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The Olive School, Bolton logo

The Olive School, Bolton

  • Ofsted: Outstanding · Sept 2019
  • Ages 4 to 11
  • Bolton BL1
  • 422 pupils

In short: a popular, growing primary free school. Ofsted rated it Outstanding, but that was in 2019. Recent results and attendance are above average.

Young children sitting together at a classroom table
A red-brick school building under a blue sky

Eduscope verdict

Worth a visit, with questions

Popular and well run on paper, but the top grade is old and recent results are mixed.

Illustrative example. Our scoring isn't live yet, so these ratings are not this school's.

DfE and Ofsted data, 2024 to 2025How we work this out

Good to know

  • Outstanding in all 5 areas at its last graded inspection.
  • In demand. 184 applications for 60 Reception places in 2026.
  • Results above average. 95% met the standard. England: 62%.

Worth checking

  • Old grade. The Outstanding rating is from 2019, before Covid.
  • Hard to get into. 108 families put it first for 60 places.
Check my chances
  • OfstedOutstandingSept 2019, 7 years ago
  • Met the standard at 1195%Bolton 64% · England 62%
  • Reception, 2026184 for 60applications for places
  • Free school meals18%Bolton 28%
  • Pupils422Room for 420, so it's full
  • Days missed4%About 8 days a year
Then and now

Outstanding in 2019. What's changed since?

Ofsted rated the school Outstanding in September 2019. Since then it has had a shorter, ungraded visit, so there's no new grade.

Every Ofsted visit

Ofsted inspects every state school every few years. Choose a year to see what they found.

What Ofsted found in September 2019

  • Well-structured curriculum. Curriculum is well-structured and supports pupil development.
  • Phonics focus. Phonics is taught systematically and effectively.
  • Effective leadership. Leaders provide strong support and challenge to school staff.
  • Clear vision. Leaders have a clear vision for excellent provision and pupil outcomes.
  • LeadershipOutstanding
  • Quality of teachingOutstanding
  • Personal developmentOutstanding
  • Results for pupilsOutstanding
  • Early years (nursery and Reception)Outstanding
Read the 2019 report on Ofsted
A teacher helping a group of children working at their tables2019 vs now
How the school compares now with 2019
Measure2019Now
Ofsted gradeOutstandingNo new grade
Met the standard at 1192%95%

Mrs Sabina Saeed, headteacher. Part of Star Academies.

Results

How children do by age 11

At the end of Year 6, children take national tests (called SATs) in reading, writing and maths. Latest results: summer 2025.

Almost all children met the expected standard in reading, writing and maths

Expected standard means a child is ready for secondary school work in all three subjects. 2025 tests.

95 out of every 100 Year 6 children
The Olive School, Bolton95%
Bolton64%
England62%
A girl reading a book on library stairs

Test scores, 2025

100 means the child met the standard. The highest possible is 120.

Reading111
England106
Maths111
England105

Grammar and spelling: 98% met the standard (England 73%).

The Olive School, Bolton among primary schools in Bolton

Each dot is one school, placed by the share of children meeting the expected standard.

