Classpot

North Cestrian School

Trafford, WA14 4AJSecondaryAges 11–18MixedState
Ofsted Rating
Good
Nov 2024
Progress 8
+0.49
Above average
−20+2
Competition
0.9×
Not oversubscribed
156 1st-choice / 176 places
Ranking
🏆Top 25%
#518 of 3,141 nationally

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.

Key Details

School TypeSecondary (State)
Age Range11 to 18 years
GenderMixed
Religious CharacterNone
AddressDunham Road, Altrincham, Trafford, WA14 4AJ
HeadteacherL R Bergin
Local AuthorityTrafford
Number of Pupils777
Free School Meals (FSM)17.5%
School Capacity777 / 755 (103% full)

The full report on this school

What 143 parents told Ofsted, the inspection in plain English, and how this school compares to nearby alternatives — all in one full school report.

  • Ofsted inspection in plain English
    Strengths, concerns and what inspectors flagged
  • Parent View survey results
    What parents told Ofsted — when the school has 10+ responses
  • Where Ofsted and parents disagree
    Gaps to probe + questions to ask at the open day
  • Admissions & catchment
    Admission criteria, distance cutoffs (where the LA publishes them)
  • Nearby schools compared
    Backup options with Ofsted, demand and distance
  • Attendance & behaviour data
    Persistent absentees, suspensions and exclusions vs national
See an example
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Ofsted Inspection Breakdown

20 Nov 2024
View Report
Overall Effectiveness
Good
Leadership & Management
Good

Latest monitoring visit (20 Nov 2024): Standards maintained

Source: Ofsted, 29 Apr 2019. Ratings: 1=Outstanding, 2=Good, 3=Requires Improvement, 4=Inadequate.

Facilities

10
Astro TurfGymnasiumArt StudiosLibraryPlaying FieldsICT SuiteSixth Form CentreDining HallTheatreMusic Rooms

Facilities may vary. Contact the school for current availability.

Extracurriculars

13

Sports

FootballRugbyDanceGymnasticsCricketRowingHockey

Clubs & Activities

GardeningDramaChoirScience ClubBook ClubArt Club

Activities may vary by term. Contact the school for current offerings.

SEND Support

AutismDyslexiaMental HealthSpeech & LanguageHearingVisionLearning DifficultyOther

Source: Department for Education, 2024/25. Support availability based on current student population.

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Frequently Asked Questions About North Cestrian School

North Cestrian School has been rated "Good" by Ofsted. This means the school provides a good standard of education and effectively supports all pupils to succeed.