg

Attainment 8

45.9

Grade 5+ E&M

Entering EBacc37.70%

EBacc APS3.99

2023

Progress 8 Score

-0.11

vs National Avg

Attainment 8

47.8

Grade 5+ E&M

Entering EBacc47%

EBacc APS4.21

2022

Progress 8 Score

-0.09

vs National Avg

Attainment 8

Grade 5+ E&M

Entering EBacc50%

EBacc APS4.62

2021

Progress 8 Score

Attainment 8

Grade 5+ E&M

Entering EBacc60%

EBacc APS-

2019

Progress 8 Score

-0.73

vs National Avg

Attainment 8

43.1

Grade 5+ E&M

Entering EBacc15%

EBacc APS3.59

2018

Progress 8 Score

-0.42

vs National Avg

Attainment 8

47.1

Grade 5+ E&M

Entering EBacc25%

EBacc APS3.95

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Student Destinations (After Secondary)

This module shows what students did after finishing Key Stage 4 (GCSEs). It reflects how well the school prepares pupils for the real world.

2025

Stayed in Education / Employment

95%

Education (e.g. Sixth Form/College)87%

Apprenticeships3%

Employment4%

Not in Education / Employment (NEET)4%

2024

Stayed in Education / Employment

93%

Education (e.g. Sixth Form/College)82%

Apprenticeships6%

Employment5%

Not in Education / Employment (NEET)6%

2023

Stayed in Education / Employment

97%

Education (e.g. Sixth Form/College)82%

Apprenticeships10%

Employment5%

Not in Education / Employment (NEET)2%

2022

Stayed in Education / Employment

96%

Education (e.g. Sixth Form/College)86%

Apprenticeships7%

Employment3%

Not in Education / Employment (NEET)4%

2021

Stayed in Education / Employment

91%

Education (e.g. Sixth Form/College)77%

Apprenticeships9%

Employment4%

Not in Education / Employment (NEET)9%

Ofsted History

Publication Timeline

Report Archive

18 March 2025

Inspection Report

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06 December 2022

Inspection Report

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19 March 2019

Inspection Report

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02 June 2015

Inspection Report

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15 January 2013

Inspection Report

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22 June 2011

Inspection Report

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10 March 2010

Inspection Report

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23 September 2008

Inspection Report

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14 February 2007

Inspection Report

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17 September 2001

Inspection Report

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Inspection Report

Inspection History

4 Evaluations

2025-03-18

Requires Improvement S5 Reinspection Visit 2 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

Good

Behaviour

Good

Development

Good

Leadership

Good

2022-12-06

Requires Improvement S5 Reinspection Visit 1 EIF

Requires improvement

Education

Good

Behaviour

Requires improvement

Development

Good

Leadership

Good

2019-03-19

S5 Inspection Legacy

Requires improvement

Education

No Judgement

Behaviour

No Judgement

Development

No Judgement

Leadership

Requires improvement

2015-06-02

None Legacy

Good

Education

No Judgement

Behaviour

No Judgement

Development

No Judgement

Leadership

Good

Wellbeing, SEN & Pastoral Care

gavel

Behaviour & Discipline (Suspensions & Exclusions)

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

Suspension Rate

6.9%per term

sentiment_satisfied Below Average (Good)

National average: 7.3% for this term (secondary).

Pupils Suspended 1+ Times

5.2%(55 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: 7.398% of pupils excluded per term.

Pastoral Context: In the Spring term of 2025, this school served a headcount of 1,051 pupils. During this period, there were 73 temporary suspensions. The school's suspension rate was 6.9%, which is below the termly national average of 7.3%.

