School Chooser

Spindle Point Primary School

Primary · ages 3-11MixedCouncil238 pupilsNurseryBolton
School Chooser Score
76
Above
similar schools
Likely range 55 to 88
Out of 100. Better than 50% of the 50 schools most like it. Slipping year on year.
OfstedAs expected teachingOfsted report card, March 2026
Reached the expected level at 1174%England 63%
Attendance95.3%England 94.8%
Pupils from low-income families11%Far fewer than most schools
Parents would recommend97%70 Parent View responses
PlacesFull238 pupils, 210 places

Spindle Point Primary School is a council school in Bolton for boys and girls aged 3 to 11. It has 238 pupils, 28 more than it has places for. About 11 in every 100 pupils come from a low-income family, far fewer than at most schools in England. We give it 76 out of 100. That puts it above schools like it, ahead of 50% of the 50 schools most like it. Ofsted visited in March 2026 and gave it a report card, which is below.

Moss Lane, Kearsley, Bolton, BL4 8SE01204 333458spindle-point.bolton.sch.ukMiss Jennifer Bingham headteacherAll details

What Ofsted found

Ofsted visited on 31 March 2026. Instead of one overall word, it now gives a grade for each part of school life. Read the full report on Ofsted's website.

TeachingOfsted calls this “curriculum and teaching”
As expected
Achievement
As expected
Behaviour and attendanceOfsted calls this “attendance and behaviour”
Strong
Support for every childOfsted calls this “inclusion”
As expected
WellbeingOfsted calls this “personal development and wellbeing”
As expected
LeadershipOfsted calls this “leadership and governance”
As expected
Early years
Strong
SafeguardingAre pupils kept safe?
Pupils are kept safe
Met
Ofsted's scale:ExceptionalStrong standardExpected standardNeeds attentionUrgent improvement

Ofsted says these new grades can't be lined up against the old one-word grades.

Earlier inspections (1)
DateTypeOutcome
13 January 2022UngradedSchool remains Good

Results

Year 6 results (SATs), summer 2025

31 children took the tests. Here is how they did against every state primary in England.

Reached the expected level at 1174%
England 63%
Official name: Expected standard in reading, writing and maths
Working above the expected level23%
England 8%
Official name: Higher standard in reading, writing and maths
Reading score105.0
England 105.6
Official name: Reading average scaled score
Maths score108.0
England 104.6
Official name: Maths average scaled score
Trend
Reached the expected level at 11
2017 to 2025
2017: 59%59%20172018: 72%72%20182019: 63%63%20192023: 76%76%20232024: 80%80%20242025: 74%74%2025
Since 2017: +15%Declining overall
All Year 6 measures, year by year
Measure202520242023201920182017BoltonEngland
Pupils tested313029302929
Reached the expected level at 11Expected standard in reading, writing and maths74%80%76%63%72%59%65%63%
Working above the expected levelHigher standard in reading, writing and maths23%23%24%0%7%3%10%8%
Reading scoreReading average scaled score105.0107.0106.0102.0105.0103.0105.3105.6
Maths scoreMaths average scaled score108.0109.0109.0105.0104.0103.0105.2104.6
Grammar and spelling scoreGPS average scaled score106.0109.0109.0104.0106.0105.0106.2105.2
Expected level: readingReading expected standard81%83%90%70%76%66%
Expected level: mathsMaths expected standard84%93%93%90%79%76%
Expected level: writingWriting expected standard (teacher assessed)84%90%83%80%90%79%
Reading progressReading progress score-1.5-2.2+0.1-1.3
Maths progressMaths progress score+3.1+0.1+0.4-1.6
Expected level: low-income pupilsExpected standard, disadvantaged86%67%67%71%29%
Expected level: other pupilsExpected standard, non-disadvantaged78%78%62%73%68%

There are no progress figures for 2025. That year group missed their Year 2 tests during Covid, so there was no starting point to measure from. Progress figures come back with the December 2026 results. Tests were cancelled altogether in 2020 and 2021.

Does every child do well here?

A good school does well by every child, not just on average. Each row compares two groups of pupils here. The grey marks show the same two groups across England. None of the gaps is smaller than the gap across England. When a group has fewer than about ten pupils, its figures jump around a lot from year to year.

At the end of primary school, 2025

Reached the expected level at 11Boys vs girls
83%68%
Gap 15 ptsEngland 5 pts
First groupSecond groupEngland, each group

Low-income means the child has had free school meals at some point in the last six years. A group's figure isn't published when it has fewer than six pupils.

Getting a place

Admissions policy not published.

Nearly full204 pupils for 210 places, 2024/25
97% full

Fewer than one place in twenty is empty, so in most years more families apply than there are places. Living close by, or already having a child here, makes a real difference. Pupil numbers have stayed about the same since 2021/22.

Each council publishes its own figures on how many families applied and how far away the last child to get a place lived. We are adding councils one at a time. If you have a link to Bolton council's admissions booklet, send it to us.

