Ofsted: Outstanding trending_up High Demand emoji_events #3 in Bolton public Top 9% UK

Eden Boys' School, Bolton

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

personMr Arshad Ashraf

corporate_fareSTAR ACADEMIES

location_onBolton, BL1 3QE

language Visit Website phone 1204849240

verified

Ofsted

Outstanding

Inspected 2017

groups

Students

620

trending_up

Attainment 8

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GCSE Rank

#5 in Bolton

#620 of 3,216 nationally

summarize

Eden Boys' School, Bolton is a Free schools secondary school in Bolton, serving ages 11-18. Rated Outstanding by Ofsted — the highest possible grade. Highly competitive: 1.8× more applications than places — plan well ahead.

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School Summary

Eden Boys' School, Bolton is a free schools in Bolton, admitting pupils aged 11-18. It is part of STAR ACADEMIES. The school has approximately 623 pupils on roll, of whom 33% are eligible for free school meals.

In 2025, pupils achieved an Attainment 8 score of 53, placing the school #5 in Bolton and #620 of 3,216 nationally. 58.50% of pupils achieved grade 5 or above in English and Maths. 23.8% of all GCSE entries were graded 9–7.

Ofsted last inspected the school in 2017. The school's current overall rating is Outstanding.

The school is oversubscribed — in the most recent cycle, there were 1.8× as many applications as places, making a successful application competitive.

The pupil-to-qualified-teacher ratio is 16.4:1. There is 1 teaching vacancy.

In the 2024/25 academic year, there was 1 permanent exclusion. 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

analytics

Secondary Performance Trends (KS4)

2025

Progress 8 Score

Attainment 8

Grade 5+ E&M

58.50%

Grade 9–7 (all GCSEs)23.8%

Entering EBacc84.60%

EBacc APS5.02

2024

Progress 8 Score

0.45

vs National Avg

Attainment 8

48.4

Grade 5+ E&M

Entering EBacc88.50%

EBacc APS4.55

2023

Progress 8 Score

0.73

vs National Avg

Attainment 8

52.6

Grade 5+ E&M

Entering EBacc94%

EBacc APS4.74

2022

Progress 8 Score

0.25

vs National Avg

Attainment 8

50.6

Grade 5+ E&M

Entering EBacc85%

EBacc APS4.99

2021

Progress 8 Score

Attainment 8

Grade 5+ E&M

Entering EBacc94%

EBacc APS-

2019

Progress 8 Score

0.58

vs National Avg

Attainment 8

55.2

Grade 5+ E&M

Entering EBacc91%

EBacc APS5

2018

Progress 8 Score

0.96

vs National Avg

Attainment 8

60.2

Grade 5+ E&M

Entering EBacc90%

EBacc APS5.48

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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)94%

Apprenticeships0%

Employment1%

Not in Education / Employment (NEET)3%

2024

Stayed in Education / Employment

97%

Education (e.g. Sixth Form/College)93%

Apprenticeships3%

Employment1%

Not in Education / Employment (NEET)3%

2023

Stayed in Education / Employment

95%

Education (e.g. Sixth Form/College)92%

Apprenticeships2%

Employment1%

Not in Education / Employment (NEET)2%

2022

Stayed in Education / Employment

97%

Education (e.g. Sixth Form/College)94%

Apprenticeships0%

Employment3%

Not in Education / Employment (NEET)3%

2021

Stayed in Education / Employment

96%

Education (e.g. Sixth Form/College)94%

Apprenticeships1%

Employment1%

Not in Education / Employment (NEET)3%

Ofsted History

Publication Timeline

Report Archive

03 July 2023

Inspection Report

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23 May 2017

Inspection Report

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Inspection Report

Inspection History

1 Evaluations

2017-05-23

S5 Inspection Legacy

Outstanding

Education

No Judgement

Behaviour

No Judgement

Development

No Judgement

Leadership

Outstanding

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

2.1%per term

sentiment_satisfied Below Average (Good)

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

Pupils Suspended 1+ Times

1.9%(12 pupils)