Bolton 64%England 62%20%40%60%80%100%Gilnow Primary School: 36%Leverhulme Community Primary School: 42%Blackshaw Primary School: 43%St Thomas C of E Primary School, Halliwell: 44%St James CofE Primary School, Farnworth: 45%St Matthew's CofE Primary School, Bolton: 46%All Saints CofE Primary School: 47%Tonge Moor Primary Academy: 47%St Matthew's CofE Primary School, Little Lever: 48%St Catherine's CofE Primary School: 48%Pikes Lane Primary School: 50%St Brendan's RC Primary School, Harwood, Bolton: 50%Clarendon Primary School: 52%Cherry Tree Primary School: 52%Holy Infant and St Anthony RC Primary School: 52%Queensbridge Primary School: 52%Bolton St Catherine's Academy: 52%Beacon Primary School: 52%Hardy Mill Primary School: 53%St Michael's CofE Primary School, Great Lever: 53%Kearsley West Primary School: 55%Claypool Primary School: 55%Brandwood Primary School: 56%Haslam Park Primary School: 56%Chorley New Road Primary Academy: 56%Brownlow Fold Primary School: 58%Horwich Parish CofE Primary School: 58%Harwood Meadows Primary School: 59%Ss Simon & Jude CofE Primary School, Bolton: 59%Essa Primary Academy: 59%St Stephen's CofE Primary School: 60%St Saviour CofE Primary School, Ringley: 60%St John the Evangelist RC Primary School, Bromley Cross, Bolton: 60%SS Osmund and Andrew's R.C. Primary School: 60%Church Road Primary School: 61%St Thomas of Canterbury RC School: 61%High Lawn Primary School: 62%St Bede Academy: 62%Red Lane Primary School: 62%Castle Hill Primary School: 63%Moorgate Primary School: 63%St James CofE Primary School, Daisy Hill: 63%St Bernard's RC Primary School, Bolton: 64%Bishop Bridgeman CofE Primary School: 64%Mytham Primary School: 65%St Stephen and All Martyrs' CofE School, Lever Bridge: 67%Sunning Hill Primary School: 68%Ladybridge Community Primary School: 68%St Columba's RC Primary School: 68%Bowness Primary School: 68%Sharples Primary School: 69%St Mary's CofE Primary School, Deane: 69%St Peter's CofE Primary School: 69%Devonshire Road Primary School: 70%Gaskell Community Primary School: 71%Blackrod Anglican/Methodist Primary School: 71%St Joseph's RC Primary School, Halliwell, Bolton: 71%St Bartholomew's CofE Primary School: 71%St Andrew's CofE Primary School, Over Hulton: 72%St Peter's Smithills Dean Church of England Primary School: 72%The Gates Primary School: 73%Heathfield Primary School: 74%Markland Hill Primary School: 75%Eagley Junior School: 75%Highfield Primary School: 76%St William of York Roman Catholic Primary School: 76%St Thomas CofE Primary School: 77%Lever Edge Primary Academy: 77%St Paul's CofE Primary School, Astley Bridge: 77%The Olive Tree Primary School Bolton: 77%Prestolee Primary School: 77%St Maxentius CofE Primary School: 77%St Gregory's RC Primary School, A Voluntary Academy: 77%St Mary's RC Primary School: 78%St George's CofE Primary School: 78%Sacred Heart Roman Catholic Primary School: 79%Spindle Point Primary School: 80%Our Lady of Lourdes RC Primary School: 81%Blackrod Primary School: 83%Eatock Primary School: 84%Oxford Grove Primary School: 85%The Ferns Primary Academy: 87%Masefield Primary School: 87%Beaumont Primary School: 88%The Valley Community Primary School: 88%The Oaks Primary School: 91%The Olive School, Bolton: 95%The Olive School, Bolton 95%
The Olive School, Bolton is higher than 86 of 86 other Bolton primary schools.
Getting in

Could your child get a place?

In 2026 more families wanted The Olive School, Bolton than it had places. Every place went to a family who put it as their first choice.

184 applications for 60 Reception places

That's about 31 for every 10 places. 108 families put it first, so even some first-choice families missed out.

● 20 places◌ 20 more applications

Demand has tripled in 9 years

Applications each year. The black line is how many places were offered.

ApplicationsPlaces offered

Who gets a place first

When there are more children than places, most schools give places in an order like this. Check the school's own policy.

  1. 1Children in care, or who used to be
  2. 2Children with a brother or sister already at the school
  3. 3Families of the school's faith, if it's a faith school
A parent walking two children along the pavement
Three children with backpacks crossing a street

  • Now

    Open days run in the autumn. Ask the school for dates.

  • 15 Jan 2027

    Deadline to apply to Bolton Council.

  • 16 Apr 2027

    Offers day. You'll hear from the council.

  • Sep 2027

    Your child starts Reception.

Pupils

Who goes to The Olive School, Bolton

A growing school: 362 pupils in 2021, 422 now.

Year 6, in darker blue, is the year group that sits the tests at 11.
Children in front of a bookshelf

Ethnic background

39% Indian · 29% Pakistani · 10% Asian Other · 8% Mixed Other · 15% other

  • 18.1%

    Free school meals

    Children from lower-income families. The school gets extra money to support them.

    Bolton27.8%

  • 48.7%

    English as an additional language

    Children who speak another language at home. It says nothing about how well they speak English.

