University Collegiate School
- Secondary
- University technical college
- Ages 11 to 19
URN 141941 · Bolton · QUEST (A CHURCH OF ENGLAND SCHOOLS TRUST)
Inspection
Ofsted management information, as at 30 September 2026.
Latest full inspection
24 September 2024- Quality of education
- Good
- Behaviour and attitudes
- Good
- Personal development
- Good
- Leadership and management
- Good
- Sixth form provision
- Good
- Safeguarding is effective
- Yes
Schools into Special Measures Visit 2
From September 2024 until report cards began, full inspections gave key judgements but no overall grade.
Earlier graded inspection
7 December 2022Overall effectiveness
Inadequate
Ofsted category: Special measures.
Unannounced visit (no formal designation)
Under the earlier framework, inspections gave an overall effectiveness grade.
Read the reports on Ofsted’s website. Source: Ofsted, State-funded school inspections and outcomes: management information.
Attendance
Against Bolton and England, secondary schools.
Overall absence
2024/259.0%
- Bolton
- 8.2%
- England
- 8.4%
0.6 percentage points higher than England.
Show the figures as a table
| Year | This school | Bolton | England |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2017/18 | 6.6% | 5.7% | 5.5% |
| 2018/19 | 8.3% | 5.5% | 5.5% |
| 2020/21 | 5.2% | 5.0% | 5.5% |
| 2021/22 | 9.7% | 8.0% | 9.0% |
| 2022/23 | 10.4% | 8.2% | 9.0% |
| 2023/24 | 8.4% | 8.0% | 8.9% |
| 2024/25 | 9.0% | 8.2% | 8.4% |
Sessions missed for any reason, as a share of all possible sessions in the school year. Source: Department for Education, Explore Education Statistics, Pupil absence in schools in England, 2024/25.
Persistent absence
2024/2526.1%
- Bolton
- 23.1%
- England
- 23.4%
2.7 percentage points higher than England.
Show the figures as a table
| Year | This school | Bolton | England |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2017/18 | 21.3% | 15.2% | 13.9% |
| 2018/19 | 31.1% | 13.9% | 13.7% |
| 2020/21 | 14.4% | 12.7% | 14.8% |
| 2021/22 | 31.3% | 24.1% | 27.7% |
| 2022/23 | 34.3% | 23.9% | 26.5% |
| 2023/24 | 24.3% | 22.7% | 25.6% |
| 2024/25 | 26.1% | 23.1% | 23.4% |
Pupils who missed 10% or more of their possible sessions, as a share of pupils. Source: Department for Education, Explore Education Statistics, Pupil absence in schools in England, 2024/25.
Severe absence
2024/254.4%
- Bolton
- 3.1%
- England
- 3.9%
0.5 percentage points higher than England.
Show the figures as a table
| Year | This school | Bolton | England |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2017/18 | 1.5% | 1.4% | 1.2% |
| 2018/19 | 1.1% | 1.5% | 1.3% |
| 2020/21 | 1.0% | 1.0% | 1.5% |
| 2021/22 | 2.9% | 2.2% | 2.7% |
| 2022/23 | 3.0% | 2.7% | 3.4% |
| 2023/24 | 3.5% | 2.9% | 3.8% |
| 2024/25 | 4.4% | 3.1% | 3.9% |
Pupils who missed 50% or more of their possible sessions, as a share of pupils. Source: Department for Education, Explore Education Statistics, Pupil absence in schools in England, 2024/25.
Suspensions and permanent exclusions
Against Bolton and England, secondary schools.
Suspensions per 100 pupils
2024/258.44
- Bolton
- 31.53
- England
- 21.24
12.80 lower than England.
Show the figures as a table
| Year | This school | Bolton | England |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2017/18 | 3.79 | 14.19 | 10.13 |
| 2018/19 | 4.43 | 16.32 | 10.75 |
| 2019/20 | 4.19 | 9.95 | 7.43 |
| 2020/21 | 6.81 | 11.55 | 8.48 |
| 2021/22 | 17.01 | 18.04 | 13.96 |
| 2022/23 | 40.53 | 26.98 | 18.90 |
| 2023/24 | 9.59 | 36.81 | 22.61 |
| 2024/25 | 8.44 | 31.53 | 21.24 |
Suspensions in the school year for every 100 pupils on roll. One pupil can be suspended more than once. Source: Department for Education, Explore Education Statistics, Suspensions and permanent exclusions in England, 2024/25.
Permanent exclusions per 100 pupils
2024/250.00
- Bolton
- 0.29
- England
- 0.23
0.23 lower than England.
Show the figures as a table
| Year | This school | Bolton | England |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2017/18 | 0.95 | 0.37 | 0.20 |
| 2018/19 | 1.27 | 0.44 | 0.20 |
| 2019/20 | 1.80 | 0.34 | 0.13 |
| 2020/21 | 0.00 | 0.26 | 0.10 |
| 2021/22 | 0.25 | 0.31 | 0.16 |
| 2022/23 | 0.81 | 0.43 | 0.22 |
| 2023/24 | 0.55 | 0.39 | 0.25 |
| 2024/25 | 0.00 | 0.29 | 0.23 |
Permanent exclusions in the school year for every 100 pupils on roll. Source: Department for Education, Explore Education Statistics, Suspensions and permanent exclusions in England, 2024/25.
