Smithills School

Secondary
Academy
Ages 11 to 16

Report card: Needs attention to expected standard

Smithills Dean Road, Smithills School, Bolton, BL1 6JSOpen in maps (opens in a new tab)

Smithills School is a secondary school in Bolton for ages 11 to 16. It is one of the 142 schools in Bolton. It ranks 19th of 19 secondary schools in Bolton. Its latest Ofsted outcome is a report card, from an inspection in March 2026.

Ofsted report card

Inspected 31 March 2026, report published 7 June 2026

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

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

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

Exam results

GCSE results (key stage 4), 2024/25

234 pupils in the year group

Attainment 8 score36.5

36.5, 9.6 below the England average of 46.1.

Grade 5 or above in English and maths20.1%

20.1%, 25.3 percentage points below the England average of 45.4%.

Grade 4 or above in English and maths47%

47%, 17.8 percentage points below the England average of 64.8%.

Pupils entering the EBacc32.1%

32.1%, 8.4 percentage points below the England average of 40.5%.

EBacc average point score3.25

3.25, 0.84 below the England average of 4.09.

Pupil numbers and mix

1,203 pupils on roll, with places for 1,250

Eligible for free school meals41.9%

41.9%, 15.4 percentage points above the England average of 26.5%.

English as an additional language60.7%

60.7%, 39.1 percentage points above the England average of 21.6%.

Special educational needs support12.2%

12.2%, 2.6 percentage points below the England average of 14.8%.

Education, health and care plan1.8%

1.8%, 4.2 percentage points below the England average of 6%.

Schools near Smithills School

School	Distance	Ofsted	Results
Thornleigh Salesian College	0.5 miles	Ofsted judgements: Requires improvement to good	Attainment 8: 45.7
Eden Boys' School, Bolton	0.9 miles	Ofsted: Outstanding	Attainment 8: 53.0
Madrasatul Imam Muhammad Zakariya	1 mile	Ofsted: Good	Attainment 8: 51.2
Bolton School Boys' Division	1 mile	No Ofsted inspection	Attainment 8: 34.3
Bolton School Girls' Division	1 mile	No Ofsted inspection	Attainment 8: 55.2

School details

School type: Academy converter
Sector: Academy
Trust: THE BOLTON IMPACT TRUST
Age range: 11 to 16
Gender: Mixed
Sixth form: No
Headteacher: Ms Carolyn Dewse
Phone: 01204842382
Website: smithillsschool.net (opens in a new tab)
Address: Smithills Dean Road, Smithills School, Bolton, BL1 6JS
Local authority: Bolton
URN: 140500

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.