Hartford Church of England High School
Northwich, CW8 1LH · Cheshire West and Chester · secondary school
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8th 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 829 schools whose pupils have similar backgrounds — a tougher field — and it places 4.8/10 among them, against 6.2/10 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 | 59.5 · 80 | 30% | 2.41 |
| Progress 8 2023/24 | -0.15 · 38 | 25% | 0.96 |
| Attainment 8 2025/26 | 49.7 · 69 | 10% | 0.69 |
Each measure is read as a position among comparable schools, so a school in the middle of the country scores 5. Full method.
Hartford Church of England High School overview
How it's doing
In 2024/25, 56.1% of pupils achieved Grade 5 or above in English and maths. Attainment 8 was 50.3, compared to the national median of 44.6. Progress 8 was -0.15 in 2023/24, indicating pupils did slightly worse 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 4.3 out of 10 among them, against 6.1 out of 10 nationally. Ofsted rated the school Good in November 2023.
Beyond the classroom
Pupils can join clubs such as Chess, Fiction Addiction, and the Sir David Attenborough Appreciation Society. Sports include football, badminton, and netball, while arts options feature the Practice Makes Perfect Orchestra and drama ensemble. Trips to the theatre are offered, and an after-school club is available.
Getting in
The published school roll is 1,102 pupils against a stated capacity of 1,200. 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 improve their Progress 8 scores? What specific support is available for students aiming to raise their Attainment 8? How does the after-school club structure help with homework and revision?
What Ofsted said about Hartford Church of England High School
Overview
Pupils are described as happy, respectful, and well-supported, with behaviour and attitudes rated as good. The school provides a broad, ambitious curriculum that promotes strong personal development, though inconsistencies in curriculum planning and attendance for some groups require attention.
Strengths
- Pupils are happy, respect one another, and feel they have someone to talk to if they have concerns.
- The curriculum is broad and ambitious, with the English Baccalaureate at its heart and a strong focus on the arts.
- Teachers have strong subject knowledge and use assessment strategies well to identify and address gaps in pupils’ knowledge.
- Pupils with special educational needs and/or disabilities progress well through the same ambitious curriculum as their peers.
- Staff feel valued and supported, with leaders carefully considering workload and well-being.
Areas to improve
- Leaders should finalise curriculum thinking in subjects where they have not clearly identified the building blocks of knowledge, causing pupils difficulty in remembering what they have been taught.
- Leaders must provide effective support for pupils at the early stages of reading to help them access the curriculum and reading-for-pleasure sessions.
- Leaders should ensure appropriate actions are in place to support disadvantaged pupils who are persistently absent, so they can attend regularly and benefit from learning.
Safeguarding
The arrangements for safeguarding are effective, with leaders providing effective training to staff and maintaining strong links with local organisations to support pupils.
Results over time
Attainment 8, the years we hold.
| Year | Attainment 8 |
|---|---|
| 2023/24 | 47.1 |
| 2024/25 | 50.3 |
| 2025/26 | 49.7 |
| 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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