What did Ofsted judge St Matthew's CofE Primary School, Bolton's overall effectiveness to be?

Ofsted judged St Matthew's CofE Primary School, Bolton's overall effectiveness as Good at its inspection in February 2017 (last graded inspection), and an ungraded inspection in March 2023 confirmed it, on Ofsted's own scale.

How many pupils attend St Matthew's CofE Primary School, Bolton?

St Matthew's CofE Primary School, Bolton has 424 pupils on roll.

What ages does St Matthew's CofE Primary School, Bolton take?

St Matthew's CofE Primary School, Bolton admits pupils aged 3 to 11.

Where is St Matthew's CofE Primary School, Bolton located?

St Matthew's CofE Primary School, Bolton is located in Bolton, BL1 2JL, Bolton.

How do I apply to St Matthew's CofE Primary School, Bolton?

St Matthew's CofE Primary School, Bolton is a state school. In England you apply through the council where you live, using its common application form, even if the school is in another council area. The national closing date for primary places is 15 January.

Does St Matthew's CofE Primary School, Bolton have a religious character?

Yes — St Matthew's CofE Primary School, Bolton has a religious character of Church of England. Faith criteria may apply to admissions; check the school's oversubscription policy for details.

How close do you need to live to get into St Matthew's CofE Primary School, Bolton?

Distance did not decide places at St Matthew's CofE Primary School, Bolton for 2026-27 (Reception): every applicant who applied on time was offered a place, so there was no cut-off distance. This changes year to year; check the current year's figures before relying on it.

How are Reception places decided at St Matthew's CofE Primary School, Bolton?

When St Matthew's CofE Primary School, Bolton has more applications than places for 2027-28, they are offered in a published order of priority: 1. Looked after and previously looked after children — A 'looked after child' or a child who was previously looked after but immediately after being looked after became subject to an adoption, child arrangements, or special guardianship order including those who appear to the admission authority to have been in state care outside of England and ceased to be in state care as a result of being adopted. Parents/carers of previously looked after children will be required to provide evidence of the relevant order; 2. Child protection plan — Children for whom there is a child protection plan or has been within a 12-month period (see definition under section 47 of the children act 1989). Parents will be asked to indicate this on the application form and provide the child's social worker details so this can be confirmed; 3. Siblings — Children who will have a brother or sister in years Reception to Year 6 of the preferred school at the date of admission. This includes full, step, half, foster and adopted brothers and sisters or any child identifying as non-binary living as part of that family unit, living at the same address as the pupil requesting admission, and 3 further criteria. Tie-break: If any categories are oversubscribed, then distance from school (as set out in category 6) will be used as a tiebreaker to decide between the remaining cases. If after measuring distances, it is still not possible to decide on the child(ren) to be offered admission, the local authority's system of random draw will determine which of the children can be offered a place.

What is the largest ethnic background at St Matthew's CofE Primary School, Bolton?

According to the DfE School Census 2025-26, 30.7% of pupils at St Matthew's CofE Primary School, Bolton are recorded as Black African. The full ethnic breakdown across all groups is available on the Pupils tab.

St Matthew's CofE Primary School, Bolton: Ofsted & Catchment

How close did you need to live?

Distance did not decide places here

Every applicant who applied on time was offered a place for 2026-27 (Reception), so there was no cut-off distance. This changes from year to year; check the current year's figures before relying on it.

How places were offered at St Matthew's CofE Primary School, Bolton, year by year →

How places are decided at St Matthew's CofE Primary School, Bolton

When there are more applications than places for 2027-28 (Reception), places are offered in this order of priority. Meeting a higher criterion beats meeting a lower one.

1Looked after and previously looked after children — A 'looked after child' or a child who was previously looked after but immediately after being looked after became subject to an adoption, child arrangements, or special guardianship order including those who appear to the admission authority to have been in state care outside of England and ceased to be in state care as a result of being adopted. Parents/carers of previously looked after children will be required to provide evidence of the relevant order.
2Child protection plan — Children for whom there is a child protection plan or has been within a 12-month period (see definition under section 47 of the children act 1989). Parents will be asked to indicate this on the application form and provide the child's social worker details so this can be confirmed.
3Siblings — Children who will have a brother or sister in years Reception to Year 6 of the preferred school at the date of admission. This includes full, step, half, foster and adopted brothers and sisters or any child identifying as non-binary living as part of that family unit, living at the same address as the pupil requesting admission.
4Church connections (Church schools only) — Children who have strong Church connections where the school is a Church school (i.e. Blackrod Anglican Methodist School, St James' CE School (Daisy Hill), St Mary's CE Primary School (Deane) and St Matthew's CE School (Bolton)). Parents must complete the supplementary form as evidence that the family and the child are active worshipping members at the church to which the school is affiliated.
5Medical condition — Children who suffer from a medical condition which makes it better for them to attend that school rather than another. Places will only be offered under this criterion if the child has a certified medical condition with strong professional supporting evidence confirming that existing exceptional problems with the child's health would be seriously exacerbated if a place were not made at the preferred school.
6Distance from school — Distance from school (Where you live) – Children who live nearest to the school will be offered places first. Under this category the remaining places will be offered to children who live nearest the preferred school. The distance will be measured in a straight-line which measures from the address point of the home property to the designated main entrance to the school by using the local authority's distance measuring software.

