Bishop Heber High School
Malpas, SY14 8JD · Cheshire West and Chester · secondary school
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2nd of 20 secondary schools in Cheshire West and Chester we can score. Local and same-phase on purpose: a national table mostly measures who attends.
Narrow the comparison to the 704 schools whose pupils have similar backgrounds — a tougher field — and it places 8.3/10 among them, against 8.8/10 nationally. Both figures are results only, without the inspection grade. A lower figure here means a stronger comparison group, not a weaker school.
How this is worked out
| Measure | Percentile | Weight | Adds |
|---|---|---|---|
| Ofsted | 52 | 35% | 1.84 |
| Grade 5+ English & maths 2025/26 | 65.0 · 87 | 30% | 2.60 |
| Progress 8 2023/24 | 0.72 · 91 | 25% | 2.29 |
| Attainment 8 2025/26 | 54.6 · 84 | 10% | 0.84 |
Each measure is read as a position among comparable schools, so a school in the middle of the country scores 5. Full method.
Bishop Heber High School overview
How it's doing
Ofsted rated the school Good in 2022. In 2024/25, 55.4% of pupils achieved Grade 5 or above in English and maths. Attainment 8 was 53.8, compared to the national median of 44.6. Progress 8 was +0.72 in 2023/24, indicating pupils did better than those nationally who started from the same place. Narrow the comparison to the schools whose pupils have similar backgrounds — a tougher field — and it places 7.1 out of 10 among them, against 8.2 out of 10 nationally.
Getting in
The published school roll is 1,293 pupils against a stated capacity of 1,321. These whole-school figures do not establish entry-year vacancies or the likelihood of an offer. Confirm entry-year availability and admissions criteria with the school or local authority.
Worth asking on a visit
How does the school support pupils to maintain the progress seen in recent years? What specific opportunities exist for students to develop interests outside of core academic subjects?
What Ofsted said about Bishop Heber High School
Overview
Bishop Heber High School is judged ‘Good’ across all inspection categories, including the quality of education, behaviour, and leadership. The report describes a school with a “strong sense of community” where pupils are “proud to belong” and achieve well academically and personally. Leaders maintain high expectations, and the curriculum has been refined to ensure breadth and depth for all students, including those with special educational needs.
Strengths
- Pupils enjoy “mutually respectful and supportive relationships” with teachers, resulting in calm behaviour and minimal disruption during lessons.
- The “strong personal development programme” provides regular opportunities for pupils to debate social issues, fostering a “strong understanding of diversity and respect for others.”
- Teachers possess “strong subject knowledge” and are adept at identifying and addressing misconceptions, particularly in key stages 4 and 5.
- Leaders place a “strong emphasis on the importance of pupils’ and students’ reading and vocabulary development,” with form tutors reading to pupils in dedicated weekly time.
- Governors hold leaders to account effectively, providing an “appropriate balance of support and challenge” while considering staff workload and well-being.
Areas to improve
- In key stage 3, some staff do not use new assessment systems well enough to identify and address gaps in pupils’ learning; leaders should ensure teachers receive further training to implement these systems consistently.
- Systems for supporting pupils who are behind in reading are “underdeveloped,” meaning some key stage 4 pupils do not receive targeted support to catch up quickly; leaders must fully embed plans to help all pupils improve their reading fluency.
Safeguarding
The arrangements for safeguarding are effective, with a “strong culture of safeguarding” where staff are well trained to identify concerns swiftly and leaders are rigorous in recording and reporting information to ensure pupils receive timely support.
Results over time
Attainment 8, the years we hold.
| Year | Attainment 8 |
|---|---|
| 2023/24 | 55.9 |
| 2024/25 | 53.8 |
| 2025/26 | 54.6 |
| England | 44.9 |
Source: DfE Explore Education Statistics. “England” is the median of the 3,682 state schools in England we hold a 2025/26 figure for — a school-level median, not the DfE's pupil-weighted national figure.
Your offer chance
—Based on official applications/offers, distance and catchment where we have it. Bands only — never a percentage.
Sibling, faith, looked-after and other criteria can override distance. Always confirm with the school or local authority.
Next dates
- Secondary application deadline31 Oct 2026
- Secondary National Offer Day1 Mar 2027
- Secondary application deadline31 Oct 2027
- Secondary National Offer Day1 Mar 2028
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