Rumworth School
Rumworth School is a community special school in Bolton for pupils aged 11 to 19. It has 361 pupils on roll. The latest Ofsted rating for Rumworth School is Outstanding, from an inspection in May 2024.
Ofsted inspection: May 2024.
| Type | Special School / Community special school |
| Age Range | 11-19 |
| Religion | Does not apply |
| Address | Armadale Road Ladybridge Bolton Lancashire BL3 4TP |
| Phone | 01204333600 |
| Reference Number | 105277 |
General Makeup
| Number of pupils | 361 |
| Boy/Girl ratio |
Boys: 67.59%
Girls: 32.41% |
| Percentage of students eligible for free school meals | 48.5% |
| Percentage of students where English is not their first language | 14.1% |
Year Groups
| Year | Boys | Girls | Total |
|---|---|---|---|
| 7 | 44 | 18 | 62 |
| 8 | 33 | 23 | 56 |
| 9 | 36 | 12 | 48 |
| 10 | 32 | 23 | 55 |
| 11 | 37 | 11 | 48 |
| 12 | 28 | 9 | 37 |
| 13 | 19 | 9 | 28 |
Ethnicities
| Ethnicity | Percentage |
|---|---|
| White, British | 64.8% |
| Pakistani | 10.8% |
| African | 5.5% |
| Indian | 4.7% |
| Asian, Other | 3.6% |
| Mixed, Other | 2.8% |
| White, Other | 1.4% |
| Unclassified | 1.4% |
| White & Black (African) | 1.1% |
| White & Black (Caribbean) | 0.3% |
| Chinese | 0.3% |
| White & Asian | 0.3% |
| Irish | 0.3% |
Rumworth School is performing exceptionally well, continuing to maintain its outstanding status during this ungraded inspection. The school fosters a strong sense of belonging among its pupils, all of whom have special educational needs and/or disabilities (SEND). Pupils thrive in an environment where caring relationships with adults and a dedicated staff contribute to their personal and academic success. The school’s ambitious curriculum and effective teaching ensure that pupils are well-prepared for their future endeavors. The school is particularly noted for its strong support in communication and language development, which is pivotal for the diverse needs of its student body.
| Overall Ofsted Rating | Outstanding |
| Last Report Date | 19 Mar 2024 |
| Date | Report |
|---|---|
| 19 Mar 2024 | School inspection |
| 10 Oct 2018 | Short inspection |
| 08 Apr 2014 | Full inspection: |
| 24 Jun 2009 | Full inspection: |
| 07 Mar 2006 | Full inspection: |
| 07 Feb 2000 | Full inspection |
Strengths
- Pupils have a strong sense of belonging in a warm and inclusive environment.
- Teachers use innovative teaching methods that help pupils remember important learning.
- The school offers a wide range of opportunities for personal, social, and life skills development.
- Reading is given a high profile, with effective support for those struggling.
- Staff cultivate strong relationships with families to promote regular attendance.
Destinations after GCSE's
| Staying in Education | Locked: unlock for £9.99, one-off payment |
| > Further Education | Locked: unlock for £9.99, one-off payment |
| > School Sixth Form | Locked: unlock for £9.99, one-off payment |
| > Sixth Form College | Locked: unlock for £9.99, one-off payment |
| > Other Education | Locked: unlock for £9.99, one-off payment |
| Apprenticeships | Locked: unlock for £9.99, one-off payment |
| Employment | Locked: unlock for £9.99, one-off payment |
| Not in education or employment | Locked: unlock for £9.99, one-off payment |
| Unknown | Locked: unlock for £9.99, one-off payment |
In 2024–25 pupils at Rumworth School attended 90.0% of sessions (the national figure for special schools was 87.2%). 29.8% of pupils were persistently absent, missing at least one session in ten (nationally 35.3%).
Sessions missed
Pupils persistently absent
| 2014 | 2015 | 2016 | 2017 | 2018 | 2019 | 2021 | 2022 | 2023 | 2024 | 2025 | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Authorised absence | 4.6% | 5.4% | 6.0% | 7.0% | 5.5% | 6.2% | 4.6% | 9.6% | 7.9% | 6.8% | 7.5% |
| Unauthorised absence | 0.2% | 0.1% | 0.2% | 2.2% | 1.7% | 0.9% | 2.4% | 3.4% | 4.2% | 2.9% | 2.5% |
| Severely absent pupils | 0.0% | 0.0% | 0.8% | 3.5% | 1.3% | 0.5% | 2.5% | 5.3% | 1.9% | 1.8% | 4.1% |
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, 6.0% of pupils at Rumworth School were suspended at least once (nationally 5.1%). 2 pupils were permanently excluded.