If two applications tie: If any categories are oversubscribed, then distance from school (as set out in category 6) will be used as a tiebreaker to decide between the remaining cases. If after measuring distances, it is still not possible to decide on the child(ren) to be offered admission, the local authority's system of random draw will determine which of the children can be offered a place.

Local-authority coordinated default oversubscription criteria for Bolton Council's community and voluntary-controlled schools (the council is the admission authority). Some community/voluntary-controlled schools in this authority apply catchment-area, feeder-school or priority-area variants — check the individual school for its exact arrangements. Criterion 4 (Church connections) only applies to the named Church of England schools; other community/voluntary controlled schools would not use this criterion, indicating some school-specific variation within the shared default list.

Published by the admission authority. Meeting a criterion never guarantees a place — it sets the order places are offered in. Full detail, other entry points and previous years are on the Admissions tab.

St Matthew's CofE Primary School, Bolton: key facts

What did Ofsted judge St Matthew's CofE Primary School, Bolton's overall effectiveness to be?: Ofsted judged St Matthew's CofE Primary School, Bolton's overall effectiveness as Good at its inspection in February 2017 (last graded inspection), and an ungraded inspection in March 2023 confirmed it, on Ofsted's own scale.
How many pupils attend St Matthew's CofE Primary School, Bolton?: St Matthew's CofE Primary School, Bolton has 424 pupils on roll.
What ages does St Matthew's CofE Primary School, Bolton take?: St Matthew's CofE Primary School, Bolton admits pupils aged 3 to 11.
Where is St Matthew's CofE Primary School, Bolton located?: St Matthew's CofE Primary School, Bolton is located in Bolton, BL1 2JL, Bolton.
How do I apply to St Matthew's CofE Primary School, Bolton?: St Matthew's CofE Primary School, Bolton is a state school. In England you apply through the council where you live, using its common application form, even if the school is in another council area. The national closing date for primary places is 15 January.
Does St Matthew's CofE Primary School, Bolton have a religious character?: Yes — St Matthew's CofE Primary School, Bolton has a religious character of Church of England. Faith criteria may apply to admissions; check the school's oversubscription policy for details.
How close do you need to live to get into St Matthew's CofE Primary School, Bolton?: Distance did not decide places at St Matthew's CofE Primary School, Bolton for 2026-27 (Reception): every applicant who applied on time was offered a place, so there was no cut-off distance. This changes year to year; check the current year's figures before relying on it.
How are Reception places decided at St Matthew's CofE Primary School, Bolton?: When St Matthew's CofE Primary School, Bolton has more applications than places for 2027-28, they are offered in a published order of priority: 1. Looked after and previously looked after children — A 'looked after child' or a child who was previously looked after but immediately after being looked after became subject to an adoption, child arrangements, or special guardianship order including those who appear to the admission authority to have been in state care outside of England and ceased to be in state care as a result of being adopted. Parents/carers of previously looked after children will be required to provide evidence of the relevant order; 2. Child protection plan — Children for whom there is a child protection plan or has been within a 12-month period (see definition under section 47 of the children act 1989). Parents will be asked to indicate this on the application form and provide the child's social worker details so this can be confirmed; 3. Siblings — Children who will have a brother or sister in years Reception to Year 6 of the preferred school at the date of admission. This includes full, step, half, foster and adopted brothers and sisters or any child identifying as non-binary living as part of that family unit, living at the same address as the pupil requesting admission, and 3 further criteria. Tie-break: If any categories are oversubscribed, then distance from school (as set out in category 6) will be used as a tiebreaker to decide between the remaining cases. If after measuring distances, it is still not possible to decide on the child(ren) to be offered admission, the local authority's system of random draw will determine which of the children can be offered a place.
What is the largest ethnic background at St Matthew's CofE Primary School, Bolton?: According to the DfE School Census 2025-26, 30.7% of pupils at St Matthew's CofE Primary School, Bolton are recorded as Black African. The full ethnic breakdown across all groups is available on the Pupils tab.

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How close did you need to live?

Distance did not decide places here

How places were offered at St Matthew's CofE Primary School, Bolton, year by year →

How places are decided at St Matthew's CofE Primary School, Bolton

When there are more applications than places for 2027-28 (Reception), places are offered in this order of priority. Meeting a higher criterion beats meeting a lower one.

