The Catholic High School, Chester Review 2026: Catholic secondary with a sizeable sixth form and clear admissions priorities

A Catholic comprehensive with a clear faith identity, a large intake at Year 7, and a sixth form that is designed to keep many students through to 18. The current headteacher has led the school since 2019, and the website language places pastoral care and community alongside ambition.

Academy governance sits within The Chester Catholic Academies Partnership, and admissions are shaped accordingly, with Catholic children prioritised when the school is oversubscribed, then distance as the tie break.

Results are broadly in line with the middle band of schools in England for both GCSE and A-level outcomes, with an Oxbridge pipeline that is stronger than many schools would expect at first glance. (Academic rankings and metrics in this review are based on FindMySchool analysis of official outcomes data.)

The school’s Catholic character is not a light-touch label. It is written into the admissions policy, the mission language, and the expectations placed on families who choose it. The school’s mission statement is Christo Fidelis (Faithful to Christ), and that framing shows up in how the school talks about community life, worship, and pastoral priorities.

Leadership continuity matters here. The headteacher’s own welcome message states she became headteacher in 2019, and the tone is consistent with a school aiming for calm routines, high expectations, and a student experience that feels structured rather than permissive.

The trust context is worth noting because it shapes governance and, for parents, often affects how quickly schools can implement change. Ofsted’s information page lists the school as part of The Chester Catholic Academies Partnership, which aligns with the admissions policy naming the academy company as the admission authority.

Pastoral language is prominent, but it is backed by concrete mechanisms. The school’s SEND work is structured around named internal support, with the Trinity team described as supporting students who experience barriers to learning and difficulty accessing the curriculum. This is also a school that publishes extensive safeguarding documentation, including updated policy frameworks for 2025 to 2026, which signals a compliance minded approach and makes it easier for families to understand processes.

For GCSE outcomes, the school is ranked 2,630th in England and 8th in Chester (FindMySchool ranking based on official data). This reflects solid performance, in line with the middle 35% of schools in England (25th to 60th percentile).

Attainment 8 is 44.3. Progress 8 is -0.08, which indicates progress that is close to average but slightly below the national benchmark once prior attainment is taken into account. The EBacc average point score is 3.76. (These are reported outcome measures and do not describe every subject equally.)

A separate sixth form picture is available. For A-level outcomes, the school is ranked 1,487th in England and 9th in Chester (FindMySchool ranking based on official data). This again places outcomes in the middle 35% of schools in England (25th to 60th percentile).

In the A-level profile provided here, 4.05% of grades are A*, 17.34% are A, and 42.2% are A* to B. The England benchmark for A* to B is 47.2%, so the overall grade mix sits slightly below that reference point.

A useful interpretation for parents is consistency rather than extremes. This is not presented as a school where outcomes rely on heavy selection, and the data profile suggests that family fit, attendance, and engagement with the school’s routines are likely to be the decisive factors for any individual student’s trajectory.

Parents comparing local options should consider using the FindMySchool Local Hub comparison tools to view GCSE and A-level outcomes side by side with nearby schools in Chester, using a consistent methodology.

Curriculum intent is explicitly framed through Catholic education and a “life in all its fullness” lens, which anchors personal development as part of learning rather than a bolt-on.

External review evidence points to curriculum ambition with some variation in subject planning. The most recent Ofsted inspection (30 November to 01 December 2021) rated the school Good overall, highlighting an ambitious curriculum while identifying that a small number of subjects across Years 7 to 11 were less well planned in terms of sequenced essential knowledge.

There are also examples of subject-level specificity available on the school website, which gives a clearer sense of classroom approach than generic statements. In mathematics, the department describes mixed ability teaching in Years 7 and 8 with setting from Year 9, alongside a mastery approach and a curriculum that revisits and extends topics over time. The implication for families is straightforward: students who benefit from structured practice and cumulative knowledge building should recognise the style, while students who rely on last-minute revision without consolidation may find gaps exposed over time.

Reading is treated as a whole-school priority rather than only an English issue. The 2021 inspection report notes quick identification of pupils who struggle to read fluently, with extra support to help them catch up, and it also references a refurbished library that has become increasingly popular.

Where Students Go Next

Post-16 progression is one of the more compelling aspects of the data profile. In the Oxbridge measurement period provided, 21 applications resulted in 7 offers and 7 acceptances, meaning 7 students secured Oxford or Cambridge places. For many families, that figure is a useful proxy for high-end academic stretch existing within a broader comprehensive intake.

For the 2023/24 leavers cohort (size 76), 58% progressed to university, 4% to further education, 1% to apprenticeships, and 25% into employment. This mix suggests the sixth form is serving both university and employment routes in meaningful numbers, rather than being narrowly focused on one pathway.

The school website also signals enrichment designed to support progression. Careers education content references the Duke of Edinburgh’s Award (Years 9 to 13) as developing employability and personal skills. That kind of participation can matter in competitive sixth form applications and interviews, particularly where students need evidence of sustained commitment.

This is a state school with no tuition fees. The key admissions questions are about faith criteria, distance, and timing of supporting documentation.

Year 7 entry (September 2026): process and priorities

The published admission number is 150 for Year 7 for the school year beginning September 2026. Applications are made via the local authority coordinated process, with the Cheshire West and Chester deadline for on-time applications set at 31 October 2025, for transfer to secondary school in September 2026. Offers are issued on 02 March 2026 (national offer day timing for that year).

