Thornleigh Salesian College

Secondary
Local authority maintained
Ages 11 to 18

Ofsted judgements: Requires improvement to good

Sharples Park, Astley Bridge, Bolton, BL1 6PQOpen in maps (opens in a new tab)

Thornleigh Salesian College is a secondary school in Bolton for ages 11 to 18. It is one of the 142 schools in Bolton. It ranks 12th of 19 secondary 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: Requires improvement
Behaviour and attitudes: Good
Personal development: Good
Leadership and management: Requires improvement
Sixth form provision: Good
Safeguarding: Met

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

Exam results

GCSE results (key stage 4), 2024/25

263 pupils in the year group

Attainment 8 score45.7

45.7, 0.4 below the England average of 46.1.

Grade 5 or above in English and maths41.1%

41.1%, 4.3 percentage points below the England average of 45.4%.

Grade 4 or above in English and maths68.4%

68.4%, 3.6 percentage points above the England average of 64.8%.

Pupils entering the EBacc27%

27%, 13.5 percentage points below the England average of 40.5%.

EBacc average point score3.86

3.86, 0.23 below the England average of 4.09.

A level results (key stage 5), 2024/25

90 students

Average point score per A level entry36.28

36.28, 1.28 above the England average of 35.00.

Average A level grade B-, England average B-

Pupil numbers and mix

1,574 pupils on roll, with places for 1,650

Eligible for free school meals27.1%

27.1%, 0.6 percentage points above the England average of 26.5%.

English as an additional language9.7%

9.7%, 11.9 percentage points below the England average of 21.6%.

Special educational needs support11%

11%, 3.8 percentage points below the England average of 14.8%.

Education, health and care plan2.5%

2.5%, 3.5 percentage points below the England average of 6%.

Schools near Thornleigh Salesian College

School	Distance	Ofsted	Results
Smithills School	0.5 miles	Report card: Needs attention to expected standard	Attainment 8: 36.5
Eden Boys' School, Bolton	0.7 miles	Ofsted: Outstanding	Attainment 8: 53.0
Madrasatul Imam Muhammad Zakariya	0.8 miles	Ofsted: Good	Attainment 8: 51.2
Sharples School	0.9 miles	Ofsted: Good	Attainment 8: 55.6
Canon Slade School	1 mile	Ofsted judgements: Good	Attainment 8: 53.9

School details

School type: Voluntary aided school
Sector: Local authority maintained
Age range: 11 to 18
Gender: Mixed
Religious character: Roman Catholic
Sixth form: Yes
Headteacher: Mr Michael Fitzsimons
Phone: 01204301351
Website: thornleigh.bolton.sch.uk (opens in a new tab)
Address: Sharples Park, Astley Bridge, Bolton, BL1 6PQ
Local authority: Bolton
URN: 105264

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.