St Matthew's CofE Primary School, Bolton

Bolton · BL1 2JL

General information Primary School · 3-11 years Who goes here 424 pupils, 48.4% FSM

Parent score Rate this school No reviews yet - be the first SEN 13% on SEN support Behaviour 6.8% absence rate Staff 20.1% turnover Financials £7,732 per pupil Environment Buildings and facilities

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St Matthew's CofE Primary School, Bolton

General Information

Address: Kentford Road, Halliwell, Bolton, BL1 2JL – View on map
Phone: 01204333005
Website: Visit school website
Headteacher: Miss Alison Worthington
Age range: 3-11 years
Demand for places (Reception, September 2026): 36 families put it first for 57 places – 6 for every 10 places. Every one of them was offered a place. No places went to families living outside the council area. Children putting it first, for every 10 places: 2023 9 · 2024 7 · 2025 9 · 2026 6
Sixth form: No
Intake: Mixed
Religious character: Church of England
Nursery provision: Yes

Who goes here

424 pupils out of 420 places At or near capacity

Pupils eligible for free school meals: 187
% eligible for free school meals: 48.4%
Pupil mix: 8 in 10 (more mixed than the Bolton average)
English as an additional language: 76% (England 22%)

Staff

Teachers leaving each year

Teacher turnover: 20.1% a year (Bolton 13.3%, typical in England 13.9%)
Where they went: about 42% moved to another school, 58% left state schools altogether (retirement, other careers, independent schools, abroad)
Data years: 2022/23 to 2024/25 (average of 3 years, DfE school workforce census)

Teachers who moved school or left state schools in the year after each November, as a share of all the school's teachers. Some turnover is healthy – retirements, promotions, moving house.

Behaviour

Awaiting Data

About this Behaviour status

We've asked this school for real behaviour figures under Freedom of Information and haven't had a response yet.

Across Bolton: suspensions by reason

Suspensions for sexual misconduct: 2 (0.1 per 1,000 pupils; England 0.2)
Permanent exclusions for sexual misconduct: 0
Suspensions for bullying: 6 (0.2 per 1,000 pupils; England 0.2)
Suspensions for abuse against sexual orientation or gender identity: 0 (0.0 per 1,000 pupils; England 0.0)
Data year: 2024/25 (DfE suspensions and exclusions statistics)

These are figures for all state primary schools in Bolton, not this school's own – the government doesn't publish them school by school. A suspension can have up to three reasons. Most sexual harassment between pupils never leads to a suspension, so these figures show only part of the picture.

Attendance

Overall absence: 6.8%
Persistently absent pupils: 19.8%
Data year: 2024/25

About persistent absence

A pupil is counted as "persistently absent" if they miss 10% or more of their possible school sessions - roughly one day in every two weeks. Schools and Ofsted both pay close attention to this figure specifically, since it can highlight a pattern the overall absence rate alone might hide.

SEN

No dedicated Unit or Resourced Provision

SEN Unit and Resourced Provision

Most mainstream schools don't have a dedicated SEN Unit or Resourced Provision - it isn't a mark against a school that doesn't, just a different kind of setup than one that does.

Pupils on SEN Support: 13.0%
Pupils with an EHC Plan: 3.8%
Data year: 2025/26

Most common needs - SEN Support

Social, emotional and mental health: 25 pupils
Speech, language and communications needs: 19 pupils
SEN support but no specialist assessment of type of need: 4 pupils
Other difficulty or disability: 2 pupils
Physical disability: 2 pupils

Most common needs - EHC Plan

Autistic spectrum disorder: 6 pupils
Speech, language and communications needs: 6 pupils
Moderate learning difficulty: 1 pupil
Social, emotional and mental health: 1 pupil
Physical disability: 1 pupil

These figures show the makeup of the school.

About these SEND figures

These figures give a sense of the makeup of the school - they aren't a judgement on the quality of support provided.

