School profile

The Catholic High School, Chester

Secondary · Academy converter · Chester, CH4 7HS

Good

Map showing The Catholic High School, Chester

Schools
Numbers on map: pupil ages
Outstanding
Good
Requires improvement
Inadequate
Not rated

National ranking

GCSE 2025/26

#1,976 of 3,312

Similar to most schools in England

Ranked by Attainment 8 score, state-funded mainstream schools.

A-level 2024/25

#2,195 of 2,536

Worse than 86% of schools in England

Ranked by average points per A-level entry.

The Catholic High School, Chester Ofsted rating

Ofsted report cardInspected 19 May 2026

Area360 rating
Good
Inclusion
Expected standard
Curriculum and teaching
Expected standard
Achievement
Expected standard
Attendance and behaviour
Expected standard
Personal development and wellbeing
Expected standard
Leadership and governance
Expected standard
Post-16 provision
Expected standard
Safeguarding
Met

School facts

PhaseSecondary
TypeAcademy converter
Ages11 to 18
Pupils797
GenderMixed
Religious characterRoman Catholic
Admissions policyNon-selective
Head teacherMrs CATHRYN MCKEAGNEY
TrustTHE CHESTER CATHOLIC ACADEMIES PARTNERSHIP
Local authorityCheshire West and Chester
Opened01 Mar 2013
WebsiteVisit

Source: Get Information about Schools, URN 139343.

GCSE results

2025/26

GCSE and equivalent results at the end of year 11. Attainment 8 averages results across 8 subjects.

MeasureThis schoolCheshire West and ChesterEngland
Attainment 8 scoreResults across 8 subjects, English and maths count twice. 50 is about a grade 5 average.44.1, worse than England, similar to Cheshire West and Chester45.346.2
Grade 4 or above in English and mathsGrade 4 is a standard pass.61.2%, worse than England, similar to Cheshire West and Chester63.5%64.8%
Grade 5 or above in English and mathsGrade 5 is a strong pass.36.2%, worse than England, worse than Cheshire West and Chester43.1%46.3%
Grade 7 or above in English and mathsGrade 7 is roughly an old A grade.7.8%, worse than England, worse than Cheshire West and Chester12.4%14.2%
5 or more GCSEs at grade 9-4, including English and maths56.9%, worse than England, similar to Cheshire West and Chester58.4%60.2%
Pupils at the end of key stage 4116--

Source: DfE, Key stage 4 performance, Academic year 2025/26, published 15 Oct 2026.

A-level results

2024/25

Results for students at the end of 16 to 18 study.

MeasureThis schoolCheshire West and ChesterEngland
Average points per A-level entryA* is 60, A is 50, B is 40, C is 30, D is 20, E is 10.26.38, worse than England, worse than Cheshire West and Chester38.1135
Average A-level gradeC---
Average points, best three A-levels29.02, worse than England, worse than Cheshire West and Chester39.4235.78
Average grade, best three A-levelsC--
AAB or better7.8%, worse than England, worse than Cheshire West and Chester23.2%17.5%
A-level progress scoreCompared with students with similar GCSE results. 0 is average.-0.34, worse than England--
A-level progressBelow average, worse than England--
Students at the end of 16 to 18 study83--
Average applied general gradeVocational qualifications, such as BTECs.Merit--

Source: DfE, 16 to 19 performance, Academic year 2024/25, published 23 Apr 2026.

Pupils

2025/26

Pupils at the January school census.

MeasureThis school
Total pupils797
Girls399
Boys398
Eligible for free school mealsPupils from low-income families who can get free school meals.21%
First language not English17.3%
School places2024/25Capacity, not including nursery.1,117
Unfilled placesShare of school places not taken.28.6%
Sixth form places2024/25100
SEN supportPupils with special educational needs who get extra help at school.158
EHC planEducation, health and care plan: a legal plan for pupils with more complex needs.38
Average class size19.3

Source: DfE, Schools, pupils and their characteristics and School capacity, Academic year 2025/26, published 04 Jun 2026.

Pupils ethnicity

2025/26

Share of pupils in each ethnic group, as recorded at the January school census.

Pupils ethnicity

White British
65.6%
Other White
12.3%
African
4.5%
Indian
4%
Other Asian
3.3%
Chinese
1.8%
White and Asian
1.4%
White and Black Caribbean
1.1%
Other mixed
1%
Other ethnic group
0.8%

Source: DfE, Schools, pupils and their characteristics, Academic year 2025/26, published 04 Jun 2026.

Teachers and staff

2025/26

Staff numbers are full-time equivalent (FTE). Teacher turnover shows where the school's teachers were by the following year's census.

MeasureThis school
Pupils per teacher14.6
Pupils per adultAdults include teaching assistants.10.3
Teachers (FTE)54.49
Teaching assistants (FTE)15.41
Support staff (FTE)44.62
Teachers in census year (FTE)2024/2553.6
Teachers who stayed (FTE)2024/2549.8
Teachers who moved to another state school (FTE)2024/251
Teachers who left state schools (FTE)2024/252.8

Source: DfE, School workforce in England, Reporting year 2025, published 04 Jun 2026.

Admissions

2026/27

Applications and offers for the main entry points. Offers from oversubscribed schools depend on each school's admissions criteria; check the local authority admissions page.

