Best 3 Secondary schools in Cheshire West and Chester – comparison

Q: How are these comparisons built?

We align public datasets side-by-side. Headline Ofsted judgement and publication date are shown when available. Exact pupil counts and precise FSM% are available to Pro users; free users see rounded values.

Q: What if a school has a recent ungraded visit?

Ungraded Section 8 visits do not replace the last graded judgement. We continue to show the latest graded judgement until a new graded inspection is published.

Q: Why can’t I see exact numbers?

To keep the service sustainable, exact pupil counts and precise FSM% are Pro features. Everyone can still compare approximate values.

Q: How should I choose a school?

Start with the most recent graded Ofsted judgement, then consider distance and travel, roll versus capacity, and the admissions policy. Visit the school, ask about pastoral support and enrichment, and ensure it fits your child’s needs.

Q: What should I look for when comparing schools?

Compare headline Ofsted and publication dates for recency; check FSM% and local context; review capacity utilisation (under, near, or over capacity); and look at trust or local authority governance. Read the official Ofsted report for curriculum and safeguarding details.

Comparison of secondary schools: The County High School, Leftwich (Secondary) in Northwich; Christleton High School (Secondary) in Chester; St Nicholas Catholic High School (Secondary) in Northwich — covering Ofsted outcomes, size, FSM%, governance, capacity & more.

At a glance

This page compares The County High School, Leftwich, Christleton High School and St Nicholas Catholic High School. They are secondary phase and academy converter and voluntary aided school type located around Northwich, Cheshire and Chester, Cheshire. The strongest headline Ofsted judgement here is 1 (The County High School, Leftwich), published Apr 2016. The lowest is 2 (Christleton High School), published Jul 2024. The most recent inspection on record is for Christleton High School (Jul 2024). average roll around ≈ 1,200, combined total ≈ 3,650, typical FSM 10–15%, range 10–15%–10–15%; spread across trusts such as THE SIR JOHN BRUNNER FOUNDATION and THE LEARNING TRUST.

🔒 Export (Pro)

Attribute	The County High School, Leftwich CW9 8EZ	Christleton High School CH3 7AD	St Nicholas Catholic High School CW8 1JW
Phase / Type	Secondary • Academy converter	Secondary • Academy converter	Secondary • Voluntary aided school
Location	Northwich Cheshire CW9 8EZ	Chester Cheshire CH3 7AD	Northwich Cheshire CW8 1JW
Latest Ofsted	1 25 Apr 2016	2 1 Jul 2024	2 7 May 2024
Ofsted report	—	—	—
Pupils (roll)	≈ 1,050 🔒 Unlock exact pupils	≈ 1,400 🔒 Unlock exact pupils	≈ 1,200 🔒 Unlock exact pupils
FSM %	10–15% 🔒 Unlock exact FSM %	10–15% 🔒 Unlock exact FSM %	10–15% 🔒 Unlock exact FSM %
Capacity	1050	1330	1240
Capacity utilisation	Near capacity 🔒 View exact %	Near capacity 🔒 View exact %	Near capacity 🔒 View exact %
Age range	—	—	—
Gender	Mixed	Mixed	Mixed
Admissions policy	Non-selective	Non-selective	Non-selective
Trust / Local authority	THE SIR JOHN BRUNNER FOUNDATION	THE LEARNING TRUST	Cheshire West and Chester (896)
Website	www.leftwichhigh.com	www.christletonhigh.co.uk	st-nicholas.cheshire.sch.uk
Telephone	01606333300	01244335843	01606706000
SEN provision	None reported	None reported	None reported
Profile	View profile	View profile	View profile

The County High School, Leftwich

CW9 8EZ

Phase / Type: Secondary • Academy converter
Location: Northwich
Cheshire
CW9 8EZ
Ofsted: 1 25 Apr 2016
Pupils: ≈ 1,050 🔒 Exact value
FSM %: 10–15% 🔒 Exact %
Trust / LA: THE SIR JOHN BRUNNER FOUNDATION
Website: www.leftwichhigh.com
Telephone: 01606333300

Christleton High School

CH3 7AD

Phase / Type: Secondary • Academy converter
Location: Chester
Cheshire
CH3 7AD
Ofsted: 2 1 Jul 2024
Pupils: ≈ 1,400 🔒 Exact value
FSM %: 10–15% 🔒 Exact %
Trust / LA: THE LEARNING TRUST
Website: www.christletonhigh.co.uk
Telephone: 01244335843

St Nicholas Catholic High School

CW8 1JW

Phase / Type: Secondary • Voluntary aided school
Location: Northwich
Cheshire
CW8 1JW
Ofsted: 2 7 May 2024
Pupils: ≈ 1,200 🔒 Exact value
FSM %: 10–15% 🔒 Exact %
Trust / LA: Cheshire West and Chester (896)
Website: st-nicholas.cheshire.sch.uk
Telephone: 01606706000

Map of compared schools

How are these comparisons built?

We line up public school data side-by-side. Ofsted “headline” judgement is shown with the publication date when available. Exact pupil counts and precise FSM% are available to Pro users; everyone sees rounded values.

What if a school has a recent ungraded visit?

Ungraded visits (Section 8) check whether the previous graded judgement still stands, but do not replace it. We keep the latest graded judgement as the headline until a new graded inspection is published.

Why can’t I see exact numbers?

To keep the service sustainable, we show approximate pupils and bucketed FSM% to free users. Upgrade to AllSchools Pro to unlock precise figures and exports.

How should I choose a school?

Start with the most recent graded Ofsted judgement, then check whether it aligns with your child’s needs. Look at distance and travel, typical class sizes (roll vs capacity), and the school’s admissions policy. Speak to the school, arrange a visit, and ask about pastoral support and enrichment.

What should I look for when comparing schools?

Compare headline Ofsted and publication dates for recency; check FSM% and local context; scan capacity utilisation (under, near, or over capacity); and review trust/local authority for governance. If available, read the official Ofsted report for curriculum and safeguarding detail.