Blacon High School, A Specialist Sports College
94%
Capacity
705
Pupils
1.2x
Demand
About Blacon High School, A Specialist Sports College
Blacon High School, A Specialist Sports College, sits well below the local authority average for Progress 8, the key measure of pupil progress from Key Stage 2 to GCSE. The school’s Progress 8 score of -0.63 is significantly lower than the Cheshire West and Chester average of -0.06, placing it 17th out of 19 secondary schools in the area. This means that, on average, pupils leave Blacon with nearly two-thirds of a grade less per subject than their peers across the LA. The school’s Progress 8 banding is officially described as “well below average,” and it ranks in the bottom 12% nationally. While the school’s headline figure is concerning, it’s worth noting that the Open element of Progress 8 (which excludes English, maths, and EBacc subjects) is less negative at -0.29, suggesting that performance in non-core subjects is closer to the national average than in the core academic ones.
In its most recent Ofsted inspection in November 2023, Blacon was rated Requires Improvement overall, a rating it has held since its previous graded inspection in October 2021. The breakdown shows a mixed picture: Behaviour and Attitudes and Personal Development were both judged Good, while Quality of Education and Leadership and Management remain Requires Improvement. Academically, the school’s Attainment 8 score stands at 37.2, and only 23.6% of pupils achieved a grade 5 or above in both English and maths (the basics 5+ measure). The EBacc entry rate is very low at 9.4%, and just 4.7% of pupils achieved the EBacc at grade 5 or above. The school’s English Progress 8 score of -0.92 is particularly weak, while maths (-0.55) is less so. With 47.2% of pupils eligible for free school meals, the school serves a significantly disadvantaged cohort, which provides important context for these outcomes.
Blacon is a secondary school for pupils aged 11 to 16 with no sixth form. It was oversubscribed for 2025/26 entry, receiving 145 applications for 118 places, with all 118 first-preference applicants offered a place. The school offers a wide range of facilities including a swimming pool, theatre, astro turf, and science labs, and runs clubs such as Coding, Chess, Model UN, and the Duke of Edinburgh’s Award. Its SEND provisions are broad, covering nine categories including Autistic Spectrum Disorder, Speech, Language & Communication needs, and Social, Emotional & Mental Health difficulties. For families considering this school, the key question is whether the strong personal development and behaviour ratings, alongside the extensive extracurricular offer, outweigh the below-average academic outcomes. The school may suit parents who prioritise a supportive environment and a wide range of activities over top-tier exam results.
Key Details
| School Type | Secondary (State) |
| Age Range | 11 to 16 years |
| Gender | Mixed |
| Religious Character | None |
| Address | Melbourne Road, Chester, Cheshire West and Chester, CH1 5JH |
| Headteacher | Rachel Hudson |
| Local Authority | Cheshire West and Chester |
| Number of Pupils | 705 |
| Free School Meals (FSM) | 47.2% |
| School Capacity | 705 / 750 (94% full) |
Ofsted Inspection Breakdown
28 Nov 2023Overall Effectiveness
Requires improvement
Source: Ofsted, 24 Mar 2024. Ratings: 1=Outstanding, 2=Good, 3=Requires Improvement, 4=Inadequate.
League Table Position
Based on Progress 8 (-0.63)
2769th of 3,141
Nationally
367th of 445
In North West
17th of 19
In Cheshire West and Chester
Source: Classpot analysis of DfE Progress 8 data
GCSE Results
2023/24Progress 8 Score
Students make significantly less progress than similar students nationally
Attainment 8 (vs national avg)
Students achieve significantly higher grades than the national average
Source: Department for Education, 2023/24. Progress 8 compares to students with similar Key Stage 2 results.
Where GCSE leavers go
2022/2312%
of GCSE leavers stay on for sixth form at this school (cohort: 113 pupils).
- FE college45%
- Not sustained18%
- Employment16%
- School sixth form (stay)12%
- Apprenticeship2%
77% of leavers had a sustained destination 6 months on.
Source: DfE Compare School & College Performance, KS4 pupil destinations 2022/23 (revised). Only state-funded schools are required to report.
SEND Support
Source: Department for Education, 2024/25. Support availability based on current student population.
Facilities
12Facilities may vary. Contact the school for current availability.
Extracurriculars
12Sports
Clubs & Activities
Activities may vary by term. Contact the school for current offerings.
Admissions
2025/26Oversubscribed118
145
Balanced
Applications roughly match available places
118 families put this school as their 1st choice (81% of all applications)
Source: Department for Education, 2025/26. Data reflects national offer day applications and offers.
School day
Teaching hours
08:40 – 15:10
Source: blaconhighschool.net. Extracted automatically — confirm with the school before relying on these times.
Class profile
2024/25Better than 75% of schools in England.
Better than 75% of schools in England.
Lower is generally better — fewer pupils per teacher or per class means more individual attention. Sources: DfE School Workforce Census & Schools, pupils and their characteristics, 2024/25.
Pupils & demographics
2024/25Among the highest-disadvantage schools.
Lower than the national median (10%) — mostly English as first language.
Ethnic background
- White British87.9%
- White (other)5.5%
- Mixed2.3%
- Asian0.9%
- Black0.6%
Source: DfE Schools, pupils and their characteristics (2024/25). Percentages may not sum to 100% — pupils classified as “unclassified”, “refused” or minor categories are not shown.
Attendance & Behaviour
2024/2575% of schools in England do better than this.
75% of schools in England do better than this.
Pupils missing 10% or more of sessions.
75% of schools in England do better than this.
A pupil temporarily sent home for behaviour.
Permanent exclusion is rare — most schools have none in a given year.
Ranks vs all state-funded schools in England. Source: DfE Pupil absence in schools & Suspensions and permanent exclusions.
Catchment & Local Competition
No catchment data published for this school
The dashed grey ring is a generic 1-mile reference area — it's not an admission boundary. Real catchment depends on year, demand, and council criteria. We currently have real data for about 6% of UK schools and are actively expanding the database.
⚠ This school is oversubscribed — without published cutoff data we can't show how far places reach. Check your council's admissions page.
Schools within 1 mile (reference area)
1 mile is a fixed reference, not this school's catchment.
6
Total schools
6
Oversubscribed
5
Primary
Don’t use the dashed grey ring as a catchment boundary — it’s a reference area for counting nearby schools only. Real admission boundaries depend on year-by-year demand and council criteria; ask the school or council for authoritative info.
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Frequently Asked Questions About Blacon High School, A Specialist Sports College
Helpful Guides for Parents
Ofsted Ratings Explained
Understand the 4 Ofsted ratings and what they mean
Understanding Progress 8
Learn how Progress 8 measures pupil progress from primary to GCSE
SEN & EHCP: A Parent's Guide
Understanding SEN support, EHC Plans and your legal rights
Understanding School Catchment Areas
How admission distances work and tips for maximising your choices
Contact Information
Melbourne Road, Chester
Cheshire West and Chester, CH1 5JH
Journey to School
Journey times are estimates based on current conditions. Actual times may vary.
Opening Hours
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