Key stage 4 results
Against Bolton and England, secondary schools.
Attainment 8
2025/26 (provisional)41.4
- Bolton
- 46.4
- England
- 47.4
6.0 lower than England.
Show the figures as a table
| Year | This school | Bolton | England |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2021/22 | Not published | 47.6 | 49.8 |
| 2022/23 | Not published | 46.1 | 47.2 |
| 2023/24 | 35.2 | 46.9 | 46.9 |
| 2024/25 | 36.7 | 46.7 | 47.1 |
| 2025/26 (provisional) | 41.4 | 46.4 | 47.4 |
The average of pupils' points across eight GCSE-level qualifications, with English and maths counted twice. Source: Department for Education, Explore Education Statistics, Key stage 4 performance, 2025/26.
English and maths: grade 4 or above
2025/26 (provisional)53%
- Bolton
- 65%
- England
- 66%
13 percentage points lower than England.
Show the figures as a table
| Year | This school | Bolton | England |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2021/22 | Not published | 68% | 70% |
| 2022/23 | Not published | 64% | 67% |
| 2023/24 | 50% | 67% | 67% |
| 2024/25 | 41% | 66% | 66% |
| 2025/26 (provisional) | 53% | 65% | 66% |
Pupils at the end of key stage 4 with grade 4 or above in both English and maths. Source: Department for Education, Explore Education Statistics, Key stage 4 performance, 2025/26.
English and maths: grade 5 or above
2025/26 (provisional)38%
- Bolton
- 48%
- England
- 48%
10 percentage points lower than England.
Show the figures as a table
| Year | This school | Bolton | England |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2021/22 | Not published | 49% | 51% |
| 2022/23 | Not published | 45% | 46% |
| 2023/24 | 30% | 47% | 47% |
| 2024/25 | 31% | 45% | 47% |
| 2025/26 (provisional) | 38% | 48% | 48% |
Pupils at the end of key stage 4 with grade 5 or above in both English and maths. Source: Department for Education, Explore Education Statistics, Key stage 4 performance, 2025/26.
Pupils
Against Bolton and England, secondary schools.
Eligible for free school meals
2024/2545.0%
- Bolton
- 30.5%
- England
- 25.8%
19.2 percentage points higher than England.
Show the figures as a table
| Year | This school | Bolton | England |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2021/22 | 36.3% | 25.1% | 20.9% |
| 2022/23 | 42.6% | 26.9% | 22.7% |
| 2023/24 | 36.7% | 28.0% | 24.1% |
| 2024/25 | 45.0% | 30.5% | 25.8% |
Pupils known to be eligible for free school meals on census day in January. Source: Department for Education, Explore Education Statistics, Schools, pupils and their characteristics, 2024/25.
SEN support
2024/2511.4%
- Bolton
- 11.0%
- England
- 13.4%
2.0 percentage points lower than England.
Show the figures as a table
| Year | This school | Bolton | England |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2021/22 | 9.4% | 10.5% | 11.9% |
| 2022/23 | 14.1% | 10.8% | 12.4% |
| 2023/24 | 13.7% | 10.9% | 12.9% |
| 2024/25 | 11.4% | 11.0% | 13.4% |
Pupils receiving special educational needs support without an education, health and care plan. Source: Department for Education, Explore Education Statistics, Schools, pupils and their characteristics, 2024/25.
Education, health and care plan
2024/251.8%
- Bolton
- 2.8%
- England
- 3.1%
1.3 percentage points lower than England.
Show the figures as a table
| Year | This school | Bolton | England |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2021/22 | 1.5% | 2.1% | 2.2% |
| 2022/23 | 1.2% | 2.2% | 2.4% |
| 2023/24 | 1.1% | 2.5% | 2.7% |
| 2024/25 | 1.8% | 2.8% | 3.1% |
Pupils with an education, health and care plan. Source: Department for Education, Explore Education Statistics, Schools, pupils and their characteristics, 2024/25.
First language other than English
2024/2557.8%
- Bolton
- 27.6%
- England
- 19.2%
38.6 percentage points higher than England.
Show the figures as a table
| Year | This school | Bolton | England |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2021/22 | 47.0% | 25.1% | 17.5% |
| 2022/23 | 43.0% | 25.6% | 18.1% |
| 2023/24 | 51.3% | 26.9% | 18.6% |
| 2024/25 | 57.8% | 27.6% | 19.2% |
Pupils whose first language is known or believed to be other than English. Source: Department for Education, Explore Education Statistics, Schools, pupils and their characteristics, 2024/25.
Teachers
Against Bolton and England, secondary schools.
Pupils per qualified teacher
2025/2617.9
- Bolton
- 16.6
- England
- 17.3
0.6 higher than England.