Spring term 2025

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

Permanent Exclusions

1pupils

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 623 pupils. During this period, there were 13 temporary suspensions. The school's suspension rate was 2.1%, 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)	623	13	2.1%	7.3%	1
2024/25 (Autumn term)	625	18	2.9%	7.8%	0
2023/24 (Summer term)	621	13	2.1%	7.4%	1
2023/24 (Spring term)	621	11	1.8%	7.1%	0
2023/24 (Autumn term)	623	6	1.0%	8.2%	3
2022/23 (Summer term)	622	13	2.1%	6.6%	1
2022/23 (Spring term)	620	7	1.1%	6.4%	0
2022/23 (Autumn term)	621	9	1.4%	5.9%	0
2021/22 (Summer term)	617	21	3.4%	4.7%	1
2021/22 (Spring term)	617	19	3.1%	4.9%	0
2021/22 (Autumn term)	616	14	2.3%	4.4%	1
2020/21 (Summer term)	615	11	1.8%	3.6%	1
2020/21 (Spring term)	615	4	0.7%	1.0%	0
2020/21 (Autumn term)	616	15	2.4%	3.9%	0
2019/20 (Summer term)	602	0	0.0%	0.0%	0
2019/20 (Spring term)	602	7	1.2%	3.2%	1
2019/20 (Autumn term)	599	6	1.0%	4.2%	0
2018/19 (Summer term)	578	8	1.4%	3.1%	0
2018/19 (Spring term)	578	7	1.2%	3.8%	1
2018/19 (Autumn term)	577	1	0.2%	3.8%	0
2017/18 (Summer term)	505	1	0.2%	3.4%	0
2017/18 (Spring term)	501	1	0.2%	3.0%	0
2017/18 (Autumn term)	499	5	1.0%	3.7%	0
2016/17 (Summer term)	381	0	0.0%	3.0%	0
2016/17 (Spring term)	380	2	0.5%	3.3%	0
2016/17 (Autumn term)	380	0	0.0%	3.1%	0

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 29 pupils

Specific Learning Difficulty 17 pupils

Social, Emotional & Mental Health 11 pupils

Autistic Spectrum Disorder 7 pupils

Moderate Learning Difficulty 6 pupils

Hearing Impairment 3 pupils

Visual Impairment 3 pupils

Other Difficulty/Disability 2 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.

98.0%Positive

My child feels safe at this school.

99.0%Positive

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

17.0%Positive

View All Survey Responseskeyboard_arrow_down

The school makes sure its pupils are well behaved.

strongly agree71%

agree24%

disagree3%

don't know2%

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

strongly agree70%

agree23%

disagree5%

strongly disagree3%

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

strongly agree47%

agree18%

disagree3%

strongly disagree2%

don't know2%

not applicable29%

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

yes26%

no74%

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

strongly agree88%

agree6%

disagree6%

The school has high expectations for my child.

strongly agree68%

agree29%

strongly disagree3%

My child does well at this school.

strongly agree68%

agree27%

disagree3%

strongly disagree2%

The school lets me know how my child is doing.

strongly agree73%

agree24%

disagree3%

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

strongly agree65%

agree32%

disagree2%

strongly disagree2%

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

strongly agree61%

agree32%

disagree5%

strongly disagree3%

The school supports my child's wider personal development.

strongly agree64%

agree30%

disagree3%

strongly disagree3%

I would recommend this school to another parent.

yes95%

no5%

Top Secondary Schools in Bolton

Other highly-ranked schools in the same local authority

View all arrow_forward

Bolton Muslim Girls School

Requires improvement

location_on Bolton, BL3 6TQ

emoji_events #1 in LA

Sharples School

Good

location_on Bolton, BL1 8SN

emoji_events #2 in LA

St James's Church of England High School

Good

location_on Bolton, BL4 9RU

emoji_events #4 in LA

Canon Slade School

Requires improvement

location_on Bolton, BL2 3BP

emoji_events #5 in LA

Essa Academy

Good

location_on Bolton, BL3 3HH

emoji_events #6 in LA

Kearsley Academy

Good

location_on Bolton, BL4 8HY

emoji_events #7 in LA

View all schools in Bolton arrow_forward

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 (Muslim)

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

St James's Church of England High School

Canon Slade School

Essa Academy

Kearsley Academy