Parent score - no reviews yet –

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Behaviour

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Openness

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Teaching Quality

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School Ethos

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Ability to Deal with Problems

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Headteacher Approval

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SafeguardingSafeguarding (parent rating)How parents rate the school on keeping children safe - how safe their child feels, and how well concerns are listened to and acted on. It's parents' experience, not an inspection result; Ofsted checks safeguarding separately.

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Wraparound CareWraparound Care (parent rating)How parents rate the school's breakfast and after-school clubs - availability, cost and quality. Only asked for infant, junior and primary schools, where it matters most for working parents.

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Would recommend –

Educational Attainment

Good 2023 report

About this Ofsted rating

Ofsted changed how it rates schools in the last couple of years, so ratings from different years aren't always on the same scale - that's why we show the year alongside every rating.

Year 6 SATs results

Met the expected standard in reading, writing & maths: 47% (England 62%)
Reached the higher standard: 0% (England 8%)
Compared with the area: 18 percentage points below the Bolton average (65%)
Compared with schools with similar pupils: Well below (3-year average 44% against an expected 60%)
3-year average (expected standard): 44%
Expected standard by subject: Reading 64% · Writing 52% · Maths 69% · Grammar, punctuation & spelling 64%
Average test scores: reading 101, maths 103
Based on: 58 Year 6 pupils, 2024/25

View the School Context Comparator – how this school's SATs results compare with schools teaching similar pupils.

SATs results over time

This schoolBolton averageEngland↗ Improving Up 9 percentage points since 2022/23. In 2024/25 this school was 18 percentage points below the Bolton average (65%).

Year 6 SATs: 81st of 88 junior and primary schools in the area

#79St Thomas C of E Primary School, Halliwell50%
#80St Bede Academy49%
#81St Matthew's CofE Primary School, Bolton47%
#82Leverhulme Community Primary School45%
=83Cherry Tree Primary School44%

Click to see the full ranking

Year 6 SATs ranking

Junior and primary schools in this area, ranked by the % of Year 6 pupils meeting the expected standard in reading, writing and maths (official DfE results, 2024/25). Schools with the same result share a place (shown as =). In small schools one or two children can move a school several places, so treat close positions as roughly equal.

