Ofsted: Good trending_up Popular emoji_events #11 in Bolton public Top 24% UK

Thornleigh Salesian College

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

personMrs Andrea O'Callaghan

location_onBolton, BL1 6PQ

language Visit Website phone 1204301351

verified

Ofsted

Good

Inspected 2024

groups

Students

1,590

trending_up

Attainment 8

45.7

leaderboard

GCSE Rank

#10 in Bolton

#1,615 of 3,216 nationally

summarize

Thornleigh Salesian College is a Voluntary aided school secondary school in Bolton, serving ages 11-18. Rated Good by Ofsted. Demand is above capacity (1.0×) — apply through your local authority on time.

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School Summary

Thornleigh Salesian College is a voluntary aided school in Bolton, admitting pupils aged 11-18. It has a sixth form offering post-16 education. The school has approximately 1,576 pupils on roll, of whom 30% are eligible for free school meals.

In 2025, pupils achieved an Attainment 8 score of 45.7, placing the school #10 in Bolton and #1,615 of 3,216 nationally. 41.10% of pupils achieved grade 5 or above in English and Maths. 16.4% of all GCSE entries were graded 9–7.

The sixth form offers 18 A-level subjects. 57.7% of A-level entries were graded A*–B, with 27.3% at A*–A. A-level value added: 0.01 — sixth-form progress was broadly average.

Ofsted last inspected the school in 2024. The school's current overall rating is Good. Inspectors assessed quality of education as Requires improvement, behaviour and attitudes Good, personal development Good, and leadership and management Requires improvement.

The school is oversubscribed — in the most recent cycle, there were 1.0× as many applications as places, making a successful application competitive.

The pupil-to-qualified-teacher ratio is 14.7:1. There are no current teaching vacancies.

In the 2024/25 academic year, there were 2 permanent exclusions. The average suspension rate was 6.0 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

45.7

Grade 5+ E&M

41.10%

Grade 9–7 (all GCSEs)16.4%

Entering EBacc27.00%

EBacc APS3.86

2024

Progress 8 Score

-0.22

vs National Avg

Attainment 8

44.8

Grade 5+ E&M

Entering EBacc20.20%

EBacc APS3.86

2023

Progress 8 Score

-0.07

vs National Avg

Attainment 8

47.3

Grade 5+ E&M

Entering EBacc29%

EBacc APS4.08

2022

Progress 8 Score

0.13

vs National Avg

Attainment 8

51.3

Grade 5+ E&M

Entering EBacc23%

EBacc APS4.45

2021

Progress 8 Score

Attainment 8

Grade 5+ E&M

Entering EBacc37%

EBacc APS-

2019

Progress 8 Score

0.11

vs National Avg

Attainment 8

49.7

Grade 5+ E&M

Entering EBacc31%

EBacc APS4.28

2018

Progress 8 Score

0.24

vs National Avg

Attainment 8

49.5

Grade 5+ E&M

Entering EBacc32%

EBacc APS4.2

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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

93%

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

Apprenticeships4%

Employment3%

Not in Education / Employment (NEET)5%

2024

Stayed in Education / Employment

91%

Education (e.g. Sixth Form/College)78%

Apprenticeships6%

Employment7%

Not in Education / Employment (NEET)7%

2023

Stayed in Education / Employment

93%

Education (e.g. Sixth Form/College)84%

Apprenticeships3%

Employment6%

Not in Education / Employment (NEET)4%

2022

Stayed in Education / Employment

93%

Education (e.g. Sixth Form/College)83%

Apprenticeships4%

Employment6%

Not in Education / Employment (NEET)6%

2021

Stayed in Education / Employment

91%

Education (e.g. Sixth Form/College)83%

Apprenticeships5%

Employment3%

Not in Education / Employment (NEET)9%

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Sixth Form (A-Level) Performance

A-level results for students who stayed in sixth form at this school. Value added measures how much progress students made relative to their GCSE starting point.

2025

A-Level Value Added

+0.01

vs expected from GCSEs

Pupils make broadly expected progress at A-level.

Avg Grade

B-

Students

Grade Breakdown

Achieving A*5.9%

Achieving A*–A27.3%

Achieving A*–B57.7%

VA Banding Average

Retention rate88.5%

A-level subjects offered18

2024

A-Level Value Added

-0.24

vs expected from GCSEs

Pupils make below-expected progress at A-level.