What parents say

Would recommend the school97%England 87%
My child is happy here96%agree or strongly agree
My child feels safe97%
Positive overall96%
My child is happy at this school
96%England 89%
My child feels safe at this school
97%England 90%
Pupils are well behavedThe school makes sure its pupils are well behaved
96%England 83%
Has your child been bullied here?Parents answering yes
6% yesEngland 18%
Bullying was dealt with quickly and effectivelyOnly parents whose child was bullied
75%England 50%
My child gets the right support to learn well
97%England 85%
Does your child have SEND?Parents answering yes
19% yesEngland 26%
The school gives them the support they needOnly parents of children with SEND
85%England 71%
The school communicates well with me
91%England 80%
My concerns have been dealt with properlyWhen I have raised concerns
76%England 69%
Decisions put the child's best interests first
96%England 82%
I would recommend this school
97%England 87%
Overall view of the school is positive
96%England 82%
Strongly agreeAgreeDon't knowDisagreeStrongly disagreeEngland, agree or yes

From Ofsted's Parent View survey: 70 parents answered in the year to 6 April 2026. Parents choose whether to fill it in, and many only do so when an inspection is coming, so don't read too much into small differences. The England figures are the average for primary schools with enough answers to publish.

Who goes here

Who a school teaches matters. That is why our score compares it with schools that take in a similar mix of children, not with every school in the country.

Pupils on roll238Census January 2026
Places210113% full
Pupils from low-income families11%11% have had free school meals at some point in the last six years
Pupils learning English8%First language is not English
Pupils getting extra support17%41 pupils with SEN support
Pupils with an EHC plan3%6 pupils with a plan
Average class size29.76 classes, January 2026; England 25.4
Classes with more than 30 pupils33%Infant classes are capped at 30 by law; England 10%
Pupils with extra funding (pupil premium)11%£32,550 extra funding in 2026/27; England 24%
Boys and girls121 / 117
White British pupils86%

Infant classes (Reception to Year 2) average 28.7 pupils (England 25.5); junior classes (Years 3 to 6) average 30.5 (England 27.3).

The most common needs among pupils getting extra support: Moderate learning difficulty (13), language and communications needs (11), Autistic spectrum disorder (10), emotional and mental health (8), Specific learning difficulty (5).

How the mix of pupils has changed
Census202620252024202320222021
Pupils on roll238233236230227231
Pupils from low-income familiesFree school meals11%9%11%12%15%13%
Pupils learning EnglishEnglish as an additional language8%8%7%6%6%5%
Pupils getting extra supportSEN support14%14%12%14%13%
Pupils with an EHC planEducation, health and care plans2%2%2%1%1%

Attendance and behaviour

In 2024/25 pupils were in school 95.3% of the time. Across similar schools in England it was 94.8%.

Attendance95.3%
England 94.8%
Official name: 100 minus overall absence
Pupils missing a lot of school9.7%
England 12.8%
Official name: Persistent absence
Suspensions per 100 pupils2.62024/25, no permanent exclusions
Missed without permission1.4%of school time, 2024/25
Attendance year by year
Measure2024/252023/242022/232021/222020/212018/19England
Sessions missedOverall absence4.7%4.6%4.6%5.2%2.0%3.8%5.2%
Missed with permissionAuthorised absence3.3%3.4%3.4%4.3%1.8%2.3%
Missed without permissionUnauthorised absence1.4%1.2%1.1%0.9%0.2%1.5%
Pupils missing a lot of schoolPersistent absence9.7%8.3%9.8%13.0%2.3%7.1%12.8%
SuspensionsSuspension rate2.60.90.41.30.9
Permanent exclusionsPermanent exclusions00000

Staff and money

From the government's count of school staff in November 2025 and the school's published accounts.

Teachers9.8full-time equivalent, 10 people
Pupils per teacher24.0Pupils for every full-time teacher
Fully qualified teachers100%hold qualified teacher status
Teaching assistants8.5full-time equivalent
Average teacher pay£53,714
Teachers who left in the year9%2024/25, for any reason including retirement
Vacancies0
Sick days per teacher1.12024/25

Money

From the council school accounts, year to March 2025. The per-pupil figures are compared with other primary schools in England that report their accounts the same way.

Spend per pupil£6,012England £7,738. Total £1.4m
Income per pupil£6,040England £7,697. Total £1.4m
Spent on teachers per pupil£3,106England £3,480
Money in reserve9%A healthy amount put by: £128k, £558 per pupil. England 6%
Money in against money out+£6,496it took in more than it spent this year
Where the money goes£6,012spent per pupil

Reserves are the money left over at the end of the year, kept back for emergencies and big projects. Being in the red year after year is a warning sign. Very large reserves can mean money sitting in the bank instead of being spent on today's pupils. Academy figures are rounded to the nearest £1,000 and include a share of any money the trust holds centrally.

The area around the school

Local crime rate0 per 1,000 people100% lower than the England average
Typical house price£205,000Bolton
Nearest bus stop140 mMoss Lane, 6 stops within 500 m

Crime figures come from police.uk. The police record each crime at the nearest of a fixed set of map points rather than the exact spot, so “within 500 m” is only rough. House prices are from HM Land Registry sales nearby over the last two years.

