SCHOOL PROFILE

The Catholic High School, Chester

Secondary Academy converter URN 139343
Open
Pupils 8,834,192 Latest school census
Capacity 1,117 Published school capacity
Capacity used 71.4% Pupils as a share of capacity
Age range 11 – 18 Statutory age range
OFSTED

Latest inspection

19 May 2026
Latest published outcome Met
Renewed framework
Safeguarding Met
Inclusion Expected standard
Curriculum & teaching Expected standard
Achievement Expected standard
Attendance & behaviour Expected standard
Personal development Expected standard
Leadership & governance Expected standard
INSPECTION HISTORY

Previous Ofsted activity

1 December 2021
Ungraded inspection School remains Good
Published 3 February 2022
SCHOOL DETAILS

About this school

School type Academy converter
Phase Secondary
Gender Mixed
Religious character Roman Catholic
Local authority Cheshire West and Chester
Trust THE CHESTER CATHOLIC ACADEMIES PARTNERSHIP
Census date 15 January 2026
PUPIL PROFILE

School community

Latest published pupil characteristics for 2025/26.

2025/26
Total pupils 797 797 full-time · 0 part-time
Female pupils 399 50.1% of pupils
Male pupils 398 49.9% of pupils

Free school meals

Pupils eligible for free school meals.

21.0%
3.8 pts below England
School 21.0%
Cheshire West and Chester 18.7%
North West 28.5%
England 24.8%

English as an additional language

Pupils whose first language is not English.

17.3%
3.0 pts below England
School 17.3%
Cheshire West and Chester 7.9%
North West 18.1%
England 20.3%

Young carers

Pupils recorded as young carers.

1.3%
0.3 pts above England
School 1.3%
Cheshire West and Chester 1.6%
North West 0.8%
England 1.0%

Ethnicity

Largest recorded pupil groups.

White British
65.6%
523
Any other White background
12.3%
98
African
4.5%
36
Indian
4.0%
32
Any other Asian background
3.3%
26
Unclassified
2.0%
16
Council, regional and national comparisons are pupil-weighted using published school census counts.
ADDITIONAL NEEDS

Special educational needs

Pupils receiving SEN support or with an education, health and care plan.

2025/26
Pupils with SEN 24.6% 196 of 797 pupils
3.8 pts above England England: 20.8%
School 24.6%
Cheshire West and Chester 21.1%
North West 22.1%
England 20.8%
SEN support 19.8% 158 pupils
England 14.8% 5.0 pts above
EHC plans 4.8% 38 pupils
England 6.0% 1.3 pts below
PRIMARY NEEDS

Most common identified needs

Pupils
Other difficulty or disability 97
Speech, language & communication 52
Social, emotional & mental health 42
Autistic spectrum disorder 1
Moderate learning difficulty 1
Physical disability 1

SEN comparisons are pupil-weighted using published 2025/26 Department for Education school-level data. Primary needs combine pupils receiving SEN support and pupils with EHC plans.

ACADEMIC PERFORMANCE

Key stage 4 outcomes

Published Department for Education results for 2024/25.

2024/25
ATTAINMENT 8

Average attainment score

46.7 7.5 pts above England
School 46.7
Cheshire West and Chester 38.6
North West 37.7
England 39.2
English & maths grade 5+ 44.5% England 36.0% 8.5 pts above England
English & maths grade 4+ 63.9% England 51.4% 12.5 pts above England
EBacc entry 15.1% England 30.6% 15.5 pts below England
EBacc average point score 4.00 England 3.41
Progress 8 Not available for 2024/25

Latest published: -0.08 · 2023/24

Comparisons are averages of published school-level results for open schools. They are not pupil-weighted official local authority attainment rates.

ATTENDANCE & ABSENCE

Attendance profile

Published Department for Education absence data for 2024/25. Lower absence rates are generally better.

2024/25
ABSENCE RATE

Overall absence

9.10%

Percentage of possible sessions missed.

2.88 pts higher than England
School 9.10%
Cheshire West and Chester 6.16%
North West 6.25%
England 6.22%
ABSENCE RATE

Persistent absence

25.86%

Pupils missing 10% or more of sessions.

10.05 pts higher than England
School 25.86%
Cheshire West and Chester 15.25%
North West 15.89%
England 15.82%
ABSENCE RATE

Severe absence

3.46%

Pupils missing 50% or more of sessions.

1.65 pts higher than England
School 3.46%
Cheshire West and Chester 1.74%
North West 1.75%
England 1.80%
Council, regional and national comparisons are averages of published school-level percentages rather than pupil-weighted official absence rates.
HOW DOES IT COMPARE?

School context

Comparison with open secondary schools.

CAPACITY

Capacity utilisation

71.4% 21.0 pts below England
The Catholic High School, Chester
71.4%
Cheshire West and Chester
88.2%
North West
91.8%
England
92.3%
Benchmarks use open schools in the same phase. Capacity utilisation is calculated from published pupil and capacity figures.
Sources: Department for Education · Get Information about Schools · Ofsted monthly management information