The Ferns Primary Academy
Plodder Lane, Bolton, BL4 0DA
445 pupils · 106% of 420 capacity
- Phase
- Primary
- Type
- Academy sponsor led
- Ages
- 3–11
- Gender
- Mixed
- Religious character
- Does not apply
- Trust
- NORTHERN EDUCATION TRUST
- Local authority
- Bolton
- Free school meals
- 32%
Ofsted
Strong standard (2026) — Report card — the most common grade across the inspected areas
| Inclusion | Expected standard |
|---|---|
| Curriculum and teaching | Strong standard |
| Achievement | Strong standard |
| Attendance and behaviour | Expected standard |
| Personal development and wellbeing | Strong standard |
| Leadership and governance | Strong standard |
| Early years | Strong standard |
| Safeguarding | Met |
Inspected 6 January 2026, published 15 March 2026. Read the full Ofsted report
England has three coexisting inspection systems — how we translate them into one signal.
Exam results
| Measure | 2024/25 |
|---|---|
| Reaching the expected standard in reading, writing & maths | 76% |
| Reaching the higher standard | 12% |
“Not published (small cohort)” means the DfE suppressed the figure to protect small cohorts — it is not a zero.
Will my child get in?
Usually has places available — 0.85 first-choice applications per place (Sept 2026 entry)
| Entry | Places | 1st preferences | Total preferences | Offers |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Sept 2026 entry | 46 | 39 | 90 | 41 |
| Sept 2025 entry | 55 | 53 | 105 | 54 |
| Sept 2024 entry | 60 | 60 | 129 | 60 |
| Sept 2023 entry | 59 | 55 | 95 | 56 |
| Sept 2022 entry | 60 | 55 | 111 | 60 |
| Sept 2021 entry | 58 | 54 | 107 | 58 |
| Sept 2020 entry | 55 | 49 | 103 | 52 |
| Sept 2019 entry | 45 | 39 | 91 | 42 |
First-choice demand varies year to year, and the school’s admission criteria — not demand — decide who is offered a place. Use this as a rough signal, never a prediction.
Nearby alternatives
- Queensbridge Primary School 0.4 km · Good (2023) · previous system
- Our Lady of Lourdes RC Primary School 0.6 km · No overall grade (2024)
- St James CofE Primary School, Farnworth 0.7 km · No overall grade (2024)
- Highfield Primary School 0.7 km · Most areas: Expected standard (2026)
- All Saints CofE Primary School 1.1 km · Most areas: Expected standard (2026)
- St Michael's CofE Primary School, Great Lever 1.2 km · Good — confirmed 2024 · previous system
Straight-line distance — not travel time, and not a catchment. Same phase, open schools only.
Data from DfE and Ofsted open data (OGL v3) — sources. School record updated 10 July 2026. Report incorrect data.