How many schools are in Bolton?

Bolton has 147 open schools: 97 primary schools and 19 secondary schools across 5 areas. Data sourced from the Department for Education's Get Information About Schools (GIAS) register.

What areas are covered by Bolton school catchment zones?

Bolton administers catchment areas across 5 areas, including Bolton, BOLTON, Manchester, Horwich, Bolton, Other. Each school's catchment boundary is set by the local authority and reviewed annually as part of the admissions process.

How do school catchment areas work in Bolton?

In Bolton, catchment areas define a geographical zone around each school. Children living within the catchment boundary are given priority in oversubscription criteria. The exact boundary, and the "last distance offered", changes each year based on application volumes. Official catchment maps and admissions policies are published by Bolton council each autumn.

Which schools in Bolton are oversubscribed?

Oversubscription varies by school and year in Bolton. Popular schools typically receive more applications than available places, meaning the "last distance offered" shrinks annually. To check demand for a specific school, consult the Bolton admissions authority's published offer data or the school's own admissions policy.

Bolton School Catchment Areas

Reviewed by the catchment.school editorial team · Last updated 15 March 2026

Bolton is a large Greater Manchester authority with 147 state schools – 97 primary and 19 secondary – across four main areas. It retains four selective grammar schools, making it one of the few Greater Manchester boroughs with a significant selective offer. The school estate is a mix of maintained schools and academies: 48 hold academy status, and 56 schools apply faith-based criteria in their admissions policies.

Demand for places in Bolton is among the highest in Greater Manchester: 52 of the 133 schools with published capacity figures are currently at or above their admission number, a rate of around 39%. Competition is particularly intense at grammar schools, where the Bolton Consortium entrance test is required. At community secondary schools, catchment distance typically becomes the tiebreaker after looked-after children and siblings. Of the schools with a current Ofsted inspection, 48 are rated Good or Outstanding.

Catchment boundaries in Bolton are published by the council each autumn and apply to the following September's intake. Families applying to grammar schools must register for the Bolton Consortium 11+ test, which is held separately from the standard admissions round. For faith schools, check whether a supplementary information form is needed – some schools require evidence of worship attendance in addition to the main local authority application.

147 total 97 primary 19 secondary 5 areas

Based on the latest published capacity data, 52 of the 147 schools in Bolton are at or above their admission number, so catchment distance is decisive at those schools. Bolton has 4 selective schools that admit by entrance test rather than distance. 56 schools apply faith-based criteria alongside catchment distance. Of the 52 Bolton schools with a current Ofsted rating, 48 are rated Good or Outstanding.

Bolton Catchment Area Documents

Official admissions policies and catchment boundary maps for Bolton schools are published annually. The council publishes oversubscription criteria, last-distance figures, and appeals timetables on its dedicated admissions page.

Bolton admissions (official) →