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OpenSecondaryOfsted: Not judgedURN 105264

Thornleigh Salesian College

Voluntary aided school · Bolton · BL1 6PQ

Ages 11–18 · 1,574 pupils · Bolton

School website

Ofsted

Not judged

Attainment 8

44.8

Overall absence

9.4%

Admissions demand

1.01 · Balanced demand

Ofsted

Latest published inspection outcomes — not a ranking.

Read full report

Headline

Not judged

Inspection date

2024-10-22

Overall effectiveness
Not judged
Quality of education
Requires improvement
Behaviour and attitudes
Good
Personal development
Good
Leadership and management
Requires improvement
Safeguarding effective
Yes

Source: Ofsted monthly management information

Performance

Official school-level results. Figures are not rankings — suppressed values are omitted.

Key stage 4 (2023/24)

Progress 8-0.22
−20+2
Attainment 844.8
English & maths grade 5+45%
English & maths grade 4+64%
EBacc entry20%

EBacc APS: 3.9

Source: DfE school and college performance tables

Absence

Academic year 2023/24. Persistent absence means 10%+ of sessions missed. Lower figures are better.

Overall absence9.4%
Persistent absence (10%+)24.9%
Unauthorised3.6%
Authorised absence
5.7%
Severe absence (50%+)
3.9%
Enrolments in measure
1,376

Absence trend

2021/22

2022/23

2023/24

  • Overall
  • Persistent (10%+)

Source: DfE pupil absence in schools in England

Admissions demand

Coordinated admissions for secondary entry (2024/25 cycle, national offer day). Demand ratio compares families who listed this school 1st with total offers made — not a catchment or distance guarantee.

Demand ratio

1.01 · Balanced demand

1st preferences

278

Places offered

274

1st-preference offers

243

Total preferences (any rank)
707
Preferred offers (top 3)
274
Applications from outside LA
15
Offers to outside-LA applicants
5
Admissions policy (GIAS)
Non-selective

Source: DfE primary and secondary school applications and offers. Figures reflect offers on national offer day; late applications, appeals and waiting lists are not included.

Size & intake

From the GIAS school census (15 Jan 2026).

Capacity fill95%

1,574 pupils · 1,650 places

Pupils on roll
1,574
Boys / girls
736 / 838
School capacity
1,650
Capacity fill
1,574 / 1,650 (95%)
Free school meals
29.4%
FSM pupils
394
Admissions policy
Non-selective
Gender
Mixed
School type
Voluntary aided school

Age range

Ages 11–18

05111619

Provision

Official GIAS characteristics

1 / 6

  • Nursery
  • Sixth formHas a sixth form
  • Boarding
  • Special school
  • Independent
  • Academy

School characteristics

Religious character
Roman Catholic
Diocese
Diocese of Salford
Special classes
No Special Classes
Governance
Voluntary aided school
Headteacher
Mr Michael Fitzsimons

Location

Address
Sharples Park, Astley Bridge
Postcode
BL1 6PQ
Town
Bolton
County
Lancashire
Local authority
Bolton
District
Bolton
Constituency
Bolton North East
Urban/rural
Urban: Nearer to a major town or city

Local context

How this school sits among open establishments in its area, using official GIAS records. These are counts, not rankings.

Mixed voluntary aided school (secondary), Ages 11–18, in Bolton, Bolton, 1,574 pupils on roll. Notable characteristics: sixth form, non-selective admissions. Free school meals: 29.4%. Religious character: Roman Catholic. Diocese: Diocese of Salford.

Open schools in Bolton
149
Secondary schools in Bolton
19
Academies among open schools in Bolton
33% (49)
Open schools in BL1
34
Secondary in BL1
4
Open schools in Bolton LA
148
Secondary in Bolton LA
19

Nearby secondary schools

Open schools within about 3 miles, prioritising the same phase where possible. Distances are approximate from GIAS coordinates.

Compare with theseAll in BoltonNear BL1

  • Smithills School

    Ofsted: Needs attention

    Academy converter · Secondary

    Bolton · BL1 6JS · Bolton

    Ages 11–16

    • Att839.5
    • P8-0.0
    • EM5+30%
    • Absence10.2%

    0.5 miles away

  • Eden Boys' School, Bolton

    Ofsted: School remains Outstanding

    Free schools · Secondary

    Bolton · BL1 3QE · Bolton

    Ages 11–18

    • Att848.4
    • P80.5
    • EM5+54%
    • Absence4.6%

    0.7 miles away

  • Sharples School

    Ofsted: Improved significantly

    Academy converter · Secondary

    Bolton · BL1 8SN · Bolton

    Ages 11–16

    • Att856.5
    • P80.9
    • EM5+66%
    • Absence5.2%

    0.9 miles away

  • Canon Slade School

    Ofsted: Not judged

    Academy converter · Secondary

    Bolton · BL2 3BP · Bolton

    Ages 11–18

    • Att854.6
    • P80.3
    • EM5+65%
    • Absence5.3%

    1.4 miles away

  • Turton School

    Ofsted: Good

    Community school · Secondary

    Bolton · BL7 9LT · Bolton

    Ages 11–18

    • Att848.7
    • P80.1
    • EM5+44%
    • Absence8.5%

    1.6 miles away

  • University Collegiate School

    Ofsted: Not judged

    University technical college · Secondary

    Bolton · BL3 5AG · Bolton

    Ages 11–19

    • Att835.2
    • P8-1.0
    • EM5+30%
    • Absence8.4%

    1.9 miles away

  • Bolton Muslim Girls School

    Ofsted: Not judged

    Academy converter · Secondary

    Bolton · BL3 6TQ · Bolton

    Ages 11–16

    • Att857.3
    • P81.1
    • EM5+64%
    • Absence4.8%

    2.4 miles away

  • Ladybridge High School

    Ofsted: Good

    Community school · Secondary

    Bolton · BL3 4NG · Bolton

    Ages 11–16

    • Att842.6
    • P8-0.1
    • EM5+40%
    • Absence7.4%

    2.7 miles away

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Contact

Headteacher
Mr Michael Fitzsimons
Telephone
01204301351
Website
http://www.thornleigh.bolton.sch.uk

Official links