St James CofE Primary School, Farnworth
Hillside Avenue, Farnworth, Bolton, BL4 9QBOpen in maps (opens in a new tab)
St James CofE Primary School, Farnworth is a primary school in Bolton for ages 2 to 11. It is one of the 142 schools in Bolton. It ranks 41st of 86 primary schools in Bolton. Its latest Ofsted inspection, in October 2024, graded each key judgement and gave no overall Ofsted rating.
Ofsted inspection
Inspected 15 October 2024, report published 13 November 2024
This inspection graded each key judgement and gave no overall effectiveness grade.
- Quality of education
- Good
- Behaviour and attitudes
- Good
- Personal development
- Good
- Leadership and management
- Good
- Early years provision
- Outstanding
- Safeguarding
- Met
What Ofsted said
From the inspection on 15 October 2024
Pupils enjoy being part of this welcoming school. Children in the early years settle in quickly and get off to a flying start. All pupils, including children in the early years, strive to live up to the school value of respect. Pupils appreciate the importance of treating others in a way that they would like to be treated themselves. This helps pupils to feel happy at school. A significant number of pupils join the school part way through their primary education. Some pupils are at the early stages of learning to speak English as an additional language. The school holds high ambition for its pupils to achieve well. This includes those pupils with special educational needs and/or disabilities (SEND). Pupils make the most of the opportunities that the school provides for them. They behave well in lessons, work hard and achieve well. Pupils learn about the positive difference that they can make for others in their local community. Charitable activities, such as providing donations to a local food bank, helps pupils to develop their understanding of empathy. Pupils benefit from opportunities to take on responsibilities in school. These include being part of the eco committee, becoming a junior leader, or joining one of the pupil groups linked to the religious character of the school.
What the school should improve
- In one or two subjects, some of the learning activities that a small number of teachers provide for pupils do not effectively build on what they already know. As a result, some pupils do not deepen their understanding as well as they could. The school should ensure that teachers have the knowledge that they need to design learning activities that help pupils connect learning and build up a deep body of knowledge.
- In a small number of subjects, some pupils have gaps in their knowledge as a result of weaknesses in the previous curriculum. Some of these gaps have not been identified or addressed. Consequently, this hinders the ability of some pupils to make sense of new learning. The school should ensure that teachers are equipped to swiftly remedy these gaps in pupils' knowledge. This is so that pupils can build and further strengthen their knowledge in these subjects.
Exam results
SATs results (key stage 2), 2024/25
52 pupils took the tests
Pupil numbers and mix
357 pupils on roll, with places for 362
Schools near St James CofE Primary School, Farnworth
| School | Distance | Ofsted | Results |
|---|---|---|---|
| Queensbridge Primary School | 0.3 miles | Ofsted: Good | 58% met the expected standard |
| The Ferns Primary Academy | 0.4 miles | Report card: Expected standard to strong standard | 76% met the expected standard |
| Our Lady of Lourdes RC Primary School | 0.5 miles | Ofsted judgements: Good to outstanding | 79% met the expected standard |
| St Peter's CofE Primary School | 0.6 miles | Report card: Expected standard to strong standard | 58% met the expected standard |
| Highfield Primary School | 0.6 miles | Report card: Expected standard to strong standard | 66% met the expected standard |
School details
- School type
- Academy converter
- Sector
- Academy
- Trust
- ARCHBISHOP TEMPLE CHURCH OF ENGLAND MULTI ACADEMY TRUST
- Age range
- 2 to 11
- Gender
- Mixed
- Religious character
- Church of England
- Nursery classes
- Yes
- Headteacher
- Mr Chris Booth
- Phone
- 01204572587
- Address
- Hillside Avenue, Farnworth, Bolton, BL4 9QB
- Local authority
- Bolton
- URN
- 142944
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.