Thornleigh Salesian College is a mainstream secondary school in Bolton for children and young people aged 11 to 18. In January 2026, 173 of its 1,574 pupils (11%) were getting SEN support and 40 (2.5%) had an EHC plan.
- Ages 11–18
- 1,574 pupils
Special educational needs here
From the school census, January 2026. Compared with state secondary schools across England and in Bolton.
11% get SEN support
173 of 1,574 pupils. Help in school without an EHC plan.
Lower than the England average.
2.5% have an EHC plan
40 of 1,574 pupils. A legal plan from the council, for children who need more help.
Lower than the England average.
Most common needs
- Specific learning difficulty, such as dyslexia59
- Autism46
- Social, emotional and mental health25
- Speech, language and communication22
- Physical disability10
- Hearing impairment5
Pupils by their main need, on SEN support or with an EHC plan. Needs with fewer than 5 pupils aren’t shown.
Figures show how many children the school supports, not how well. To see how it would support your child, talk to the SENCO and read its SEN information report on the school’s website.
School details
- Type
- Mainstream secondary school
- Run as
- Voluntary aided school
- Ages
- 11 to 18
- Boys and girls
- Boys and girls
- Pupils
- 1,574 (places for 1,650)
- Headteacher
- Mr Michael Fitzsimons
- Faith
- Roman Catholic
- Free school meals
- 29.4% of pupils eligible
- Council
- Bolton
- School reference (URN)
- 105264
How SEN support works
4 steps, from a first chat to an EHC plan
- Talk to the class teacher and the SENCO
If you’re worried about your child, ask for a meeting. Every school has a SENCO (special educational needs co-ordinator). Your child doesn’t need a diagnosis to get help.
- SEN support
The school should work out what your child needs, agree a plan with you, put it in place and review it together, usually each term. This is called SEN support.
- An EHC needs assessment
If your child needs more help than the school can usually give, you or the school can ask Bolton council for an EHC needs assessment. It can lead to an Education, Health and Care (EHC) plan, which the council must make sure is delivered.
- Free, independent advice
Your local SENDIASS can help at any stage, and can come to meetings with the school with you.
Questions to ask the SENCO
10 questions to tick off as you go
Ticks stay on this device, so you can use them at the meeting.
Ofsted
Graded by area, October 2024; school remains Good (November 2019)
Inspected in October 2024. Inspections from September 2024 to November 2025 graded each area but gave no overall grade.
- Quality of educationRequires improvement
- Behaviour and attitudesGood
- Personal developmentGood
- Leadership and managementRequires improvement
- Sixth formGood
- SafeguardingEffective
Since then: School remains Good (ungraded inspection, November 2019).
Contact and getting there
Sharples Park, Astley Bridge, Bolton, BL1 6PQ
Loading the map…
Directions: Walk Public transport Drive
Email me these details
The school’s details, its SEN figures and the questions to ask the SENCO, in your inbox.
Nearby
Specialist schools and SEN units
- Raise Education and Wellbeing School Independent · Ages 11–19 · Ofsted: Good 0.9 miles
- Sharples Primary School Mainstream + base · Ages 3–11 · Ofsted: Good 0.9 miles
- LifeBridge ASEND Independent · Ages 19–24 1.1 miles
- Moorgate Primary School Mainstream + base · Ages 2–11 · Ofsted: Outstanding 1.8 miles
Other mainstream schools
- Holy Infant and St Anthony RC Primary School Primary · Ages 5–11 · SEN support 16%, EHC plans 3.2% 0.3 miles
- Smithills School Secondary · Ages 11–16 · SEN support 12.2%, EHC plans 1.8% 0.5 miles
- St Paul's CofE Primary School, Astley Bridge Primary · Ages 2–11 · SEN support 6%, EHC plans 6% 0.5 miles
Questions about Thornleigh Salesian College
How many pupils at Thornleigh Salesian College have special educational needs?
In the January 2026 school census, 173 of the 1,574 pupils (11%) were getting SEN support and 40 (2.5%) had an EHC plan. Across England’s state secondary schools it is 14.1% and 3.5%.
What are the most common needs at Thornleigh Salesian College?
Counting pupils on SEN support and with an EHC plan, the most common main needs are dyslexia and other specific learning difficulties (59 pupils), autism (46 pupils) and social, emotional and mental health (SEMH) needs (25 pupils).
Who do I talk to about my child’s needs at Thornleigh Salesian College?
The SENCO (special educational needs co-ordinator). Every school has one, and every school must publish an SEN information report on its website explaining how it supports pupils with SEND.
How do I apply for a place at Thornleigh Salesian College?
Through Bolton council’s school admissions, in the normal application round or during the year. If your child has an EHC plan, you don’t apply this way: you ask for the school to be named in the plan instead.
Can my child with an EHC plan go to Thornleigh Salesian College?
You can ask for Thornleigh Salesian College to be named in your child’s EHC plan. The council must consult the school and name it, unless it would be unsuitable for your child’s age, ability or needs, or would affect other children’s education or the efficient use of resources.
Does Thornleigh Salesian College have an SEN unit or resourced provision?
Not according to the Department for Education’s register of schools. The nearest mainstream school with one is Sharples Primary School, about 0.9 miles away.
Where is Thornleigh Salesian College?
Sharples Park, Astley Bridge, Bolton, BL1 6PQ, in Bolton.
School data: DfE Get Information About Schools, SEN figures from DfE Special educational needs in England (the January school census), under the Open Government Licence. Postcode lookups by postcodes.io: contains OS data © Crown copyright and database right, Royal Mail data © Royal Mail copyright and database right, and National Statistics data © Crown copyright and database right. Distances are as the crow flies. Always check details and admissions with the school and your council.