Ellesmere Port Catholic High School, a Voluntary Academy
Ellesmere Port, CH65 7AQ · Cheshire West and Chester · secondary school
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18th 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.
Its results hold up when the comparison narrows to schools whose pupils have similar backgrounds — 0.9/10 against 649 of them, against 0.9/10 nationally. So this is not simply a reflection of who attends. 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% | 0.33 |
| Grade 5+ English & maths 2025/26 | 17.8 · 2 | 30% | 0.07 |
| Progress 8 2023/24 | -0.47 · 17 | 25% | 0.43 |
| Attainment 8 2025/26 | 36.2 · 7 | 10% | 0.07 |
Each measure is read as a position among comparable schools, so a school in the middle of the country scores 5. Full method.
Ellesmere Port Catholic High School, a Voluntary Academy overview
How it's doing
In 2024/25, 20.6% of pupils achieved Grade 5 or above in English and maths. Attainment 8 was 36.9, compared to the national median of 44.6. Progress 8 was -0.47 in 2023/24, indicating pupils did worse than those nationally who started from the same place. Its results are much the same when the comparison narrows to schools whose pupils have similar backgrounds, so the gap is not explained by intake (1.1 out of 10 against similar schools, 1.0 out of 10 against all schools). Ofsted inspected the school in April 2026 under the new framework, which grades areas separately without an overall grade.
Getting in
The published school roll is 950 pupils against a stated capacity of 988. 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 attainment gap with the national median? What specific measures are in place to improve Progress 8 scores? How does the new Ofsted framework affect current teaching priorities?
What Ofsted said about Ellesmere Port Catholic High School, a Voluntary Academy
Overview
The report describes a school that has undergone "significant challenge and change," with leaders working swiftly to address shortcomings. While safeguarding standards are met and there are "green shoots of improvement" in teaching and leadership, several areas including achievement, attendance, and curriculum implementation are rated as needing attention.
Strengths
- Safeguarding standards are met, with an "open culture" where concerns are actively identified and managed.
- Leaders and governors are "fully committed to school improvement," providing clear support for staff wellbeing and professional learning.
- Personal development is thoughtful, helping pupils understand "internet safety" and "healthy relationships" through a well-planned programme.
- Post-16 provision is effective, with students achieving "better than their peers nationally" in A Levels due to astute attention to detail.
- Pupils experience a "calm and purposeful atmosphere," with bullying being rare and dealt with effectively.
Areas to improve
- Leaders must ensure teachers consistently check what pupils know to address gaps in knowledge promptly.
- Strategies to support pupils’ development of writing and mathematical knowledge need to be carried out consistently.
- Leaders should continue to strengthen work to ensure more pupils attend school regularly.
Safeguarding
The report states that "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 | 40.5 |
| 2024/25 | 36.9 |
| 2025/26 | 36.2 |
| 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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