The Rudheath Senior Academy
Northwich, CW9 7DT · Cheshire West and Chester · secondary school
Check the area around this school
15th 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 — 1.9/10 against 606 of them, against 1.5/10 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 | 52 | 35% | 1.84 |
| Grade 5+ English & maths 2025/26 | 19.1 · 3 | 30% | 0.09 |
| Progress 8 2023/24 | -0.22 · 33 | 25% | 0.83 |
| Attainment 8 2025/26 | 32.2 · 2 | 10% | 0.02 |
Each measure is read as a position among comparable schools, so a school in the middle of the country scores 5. Full method.
The Rudheath Senior Academy overview
How it's doing
The school is rated Good by Ofsted, inspected in 2023-03. In 2024/25, 28.1% of pupils achieved Grade 5 or above in English and maths. Attainment 8 was 35.7, compared to the national median of 44.6. Progress 8 was -0.22 in 2023/24, indicating pupils did worse than nationally matched peers. Narrow the comparison to schools whose pupils have similar backgrounds and it does better still (2.9 out of 10 against similar schools, 2.0 out of 10 against all schools).
Getting in
The published school roll is 576 pupils against a stated capacity of 840. 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 strategies are used to improve Progress 8 scores for students from similar backgrounds?
What Ofsted said about The Rudheath Senior Academy
Overview
The Rudheath Senior Academy is confirmed as a "good school" following an ungraded inspection. It is described as a "friendly and welcoming community" where staff know pupils well and ensure they are "well cared for." Leaders have provided stability after a period of change, maintaining high expectations for all pupils, including those with special educational needs and/or disabilities.
Strengths
- Pupils are "happy and feel safe," with staff dealing effectively with bullying and supporting those needing help with behaviour.
- The curriculum is "ambitious" and designed so pupils learn knowledge in "well-ordered steps," allowing them to acquire a "wide range of knowledge."
- Teachers possess "good subject knowledge," explain content clearly, and check where pupils are secure in their learning.
- Leaders prioritise reading, carefully choosing books and teaching important vocabulary, while ensuring pupils with SEND receive effective support.
- Staff feel "valued and supported," with leaders introducing initiatives to improve well-being and manage workload pressure.
Areas to improve
- Leaders should ensure older pupils receive the support needed to address "gaps in their knowledge" in subjects where curriculum improvements are relatively recent.
- Leaders must ensure staff have the knowledge to support pupils who are "behind in their phonics knowledge" so they become more fluent readers.
Safeguarding
The arrangements for safeguarding are "effective," with a "strong safeguarding culture" where staff are well trained to identify risks and report concerns promptly.
Results over time
Attainment 8, the years we hold.
| Year | Attainment 8 |
|---|---|
| 2023/24 | 37.2 |
| 2024/25 | 35.7 |
| 2025/26 | 32.2 |
| 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
Saved schools live on this device only — no account, no tracking. Visit the school's website
Loading full school details…
Similar schools nearby
Same area, prioritising the same phase — useful for shortlisting alternatives.
Every school within 2.5 miles of CW9 7DT, with results, demand and deadlines — area report →
Have a specific question about admissions, scores or dates?
Ask SchoolsGPT