Essa Academy
Academy sponsor led in Bolton, Bolton.
School details
| Phase | Secondary |
|---|---|
| Type | Academy sponsor led |
| Age range | 11 to 16 |
| Gender | Mixed |
| Religious character | None |
| Admissions policy | Non-selective |
| Pupils on roll | 1055 (school census 15-01-2026) |
| Capacity | 990 |
| Free school meals | 49.00% |
| Trust or sponsor | NORTHERN EDUCATION TRUST |
| Local authority | Bolton |
| Address | Lever Edge Lane, Bolton, Greater Manchester, BL3 3HH |
| Map | View on Google Maps |
| Website | https://esa.northerneducationtrust.org/ |
| Telephone | 01204333222 |
| URN | 135770 |
Ofsted inspection
Latest full inspection: report card inspection under Ofsted's renewed framework (in use since November 2025), started 20 January 2026, published 16 March 2026. Report cards grade each area separately; there is no single overall grade.
| Safeguarding standards | Met |
|---|---|
| Inclusion | Strong standard |
| Curriculum and teaching | Strong standard |
| Achievement | Strong standard |
| Attendance and behaviour | Strong standard |
| Personal development and wellbeing | Strong standard |
| Leadership and governance | Strong standard |
Earlier graded inspection under the previous framework (Education Inspection Framework), started 19 October 2021, published 5 December 2021:
| Overall effectiveness | Good |
|---|---|
| Quality of education | Good |
| Behaviour and attitudes | Good |
| Personal development | Good |
| Leadership and management | Good |
| Safeguarding effective | Yes |
Read the Ofsted reports for this school
Ofsted stopped giving single-word overall effectiveness grades in September 2024 and introduced report cards from November 2025. Older grades are shown with their dates and may not reflect the school today.
Planning for university
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Nearby schools
- King's Leadership Academy Bolton (secondary school, about 0.5 km)
- Bolton Muslim Girls School (secondary school, about 1.1 km)
- Mount St Joseph RC High School a Voluntary Academy (secondary school, about 1.6 km)
- University Collegiate School (secondary school, about 1.9 km)
- Ladybridge High School (secondary school, about 2.2 km)
- St James's Church of England High School (secondary school, about 2.3 km)
- Harper Green School (secondary school, about 2.4 km)
- Star Salford Academy (secondary school, about 3.7 km)
Browse: Secondary schools in Bolton
Contains public sector information licensed under the Open Government Licence v3.0. School data: Department for Education, Get Information about Schools (downloaded 11 October 2026). Inspection data: Ofsted, state-funded schools inspections and outcomes management information (as at 31 August 2026). Last updated 2026-10-11.