St Thomas C of E Primary School, Halliwell

St Thomas C of E Primary School in Halliwell demonstrates strong overall performance, maintaining a safe and inclusive environment where pupils feel valued. Leaders and staff focus on the well-being and academic success of every child, fostering a sense of belonging and respect among students. The commitment to providing personalized support for disadvantaged pupils has contributed to impressive progress despite the challenges faced. However, the school acknowledges that published test results remain below average, prompting continued efforts to meet national expectations for achievement.

Strengths

• Strong culture of safeguarding that ensures student safety and well-being.
• High levels of pupil engagement and respect, with a positive attitude towards learning.
• Innovative curriculum tailored to meet diverse student needs and support language development.
• Effective early years education promoting foundational skills and communication.
• Strong commitment to inclusion with personalized support for all learners.
• Dedicated leadership that prioritizes staff development and pupil outcomes.
• Pupils develop a sense of belonging and participation through various programs and activities.

Areas for Improvement

• Published results from national tests are below average, warranting ongoing improvement efforts.

Admissions: local authority offers data from the Department for Education. A school is oversubscribed when at least 5% of the families who put it first were not offered a place, and undersubscribed when everyone who put it first got in but 10% or more of its places were unfilled in the Department's school capacity survey (the latest survey is used for entry years it does not cover). Places: Department for Education, School capacity, from local authorities' annual survey as at 1 May. Each year is the one the school year ends in (2025 is 2024–25); the survey was not run in 2020. Places include sixth form places. Forecasts are the local authority's own for the school's planning area, an area it uses to plan places that is not the school's catchment area. The forecast starts from a head count in 2025; the dashed line is the Department's estimate of places in that area, including those the authority has firm plans for. Planned places are cumulative, and only those with firm plans are counted.

In 2024–25 pupils at St Thomas C of E Primary School, Halliwell attended 94.4% of sessions (the national figure for primary schools was 94.8%). 16.1% of pupils were persistently absent, missing at least one session in ten (nationally 13.0%).

Sessions missed

Pupils persistently absent

Source: Department for Education, Pupil absence in schools in England. Each year is the one the school year ends in (2025 is 2024/25). Persistent absence means missing 10% or more of sessions; severe absence means 50% or more. No figures were published for 2019/20.

In 2024–25, 1.4% of pupils at St Thomas C of E Primary School, Halliwell were suspended at least once (nationally 1.1%). No pupils were permanently excluded.

Pupils suspended at least once

Source: Department for Education, Suspensions and permanent exclusions in England. Each year is the one the school year ends in (2025 is 2024/25). A pupil can be suspended more than once, so suspensions per 100 pupils can be higher than the share of pupils suspended. Very small numbers are hidden by the DfE. Exclusion figures dropped in 2020 and 2021 because of school closures.

In 2025–26 St Thomas C of E Primary School, Halliwell had 21.4 pupils for each teacher (the national figure for primary schools was 20.7). Of its teachers in 2024–25, 5.7% were no longer at the school a year later (nationally 15.7%).

Pupils per teacher

Teachers who left the school within a year

Source: Department for Education, School workforce in England. Each year is the one the school year ends in (2025 is 2024/25). Pupils per teacher counts full-time-equivalent pupils and teachers. Turnover is the share of a year's teachers (full-time equivalent) who were not at the school the following year, whether they moved to another school or left state-funded teaching. Turnover and sickness figures run one year behind the ratios. Sick leave is the share of teachers who took at least one day in the year, so it swings widely at small schools, where a few teachers can make it 0% or 100%. The national figures are for all state schools of the same type.

In 2025–26, 5.2% of pupils at St Thomas C of E Primary School, Halliwell were on SEN support (nationally 15.4%) and 2.7% had an education, health and care (EHC) plan (nationally 4.1%).

Pupils by main type of need

Source: Department for Education, Special educational needs in England (the 2025–26 school census). SEN support is extra help in school without an EHC plan. National figures are for all state-funded primary schools. Counts are as published, with small numbers not hidden.

In 2025–26 St Thomas C of E Primary School, Halliwell received £7,071 and spent £7,457 for each of its 348 pupils. It ended the year with a deficit of £189,000 (-£543 per pupil).

Income per pupil

Spending per pupil

Source: Department for Education, Financial Benchmarking and Insights Tool. Each year is the one the financial year ends in (2024 is 2023–24).

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What is St Thomas C of E Primary School, Halliwell's Ofsted rating?

The latest Ofsted rating for St Thomas C of E Primary School, Halliwell is Expected standard, from an inspection in May 2026.

When was St Thomas C of E Primary School, Halliwell last inspected by Ofsted?

St Thomas C of E Primary School, Halliwell was last inspected in May 2026.

How many pupils does St Thomas C of E Primary School, Halliwell have?

St Thomas C of E Primary School, Halliwell has 366 pupils on roll.

What age range does St Thomas C of E Primary School, Halliwell cover?

St Thomas C of E Primary School, Halliwell for pupils aged 3 to 11.

What are St Thomas C of E Primary School, Halliwell's SATs (KS2) results?

In 2025, 50% of Year 6 pupils met the expected standard in reading, writing and maths.

Where is St Thomas C of E Primary School, Halliwell?

St Thomas C of E Primary School, Halliwell is at Eskrick Street, Bolton, Lancashire, BL1 3JB.