Rank School Score

#1The Olive School, Bolton95%
#2St Andrew's CofE Primary School, Over Hulton90%
#3Bowness Primary School86%
=4Beaumont Primary School84%
=4Masefield Primary School84%
=4St William of York Roman Catholic Primary School84%
=4The Gates Primary School84%
#8The Valley Community Primary School83%
#9St Gregory's RC Primary School, A Voluntary Academy82%
#10Kearsley West Primary School81%
#11Oxford Grove Primary School80%
=12Gaskell Community Primary School79%
=12Our Lady of Lourdes RC Primary School79%
=12St Paul's CofE Primary School, Astley Bridge79%
=12The Oaks Primary School79%
=16Blackrod Primary School78%
=16St Thomas CofE Primary School78%
=18Markland Hill Primary School77%
=18Prestolee Primary School77%
#20The Ferns Primary Academy76%
=21Heathfield Primary School75%
=21The Olive Tree Primary School Bolton75%
=23Haslam Park Primary School74%
=23Sacred Heart Roman Catholic Primary School74%
=23Spindle Point Primary School74%
=23Sunning Hill Primary School74%
#27Horwich Parish CofE Primary School73%
#28St Bernard's RC Primary School, Bolton72%
=29Eagley Junior School70%
=29Eatock Primary School70%
=31Blackshaw Primary School69%
=31Hardy Mill Primary School69%
=31Ladybridge Community Primary School69%
=31St Columba's RC Primary School69%
#35Devonshire Road Primary School68%
=36Castle Hill Primary School67%
=36Moorgate Primary School67%
=36St James CofE Primary School, Farnworth67%
=36St Saviour CofE Primary School, Ringley67%
=40All Saints CofE Primary School66%
=40Essa Primary Academy66%
=40Highfield Primary School66%
=40Sharples Primary School66%
=40St Mary's CofE Primary School, Deane66%
=45St James CofE Primary School, Daisy Hill65%
=45St Stephen and All Martyrs' CofE School, Lever Bridge65%
=47Clarendon Primary School63%
=47Lever Edge Primary Academy63%
=47Red Lane Primary School63%
=47St Bartholomew's CofE Primary School63%
=51Church Road Primary School62%
=51Harwood Meadows Primary School62%
=51Ss Simon & Jude CofE Primary School, Bolton62%
=51St Catherine's CofE Primary School62%
=51St Ethelbert's Roman Catholic Primary School, a Voluntary Academy62%
=56Bishop Bridgeman CofE Primary School61%
=56High Lawn Primary School61%
=56St Joseph's RC Primary School, Halliwell, Bolton61%
=56St Maxentius CofE Primary School61%
=60Chorley New Road Primary Academy60%
=60St George's CofE Primary School60%
=62St Michael's CofE Primary School, Great Lever59%
=62St Peter's Smithills Dean Church of England Primary School59%
=64Queensbridge Primary School58%
=64St John the Evangelist RC Primary School, Bromley Cross, Bolton58%
=64St Peter's CofE Primary School58%
#67SS Osmund and Andrew's R.C. Primary School57%
=68Blackrod Anglican/Methodist Primary School56%
=68Brandwood Primary School56%
=68Mytham Primary School56%
=68St Mary's RC Primary School56%
#72St Brendan's RC Primary School, Harwood, Bolton55%
#73Pikes Lane Primary School54%
=74Brownlow Fold Primary School53%
=74Gilnow Primary School53%
=74St Stephen's CofE Primary School53%
=77Holy Infant and St Anthony RC Primary School52%
=77St Thomas of Canterbury RC School52%
#79St Thomas C of E Primary School, Halliwell50%
#80St Bede Academy49%
#81St Matthew's CofE Primary School, Bolton47%
#82Leverhulme Community Primary School45%
=83Cherry Tree Primary School44%
=83Tonge Moor Primary Academy44%
#85St Matthew's CofE Primary School, Little Lever42%
#86Beacon Primary School36%
=87Bolton St Catherine's Academy34%
=87Claypool Primary School34%

View full Ofsted inspection report

50th of 67 primary schools in Bolton for Ofsted rating

#48St Joseph's RC Primary School, Halliwell, BoltonGood
#49St Mary's RC Primary SchoolGood
#50St Matthew's CofE Primary School, BoltonGood
#51St Matthew's CofE Primary School, Little LeverGood
#52St Maxentius CofE Primary SchoolGood

Click to see the full ranking

Ofsted Rating ranking

Based on real Ofsted ratings (via official DfE data) for schools on the same four-word grading scale.

