School profile

University Collegiate School

Secondary · University technical college · Bolton, BL3 5AG

Good

Map showing University Collegiate School

Schools
Numbers on map: pupil ages
Outstanding
Good
Requires improvement
Inadequate
Not rated

National ranking

GCSE 2025/26

#2,450 of 3,312

Worse than 73% of schools in England

Ranked by Attainment 8 score, state-funded mainstream schools.

A-level 2023/24

#2,322 of 2,487

Worse than 93% of schools in England

Ranked by average points per A-level entry.

University Collegiate School Ofsted rating

Ofsted four-point inspection gradesInspected 24 Sept 2024

Area360 rating
Good
Quality of education
Good
Behaviour and attitudes
Good
Personal development
Good
Leadership and management
Good
Sixth form provision
Good
Safeguarding
Effective

School facts

PhaseSecondary
TypeUniversity technical college
Ages11 to 19
Pupils683
GenderMixed
Head teacherMr Ian Barry
TrustQUEST (A CHURCH OF ENGLAND SCHOOLS TRUST)
Local authorityBolton
Opened01 Sept 2015
WebsiteVisit

Source: Get Information about Schools, URN 141941.

GCSE results

2025/26

GCSE and equivalent results at the end of year 11. Attainment 8 averages results across 8 subjects.

MeasureThis schoolBoltonEngland
Attainment 8 scoreResults across 8 subjects, English and maths count twice. 50 is about a grade 5 average.41.4, worse than England, worse than Bolton45.346.2
Grade 4 or above in English and mathsGrade 4 is a standard pass.52.5%, worse than England, worse than Bolton63.5%64.8%
Grade 5 or above in English and mathsGrade 5 is a strong pass.37.5%, worse than England, worse than Bolton46.6%46.3%
Grade 7 or above in English and mathsGrade 7 is roughly an old A grade.11.7%, worse than England, similar to Bolton12.2%14.2%
5 or more GCSEs at grade 9-4, including English and maths43.3%, worse than England, worse than Bolton58.5%60.2%
Pupils at the end of key stage 4120--

Source: DfE, Key stage 4 performance, Academic year 2025/26, published 15 Oct 2026.

A-level results

2024/25

Results for students at the end of 16 to 18 study.

MeasureThis schoolBoltonEngland
Average points per A-level entryA* is 60, A is 50, B is 40, C is 30, D is 20, E is 10.Suppressed34.535
Average A-level gradec--
Average grade, best three A-levelsc--
A-level progress scoreCompared with students with similar GCSE results. 0 is average.-0.01, similar to England--
A-level progressAverage, similar to England--
Students at the end of 16 to 18 study34--
Average applied general gradeVocational qualifications, such as BTECs.Dist---

Source: DfE, 16 to 19 performance, Academic year 2024/25, published 23 Apr 2026.

Pupils

2025/26

Pupils at the January school census.

MeasureThis school
Total pupils683
Girls278
Boys405
Eligible for free school mealsPupils from low-income families who can get free school meals.44.5%
First language not English58.1%
School places2024/25Capacity, not including nursery.706
Unfilled placesShare of school places not taken.3.3%
Sixth form places2024/2540
SEN supportPupils with special educational needs who get extra help at school.78
EHC planEducation, health and care plan: a legal plan for pupils with more complex needs.13
Average class size21.7

Source: DfE, Schools, pupils and their characteristics and School capacity, Academic year 2025/26, published 04 Jun 2026.

Pupils ethnicity

2025/26

Share of pupils in each ethnic group, as recorded at the January school census.

Pupils ethnicity

Pakistani
31.8%
African
18.6%
White British
13.3%
Other ethnic group
9.5%
Indian
5.6%
Other White
5.3%
Other Asian
4.2%
Other mixed
3.1%
Other Black
1.9%
Bangladeshi
1%

Source: DfE, Schools, pupils and their characteristics, Academic year 2025/26, published 04 Jun 2026.

Teachers and staff

2025/26

Staff numbers are full-time equivalent (FTE). Teacher turnover shows where the school's teachers were by the following year's census.

MeasureThis school
Pupils per teacher16.6
Pupils per adultAdults include teaching assistants.12.7
Teachers (FTE)41.21
Teaching assistants (FTE)5
Support staff (FTE)18.97
Teachers in census year (FTE)2024/2538.9
Teachers who stayed (FTE)2024/2529.9
Teachers who moved to another state school (FTE)2024/253
Teachers who left state schools (FTE)2024/256

Source: DfE, School workforce in England, Reporting year 2025, published 04 Jun 2026.

Admissions

2026/27

Applications and offers for the main entry points. Offers from oversubscribed schools depend on each school's admissions criteria; check the local authority admissions page.

MeasureThis school
Offers made (Year 7)Places offered on national offer day.117
Applications (Year 7)Includes every preference parents listed.230
First preference applications (Year 7)Families who put this school as their first choice.91
First preference offers (Year 7)First-choice applicants who were offered a place.91
Applications from another local authority (Year 7)2

Source: DfE, Primary and secondary school applications and offers, Academic year 2026/27, published 18 Jun 2026.

