The Whitby High School
Ellesmere Port, CH66 2NU · Cheshire West and Chester · secondary school
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14th 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 883 schools whose pupils have similar backgrounds — a tougher field — and it places 0.7/10 among them, against 1.5/10 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 | 34% | 1.80 |
| Grade 5+ English & maths 2025/26 | 31.5 · 18 | 30% | 0.53 |
| Progress 8 2023/24 | -0.58 · 12 | 25% | 0.31 |
| Attainment 8 2025/26 | 39.0 · 15 | 10% | 0.16 |
Each measure is read as a position among comparable schools, so a school in the middle of the country scores 5. Full method.
The Whitby High School overview
How it's doing
The school was rated Good by Ofsted in 2022. In 2024/25, 31.0% of pupils achieved Grade 5 or above in English and maths. Attainment 8 was 38.9, compared to the national median of 44.6. Progress 8 was -0.58 in 2023/24, indicating pupils did worse than nationally similar peers. Narrow the comparison to the schools whose pupils have similar backgrounds — a tougher field — and it places 0.7 out of 10 among them, against 1.6 out of 10 nationally.
Beyond the classroom
Pupils can join the Duke of Edinburgh's Award, play football, netball, rugby, basketball, volleyball, tennis, or archery, and attend an after-school club.
Getting in
The published school roll is 1,398 pupils against a stated capacity of 1,625. 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 steps are taken to improve progress scores for students from similar backgrounds? How is the after-school club structured to support pupils' wellbeing?
What Ofsted said about The Whitby High School
Overview
The Whitby High School has successfully addressed weaknesses from its previous inspection, with leaders strengthening staff ambition and improving the quality of education. Pupils benefit from a broad, balanced curriculum and typically achieve well in most subjects within calm, respectful learning environments. The school fosters positive relationships, with most pupils feeling safe, supported, and engaged in a wide range of extracurricular activities.
Strengths
- Leaders have ensured the curriculum is "ambitious, appropriately demanding and sensibly ordered," matched well to pupils’ needs.
- Teachers possess "secure subject knowledge" and use effective assessment strategies to quickly address misconceptions.
- Pupils generally display "calm, polite and respectful" behaviour, enjoying lessons that are "typically free from disruption."
- Staff provide well-matched support for pupils with special educational needs and/or disabilities, enabling them to access the same ambitious curriculum as their peers.
- Leaders have strengthened the culture of reading, with many pupils enjoying reading for pleasure and reading confidently in subjects.
Areas to improve
- In a small number of subjects, some teachers do not deliver intended curriculums effectively, hindering pupils’ ability to recall earlier learning and make links.
- Systems do not always enable leaders to pinpoint precise deficits in the reading knowledge of pupils at the earliest stages of learning, meaning some do not receive targeted support.
- The personal development programme in the sixth form is not as well developed as in earlier years, limiting opportunities for students to explore certain aspects.
Safeguarding
The report states that "the arrangements for safeguarding are effective," with staff well-trained to identify concerns and leaders making extensive use of expertise to support vulnerable pupils.
Results over time
Attainment 8, the years we hold.
| Year | Attainment 8 |
|---|---|
| 2023/24 | 38.4 |
| 2024/25 | 38.9 |
| 2025/26 | 39.0 |
| 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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