What year groups does Forwards Centre teach?

Forwards Centre teaches children aged 5 to 11. It is a special school in Bolton.

Who is the headteacher of Forwards Centre?

The headteacher of Forwards Centre is Mrs Nicola Berry, as recorded in the Department for Education's register of schools.

When was Forwards Centre last inspected?

Ofsted has inspected Forwards Centre, and its latest judgement is set out in the inspection section on this page, with the framework and the date it was made.

How big is Forwards Centre?

Forwards Centre has 48 pupils on roll, teaching children aged 5 to 11.

Is Forwards Centre full?

Forwards Centre has capacity for 64 pupils and 48 on roll (75%), so it has space against its published capacity. Places are allocated through the local authority's admissions process, so capacity alone does not tell you whether a place is available.

Is Forwards Centre a faith school?

No. Forwards Centre has no designated religious character.

Who runs Forwards Centre?

Forwards Centre is part of THE BOLTON IMPACT TRUST. Schools in a trust or federation share leadership and governance, but each keeps its own inspection record and results.

Does Forwards Centre publish exam results?

OfferDay shows exam results for a school only where the Department for Education has published them, and none are shown for Forwards Centre. That is usual for infant, nursery, special and independent schools, and for schools without recent published results.

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Forwards Centre

Forwards Centre

Stephens Street, Bolton, BL2 5DX

Phase: Academies
School type: Academy alternative provision converter
Ages: 5 to 11
Gender: Mixed
Trust: THE BOLTON IMPACT TRUST
Headteacher: Mrs Nicola Berry
Sponsor: Bolton Impact Trust
Constituency: Bolton North East
Setting: Urban: Nearer to a major town or city
Capacity: 64
Pupils on roll: 48
URN: 142702
Local authority: Bolton
Website: School website
Telephone: 01204333660

About this school

Forwards Centre is a special academy in Bolton. It teaches children aged 5 to 11 and has 48 pupils on roll.

You can read Ofsted's latest judgement for the school below. Where the Department for Education has published them, its results and pupil characteristics appear below. Seeing a school for yourself shows what no page can, so arrange a visit before you apply.

Ofsted judgement

England: previous inspection framework

Inspected 3 June 2025 · report published 8 July 2025

Ofsted did not give an overall grade. Between September 2024 and September 2025 inspections graded each area of a school's work without a single overall judgement, ahead of the move to report cards. How Ofsted report cards work

Quality of education: Outstanding
Behaviour and attitudes: Outstanding
Personal development: Outstanding
Leadership and management: Outstanding
Safeguarding: Effective

Read the full report on Ofsted's website

Trends over time

How Forwards Centre has moved over recent years against the local and national picture. Every figure is shown in the table beneath its chart.

Pupils on roll

Year	This school
2022/23	30
2023/24	40
2024/25	41

School census, spring count each academic year.

School context

From the 2024/25 school census and absence figures.

Free school meals (last 6 years): 80.49%
English as an additional language: 0%

Location

Nearby schools

Park School Teaching Service
Academies · Bolton

0.0 miles
Breightmet School
Special schools · Bolton

0.3 miles
Firwood High School
Academies · Bolton

0.8 miles
EdStart Schools Bolton
Special schools · Bolton

1.4 miles
Birtenshaw College
Other types · Bolton

1.5 miles

Other schools in Bolton

Birtenshaw College Other types
Birtenshaw School Bolton Special schools
Breightmet School Special schools
Cumberland School Special schools
EdStart Schools Bolton Special schools
Firwood High School Academies
Green Fold School Special schools
Ladywood School Academies
Lever Park School Academies
LifeBridge ASEND Other types
Park School Teaching Service Academies
Raise Education and Wellbeing School Special schools

Common questions

What year groups does Forwards Centre teach?: Forwards Centre teaches children aged 5 to 11. It is a special school in Bolton.
Who is the headteacher of Forwards Centre?: The headteacher of Forwards Centre is Mrs Nicola Berry, as recorded in the Department for Education's register of schools.
When was Forwards Centre last inspected?: Ofsted has inspected Forwards Centre, and its latest judgement is set out in the inspection section on this page, with the framework and the date it was made.
How big is Forwards Centre?: Forwards Centre has 48 pupils on roll, teaching children aged 5 to 11.
Is Forwards Centre full?: Forwards Centre has capacity for 64 pupils and 48 on roll (75%), so it has space against its published capacity. Places are allocated through the local authority's admissions process, so capacity alone does not tell you whether a place is available.
Is Forwards Centre a faith school?: No. Forwards Centre has no designated religious character.
Who runs Forwards Centre?: Forwards Centre is part of THE BOLTON IMPACT TRUST. Schools in a trust or federation share leadership and governance, but each keeps its own inspection record and results.
Does Forwards Centre publish exam results?: OfferDay shows exam results for a school only where the Department for Education has published them, and none are shown for Forwards Centre. That is usual for infant, nursery, special and independent schools, and for schools without recent published results.

School details come from the Department for Education's Get Information About Schools register. Inspection outcomes come from Ofsted, and exam results from the Department for Education's school performance service. This page was last updated on 2 July 2026.