When oversubscribed, the admissions policy prioritises Catholic looked after and previously looked after children, then Catholic children attending named feeder Catholic primaries, then other Catholic children, followed by other looked after and previously looked after children, catechumens and members of an Eastern Christian Church, other Christian denominations and other faiths (with evidence), and finally any other children. Within categories, sibling priority and children of staff can raise priority. Distance is used as the tie break, determined by the local authority.

Parents should plan ahead on documentation. The admissions policy notes that if required supporting documentation is not provided, this may affect where an application is placed within criteria. The council also sets a deadline for supporting information (12 December 2025) for inclusion in the initial allocation process.

Families with Catholic status claims should expect to evidence this. The policy defines Catholic membership and states it is normally evidenced by a certificate of baptism in a Catholic church or reception into full communion with the Catholic Church.

For families unsure how close they are likely to be relative to competing applicants, FindMySchool Map Search can help you estimate your distance to the school gates and plan with realism. (Distances can shift materially year to year based on applicant distribution.)

Year 12 entry (sixth form)

The admissions policy sets an admission number of 50 for external Year 12 applicants for September 2026, with scope to admit additional externals if fewer internal pupils transfer into Year 12, up to the year group capacity. Minimum academic entry requirements are stated as at least five GCSE passes at Grade 5 or above (with detail on how subjects count).

On the sixth form site, applications for September 2026 entry are stated to open on 14 November 2025 and must be returned by 05 December 2025. The site also describes interviews and a taster day before enrolment on GCSE results day, which gives students a structured pathway into post-16.

Pastoral strength is presented as a defining part of the school’s identity, and there are several tangible components that support that claim.

Safeguarding documentation for 2025 to 2026 describes a “caring, safe, and positive” environment, communication lines to trusted adults, and the use of external support avenues such as counselling and helplines. It is also practical, with specific medical safety infrastructure listed, including multiple automated external defibrillators and named locations such as the Emmaus office.

For students with additional needs, the Trinity team is positioned as a central part of access and inclusion, working alongside pastoral staff and parents to ensure individual needs are met. The school’s SEND information report and curriculum documents also signal enhanced transition support beginning before Year 7 for some students, including Year 5 and 6 summer school access to support confidence and wellbeing ahead of transfer.

Catholic life also functions as pastoral infrastructure, not just worship. A Catholic Schools Inspectorate report dated 07 November 2024 describes extensive chaplaincy opportunities, including the Youth Saint Vincent de Paul society, Faith in Action awards, a befriending group, and a faith explorers group that meets regularly with a lay chaplain.

Extracurricular provision is most persuasive when it is specific, and there is a reasonable amount of detail available here.

The Duke of Edinburgh’s Award is explicitly positioned as a major strand, with Bronze, Silver and Gold offered for students in Years 9 to 13. The practical implication is that older students can build sustained evidence of commitment and responsibility, which supports sixth form progression, university personal statements, and apprenticeship interviews.

Performing arts and cultural enrichment are also visible. Drama department content references regular theatre trips and a programme that includes productions and showcases of scripted and devised work. Music is described as including ensembles and school show leadership roles for older students, and the Ofsted report references a planned European music tour (Italy) as part of wider development.

There is also evidence of sport beyond the generic. PE curriculum documents refer to individual activities such as trampolining and gymnastics as part of extracurricular uptake, which is a useful signal for students who prefer performance or technique sports rather than team games.

Faith-linked extracurricular and service is unusually explicit compared with many schools. The Catholic Schools Inspectorate report highlights structured opportunities such as SVP, Faith in Action awards, and a befriending group, which suggests that service is organised rather than purely ad hoc.

The school publishes a clear daily timetable. Students are on site from 8.30am, with the school day structured through five lessons and ending with tutor time at 3.00pm.

Transport is also unusually transparent. The school states it operates in collaboration with Stagecoach to offer dedicated bus routes serving areas including Broughton, Saltney, Lache, Mickle Trafford, Huntington, Vicars Cross, Hoole, Upton, Saughall, and Blacon.

Wraparound care is not typically applicable in the same way as primary provision. For any supervised before-school or after-school arrangements beyond clubs, families should rely on the school’s published information or ask directly, as this is not consistently detailed on the public pages.

• Faith expectations are real. The admissions policy is explicit that Catholic doctrine and practice permeate the school’s activity, and it expects families to support the Catholic character fully. This is a positive for many families, but it can feel misaligned for those seeking a lighter faith imprint.

• Oversubscription priorities can limit options for non-Catholic applicants. The oversubscription criteria place Catholic children first (including named feeder primaries), with distance used as the tie break within categories. In oversubscribed years, this can make outcomes hard to predict without a clear understanding of category placement and proximity.

• Sixth form entry has both minimum GCSE thresholds and course requirements. The policy states at least five Grade 5 passes, and also notes subject specific requirements published annually. This can be motivating, but families should plan early if a student’s GCSE profile is likely to be borderline.

• Performance is steady rather than headline grabbing in the main metrics. GCSE and A-level outcomes sit around the middle band of schools in England, so student experience and consistency of effort may matter more than selecting the school purely for exam profile. (The Oxbridge figure shows high-end stretch exists, but it is not the whole story.)

This is a Catholic secondary with a clear identity, well-defined admissions priorities, and a sixth form that supports multiple routes beyond Year 11. Academic outcomes sit broadly in line with the middle band of schools in England, while the post-16 profile includes an Oxbridge pipeline that indicates meaningful stretch for the most academic students.

Best suited to families who actively want a Catholic ethos, are comfortable engaging with documentation and deadlines for admissions, and value a structured school day with visible pastoral and chaplaincy support.