Bolton school admissions

For a September 2027 start, secondary applications close on 31 Oct 2026 and primary applications on 15 Jan 2027. Always confirm details on the council's own admissions page.

How to apply

Apply online through the council where you live, naming several schools in order of preference — including schools in other council areas. Every preference is considered equally against each school's admission criteria, and you're offered the highest-ranked school that can offer you a place.

We haven't yet confirmed the council's admissions page link.

GOV.UK: School admissions

Key dates for September 2027

Secondary applications close	31 Oct 2026	School Admissions Code 2021, para 2.24
Primary (reception) applications close	15 Jan 2027	School Admissions Code 2021, para 2.24
Secondary national offer day	1 Mar 2027	1 March or next working day
Primary national offer day	16 Apr 2027	16 April or next working day

Appeals

The council hasn't published a single appeal date we've confirmed. By law you must have at least 20 school days from the date of your refusal letter.

Source: School Admissions Code and School Admission Appeals Code (Open Government Licence v3.0).

Applications and offers by school, 2026/27

Catchment areas and admission decisions are made by the school's admissions authority (the local council or, for academies and many faith schools, the school or trust). Distances and past figures don't guarantee a place.

Secondary schools (21)

School	Places offered	All applications	First preferences	First preferences offered	Applications per offer
Birtenshaw School Bolton	1	1	1	1	1.0 per offer
Bolton Muslim Girls School	177	343	228	174	1.9 per offer
Bolton St Catherine's Academy	134	162	109	109	1.2 per offer
Canon Slade School	293	769	294	270	2.6 per offer
Eden Boys' School, Bolton	116	348	192	112	3.0 per offer
Essa Academy	200	578	222	188	2.9 per offer
Harper Green School	198	287	104	104	1.4 per offer
Kearsley Academy	170	262	146	146	1.5 per offer
King's Leadership Academy Bolton	176	444	129	129	2.5 per offer
Ladybridge High School	230	518	211	195	2.3 per offer
Little Lever School	231	356	216	214	1.5 per offer
Mount St Joseph RC High School a Voluntary Academy	174	390	143	139	2.2 per offer
Rivington and Blackrod High School	278	582	280	257	2.1 per offer
Sharples School	235	826	344	235	3.5 per offer
Smithills School	226	342	127	127	1.5 per offer
St James's Church of England High School	197	732	315	193	3.7 per offer
St Joseph's RC High School	205	529	218	201	2.6 per offer
Thornleigh Salesian College	260	634	241	227	2.4 per offer
Turton School	259	523	252	236	2.0 per offer
University Collegiate School	117	230	91	91	2.0 per offer
Westhoughton High School	258	369	221	221	1.4 per offer

Primary schools (96)

