Helsby High School, Frodsham

In its own words: "Our vision is to be a learning environment in which all students and staff strive for excellence in all that they do, achieving success and valuing others to enable them to make positive contributions to society, and to become confident global citizens. This means much more to us than just academic success."

From the headteacher's welcome: "Since 1949 the school has been very proud to serve Frodsham, Helsby and the surrounding area, offering an ambitious curriculum in a well-resourced, calm and orderly environment, enabling students to thrive in their learning and flourish as young people."

Clubs and activities named on the school's website include football, cooking, art and Duke of Edinburgh.

In 2026, pupils at Helsby High School averaged an Attainment 8 score of 46.6, the average grade across their best eight GCSEs. The average state school scored 45.3 in Cheshire West and Chester and 47 across England.

47% passed English and maths at grade 5 or above, against 42% in Cheshire West and Chester and 47% in England.

That is in line with 2025, when the score was 47.1.

Its most recent Progress 8 score, for 2024, was 0.05: 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 38.1, against 48.9 for other pupils at the school - a gap of 10.8 points.

Pupils sat GCSEs in 23 subjects; after English and maths, the most popular were Combined Science, French and History.

For September 2026 entry, 189 families put Helsby High School as their first choice and 273 named it as one of their preferences, for 199 places offered. It had fewer first-choice applications than places. Every family who put it first was offered a place there for 2026 entry.

The nearest other state secondary schools to Helsby High School are The Heath School (3.3 miles, Requires improvement, Attainment 8 41); Blessed Carlo Acutis Catholic and Church of England Academy (3.6 miles, Attainment 8 37.5); The Grange School (4.1 miles, Good, Attainment 8 36); and Ormiston Bolingbroke Academy (4.3 miles, Requires improvement, Attainment 8 37).

Helsby High School's 2026 results were higher than all 4 of them.

Of the 231 pupils who finished Year 11 in 2023/24, 90% stayed in education or training for at least two terms, including 27% to a further education college, 3% to an apprenticeship and 1% into work.

Of the 73 students who left the sixth form in 2023/24, 58% went on to university or other higher education, 12% to apprenticeships and 22% into work. 10% went to one of the most selective third of universities.

15.5% of pupils are eligible for free school meals, well below the average state school (25%), and 2.1% speak English as an additional language, against 18.8% on average, according to the 2026 school census.

In 2026, 205 pupils (16.9%) received SEN support and 25 (2.1%) 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 Helsby Rail Station, about 0.8 miles away in a straight line.

15 bus stops are within a five-minute walk; the closest is High School (opposite), 150 metres away.

Measured by the 2025 English Indices of Deprivation, the neighbourhood Helsby High School stands in is among the 20% least deprived neighbourhoods in England. This describes where the school is, not where its pupils live.

In August 2026, police recorded 5 crimes within a mile of the school, most often violence and sexual offences and anti-social behaviour. That is well below the typical figure around schools in Cheshire West and Chester (71).

In 2024/25, Helsby High School issued 202 suspensions, 16.4 for every 100 pupils (the average state school: 6.3), and 2 permanent exclusions.

The primary schools closest to Helsby High School are Helsby Hillside Primary School (0.3 miles), Alvanley and Manley Village School (1.3 miles), Frodsham CofE Primary School (1.5 miles) and Horn's Mill Primary School (1.6 miles). Admission does not depend on which primary a child attends unless the school's policy names feeder schools.