Avg Grade

C+

Students

Retention rate98.90%

2023

Avg Grade

C+

Students

100

Retention rate89.00%

2022

Avg Grade

B-

Students

Retention rate96.4%

Source: DfE A Level and Other 16-18 Results

Ofsted History

Publication Timeline

Report Archive

22 October 2024

Inspection Report

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05 November 2019

Inspection Report

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15 December 2015

Inspection Report

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20 September 2011

Inspection Report

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05 October 2010

Inspection Report

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06 October 2008

Inspection Report

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02 May 2007

Inspection Report

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25 January 2006

Inspection Report

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27 March 2000

Inspection Report

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Inspection Report

Inspection History

4 Evaluations

2024-10-22

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

Requires improvement

Behaviour

Good

Development

Good

Leadership

Requires improvement

2015-12-15

None Legacy

No Judgement

Education

No Judgement

Behaviour

Development

Leadership

2011-09-20

S5 Inspection Legacy

Good

Education

No Judgement

Behaviour

No Judgement

Development

No Judgement

Leadership

Good

2008-10-06

None EIF

Requires improvement

Education

No Judgement

Behaviour

No Judgement

Development

No Judgement

Leadership

Requires improvement

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

5.7%per term

sentiment_satisfied Below Average (Good)

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

Pupils Suspended 1+ Times

3.0%(48 pupils)

Spring term 2025

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

Permanent Exclusions

2pupils

gavel Exclusion recorded

National average: 7.398% of pupils excluded per term.

Pastoral Context: In the Spring term of 2025, this school served a headcount of 1,576 pupils. During this period, there were 90 temporary suspensions. The school's suspension rate was 5.7%, 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)	1,576	90	5.7%	7.3%	2
2024/25 (Autumn term)	1,569	99	6.3%	7.8%	0
2023/24 (Summer term)	1,555	74	4.8%	7.4%	0
2023/24 (Spring term)	1,570	50	3.2%	7.1%	0
2023/24 (Autumn term)	1,569	36	2.3%	8.2%	1
2022/23 (Summer term)	1,581	40	2.5%	6.6%	1
2022/23 (Spring term)	1,590	46	2.9%	6.4%	3
2022/23 (Autumn term)	1,595	30	1.9%	5.9%	0
2021/22 (Summer term)	1,613	28	1.7%	4.7%	1
2021/22 (Spring term)	1,624	26	1.6%	4.9%	1
2021/22 (Autumn term)	1,626	67	4.1%	4.4%	1
2020/21 (Summer term)	1,589	31	2.0%	3.6%	0
2020/21 (Spring term)	1,601	13	0.8%	1.0%	1
2020/21 (Autumn term)	1,609	49	3.0%	3.9%	1
2019/20 (Summer term)	1,538	0	0.0%	0.0%	0
2019/20 (Spring term)	1,538	41	2.7%	3.2%	2
2019/20 (Autumn term)	1,553	35	2.3%	4.2%	1
2018/19 (Summer term)	1,488	37	2.5%	3.1%	1
2018/19 (Spring term)	1,493	63	4.2%	3.8%	4
2018/19 (Autumn term)	1,496	57	3.8%	3.8%	2
2017/18 (Summer term)	1,458	38	2.6%	3.4%	1
2017/18 (Spring term)	1,475	26	1.8%	3.0%	1
2017/18 (Autumn term)	1,482	23	1.6%	3.7%	1
2016/17 (Summer term)	1,411	27	1.9%	3.0%	2
2016/17 (Spring term)	1,408	37	2.6%	3.3%	0
2016/17 (Autumn term)	1,412	30	2.1%	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.

Specific Learning Difficulty 89 pupils

Social, Emotional & Mental Health 54 pupils

Autistic Spectrum Disorder 37 pupils

Speech, Language & Communication 29 pupils

Other Difficulty/Disability 11 pupils

Physical Disability 9 pupils

Hearing Impairment 4 pupils

Moderate Learning Difficulty 1 pupils

Severe Learning Difficulty 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.

84.0%Positive

My child feels safe at this school.

85.0%Positive

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

16.0%Positive

View All Survey Responseskeyboard_arrow_down

The school makes sure its pupils are well behaved.

strongly agree42%

agree38%

disagree13%

strongly disagree4%

don't know3%

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

strongly agree31%

agree41%

disagree14%

strongly disagree10%

don't know3%

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

strongly agree31%

agree21%

disagree9%

strongly disagree10%

don't know3%

not applicable25%

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

yes22%

no78%

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

strongly agree33%

agree28%

disagree20%

strongly disagree18%

dont know3%

The school has high expectations for my child.

strongly agree49%

agree35%

disagree8%

strongly disagree4%

don't know5%

My child does well at this school.

strongly agree42%

agree37%

disagree7%

strongly disagree7%

don't know7%

The school lets me know how my child is doing.

strongly agree37%

agree40%

disagree14%

strongly disagree5%

don't know4%

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

strongly agree45%

agree47%

disagree5%

don't know2%

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

strongly agree53%

agree38%

disagree5%

strongly disagree1%

don't know3%

The school supports my child's wider personal development.

strongly agree41%

agree36%

disagree8%

strongly disagree9%

don't know7%

I would recommend this school to another parent.

yes82%

no18%

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School Summary

Academic Performance

Secondary Performance Trends (KS4)

Student Destinations (After Secondary)

Sixth Form (A-Level) Performance

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