Pupils suspended at least once
| 2010 | 2011 | 2012 | 2013 | 2014 | 2015 | 2016 | 2017 | 2018 | 2019 | 2020 | 2021 | 2022 | 2023 | 2024 | 2025 | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Suspensions per 100 pupils | 3.8 | 9.2 | 8.1 | 17.3 | 8.7 | 8.2 | 8.1 | 11.9 | 12.6 | 17.8 | 23.7 | 9.4 | 12.8 | 13.5 | 11.9 | 8.0 |
| Permanent exclusions | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 3 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 2 |
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 Rumworth School had 5.1 pupils for each teacher (the national figure for special schools was 6.6). Of its teachers in 2024–25, 8.6% were no longer at the school a year later (nationally 14.5%).
Pupils per teacher
Teachers who left the school within a year
| 2011 | 2012 | 2013 | 2014 | 2015 | 2016 | 2017 | 2018 | 2019 | 2020 | 2021 | 2022 | 2023 | 2024 | 2025 | 2026 | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Pupils per adult | 2.7 | 2.6 | 2.6 | 2.7 | 2.5 | 2.6 | 2.3 | 2.6 | 2.4 | 2.5 | 2.5 | 2.8 | 2.9 | 2.6 | 2.5 | 2.5 |
| Teachers who left state teaching | 1.9% | 5.2% | 22.0% | 21.8% | 20.5% | 7.6% | 15.1% | 4.6% | 4.2% | 11.2% | 10.3% | 1.1% | 5.8% | 7.0% | 7.1% | – |
| Teachers who took any sick leave | 73.9% | 54.2% | 69.6% | 54.2% | 62.5% | 62.2% | 58.8% | 69.2% | 47.7% | – | 75.5% | 88.1% | 79.7% | 87.5% | 85.7% | – |
| Sick days per teacher | 5.6 | 10.5 | 4.8 | 4.6 | 9.2 | 8.1 | 7.6 | 4.0 | 7.0 | – | 8.7 | 14.9 | 12.0 | 11.2 | 10.4 | – |
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 Rumworth School had 361 pupils, 99.7% of them with an education, health and care (EHC) plan (nationally 99.5%).
It says it provides for: moderate learning difficulty.
Pupils by main type of need
| EHC plan | |
|---|---|
| Autistic spectrum disorder | 134 |
| Moderate learning difficulty | 126 |
| Severe learning difficulty | 33 |
| Speech, language and communication needs | 32 |
| Social, emotional and mental health | 18 |
| Other difficulty or disability | 5 |
| Physical disability | 5 |
| Vision impairment | 3 |
| Specific learning difficulty | 2 |
| Down's syndrome | 0 |
| Hearing impairment | 1 |
| Multi-sensory impairment | 1 |
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 special school schools. Counts are as published, with small numbers not hidden.
In 2025–26 Rumworth School received £27,704 and spent £27,084 for each of its 363 pupils. It ended the year with reserves of £1,967,000 (£5,418 per pupil).
Income per pupil
Spending per pupil
| 2019 | 2020 | 2021 | 2022 | 2023 | 2024 | 2025 | 2026 | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Revenue reserve | £184,000 | £259,000 | £380,000 | £327,000 | £578,000 | £983,000 | £1,742,000 | £1,967,000 |
| per pupil | £759 | £987 | £1,421 | £1,101 | £1,768 | £2,936 | £5,183 | £5,418 |
| In-year balance | £77,000 | £75,000 | £121,000 | -£53,000 | £251,000 | £405,000 | £758,000 | £225,000 |
| per pupil | £319 | £286 | £453 | -£177 | £768 | £1,210 | £2,256 | £620 |
Source: Department for Education, Financial Benchmarking and Insights Tool. Each year is the one the financial year ends in (2024 is 2023–24).