School	Places offered	All applications	First preferences	First preferences offered	Applications per offer
All Saints CofE Primary School	30	58	35	29	1.9 per offer
Beacon Primary School	21	34	18	18	1.6 per offer
Beaumont Primary School	30	112	56	30	3.7 per offer
Bishop Bridgeman CofE Primary School	45	101	40	40	2.2 per offer
Blackrod Anglican/Methodist Primary School	29	66	35	27	2.3 per offer
Blackrod Primary School	45	89	44	40	2.0 per offer
Blackshaw Primary School	28	54	29	26	1.9 per offer
Bolton Parish Church, Church of England Primary School	30	58	40	29	1.9 per offer
Bolton St Catherine's Academy	28	23	18	18	0.8 per offer
Bowness Primary School	20	51	20	16	2.6 per offer
Brandwood Primary School	58	95	53	53	1.6 per offer
Brownlow Fold Primary School	21	49	16	16	2.3 per offer
Castle Hill Primary School	29	60	22	22	2.1 per offer
Cherry Tree Primary School	45	70	40	40	1.6 per offer
Chorley New Road Primary Academy	45	100	48	42	2.2 per offer
Church Road Primary School	59	114	59	57	1.9 per offer
Clarendon Primary School	50	91	45	45	1.8 per offer
Claypool Primary School	30	69	28	25	2.3 per offer
Devonshire Road Primary School	59	107	51	48	1.8 per offer
Eagley Infant School	49	91	46	46	1.9 per offer
Eatock Primary School	30	106	38	29	3.5 per offer
Egerton Primary School	28	69	30	27	2.5 per offer
Essa Primary Academy	25	66	20	20	2.6 per offer
Gaskell Community Primary School	58	90	56	55	1.6 per offer
Gilnow Primary School	23	39	18	18	1.7 per offer
Hardy Mill Primary School	42	85	41	41	2.0 per offer
Harwood Meadows Primary School	25	59	23	23	2.4 per offer
Haslam Park Primary School	18	56	14	14	3.1 per offer
Heathfield Primary School	30	73	40	29	2.4 per offer
High Lawn Primary School	45	75	41	40	1.7 per offer
Highfield Primary School	60	106	55	55	1.8 per offer
Holy Infant and St Anthony RC Primary School	30	38	20	20	1.3 per offer
Horwich Parish CofE Primary School	36	70	26	26	1.9 per offer
Kearsley West Primary School	27	55	27	27	2.0 per offer
Ladybridge Community Primary School	46	75	37	37	1.6 per offer
Lever Edge Primary Academy	57	110	52	52	1.9 per offer
Leverhulme Community Primary School	58	75	46	46	1.3 per offer
Lostock Primary School	30	130	41	29	4.3 per offer
Markland Hill Primary School	42	166	53	42	4.0 per offer
Masefield Primary School	29	84	60	28	2.9 per offer
Moorgate Primary School	26	130	64	26	5.0 per offer
Mytham Primary School	30	57	27	24	1.9 per offer
Our Lady of Lourdes RC Primary School	30	59	32	30	2.0 per offer
Oxford Grove Primary School	59	175	71	54	3.0 per offer
Pikes Lane Primary School	54	73	49	49	1.4 per offer
Prestolee Primary School	29	70	28	25	2.4 per offer
Queensbridge Primary School	28	59	32	27	2.1 per offer
Red Lane Primary School	51	60	46	46	1.2 per offer
Sacred Heart Roman Catholic Primary School	59	103	57	52	1.7 per offer
Sharples Primary School	24	64	19	19	2.7 per offer
Spindle Point Primary School	30	49	31	30	1.6 per offer
SS Osmund and Andrew's R.C. Primary School	51	75	41	41	1.5 per offer
Ss Simon & Jude CofE Primary School, Bolton	58	90	54	54	1.6 per offer
St Andrew's CofE Primary School, Over Hulton	30	42	27	27	1.4 per offer
St Bartholomew's CofE Primary School	30	103	39	29	3.4 per offer
St Bede Academy	60	87	56	55	1.5 per offer
St Bernard's RC Primary School, Bolton	23	46	19	19	2.0 per offer
St Brendan's RC Primary School, Harwood, Bolton	21	53	21	21	2.5 per offer
St Catherine's CofE Primary School	28	61	23	23	2.2 per offer
St Columba's RC Primary School	30	40	28	28	1.3 per offer
St Ethelbert's Roman Catholic Primary School, a Voluntary Academy	20	32	17	17	1.6 per offer
St George's CofE Primary School	30	80	33	28	2.7 per offer
St Gregory's RC Primary School, A Voluntary Academy	22	52	19	19	2.4 per offer
St James CofE Primary School, Daisy Hill	50	76	40	40	1.5 per offer
St James CofE Primary School, Farnworth	26	56	24	24	2.2 per offer
St John Church of England Primary School, Farnworth	14	26	12	12	1.9 per offer
St John the Evangelist RC Primary School, Bromley Cross, Bolton	11	42	8	8	3.8 per offer
St Joseph's RC Primary School, Halliwell, Bolton	18	40	17	17	2.2 per offer
St Mary's CofE Primary School, Deane	55	60	44	44	1.1 per offer
St Mary's RC Primary School	29	72	30	26	2.5 per offer
St Matthew's CofE Primary School, Bolton	57	61	36	36	1.1 per offer
St Matthew's CofE Primary School, Little Lever	12	28	4	4	2.3 per offer
St Maxentius CofE Primary School	23	59	21	21	2.6 per offer
St Michael's CofE Primary School, Great Lever	59	79	55	55	1.3 per offer
St Paul's CofE Primary School, Astley Bridge	30	89	36	30	3.0 per offer
St Peter and St Paul RC Primary School a Voluntary Academy	30	35	27	27	1.2 per offer
St Peter's CofE Primary School	57	109	57	53	1.9 per offer
St Peter's Smithills Dean Church of England Primary School	30	60	32	29	2.0 per offer
St Saviour CofE Primary School, Ringley	30	62	36	28	2.1 per offer
St Stephen and All Martyrs' CofE School, Lever Bridge	29	48	25	22	1.7 per offer
St Stephen's CofE Primary School	20	39	15	15	2.0 per offer
St Teresa's RC Primary School a Voluntary Academy	18	42	10	9	2.3 per offer
St Thomas C of E Primary School, Halliwell	41	73	35	35	1.8 per offer
St Thomas CofE Primary School	30	74	28	27	2.5 per offer
St Thomas of Canterbury RC School	47	92	36	36	2.0 per offer
St William of York Roman Catholic Primary School	23	51	22	22	2.2 per offer
Sunning Hill Primary School	60	155	68	58	2.6 per offer
The Ferns Primary Academy	46	90	39	39	2.0 per offer
The Gates Primary School	30	78	32	27	2.6 per offer
The Oaks Primary School	30	83	26	21	2.8 per offer
The Olive School, Bolton	60	184	108	60	3.1 per offer
The Olive Tree Primary School Bolton	60	203	69	58	3.4 per offer
The Valley Community Primary School	60	122	65	55	2.0 per offer
Tonge Moor Primary Academy	59	108	53	49	1.8 per offer
Walmsley CofE Primary School	20	58	19	19	2.9 per offer
Woodland Primary Academy	22	30	16	16	1.4 per offer

Source: DfE secondary and primary school applications and offers (Open Government Licence v3.0).

Bolton term dates · Check schools near a postcode

Questions

When is the Bolton secondary school application deadline?

31 October for a September start, set nationally by the School Admissions Code. Late applications are usually considered only after on-time ones.

How long do I have to appeal?

Admission authorities must give you at least 20 school days from the date of your refusal letter (usually offer day). Many councils publish a specific date — use the council's date where shown.

Does this page tell me my chance of getting a place?

No. Places depend on each school's oversubscription criteria, which change every year. Only the admissions authority decides.