Attendance

2025/26

Share of possible sessions missed.

MeasureThis schoolBoltonEngland
Overall absence8.4%, similar to England, similar to Bolton7.9%8%
Persistent absencePupils missing 10% or more of sessions.22.5%, similar to England, similar to Bolton21.8%21.6%
Severe absencePupils missing 50% or more of sessions.3.9%, similar to England, similar to Bolton3.6%3.6%

Source: DfE, Pupil absence in schools in England, Autumn and spring term 2025/26, published 15 Oct 2026.

Suspensions and exclusions

2024/25

Suspension rate is the number of suspensions per 100 pupils, so one pupil can be counted more than once. A permanently excluded pupil is removed from the school roll.

MeasureThis school
Suspension rate8.4%
Pupils with one or more suspensions3.5%
Permanent exclusion rate0%
Permanent exclusions0

Source: DfE, Suspensions and permanent exclusions in England, Academic year 2024/25, published 09 Jul 2026.

Destinations after GCSEs

2023/24

Where pupils went after year 11, sustained for at least two terms.

MeasureThis school
Sustained destinationIn education, an apprenticeship or work for at least two terms.86.7%
Staying in educationSixth form, college or further education.83.3%
Further education40%
Sixth form college20%
School sixth form16.7%
Not sustainedDid not stay in education, an apprenticeship or work for two terms.13.3%
Apprenticeship3.3%
Employment0%

Source: DfE, Key stage 4 destination measures, Academic year 2024/25, published 15 Oct 2026.

Destinations after A-levels

2023/24

Where students went after 16 to 18 study, sustained for at least two terms.

MeasureThis school
Sustained destinationIn education, an apprenticeship or work for at least two terms.76.3%
Higher education47.4%
Employment21.1%
Not sustainedDid not stay in education, an apprenticeship or work for two terms.18.4%
Apprenticeship2.6%
Further education0%

Source: DfE, 16 to 18 destination measures, Academic year 2024/25, published 15 Oct 2026.

Nearby schools

Ratings include official Ofsted judgements and Area360 summaries of inspection grades. Open a school’s profile for its inspection grades and results.

Schools near University Collegiate School
DistancePhaseNameTypeRatingLinks
0.2 mi16 plusBolton Sixth Form CollegeFurther education
Unrated
0.2 miPrimaryPikes Lane Primary SchoolCommunity school
Requires improvement
0.3 miPrimarySt Peter and St Paul RC Primary School a Voluntary AcademyAcademy converter
Good
0.4 miPrimaryGilnow Primary SchoolCommunity school
Good
0.5 miPrimaryClarendon Primary SchoolCommunity school
Good
0.5 miSecondaryBolton Muslim Girls SchoolAcademy converter
Good
0.5 miPrimarySunning Hill Primary SchoolCommunity school
Good
0.6 miNot applicableBolton School Boys' DivisionOther independent school
Unrated
0.7 miPrimaryThe Olive Tree Primary School BoltonFree schools
Good
0.7 miPrimaryBishop Bridgeman CofE Primary SchoolAcademy converter
Good

Frequently asked questions about University Collegiate School

What is University Collegiate School's Ofsted rating?

University Collegiate School is rated Good, last inspected on 24 Sept 2024. Recent Ofsted inspections have no single overall grade, so Area360 summarises the inspection grades.

How does University Collegiate School rank in England?

University Collegiate School ranks 2,450 of 3,312 schools in England for GCSE 2025/26 (worse than 73% of schools) and 2,322 of 2,487 schools in England for A-level 2023/24 (worse than 93% of schools).

What are University Collegiate School's GCSE results?

In 2025/26, 37.5% of pupils at University Collegiate School got grade 5 or above in English and maths (England 46.3%). The Attainment 8 score was 41.4 (England 46.2).

What are University Collegiate School's A-level results?

In 2024/25, the average A-level grade at University Collegiate School was c.

How hard is it to get into University Collegiate School?

For Year 7 entry in 2026/27, University Collegiate School made 117 offers from 230 applications (2 per offer), and 91 of 91 first-preference applicants got a place. Applications include every preference parents listed.

How many pupils attend University Collegiate School?

University Collegiate School has 683 pupils aged 11 to 19.

What is the capacity of University Collegiate School?

University Collegiate School had 706 school places in 2024/25.

Does University Collegiate School have a sixth form?

Yes, University Collegiate School has a sixth form with 40 places in 2024/25.

How big are classes at University Collegiate School?

At University Collegiate School, the average class had 21.7 pupils in 2025/26, and there were 16.6 pupils per teacher.

What is attendance like at University Collegiate School?

In 2025/26, pupils at University Collegiate School missed 8.4% of sessions (England 8%), and 22.5% were persistently absent, missing 10% or more of sessions (England 21.6%).

Figures are the latest published by the Department for Education for each measure. Small numbers are suppressed by the publisher to protect pupils' privacy. Read how Area360 school ratings and rankings work.