Brine Leas School, Nantwich

Ofsted's report card from its 16 June 2026 inspection grades Brine Leas School on 7 areas: 1 strong standard and 6 expected standard. Report cards replaced single-word judgements in November 2025, on a five-point scale from exceptional to urgent improvement.

Inclusion - Strong standard. "Leaders have an in-depth understanding of the barriers that pupils may face to their learning or wellbeing."

Achievement - Expected standard. "As pupils progress through the curriculum, they build an understanding of what they have been taught."

Attendance and behaviour - Expected standard. "Leaders monitor pupils' attendance and behaviour closely."

Curriculum and teaching - Expected standard. "Leaders have created appropriate curriculums across all subjects."

Leadership and governance - Expected standard. "Leaders and governors understand the school well."

Personal development and wellbeing - Expected standard. "Leaders make sure that pupils are taught about the world around them."

Post-16 provision - Expected standard. "Leaders have designed an effective programme of study for the sixth form."

Safeguarding standards were met.

Ofsted's next steps for the school: "Leaders should ensure that adaptations to support pupils with barriers to their learning or wellbeing are applied consistently in lessons so that these pupils achieve well"; "Leaders should ensure that teachers use assessment strategies consistently well to identify and swiftly address any misconceptions or gaps in pupils' knowledge"; "Leaders should ensure that pupils gain a deep understanding of the protected characteristics and fundamental British values so that they are very well prepared for life in modern Britain".

In 2026, pupils at Brine Leas School averaged an Attainment 8 score of 50.2, the average grade across their best eight GCSEs. The average state school scored 46.1 in Cheshire East and 47 across England.

54% passed English and maths at grade 5 or above, against 43% in Cheshire East and 47% in England.

That is in line with 2025, when the score was 49.7.

Its most recent Progress 8 score, for 2024, was -0.07: pupils made about average progress compared with pupils nationally who started secondary school at the same level. Progress 8 was not published for 2026.

Disadvantaged pupils averaged an Attainment 8 of 40.5, against 52.1 for other pupils at the school - a gap of 11.6 points.

Pupils sat GCSEs in 27 subjects; after English and maths, the most popular were Combined Science, Spanish and Biology.

For September 2026 entry, 204 families put Brine Leas School as their first choice and 492 named it as one of their preferences, for 212 places offered. It had fewer first-choice applications than places. 5 families who put it first were not offered a place there.

The nearest other state secondary schools to Brine Leas School are Malbank School and Sixth Form College (1.2 miles); Shavington Academy (2.5 miles, Good, Attainment 8 44.2); St Thomas More Catholic High School (3.1 miles, Good, Attainment 8 49); and The Oaks Academy (3.4 miles, Good, Attainment 8 32.6).

Brine Leas School's 2026 results were higher than all 3 of them.

Brine Leas School is one of 8 schools run by The Cornovii Trust, an academy trust.

Of the 224 pupils who finished Year 11 in 2023/24, 88% stayed in education or training for at least two terms, including 41% to a further education college, 6% to an apprenticeship and 1% into work.

Of the 154 students who left the sixth form in 2023/24, 57% went on to university or other higher education, 3% to apprenticeships and 25% into work. 35% went to one of the most selective third of universities.

12.3% of pupils are eligible for free school meals, well below the average state school (25%), and 5.9% speak English as an additional language, against 18.8% on average, according to the 2026 school census.

In 2026, 184 pupils (13%) received SEN support and 43 (3%) had an education, health and care plan, against 16.2% and 4.6% at the average state school. The most common need among them is social, emotional and mental health needs.

The nearest railway station is Nantwich Rail Station, about 840 metres away (roughly a 11-minute walk).

12 bus stops are within a five-minute walk; the closest is The Globe (outside), 80 metres away.

Measured by the 2025 English Indices of Deprivation, the neighbourhood Brine Leas School stands in is among the 10% least deprived neighbourhoods in England. This describes where the school is, not where its pupils live.

In August 2026, police recorded 93 crimes within a mile of the school, most often violence and sexual offences, anti-social behaviour and public order offences. That is well above the typical figure around schools in Cheshire East (61), as is usual near a town centre.

In 2024/25, Brine Leas School issued 176 suspensions, 12.5 for every 100 pupils (the average state school: 6.3), and no permanent exclusions.

The primary schools closest to Brine Leas School are Weaver Primary School (0.1 miles), St Anne's Catholic Primary School (0.3 miles), Pear Tree Primary School (0.4 miles) and Stapeley Broad Lane CofE Primary School (0.6 miles). Admission does not depend on which primary a child attends unless the school's policy names feeder schools.