| Name | Distance |
|
St Bernard's RC Primary School, Bolton
Wendover Drive, Ladybridge, Bolton, Lancashire, BL3 4RX |
0.23 miles |
|
Ladybridge Community Primary School
Broadford Road, Deane, Bolton, Lancashire, BL3 4NB |
0.23 miles |
|
Beaumont Primary School
Wendover Drive, Ladybridge, Bolton, Lancashire, BL3 4RX |
0.26 miles |
|
St Mary's CofE Primary School, Deane
Edale Road, Deane, St Mary's CE Primary School, Bolton, Lancashire, BL3 4QP |
0.27 miles |
|
Haslam Park Primary School
Wigan Road, Bolton, Lancashire, BL3 5QL |
0.79 miles |
|
Clevelands Prep School
425 Chorley New Road, Bolton, BL1 5DH |
0.84 miles |
|
St Ethelbert's Roman Catholic Primary School, a Voluntary Academy
Melbourne Road, Deane, Bolton, Lancashire, BL3 5RL |
0.84 miles |
|
Lostock Primary School
Glengarth Drive, Lostock, Bolton, Lancashire, BL6 4PS |
0.9 miles |
|
Heathfield Primary School
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0.94 miles |
|
Brandwood Primary School
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0.98 miles |
|
St Bede Academy
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1.13 miles |
|
The Olive Tree Primary School Bolton
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1.18 miles |
|
Devonshire Road Primary School
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1.2 miles |
|
Bolton School Infant & Nursery School
Chorley New Road, Bolton, Greater Manchester, BL1 4PA |
1.21 miles |
|
Gilnow Primary School
Gilnow Gardens, Bolton, Greater Manchester, BL1 4LG |
1.23 miles |
|
Markland Hill Primary School
Markland Hill, Heaton, Bolton, Lancashire, BL1 5EJ |
1.26 miles |
|
St Thomas of Canterbury RC School
Eastbourne Grove, Heaton, Bolton, Lancashire, BL1 5LH |
1.29 miles |
|
Sunning Hill Primary School
Goldsmith Street, Bolton, Lancashire, BL3 6TR |
1.3 miles |
|
Pikes Lane Primary School
Gibraltar Street, Bolton, Lancashire, BL3 5HU |
1.35 miles |
|
Essa Primary Academy
Lever Edge Lane, Bolton, Lancashire, BL3 3HH |
1.4 miles |
| Name | Distance |
|
Ladybridge High School
New York, Junction Road, Deane, Bolton, Lancashire, BL3 4NG |
0.07 miles |
|
Al Jamiah Al Islamiyyah
Willows Lane, Bolton, Lancashire, BL3 4HE |
0.73 miles |
|
Bolton School Girls' Division
Chorley New Road, Bolton, BL1 4PB |
1.21 miles |
|
Thomasson Memorial School
Lever Edge Lane, Bolton, BL3 3LA |
1.36 miles |
|
Bolton School Boys' Division
Chorley New Road, Bolton, BL1 4PA |
1.36 miles |
|
Essa Academy
Lever Edge Lane, Bolton, Greater Manchester, BL3 3HH |
1.41 miles |
|
Bolton Muslim Girls School
Swan Lane, Bolton, Greater Manchester, BL3 6TQ |
1.42 miles |
|
Bolton College
Deane Road, Bolton, Lancashire, BL3 5BG |
1.52 miles |
|
University Collegiate School
85 Deane Road, The Stoller Building, Bolton, Greater Manchester, BL3 5AG |
1.53 miles |
|
Raise Education and Wellbeing School
The Quest, Brownlow Way, Bolton, BL1 3UB |
1.54 miles |
|
King's Leadership Academy Bolton
Freshfield Avenue, Bolton, BL3 3HL |
1.69 miles |
|
Bolton Sixth Form College
Town Centre Campus, Deane Road, Bolton, Lancashire, BL3 5BU |
1.72 miles |
|
Bolton Islamic Girls School
Weston House, Weston Street, Bolton, BL3 2AW |
2.11 miles |
|
Westhoughton High School
Bolton Road, Westhoughton, Bolton, Lancashire, BL5 3BZ |
2.14 miles |
|
EdStart Schools Bolton
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2.23 miles |
|
Lord's School
Brooklyn, Green Lane, Bolton, Bolton, Lancashire, BL3 2EF |
2.24 miles |
|
Smithills School
Smithills Dean Road, Smithills School, Bolton, Lancashire, BL1 6JS |
2.33 miles |
|
Mount St Joseph RC High School a Voluntary Academy
Greenland Road, Bolton, BL4 0HT |
2.35 miles |
|
Eden Boys' School, Bolton
Wolfenden Street, Bolton, Greater Manchester, BL1 3QE |
2.39 miles |
|
St Joseph's RC High School
Sefton Lane, Horwich, Bolton, Lancashire, BL6 6HW |
2.54 miles |
All schools in Bolton · Bolton local authority: places and applications
What is Rumworth School's Ofsted rating?
The latest Ofsted rating for Rumworth School is Outstanding, from an inspection in May 2024.
When was Rumworth School last inspected by Ofsted?
Rumworth School was last inspected in May 2024.
How many pupils does Rumworth School have?
Rumworth School has 361 pupils on roll.
What age range does Rumworth School cover?
Rumworth School for pupils aged 11 to 19.
Where is Rumworth School?
Rumworth School is at Armadale Road, Ladybridge, Bolton, Lancashire, BL3 4TP.