    Bolton34.1%

  • 12.7%

    SEN support

    Children with special educational needs who get extra help in school.

    All SEN, Bolton13.2%

  • 3.8%

    EHC plan

    Children with a legal plan for more complex needs (an Education, Health and Care plan).

Staff and money

Teachers, and what the school spends

1 teacher for every 23 children

Children per teacher across the whole school, not class size. Bolton: 21.9. England: 18.1. Counting teaching assistants, there's 1 adult for every 11 children.

Average class: 30 children.

18.7teachers (full-time equivalent)
19.3teaching assistants
100%of teachers fully qualified
Pupils in a classroom while their teacher presents

£6,957 spent on each child a year

2024 to 2025. Up from £5,843 in 2021. Bolton: £7,920. England: £7,460.

  • Staff (teachers, assistants and others)£4,87770%
Money in
£6,994
Spent
£6,957

The school had £580,505 saved (£1,366 per pupil) in 2025. Reserves are for a rainy day, but they're meant to benefit pupils. Worth asking how they'll be used.

Day to day

Life at The Olive School, Bolton

The average child misses about 8 days a year

That's 4% of the school year, for any reason including illness. And 1 in 15 children (7%) missed at least 1 day in 10, which counts as persistently absent. Bolton: 15%. England: about 20%.

In schoolMissed

Before and after schoolWe don't hold club times. Ask the school.

Ages
4 to 11
Type
Free School
Academy trust
Star Academies
Boys and girls
Mixed
Religious character
Muslim
Size
422 pupils, 420 places
Headteacher
Mrs Sabina Saeed
Opened
September 2016
Council
Bolton
Address
Darley Street, Bolton, BL1 3DX
Phone
0120 486 7890
Website
www.olivebolton.com
School number (URN)
142898 · See it on the government register
Open day

What to ask when you visit

Based on what the data says about The Olive School, Bolton. Take this list with you.

  1. 1“What did Ofsted say on its February 2025 visit?”The Outstanding grade is from 2019. The newer report is the best guide to the school today.
  2. 2“How will you use the money in reserve?”The school had £580,505 saved at the last count.
  3. 3“How do you support children who need extra help?”12.7% of pupils get SEN support here.
Nearby

Other primary schools nearby

Popular schools fill up, so it's wise to list more than one. Here's how The Olive School, Bolton compares with its neighbours.

See all Bolton primaries
Ofsted: OutstandingYou're here

The Olive School, Bolton

BL1 3DX · Free School · 422 pupils

Met the standard
95%
Days missed
4%
Pupils per teacher
22.7
Ofsted: Good

Brownlow Fold Primary School

BL1 3DX · State · Primary · Ages 3–11

Met the standard
58%
Days missed
5.6%
Pupils per teacher
23.9
Ofsted: Good

St Thomas C of E Primary School, Halliwell

BL1 3JB · State · Primary · Ages 3–11

Met the standard
44%
Days missed
6.1%
Pupils per teacher
19.4

Al-Huda Primary School

BL1 3EH · Independent · Primary · Ages 2–11

Keep an eye on The Olive School, Bolton

We'll email you when there's a new Ofsted report, new results or new admissions figures. Nothing else.

Questions

Questions parents ask

Is The Olive School, Bolton a good school?

Ofsted rated it Outstanding in September 2019. That's a while ago. In 2025, 95% of children met the expected standard, against 64% in Bolton and 62% across England. Visit, and read the latest inspection report.

How hard is it to get a place?

In 2026 there were 184 applications for 60 Reception places, and 108 families put it as their first choice. Not everyone who applied got a place, so list more than one school.

Does The Olive School, Bolton have a nursery?

Our data doesn't show a nursery class. Ask the school about places for younger children.

Is it a faith school?

Yes. Its religious character is Muslim. Faith schools can give priority to families of that faith, so check its admissions policy.

How do you work out the Eduscope verdict?

We use official data from the Department for Education, Ofsted and ISI. The verdict looks at results, inspections, attendance, getting a place, and staff and money.

Sources: Department for Education school performance tables, school census and workforce, academy accounts, admissions statistics, Ofsted and ISI. Photos are stand-ins.

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