Sharples School Catchment Area
Sharples School is an academy converter secondary school in Bolton , serving pupils aged 11-16, with 1218 pupils, and a capacity of 1080 places. The school is currently at or above capacity, making catchment area proximity important for admissions.
11-16
Age range
1,218
Pupils
1,080
Capacity
113%
Fill rate
Good
Ofsted 2013
Sharples School Catchment Area Information
What is the catchment area for Sharples School?
The catchment area for Sharples School is the geographic zone Bolton uses to prioritise admissions when this secondary school receives more applications than it has places. Children living inside the boundary are ranked higher under the oversubscription criteria, after looked-after children and siblings. Bolton publishes the exact boundary and the last distance offered before each admissions cycle, and the boundary can change year to year.
As an academy, Sharples School sets its own admissions criteria, agreed with Bolton. The catchment area boundary is defined in the school's annual admissions policy, which may differ from the LA's general school admissions arrangements.
Not getting a place? Learn how to appeal a school place →
Want the cut-off distance before you apply? Get an alert when Bolton publishes the 2027 Sharples School numbers →
The official admissions policy, including the catchment boundary map, is published by Bolton before each admissions cycle. Always verify your address with the council before submitting an application, as boundaries can change year to year.
Find Bolton catchment area documents →Sharples School: heavily oversubscribed at 113% capacity
Sharples School has a published admission number of 1080 places. 1218 pupils were enrolled in the most recent data, giving a fill rate of 113%. At 113% capacity, the school is heavily oversubscribed. Bolton allocates places using ranked criteria: looked-after children first, then siblings, then catchment distance. Living within the catchment area is a strong but not guaranteed advantage, as the last distance offered shrinks each year as applications rise.
The fill-rate figure above reflects overall demand, but the school's intake also varies by community profile. 28.1% of pupils at Sharples School are eligible for free school meals, broadly in line with the national average. This reflects a mixed catchment population across Bolton.
To check whether your home address falls within the historical catchment boundary, use the postcode search tool on this site.
Bolton publishes its full admissions policy, including oversubscription criteria, the previous year's last-distance figures, and the appeals timetable, on the council's official admissions page. Find Bolton school admissions →
Sharples School: School Information
- Full address
- Hill Cot Road, Sharples, Bolton, BL1 8SN
- Local authority
- Bolton
- School type
- Academy converter
- Phase of education
- Secondary
- Age range
- 11-16 years
- Admissions policy
- Non-selective
- Free school meals
- 28.1% of pupils
- DfE URN
- 142232
Other Secondary Schools in Bolton
If Sharples School is oversubscribed, these secondary schools in Bolton are the next closest alternatives.
Westhoughton High School Catchment Area
Community school · BL5 3BZ
Turton School Catchment Area
Community school · BL7 9LT
St Joseph's RC High School Catchment Area
Voluntary aided school · BL6 6HW
Thornleigh Salesian College Catchment Area
Voluntary aided school · BL1 6PQ
Ladybridge High School Catchment Area
Community school · BL3 4NG
Essa Academy Catchment Area
Academy sponsor led · BL3 3HH
Nearest secondary schools by distance
These are the secondary schools closest to Sharples School by straight-line distance, including ones across a town or council boundary. Distance is not the same as being in catchment: always check each school's own admissions policy for its actual boundary.
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Frequently Asked Questions: Sharples School
What is the catchment area for Sharples School? ▾
The catchment area for Sharples School is the geographic zone Bolton uses to prioritise admissions when this secondary school receives more applications than it has places. Children living inside the boundary are ranked higher under the oversubscription criteria, after looked-after children and siblings. Bolton publishes the exact boundary and the last distance offered before each admissions cycle, and the boundary can change year to year.
Is Sharples School oversubscribed? ▾
Yes, Sharples School currently has 1218 pupils enrolled against a capacity of 1080 places. Catchment area proximity is an important admissions criterion when applying.
What is the admissions policy for Sharples School? ▾
Admission to Sharples School is managed by Bolton. When oversubscribed, places go to looked-after children first, then siblings, then catchment area distance. Always verify the current policy with the council before applying.
What age range does Sharples School cover? ▾
Sharples School is a secondary school in Bolton, serving pupils aged 11-16. For the latest information, visit the school's website or the DfE Get Information About Schools service.
What is the Ofsted rating for Sharples School? ▾
Sharples School was rated Good by Ofsted in 2013. Full inspection reports are available at reports.ofsted.gov.uk.