Sunning Hill Primary School

  • Primary
  • Local authority maintained
  • Ages 2 to 11
Ofsted judgements: Good to outstanding

Goldsmith Street, Bolton, BL3 6TROpen in maps (opens in a new tab)

Sunning Hill Primary School is a primary school in Bolton for ages 2 to 11. It is one of the 142 schools in Bolton. It ranks 17th 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 22 October 2024, report published 27 November 2024

This inspection graded each key judgement and gave no overall effectiveness grade.

Quality of education
Good
Behaviour and attitudes
Outstanding
Personal development
Good
Leadership and management
Good
Early years provision
Outstanding
Safeguarding
Met

What Ofsted said

From the inspection on 22 October 2024

Pupils are very happy at this nurturing school. They are very proud of their respective religions and traditions, while understanding and valuing those which are different from their own. Pupils have a strong grasp of fundamental British values and explain well their relevance within and beyond school. Pupils rise to the school's high expectations of achievement. When learning activities challenge them they show resilience. Children in the early years achieve highly and are exceptionally well prepared for key stage 1. Pupils, and children in the early years, behave exceptionally well. From entering the school, sometimes as two-year-olds, children learn to behave in ways which enable them to thrive as learners. They listen with rapt attention and follow instructions immediately. This very positive behaviour continues through to the end of Year 6. Pupils are unfailingly polite, cheerful and helpful, both in lessons and at social times. Pupils attend a wide range of activities, which the school provides. These include music and debating. They learn about their responsibility for protecting the environment. Pupils help to improve their community, for example by making bird feeders. They raise money for local and global charities. Some pupils in key stage 2 take on leadership positions.

What the school should improve

  • The reading skills of some pupils in key stage 2 are not sufficiently well developed in relation to accuracy, self-correction and the understanding of more sophisticated vocabulary. The school should build on recent changes to the curriculum to enable pupils in key stage 2 to reach their full potential in reading.
  • In a small number of subjects, some pupils struggle to recall some of the key concepts and related vocabulary that they have learned in previous years. As a result, sometimes they cannot build on essential prior learning when introduced to something new. The school should ensure that teachers revisit essential knowledge sufficiently frequently to enable pupils to know and remember more.

Exam results

SATs results (key stage 2), 2024/25

62 pupils took the tests

Expected standard in reading, writing and maths74%

74%, 12 percentage points above the England average of 62%.

Higher standard in reading, writing and maths16%

16%, 8 percentage points above the England average of 8%.

Reading, average scaled score107

107, 1 above the England average of 106.

Maths, average scaled score108

108, 3 above the England average of 105.

Grammar, punctuation and spelling, average scaled score109

109, 4 above the England average of 105.

Pupil numbers and mix

526 pupils on roll, with places for 531

Eligible for free school meals18.1%

18.1%, 8.4 percentage points below the England average of 26.5%.

English as an additional language68.6%

68.6%, 47 percentage points above the England average of 21.6%.

Special educational needs support5.7%

5.7%, 9.1 percentage points below the England average of 14.8%.

Education, health and care plan2.7%

2.7%, 3.3 percentage points below the England average of 6%.

Schools near Sunning Hill Primary School

SchoolDistanceOfstedResults
The Olive Tree Primary School Bolton0.2 milesOfsted: Good75% met the expected standard
Brandwood Primary School0.3 milesOfsted: Good56% met the expected standard
Clarendon Primary School0.4 milesOfsted: Good63% met the expected standard
St Ethelbert's Roman Catholic Primary School, a Voluntary Academy0.5 milesOfsted: Good62% met the expected standard
Bishop Bridgeman CofE Primary School0.5 milesOfsted: Good61% met the expected standard

School details

School type
Community school
Sector
Local authority maintained
Age range
2 to 11
Gender
Mixed
Nursery classes
Yes
Headteacher
Miss Claire Whalley
Address
Goldsmith Street, Bolton, BL3 6TR
Local authority
Bolton
URN
105163

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.