Blacon High School, A Specialist Sports College
Chester, CH1 5JH · Cheshire West and Chester · secondary school
Check the area around this school
19th 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 schools whose pupils have similar backgrounds and it does better still — 1.1/10 against 363 of them, against 0.6/10 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 | 9 | 35% | 0.32 |
| Grade 5+ English & maths 2025/26 | 19.7 · 4 | 30% | 0.10 |
| Progress 8 2023/24 | -0.63 · 10 | 25% | 0.26 |
| Attainment 8 2025/26 | 30.3 · 1 | 10% | 0.01 |
Each measure is read as a position among comparable schools, so a school in the middle of the country scores 5. Full method.
Blacon High School, A Specialist Sports College overview
How it's doing
In 2024/25, 17.3% of pupils achieved grade 5 or above in English and maths. Attainment 8 was 33.2, compared to the national median of 44.6. Progress 8 was -0.63 in 2023/24, indicating pupils did worse than those nationally who started from the same place. Narrow the comparison to schools whose pupils have similar backgrounds and it does better still (1.1 out of 10 against similar schools, 0.6 out of 10 against all schools). Ofsted inspected the school in May 2026 under the new report-card framework, which grades each area separately and gives no overall grade.
Beyond the classroom
Pupils can join the Combined Cadet Force, Wildlife Club, Rowing Club, and MMA Fitness. The school also organises a history trip to Poland and provides an after-school club.
Getting in
The published school roll is 651 pupils against a stated capacity of 750. 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 close the gap between their current attainment and the national median? What specific support is available for students aiming to improve their Progress 8 scores? How does the new Ofsted framework affect day-to-day teaching priorities?
What Ofsted said about Blacon High School, A Specialist Sports College
Overview
The report describes a school where pupils are "safe and happy" within a "calm culture" characterised by positive relationships and effective behaviour management. However, academic achievement is currently below expectations, with "inconsistent" teaching and "uneven" learning across the curriculum resulting in low examination results. Leaders are actively working to address these issues, but improvements in teaching quality and pupil attainment remain "in their early stages."
Strengths
- Safeguarding standards are met, with an "open culture" where concerns are "actively identified, acted upon and managed."
- Behaviour is improved through consistent policies, resulting in a "positive climate for learning" where bullying is "rare."
- Personal development is comprehensive, with pupils benefiting from a "wide range of leadership opportunities" and enrichment activities like international trips.
- Leaders effectively support pupils with social, emotional, or mental health difficulties, promoting a strong "sense of belonging."
- Attendance is showing "gradual improvement" due to leaders' "well-considered approach" and use of external support.
Areas to improve
- Leaders must ensure adaptations for pupils with special educational needs and/or disabilities are effective so they can "access the curriculum successfully."
- Strategies to close gaps in pupils' writing and spelling need further development to secure "important building blocks" for future learning.
- Improvements to teaching, including checking what pupils know, must be "embedded across all subjects" to raise achievement.
Safeguarding
The safeguarding standards are met, meaning leaders have established an open culture where safeguarding is everyone's responsibility and pupils are made safer.
Results over time
Attainment 8, the years we hold.
| Year | Attainment 8 |
|---|---|
| 2023/24 | 37.2 |
| 2024/25 | 33.2 |
| 2025/26 | 30.3 |
| 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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