The Catholic High School, Chester, Chester

Ofsted's report card from its 19 May 2026 inspection grades The Catholic High School, Chester on 7 areas: 7 expected standard. Report cards replaced single-word judgements in November 2025, on a five-point scale from exceptional to urgent improvement.

Achievement - Expected standard. "Pupils' attainment in national examinations is improving and most pupils progress well from their starting points."

Attendance and behaviour - Expected standard. "Leaders have strengthened their systems for monitoring attendance."

Curriculum and teaching - Expected standard. "Leaders have established an ambitious curriculum."

Inclusion - Expected standard. "Care for pupils lies at the heart of the school's inclusion strategy."

Leadership and governance - Expected standard. "Leaders, together with trustees and governors, act in the best interests of pupils."

Personal development and wellbeing - Expected standard. "Leaders have built a coherent personal development programme that meets statutory requirements and responds to the specific needs of the school community."

Post 16 provision - Expected standard. "Leaders have ensured that the school's sixth form is inclusive."

Safeguarding standards were met.

Ofsted's next steps for the school: "Leaders should continue to strengthen the consistency of teaching to further improve pupils' learning experiences and outcomes for all pupils"; "Leaders should continue to build on their recent improvements to the Post-16 provision to ensure that students achieve well in the qualifications that they study"; "Leaders should continue to improve the attendance of disadvantaged pupils so that they attend well".

From the headteacher's welcome: "Our results speak for themselves but it is the compassion I see between staff and students which is the essence of our school. Our children know we have their best interests at heart and seek to help them become successful happy individuals. In November 2021, Ofsted confirmed that we are a good school and children flourish at The Catholic High."

Clubs and activities named on the school's website include football, netball, rugby, hockey, cricket, tennis, athletics, gymnastics, basketball and badminton.

In 2026, pupils at The Catholic High School, Chester averaged an Attainment 8 score of 44.1, the average grade across their best eight GCSEs. The average state school scored 45.3 in Cheshire West and Chester and 47 across England.

36% passed English and maths at grade 5 or above, against 42% in Cheshire West and Chester and 47% in England.

That is down from 46.7 in 2025.

Its most recent Progress 8 score, for 2024, was -0.08: 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 28.7, against 50 for other pupils at the school - a gap of 21.3 points.

Pupils sat GCSEs in 22 subjects; after English and maths, the most popular were Religious Studies, Combined Science and Geography.

For September 2026 entry, 70 families put The Catholic High School, Chester as their first choice and 200 named it as one of their preferences, for 72 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 The Catholic High School, Chester are Queen's Park High School (0.5 miles, Good, Attainment 8 48.6); Chester International School (0.7 miles, Good, Attainment 8 38.5); The Bishops' Blue Coat Church of England High School (1.2 miles, Good, Attainment 8 53.7); and Tute Education Ltd (1.4 miles).

The Catholic High School, Chester's 2026 results were higher than 1 of these 3 schools.

The Catholic High School, Chester is run by its own single-school academy trust.

Of the 135 pupils who finished Year 11 in 2023/24, 79% stayed in education or training for at least two terms, including 19% to a further education college, 1% to an apprenticeship and 4% into work.

Of the 79 students who left the sixth form in 2023/24, 49% went on to university or other higher education, 6% to apprenticeships and 28% into work. 12% went to one of the most selective third of universities.

The Catholic High School, Chester has a resourced provision for autism: 15 places, 15 pupils on roll.

The Catholic High School, Chester had 60 teachers in 2026, one for every 13 pupils: more teachers per pupil than a typical secondary school, at about one for every 17.

The nearest railway station is Chester Rail Station, about 1.4 miles away in a straight line.

7 bus stops are within a five-minute walk; the closest is Chester Catholic High School (outside), 100 metres away.

In August 2026, police recorded 232 crimes within a mile of the school, most often violence and sexual offences, shoplifting and public order offences. That is well above the typical figure around schools in Cheshire West and Chester (71), as is usual near a town centre.

In 2024/25, The Catholic High School, Chester issued 51 suspensions, 6.3 for every 100 pupils (the average state school: 6.3), and no permanent exclusions.

The primary schools closest to The Catholic High School, Chester are Overleigh St Mary's Church of England Primary School (0.1 miles), Belgrave Primary School (0.6 miles), Lache Primary School (0.9 miles) and St Clare's Catholic Primary School (0.9 miles). Admission does not depend on which primary a child attends unless the school's policy names feeder schools.