1Looked after and previously looked after children — A 'looked after child' or a child who was previously looked after but immediately after being looked after became subject to an adoption, child arrangements, or special guardianship order including those who appear to the admission authority to have been in state care outside of England and ceased to be in state care as a result of being adopted. Parents/carers of previously looked after children will be required to provide evidence of the relevant order.
2Child protection plan — Children for whom there is a child protection plan or has been within a 12-month period (see definition under section 47 of the children act 1989). Parents will be asked to indicate this on the application form and provide the child's social worker details so this can be confirmed.
3Siblings — Children who will have a brother or sister in years Reception to Year 6 of the preferred school at the date of admission. This includes full, step, half, foster and adopted brothers and sisters or any child identifying as non-binary living as part of that family unit, living at the same address as the pupil requesting admission.
4Church connections (Church schools only) — Children who have strong Church connections where the school is a Church school (i.e. Blackrod Anglican Methodist School, St James' CE School (Daisy Hill), St Mary's CE Primary School (Deane) and St Matthew's CE School (Bolton)). Parents must complete the supplementary form as evidence that the family and the child are active worshipping members at the church to which the school is affiliated.
5Medical condition — Children who suffer from a medical condition which makes it better for them to attend that school rather than another. Places will only be offered under this criterion if the child has a certified medical condition with strong professional supporting evidence confirming that existing exceptional problems with the child's health would be seriously exacerbated if a place were not made at the preferred school.
6Distance from school — Distance from school (Where you live) – Children who live nearest to the school will be offered places first. Under this category the remaining places will be offered to children who live nearest the preferred school. The distance will be measured in a straight-line which measures from the address point of the home property to the designated main entrance to the school by using the local authority's distance measuring software.

St Matthew's CofE Primary School, Bolton: key facts

What did Ofsted judge St Matthew's CofE Primary School, Bolton's overall effectiveness to be?: Ofsted judged St Matthew's CofE Primary School, Bolton's overall effectiveness as Good at its inspection in February 2017 (last graded inspection), and an ungraded inspection in March 2023 confirmed it, on Ofsted's own scale.
How many pupils attend St Matthew's CofE Primary School, Bolton?: St Matthew's CofE Primary School, Bolton has 424 pupils on roll.
What ages does St Matthew's CofE Primary School, Bolton take?: St Matthew's CofE Primary School, Bolton admits pupils aged 3 to 11.
Where is St Matthew's CofE Primary School, Bolton located?: St Matthew's CofE Primary School, Bolton is located in Bolton, BL1 2JL, Bolton.
How do I apply to St Matthew's CofE Primary School, Bolton?: St Matthew's CofE Primary School, Bolton is a state school. In England you apply through the council where you live, using its common application form, even if the school is in another council area. The national closing date for primary places is 15 January.
Does St Matthew's CofE Primary School, Bolton have a religious character?: Yes — St Matthew's CofE Primary School, Bolton has a religious character of Church of England. Faith criteria may apply to admissions; check the school's oversubscription policy for details.
How close do you need to live to get into St Matthew's CofE Primary School, Bolton?: Distance did not decide places at St Matthew's CofE Primary School, Bolton for 2026-27 (Reception): every applicant who applied on time was offered a place, so there was no cut-off distance. This changes year to year; check the current year's figures before relying on it.
How are Reception places decided at St Matthew's CofE Primary School, Bolton?: When St Matthew's CofE Primary School, Bolton has more applications than places for 2027-28, they are offered in a published order of priority: 1. Looked after and previously looked after children — A 'looked after child' or a child who was previously looked after but immediately after being looked after became subject to an adoption, child arrangements, or special guardianship order including those who appear to the admission authority to have been in state care outside of England and ceased to be in state care as a result of being adopted. Parents/carers of previously looked after children will be required to provide evidence of the relevant order; 2. Child protection plan — Children for whom there is a child protection plan or has been within a 12-month period (see definition under section 47 of the children act 1989). Parents will be asked to indicate this on the application form and provide the child's social worker details so this can be confirmed; 3. Siblings — Children who will have a brother or sister in years Reception to Year 6 of the preferred school at the date of admission. This includes full, step, half, foster and adopted brothers and sisters or any child identifying as non-binary living as part of that family unit, living at the same address as the pupil requesting admission, and 3 further criteria. Tie-break: If any categories are oversubscribed, then distance from school (as set out in category 6) will be used as a tiebreaker to decide between the remaining cases. If after measuring distances, it is still not possible to decide on the child(ren) to be offered admission, the local authority's system of random draw will determine which of the children can be offered a place.
What is the largest ethnic background at St Matthew's CofE Primary School, Bolton?: According to the DfE School Census 2025-26, 30.7% of pupils at St Matthew's CofE Primary School, Bolton are recorded as Black African. The full ethnic breakdown across all groups is available on the Pupils tab.

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St Matthew's CofE Primary School, Bolton

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How places are decided at St Matthew's CofE Primary School, Bolton

St Matthew's CofE Primary School, Bolton: key facts

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St Matthew's CofE Primary School, Bolton

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How places are decided at St Matthew's CofE Primary School, Bolton

St Matthew's CofE Primary School, Bolton: key facts

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