Rank School Score

#1Blackrod Primary SchoolOutstanding
#2Eatock Primary SchoolOutstanding
#3Johnson Fold Community Primary SchoolOutstanding
#4Lostock Primary SchoolOutstanding
#5Moorgate Primary SchoolOutstanding
#6Oxford Grove Primary SchoolOutstanding
#7Pikes Lane Primary SchoolOutstanding
#8Prestolee Primary SchoolOutstanding
#9Sacred Heart Roman Catholic Primary SchoolOutstanding
#10St Mary's CofE Primary School, DeaneOutstanding
#11The Olive School, BoltonOutstanding
#12The Valley Community Primary SchoolOutstanding
#13Beacon Primary SchoolGood
#14Beaumont Primary SchoolGood
#15Bishop Bridgeman CofE Primary SchoolGood
#16Blackrod Anglican/Methodist Primary SchoolGood
#17Blackshaw Primary SchoolGood
#18Bolton Parish Church, Church of England Primary SchoolGood
#19Bowness Primary SchoolGood
#20Brandwood Primary SchoolGood
#21Castle Hill Primary SchoolGood
#22Chorley New Road Primary AcademyGood
#23Church Road Primary SchoolGood
#24Clarendon Primary SchoolGood
#25Devonshire Road Primary SchoolGood
#26Gilnow Primary SchoolGood
#27Hardy Mill Primary SchoolGood
#28Haslam Park Primary SchoolGood
#29High Lawn Primary SchoolGood
#30Kearsley West Primary SchoolGood
#31Lever Edge Primary AcademyGood
#32Masefield Primary SchoolGood
#33Mytham Primary SchoolGood
#34Queensbridge Primary SchoolGood
#35SS Osmund and Andrew's R.C. Primary SchoolGood
#36Sharples Primary SchoolGood
#37Ss Simon & Jude CofE Primary School, BoltonGood
#38St Bartholomew's CofE Primary SchoolGood
#39St Bede AcademyGood
#40St Bernard's RC Primary School, BoltonGood
#41St Brendan's RC Primary School, Harwood, BoltonGood
#42St Catherine's CofE Primary SchoolGood
#43St Columba's RC Primary SchoolGood
#44St Gregory's RC Primary School, A Voluntary AcademyGood
#45St James CofE Primary School, Daisy HillGood
#46St John Church of England Primary School, FarnworthGood
#47St John the Evangelist RC Primary School, Bromley Cross, BoltonGood
#48St Joseph's RC Primary School, Halliwell, BoltonGood
#49St Mary's RC Primary SchoolGood
#50St Matthew's CofE Primary School, BoltonGood
#51St Matthew's CofE Primary School, Little LeverGood
#52St Maxentius CofE Primary SchoolGood
#53St Michael's CofE Primary School, Great LeverGood
#54St Peter and St Paul RC Primary School a Voluntary AcademyGood
#55St Peter's Smithills Dean Church of England Primary SchoolGood
#56St Saviour CofE Primary School, RingleyGood
#57St Stephen and All Martyrs' CofE School, Lever BridgeGood
#58St Stephen's CofE Primary SchoolGood
#59St Teresa's RC Primary School a Voluntary AcademyGood
#60St Thomas of Canterbury RC SchoolGood
#61St William of York Roman Catholic Primary SchoolGood
#62The Gates Primary SchoolGood
#63The Oaks Primary SchoolGood
#64The Olive Tree Primary School BoltonGood
#65Tonge Moor Primary AcademyGood
#66Woodland Primary AcademyGood
#67Walmsley CofE Primary SchoolRequires improvement

Financials

Spending per pupil: £7,732 (2024-25)

About this spending figure

A higher or lower position here isn't a sign of a better or worse school - schools have different needs and circumstances - but it can help reassure you that a school has sufficient funding behind your child's education.

6th of 92 primary schools in Bolton for spending per pupil

#4Moorgate Primary School£8,980
#5Queensbridge Primary School£8,251
#6St Matthew's CofE Primary School, Bolton£7,732
#7Haslam Park Primary School£7,656
#8Cherry Tree Primary School£7,635

Click to see the full ranking

Spending Per Pupil ranking

Based on official DfE financial return data (Consistent Financial Reporting / Academies Accounts Return) - not a ranking of school quality.

