St Nicholas Catholic High School
Northwich, CW8 1JW · Cheshire West and Chester · secondary school
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9th 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 685 schools whose pupils have similar backgrounds — a tougher field — and it places 3.4/10 among them, against 6.1/10 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 | 48.1 · 58 | 30% | 1.75 |
| Progress 8 2023/24 | 0.17 · 62 | 25% | 1.56 |
| 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.
St Nicholas Catholic High School overview
How it's doing
In 2024/25, 45.7% of pupils achieved Grade 5 or above in English and maths. Attainment 8 was 50.8, compared to the national median of 44.6. Progress 8 was +0.17 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 2.9 out of 10 among them, against 6.1 out of 10 nationally. Ofsted rated the school Good in May 2024.
Beyond the classroom
Pupils can join the Duke of Edinburgh Awards Scheme, Art club, Running club, and Chamber Choir. Sports include netball, football, hockey, rugby, basketball, badminton, trampolining, and tennis. Arts activities feature a school production of the Wizard of Oz, a dance festival, and a music performance at the Royal Cheshire Show. Trips include Year 7 and Year 10 residencies, theatre visits, and rewards trips to Snow Park, the cinema, and the Catalyst museum.
Getting in
The published school roll is 1,201 pupils against a stated capacity of 1,240. 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
What Ofsted said about St Nicholas Catholic High School
Overview
Pupils feel happy in the “caring community” of St Nicholas Catholic High School, where they benefit from a “well-designed, ambitious curriculum” and high expectations. The inspection found that teachers have “detailed subject knowledge” and implement the curriculum well, resulting in most pupils achieving well and feeling safe.
Strengths
- Pupils display “respectful behaviour” and are “kind to each other,” contributing to a calm and courteous school environment.
- Sixth-form students value “personalised support” and benefit from “global travel opportunities” and teachers’ “expertise and enthusiasm.”
- Staff make “suitable adaptations” for pupils with special educational needs and/or disabilities (SEND), helping most to achieve well.
- The school offers a “strong curriculum for personal, social and health education,” enabling pupils to recall knowledge that helps them keep safe and build healthy relationships.
- Leaders are “ambitious for the future developments of the school,” and governors provide “appropriate support and challenge.”
Areas to improve
- The school’s strategies to support pupils with gaps in reading knowledge are “at the early stages of development,” meaning some disadvantaged pupils do not read as well as they should.
- The school lacks a “coordinated approach to evaluating the impact of its work to support pupils who are disadvantaged,” hindering their achievement.
- The school is “not clear enough about the impact of the curriculum” for some disadvantaged pupils and does not fully analyse how their attendance and behaviour contribute to their lack of achievement.
Safeguarding
The arrangements for safeguarding are effective.
Results over time
Attainment 8, the years we hold.
| Year | Attainment 8 |
|---|---|
| 2023/24 | 49.9 |
| 2024/25 | 50.8 |
| 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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