Nearby schools

The closest primary schools, nearest first. Hover over a row to see it on the map.

Well aboveAboveIn lineBelowWell belowNot scored
SchoolTypeDistancePupilsOfstedScore
St Stephen's CofE Primary SchoolChurch of England790 m183Good 202342Compare
St Saviour CofE Primary School, RingleyChurch of England0.7 miles206Good 202468Compare
Wardley CofE Primary SchoolChurch of England1.0 miles219No overall grade 202595Compare
Prestolee Primary SchoolAcademy1.1 miles231Outstanding 202490Compare
Kearsley West Primary SchoolCouncil1.2 miles236Not inspected59Compare
St Paul's CofE Primary SchoolChurch of England1.2 miles226Good 202346Compare
Clifton Primary SchoolCouncil1.3 miles271Good 202327Compare
St Paul's CofE Primary SchoolChurch of England1.4 miles355No overall grade 202587Compare

Compared with schools like it

Our score compares Spindle Point Primary School with the 46 schools in England whose pupils are most like its own. We match on family income, how many children are learning English, special needs, the neighbourhood, the size of the school and how it admits pupils. Those 46 schools are dotted all over the country, so we don't list them. What matters is where this school sits among them.

Beats50%of schools with a similar mix of pupils
In the upper half of its group. Its score of 76 is about the same as the typical school in the group.
0Lowest of the group 15 · middle 76 · highest 98100

How the score was worked out

The score is out of 100. A 76 means that once everything below is added up, this school comes out ahead of 76% of primary schools in England. Results bounce around from year to year, especially in small schools, so we also show a likely range: 55 to 88. Every part is judged against schools with a similar mix of pupils. For small schools we pull each part towards the group average, so one unusual year can't swing the score too far.

What we looked atHow much it countsAgainst schools like itEffect on the scoreBased on
Results over three years25%above
+0.19
2025, 2024 and 2023 results; 31 pupils
Ofsted inspection20%in line
-0.06
Ofsted report card, 0.5 years old
Progress pupils make20%in line
+0.05
DfE progress measure; 31 pupils
Direction of travel over five years10%below
-0.06
results and attendance falling year on year
Attendance and behaviour10%above
+0.05
2024/25; 176 pupils
Results, allowing for the mix of pupils10%well above
+0.12
Attainment relative to schools with a similar intake; 31 pupils
What parents say5%above
+0.04
Ofsted's Parent View survey, allowing for how many parents replied; 70 responses

Worked out on 13 September 2026 (method v1). Read how the score works, including every weight and the checks we run. Think a number is wrong? Tell us.

Questions parents ask

Is Spindle Point Primary School a good school?

Yes, going by the figures. Spindle Point Primary School scores 76 out of 100. That is above schools that take in a similar mix of pupils, and ahead of 50% of the 50 schools most like it in England. The score could fairly be anywhere from 55 to 88, so a few points either way between schools doesn't mean much. Its results have been slipping over the last five years.

What is Spindle Point Primary School's Ofsted rating?

Ofsted no longer gives schools one overall grade. When it visited on 31 March 2026 it rated teaching as as expected, achievement as as expected, behaviour and attendance as strong, leadership as as expected.

How good are Spindle Point Primary School's SATs results?

In summer 2025, 74% of Year 6 children reached the expected level in reading, writing and maths. Across England it was 63%. 23% went further and reached the higher level.

How many pupils does Spindle Point Primary School have?

238 pupils aged 3 to 11 were on the roll in January 2026. It has 210 places, so it is 113% full.

Is Spindle Point Primary School oversubscribed?

Often. Fewer than one place in twenty was empty in 2024/25, so popular year groups fill up.

What is attendance like at Spindle Point Primary School?

Pupils were in school 95.3% of the time in 2024/25. Similar schools in England managed 94.8%. 10% of pupils missed at least a tenth of the year.

What do parents say about Spindle Point Primary School?

97% of the 70 parents who answered Ofsted's Parent View survey would recommend it to other parents, and 96% say their child is happy there. Across England, 87% of parents would recommend their child's school.

How big are the classes at Spindle Point Primary School?

The average class had 29.7 pupils in January 2026. Across England it was 25.4. 33% of classes had more than 30 pupils.

These answers come straight from the figures on this page and update when new data comes out.

Contact and details

Address
Moss Lane, Kearsley, Bolton, BL4 8SE
Telephone
01204 333458
Website
www.spindle-point.bolton.sch.uk
Headteacher
Miss Jennifer Bingham
Type of school
Council school (Community school, local authority maintained schools)
Phase
Primary school, ages 3-11, with nursery
Gender
Mixed
Local authority
Bolton
Ward
Kearsley
Constituency
Bolton South and Walkden
Setting
Urban: Nearer to a major town or city
URN
105196 · LAESTAB 3502075 · UKPRN 10070108

Where these figures come from