Rank School Score

#1Castle Hill Primary School£9,622
#2Woodland Primary Academy£9,348
#3St Teresa's RC Primary School a Voluntary Academy£9,085
#4Moorgate Primary School£8,980
#5Queensbridge Primary School£8,251
#6St Matthew's CofE Primary School, Bolton£7,732
#7Haslam Park Primary School£7,656
#8Cherry Tree Primary School£7,635
#9St Columba's RC Primary School£7,450
#10Claypool Primary School£7,448
#11Leverhulme Community Primary School£7,414
#12Blackrod Anglican/Methodist Primary School£7,376
#13All Saints CofE Primary School£7,333
#14Brownlow Fold Primary School£7,331
#15Mytham Primary School£7,323
#16Kearsley West Primary School£7,318
#17St Stephen and All Martyrs' CofE School, Lever Bridge£7,301
#18Tonge Moor Primary Academy£7,296
#19Holy Infant and St Anthony RC Primary School£7,276
#20St James CofE Primary School, Farnworth£7,219
#21St William of York Roman Catholic Primary School£7,151
#22Brandwood Primary School£7,144
#23St Joseph's RC Primary School, Halliwell, Bolton£7,131
#24Bowness Primary School£7,105
#25Our Lady of Lourdes RC Primary School£6,900
#26Pikes Lane Primary School£6,899
#27Beacon Primary School£6,898
#28High Lawn Primary School£6,898
#29St Thomas C of E Primary School, Halliwell£6,868
#30Clarendon Primary School£6,849
#31St Gregory's RC Primary School, A Voluntary Academy£6,848
#32Gaskell Community Primary School£6,841
#33Heathfield Primary School£6,837
#34St Matthew's CofE Primary School, Little Lever£6,828
#35St Peter's CofE Primary School£6,827
#36Red Lane Primary School£6,777
#37The Valley Community Primary School£6,768
#38Eatock Primary School£6,753
#39St Brendan's RC Primary School, Harwood, Bolton£6,752
#40Lever Edge Primary Academy£6,746
#41St Stephen's CofE Primary School£6,734
#42St Mary's RC Primary School£6,685
#43Ss Simon & Jude CofE Primary School, Bolton£6,676
#44Blackshaw Primary School£6,672
#45St Michael's CofE Primary School, Great Lever£6,660
#46Harwood Meadows Primary School£6,657
#47Masefield Primary School£6,644
#48St John the Evangelist RC Primary School, Bromley Cross, Bolton£6,595
#49St George's CofE Primary School£6,582
#50Gilnow Primary School£6,554
#51Prestolee Primary School£6,549
#52Highfield Primary School£6,545
#53Sunning Hill Primary School£6,522
#54The Olive Tree Primary School Bolton£6,504
#55Essa Primary Academy£6,502
#56Devonshire Road Primary School£6,491
#57St Mary's CofE Primary School, Deane£6,470
#58St Paul's CofE Primary School, Astley Bridge£6,438
#59Blackrod Primary School£6,433
#60Sacred Heart Roman Catholic Primary School£6,392
#61The Gates Primary School£6,364
#62Ladybridge Community Primary School£6,353
#63The Olive School, Bolton£6,344
#64St Catherine's CofE Primary School£6,289
#65St Andrew's CofE Primary School, Over Hulton£6,273
#66St James CofE Primary School, Daisy Hill£6,244
#67St Bede Academy£6,238
#68St Bernard's RC Primary School, Bolton£6,235
#69Markland Hill Primary School£6,209
#70Chorley New Road Primary Academy£6,182
#71SS Osmund and Andrew's R.C. Primary School£6,174
#72Bishop Bridgeman CofE Primary School£6,154
#73Oxford Grove Primary School£6,142
#74St Saviour CofE Primary School, Ringley£6,120
#75Hardy Mill Primary School£6,053
#76St Thomas CofE Primary School£6,044
#77St Bartholomew's CofE Primary School£6,037
#78The Oaks Primary School£6,005
#79Spindle Point Primary School£5,999
#80Church Road Primary School£5,992
#81The Ferns Primary Academy£5,948
#82Beaumont Primary School£5,920
#83Sharples Primary School£5,897
#84Horwich Parish CofE Primary School£5,825
#85St Thomas of Canterbury RC School£5,756
#86St Maxentius CofE Primary School£5,717
#87St Peter's Smithills Dean Church of England Primary School£5,712
#88St Ethelbert's Roman Catholic Primary School, a Voluntary Academy£5,498
#89St John Church of England Primary School, Farnworth£5,234
#90Bolton Parish Church, Church of England Primary School£4,619
#91Lostock Primary School£2,948
#92St Peter and St Paul RC Primary School a Voluntary Academy£2,921

View on the Financial Benchmarking and Insights Tool (GOV.UK)

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