View Historical Disciplinary Records (2017–2025)keyboard_arrow_down

Year / Term	Headcount	Suspensions	Susp. Rate	Nat. Avg	Perm. Excl.
2024/25 (Spring term)	1,051	73	6.9%	7.3%	0
2024/25 (Autumn term)	1,042	75	7.2%	7.8%	1
2023/24 (Summer term)	1,039	57	5.5%	7.4%	0
2023/24 (Spring term)	1,045	87	8.3%	7.1%	1
2023/24 (Autumn term)	1,056	113	10.7%	8.2%	3
2022/23 (Summer term)	1,041	119	11.4%	6.6%	1
2022/23 (Spring term)	1,034	71	6.9%	6.4%	1
2022/23 (Autumn term)	1,045	76	7.3%	5.9%	1
2021/22 (Summer term)	1,011	48	4.7%	4.7%	1
2021/22 (Spring term)	1,005	41	4.1%	4.9%	1
2021/22 (Autumn term)	1,000	26	2.6%	4.4%	1
2020/21 (Summer term)	960	25	2.6%	3.6%	0
2020/21 (Spring term)	957	12	1.3%	1.0%	0
2020/21 (Autumn term)	954	28	2.9%	3.9%	1
2019/20 (Summer term)	922	0	0.0%	0.0%	0
2019/20 (Spring term)	922	37	4.0%	3.2%	1
2019/20 (Autumn term)	924	79	8.5%	4.2%	1
2018/19 (Summer term)	880	75	8.5%	3.1%	0
2018/19 (Spring term)	877	98	11.2%	3.8%	0
2018/19 (Autumn term)	878	93	10.6%	3.8%	2
2017/18 (Summer term)	844	47	5.6%	3.4%	0
2017/18 (Spring term)	843	42	5.0%	3.0%	3
2017/18 (Autumn term)	844	38	4.5%	3.7%	1
2016/17 (Summer term)	828	27	3.3%	3.0%	0
2016/17 (Spring term)	836	71	8.5%	3.3%	0
2016/17 (Autumn term)	842	47	5.6%	3.1%	2

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

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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.

Autistic Spectrum Disorder 22 pupils

Social, Emotional & Mental Health 22 pupils

Moderate Learning Difficulty 22 pupils

Specific Learning Difficulty 20 pupils

Speech, Language & Communication 13 pupils

Other Difficulty/Disability 10 pupils

Physical Disability 6 pupils

Hearing Impairment 3 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.

88.0%Positive

My child feels safe at this school.

86.0%Positive

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

23.0%Positive

View All Survey Responseskeyboard_arrow_down

The school makes sure its pupils are well behaved.

strongly agree35%

agree41%

disagree10%

strongly disagree8%

don't know6%

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

strongly agree38%

agree44%

disagree11%

strongly disagree5%

don't know2%

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

strongly agree43%

agree26%

disagree6%

strongly disagree6%

not applicable19%

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

yes18%

no82%

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

strongly agree31%

agree38%

disagree25%

strongly disagree6%

The school has high expectations for my child.

strongly agree49%

agree35%

disagree7%

strongly disagree5%

don't know5%

My child does well at this school.

strongly agree43%

agree41%

disagree8%

strongly disagree7%

don't know1%

The school lets me know how my child is doing.

strongly agree38%

agree48%

disagree9%

strongly disagree3%

don't know2%

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

strongly agree40%

agree49%

disagree6%

strongly disagree2%

don't know3%

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

strongly agree58%

agree38%

disagree2%

strongly disagree1%

don't know1%

The school supports my child's wider personal development.

strongly agree45%

agree33%

disagree8%

strongly disagree7%

don't know7%

I would recommend this school to another parent.

yes85%

no15%

Top Secondary Schools in Bolton

Other highly-ranked schools in the same local authority

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Outstanding

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St James's Church of England High School

Good

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School Summary

Academic Performance

Secondary Performance Trends (KS4)

Student Destinations (After Secondary)

Ofsted History

Publication Timeline

Inspection History

Admissions Insight

How Places Are Allocated

Faith Priority (Roman Catholic)

Distance to School

School Capacity

Secondary 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 Secondary Schools in Bolton

Bolton Muslim Girls School

Sharples School

Eden Boys' School, Bolton

St James's Church of England High School

Canon Slade School

Essa Academy