MeasureThis school
Offers made (Year 7)Places offered on national offer day.72
Applications (Year 7)Includes every preference parents listed.200
First preference applications (Year 7)Families who put this school as their first choice.70
First preference offers (Year 7)First-choice applicants who were offered a place.70
Applications from another local authority (Year 7)0

Source: DfE, Primary and secondary school applications and offers, Academic year 2026/27, published 18 Jun 2026.

Attendance

2025/26

Share of possible sessions missed.

MeasureThis schoolCheshire West and ChesterEngland
Overall absence8.9%, worse than England, similar to Cheshire West and Chester8.9%8%
Persistent absencePupils missing 10% or more of sessions.24.2%, worse than England, similar to Cheshire West and Chester23.6%21.6%
Severe absencePupils missing 50% or more of sessions.3.6%, similar to England, better than Cheshire West and Chester4.3%3.6%

Source: DfE, Pupil absence in schools in England, Autumn and spring term 2025/26, published 15 Oct 2026.

Suspensions and exclusions

2024/25

Suspension rate is the number of suspensions per 100 pupils, so one pupil can be counted more than once. A permanently excluded pupil is removed from the school roll.

MeasureThis school
Suspension rate6.3%
Pupils with one or more suspensions3.3%
Permanent exclusion rate0%
Permanent exclusions0

Source: DfE, Suspensions and permanent exclusions in England, Academic year 2024/25, published 09 Jul 2026.

Destinations after GCSEs

2023/24

Where pupils went after year 11, sustained for at least two terms.

MeasureThis school
Sustained destinationIn education, an apprenticeship or work for at least two terms.83%
Staying in educationSixth form, college or further education.78.5%
School sixth form59.3%
Further education19.3%
Not sustainedDid not stay in education, an apprenticeship or work for two terms.10.4%
Employment3.7%
Apprenticeship0.7%
Sixth form college0%

Source: DfE, Key stage 4 destination measures, Academic year 2024/25, published 15 Oct 2026.

Destinations after A-levels

2023/24

Where students went after 16 to 18 study, sustained for at least two terms.

MeasureThis school
Sustained destinationIn education, an apprenticeship or work for at least two terms.87.3%
Higher education49.4%
Employment27.8%
Not sustainedDid not stay in education, an apprenticeship or work for two terms.7.6%
Apprenticeship6.3%
Further education1.3%

Source: DfE, 16 to 18 destination measures, Academic year 2024/25, published 15 Oct 2026.

Nearby schools

Ratings include official Ofsted judgements and Area360 summaries of inspection grades. Open a school’s profile for its inspection grades and results.

Schools near The Catholic High School, Chester
DistancePhaseNameTypeRatingLinks
0.1 miPrimaryOverleigh St Mary's Church of England Primary SchoolAcademy converter
Good
0.5 miSecondaryQueen's Park High SchoolAcademy sponsor led
Good
0.6 miPrimaryBelgrave Primary SchoolAcademy converter
Good
0.7 miSecondaryChester International SchoolStudio schools
Good
0.7 miNot applicableThe King's SchoolOther independent school
Unrated
0.9 miPrimaryLache Primary SchoolAcademy converter
Good
0.9 miNot applicableThe Queen's SchoolOther independent school
Unrated
0.9 miPrimarySt Clare's Catholic Primary SchoolVoluntary aided school
Good
1.0 miPrimaryThe Grosvenor Park Church of England AcademyFree schools
Good
1.2 miSecondaryThe Bishops' Blue Coat Church of England High SchoolAcademy converter
Good

Frequently asked questions about The Catholic High School, Chester

What is The Catholic High School, Chester's Ofsted rating?

The Catholic High School, Chester is rated Good, last inspected on 19 May 2026. Recent Ofsted inspections have no single overall grade, so Area360 summarises the inspection grades.

How does The Catholic High School, Chester rank in England?

The Catholic High School, Chester ranks 1,976 of 3,312 schools in England for GCSE 2025/26 (similar to most schools) and 2,195 of 2,536 schools in England for A-level 2024/25 (worse than 86% of schools).

What are The Catholic High School, Chester's GCSE results?

In 2025/26, 36.2% of pupils at The Catholic High School, Chester got grade 5 or above in English and maths (England 46.3%). The Attainment 8 score was 44.1 (England 46.2).

What are The Catholic High School, Chester's A-level results?

In 2024/25, the average A-level grade at The Catholic High School, Chester was C-, and 7.8% of students got AAB or better (England 17.5%).

How hard is it to get into The Catholic High School, Chester?

For Year 7 entry in 2026/27, The Catholic High School, Chester made 72 offers from 200 applications (2.8 per offer), and 70 of 70 first-preference applicants got a place. Applications include every preference parents listed.

How many pupils attend The Catholic High School, Chester?

The Catholic High School, Chester has 797 pupils aged 11 to 18.

What is the capacity of The Catholic High School, Chester?

The Catholic High School, Chester had 1,117 school places in 2024/25.

Does The Catholic High School, Chester have a sixth form?

Yes, The Catholic High School, Chester has a sixth form with 100 places in 2024/25.

How big are classes at The Catholic High School, Chester?

At The Catholic High School, Chester, the average class had 19.3 pupils in 2025/26, and there were 14.6 pupils per teacher.

What is attendance like at The Catholic High School, Chester?

In 2025/26, pupils at The Catholic High School, Chester missed 8.9% of sessions (England 8%), and 24.2% were persistently absent, missing 10% or more of sessions (England 21.6%).

Figures are the latest published by the Department for Education for each measure. Small numbers are suppressed by the publisher to protect pupils' privacy. Read how Area360 school ratings and rankings work.