Show the figures as a table
| Year | This school | Bolton | England |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2017/18 | Not published | 16.1 | 16.5 |
| 2018/19 | Not published | 16.3 | 16.8 |
| 2019/20 | 9.4 | 16.0 | 17.2 |
| 2020/21 | 12.3 | 16.0 | 17.1 |
| 2021/22 | 16.4 | 16.4 | 17.1 |
| 2022/23 | 17.0 | 16.4 | 17.2 |
| 2023/24 | 16.2 | 16.7 | 17.4 |
| 2024/25 | 16.8 | 16.3 | 17.3 |
| 2025/26 | 17.9 | 16.6 | 17.3 |
Full-time equivalent pupils for each full-time equivalent qualified teacher. Source: Department for Education, Explore Education Statistics, School workforce in England, 2025/26.
Teacher sickness absence
2024/251.3 days
- Bolton
- 4.6 days
- England
- 5.0 days
3.7 days lower than England.
Compared with all state-funded schools: DfE publishes this measure for all schools, not by phase.
Show the figures as a table
| Year | This school | Bolton | England |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2017/18 | Not published | 3.9 days | 4.0 days |
| 2018/19 | 1.9 days | 3.9 days | 4.0 days |
| 2019/20 | Not published | Not published | Not published |
| 2020/21 | 3.6 days | 4.4 days | 3.9 days |
| 2021/22 | 10.6 days | 6.3 days | 6.3 days |
| 2022/23 | 3.4 days | 4.8 days | 5.2 days |
| 2023/24 | 7.2 days | 4.7 days | 5.3 days |
| 2024/25 | 1.3 days | 4.6 days | 5.0 days |
Days lost to sickness absence in the school year, averaged across all teachers. Source: Department for Education, Explore Education Statistics, School workforce in England, 2024/25.
Finance
Academies report their accounts as part of their trust, so DfE publishes no school-level balance for this school. The trust’s figures are in DfE’s Financial Benchmarking and Insights Tool.
See this school in the Financial Benchmarking and Insights Tool
About the school
- Pupils on roll
- 683
- Capacity
- 840
- Type
- University technical college
- Phase
- Secondary
- Age range
- 11 to 19
- Sixth form
- Has a sixth form
- Gender
- Mixed
- Trust
- QUEST (A CHURCH OF ENGLAND SCHOOLS TRUST)
- Opened
- 1 September 2015
- Setting
- Urban: Nearer to a major town or city
- Constituency
- Bolton South and Walkden
- Deprivation of the area (IDACI)
- Decile 1 of 10 (1 is the most deprived tenth of neighbourhoods)
Address: 85 Deane Road, The Stoller Building, Bolton, Greater Manchester, BL3 5AG
Website: ucs-bolton.org.uk
Telephone: 01204928700
Sources and corrections
Every figure on this page names its source and period. This release was built on 20 October 2026.
- Department for Education: Get Information about Schools: establishment data (GIAS establishment extract 2026-10-20)
- Ofsted: State-funded school inspections and outcomes: management information (Latest inspections as at 2026-09-30; All inspections, 2018/19; All inspections, 2019/20; All inspections, 2020/21; All inspections, 2021/22; All inspections, 2022/23; All inspections, 2023/24; All inspections, 2024/25; All inspections, 2025/26)
- Department for Education, Explore Education Statistics: Pupil absence in schools in England (absence-3term-school, 2013/14 to 2024/25 [pinned data set id])
- Department for Education, Explore Education Statistics: Suspensions and permanent exclusions in England (exc-school, 2006/07 to 2024/25 [pinned data set id]; exc-ap-school, 2013/14 to 2024/25 [pinned data set id]; exc-geography, 2006/07 to 2024/25 [pinned data set id]; exc-ap-geography, 2013/14 to 2024/25 [pinned data set id])
- Department for Education, Explore Education Statistics: Key stage 2 attainment (ks2-school, 2022/23 to 2024/25 [pinned data set id]; ks2-geography, 2015/16 to 2025/26 [pinned data set id])
- Department for Education, Explore Education Statistics: Key stage 4 performance (ks4-school, 2023/24 to 2025/26 [pinned data set id]; ks4-geography, 2018/19 to 2025/26 [pinned data set id])
- Department for Education, Explore Education Statistics: Schools, pupils and their characteristics (School census, January 2022 (performance tables, 2021 to 2022); School census, January 2023 (performance tables, 2022 to 2023); School census, January 2024 (performance tables, 2023 to 2024); School census, January 2025 (performance tables, 2024 to 2025))
- Department for Education, Explore Education Statistics: School workforce in England (ptr-school, 2010/11 to 2025/26 [pinned data set id]; ptr-geography, 2010/11 to 2025/26 [pinned data set id]; sickness-school, 2009/10 to 2024/25 [pinned data set id]; sickness-geography, 2009/10 to 2024/25 [pinned data set id])
- Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government: English indices of deprivation 2025: Income Deprivation Affecting Children Index (English indices of deprivation 2025, File 7 (2021 LSOAs))
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