Bolton School

Analysis

Bolton School is a registered charity in England and Wales, based in Bolton. It was registered in August 2005, 21 years ago. Its declared purposes cover education/training, which this site groups under education and training. Legally it is a charitable company (Companies House number 05458883). It says it makes grants to individuals.

In the financial year ending August 2025, Bolton School reported income of £35.9m and spending of £37.9m, spending 106% of what it took in. Across the 5 years on record, from August 2021 to August 2025, income grew from £31.3m to £35.9m (+15%), an average of +3.5% a year. Over the whole period it spent 99% of the income it received.

Among 21,402 England and Wales charities whose main cause is education and training and that reported income, Bolton School sits at the 100th percentile: it is one of the largest 1% in its cause. Against every charity in England and Wales with reported income it ranks in the 100th percentile. Charities of a similar size with the same main cause include Sir John Port's Charity (£35.9m), St Bede's School Trust Sussex (£36.2m) and Hampton School (£35.7m).

In its latest detailed accounts, income came from charitable activities 89%, donations and legacies 6.1%, trading 3.5% and investments 1.6%. Charitable activities took 95% of spending and raising funds 5.2%. Reserves of £7.0m would cover about 2 months of spending at that rate. It employed 573 people.