Essa Academy

Secondary
Academy
Ages 11 to 16

Report card: Strong standard

Lever Edge Lane, Bolton, BL3 3HHOpen in maps (opens in a new tab)

Essa Academy is a secondary school in Bolton for ages 11 to 16. It is one of the 142 schools in Bolton. It ranks 3rd of 19 secondary schools in Bolton. Its latest Ofsted outcome is a report card, from an inspection in January 2026.

Ofsted report card

Inspected 20 January 2026, report published 16 March 2026

Each area is graded from urgent improvement to exceptional, and safeguarding is either met or not met.

Inclusion: Strong standard
Curriculum and teaching: Strong standard
Achievement: Strong standard
Attendance and behaviour: Strong standard
Personal development and wellbeing: Strong standard
Leadership and governance: Strong standard
Safeguarding: Met

Read the full Ofsted report (opens in a new tab)

Exam results

GCSE results (key stage 4), 2024/25

200 pupils in the year group

Attainment 8 score53.0

53.0, 6.9 above the England average of 46.1.

Grade 5 or above in English and maths54%

54%, 8.6 percentage points above the England average of 45.4%.

Grade 4 or above in English and maths75%

75%, 10.2 percentage points above the England average of 64.8%.

Pupils entering the EBacc19.5%

19.5%, 21 percentage points below the England average of 40.5%.

EBacc average point score4.43

4.43, 0.34 above the England average of 4.09.

Pupil numbers and mix

1,055 pupils on roll, with places for 990

Eligible for free school meals49%

49%, 22.5 percentage points above the England average of 26.5%.

English as an additional language57.6%

57.6%, 36 percentage points above the England average of 21.6%.

Special educational needs support13.8%

13.8%, 1 percentage points below the England average of 14.8%.

Education, health and care plan2.8%

2.8%, 3.2 percentage points below the England average of 6%.

Schools near Essa Academy

School	Distance	Ofsted	Results
King's Leadership Academy Bolton	0.3 miles	Ofsted: Good	Attainment 8: 45.4
Bolton Muslim Girls School	0.7 miles	Ofsted judgements: Good to outstanding	Attainment 8: 54.7
Al Jamiah Al Islamiyyah	0.9 miles	Ofsted: Requires improvement	Not published
Lord's School	1 mile	Report card: Needs attention to expected standard	Attainment 8: 5.3
Mount St Joseph RC High School a Voluntary Academy	1 mile	Ofsted: Requires improvement	Not published

School details

School type: Academy sponsor led
Sector: Academy
Trust: NORTHERN EDUCATION TRUST
Age range: 11 to 16
Gender: Mixed
Sixth form: No
Headteacher: Mrs Mel Flynn
Phone: 01204333222
Website: esa.northerneducationtrust.org (opens in a new tab)
Address: Lever Edge Lane, Bolton, BL3 3HH
Local authority: Bolton
URN: 135770

School details from Get Information about Schools, 17 September 2026. Ofsted outcomes published to 31 August 2026. Exam results for 2024/25 from the Department for Education. Pupil mix from the school census, 2025/26.