North Cestrian School
103%
Capacity
777
Pupils
6.2x
Demand
About North Cestrian School
Of the 143 parents who responded to Ofsted's Parent View survey between September 2024 and September 2025, 78% said they would recommend North Cestrian School to other parents. That's a solid endorsement, though it's worth noting that 22% said they wouldn't. The school is heavily oversubscribed: for 176 places in the 2025/26 intake, there were 1,088 applications, giving an oversubscription ratio of 6.18. Of the 156 families who put it as their first preference, 104 received offers. On the survey, parents were most positive about the range of subjects available (89% agreed or strongly agreed) and the clubs and activities on offer (87% agreed or strongly agreed). The school also scored well on high expectations, with 83% of parents agreeing the school has high expectations for their child. However, SEND support was a more mixed picture: 61% of parents with SEND children agreed the school gives them the support they need, while 40% disagreed.
Academically, North Cestrian School performs well above the local average. Its Progress 8 score of 0.49 is comfortably ahead of the Trafford local authority average of 0.36, and the school ranks 9th out of 19 state secondary schools in the borough. Nationally, it sits in the top 17% of schools for Progress 8. The Attainment 8 score is 55, and 73.9% of pupils achieved a grade 4 or above in English and maths (the basics 9-4 measure). The EBacc average point score is 4.76, though only 19% of pupils entered the EBacc suite of subjects. In its most recent graded Ofsted inspection in March 2019, the school was rated Good overall, with Good for leadership and management. An ungraded inspection in November 2024 confirmed that standards are being maintained. The school has held a Good rating across both its recent inspections.
The school is a mixed, non-denominational secondary for ages 11 to 18, though it does not have a formal sixth form. It currently has 777 pupils against a capacity of 755, so it is operating slightly over capacity. Facilities include a theatre, music rooms, art studios, a library, an astro turf pitch, playing fields, and a sixth form centre. Sports offered include football, rugby, cricket, rowing, and hockey, and there are clubs such as drama, choir, science club, and gardening. SEND provisions cover a wide range of needs, including autistic spectrum disorder, speech, language and communication needs, and social, emotional and mental health difficulties. With 17.5% of pupils eligible for free school meals, the school has a slightly higher-than-average proportion of disadvantaged pupils for Trafford. This is a school that suits families looking for strong academic progress in a heavily oversubscribed, popular local secondary.
Key Details
| School Type | Secondary (State) |
| Age Range | 11 to 18 years |
| Gender | Mixed |
| Religious Character | None |
| Address | Dunham Road, Altrincham, Trafford, WA14 4AJ |
| Headteacher | L R Bergin |
| Local Authority | Trafford |
| Number of Pupils | 777 |
| Free School Meals (FSM) | 17.5% |
| School Capacity | 777 / 755 (103% full) |
Ofsted Inspection Breakdown
20 Nov 2024Overall Effectiveness
Good
Latest inspection (20 Nov 2024): Standards maintained
Source: Ofsted, 29 Apr 2019. Ratings: 1=Outstanding, 2=Good, 3=Requires Improvement, 4=Inadequate.
League Table Position
Based on Progress 8 (+0.49)
518th of 3,141
Nationally
54th of 445
In North West
9th of 19
In Trafford
Source: Classpot analysis of DfE Progress 8 data
GCSE Results
2023/24Progress 8 Score
Students make more 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
2022/2331%
of GCSE leavers stay on for sixth form at this school (cohort: 111 pupils).
- FE college35%
- School sixth form (stay)31%
- Sixth form college17%
- Employment6%
- Not sustained5%
- Apprenticeship1%
95% 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.
Ofsted Parent View
143 responsesWould Recommend This School
Source: Ofsted Parent View (GOV.UK statistical data), Sep – Sep 2025
SEND Support
Source: Department for Education, 2024/25. Support availability based on current student population.
Facilities
10Facilities may vary. Contact the school for current availability.
Extracurriculars
13Sports
Clubs & Activities
Activities may vary by term. Contact the school for current offerings.
Admissions
2025/26Oversubscribed176
1,088
Extremely High Demand
Very competitive - significantly more applications than places
156 families put this school as their 1st choice (14% of all applications)
Source: Department for Education, 2025/26. Data reflects national offer day applications and offers.
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
2024/25Below the national average (25%).
Among the highest 25% — a diverse linguistic intake.
Ethnic background
- White British53.0%
- Asian25.5%
- Mixed8.0%
- White (other)4.8%
- Black0.4%
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.
11
Total schools
11
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.
Frequently Asked Questions About North Cestrian School
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
Dunham Road, Altrincham
Trafford, WA14 4AJ
Journey to School
Journey times are estimates based on current conditions. Actual times may vary.
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