Classpot

St Nicholas Catholic High School

Cheshire West and Chester, CW8 1JWSecondaryAges 11–18MixedState
Ofsted Rating
Good
Mar 2024
Progress 8
+0.17
Above average
−20+2
Competition
1.0×
Not oversubscribed
208 1st-choice / 215 places
Ranking
#1,160
of 3,141 nationally

About St Nicholas Catholic High School

St Nicholas Catholic High School sits within Cheshire West and Chester, a local authority where only one of 21 secondary schools holds an Outstanding Ofsted rating. The school itself ranks 9th out of 19 state secondaries in the LA when measured by Progress 8, placing it just above the midpoint. Its top-performing local peers include Bishop Heber High School, The County High School, Leftwich, and Upton-by-Chester High School, all of which post higher Progress 8 scores. As a Roman Catholic secondary with a mixed intake and a sixth form, St Nicholas draws from a wide catchment. Headteacher Craig Burns leads a school that is noticeably oversubscribed: for 2025/26, the school received 464 applications for 215 places, with 208 first-preference applications and 204 offers made to first-preference families. That oversubscription ratio of 2.16 tells you this is a school local families actively seek out, and its Good rating from the most recent 2024 Ofsted inspection — consistent across all five graded categories — reinforces that reputation.

Key Details

School TypeSecondary (State)
Age Range11 to 18 years
GenderMixed
Religious CharacterRoman Catholic
AddressGreenbank Lane, Northwich, Cheshire West and Chester, CW8 1JW
HeadteacherCraig Burns
Local AuthorityCheshire West and Chester
Number of Pupils1,220
Free School Meals (FSM)13.2%
School Capacity1,220 / 1,240 (98% full)
Sixth FormYes

The full report on this school

The inspection in plain English, admissions context, 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
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Ofsted Inspection Breakdown

5 Mar 2024
View Report
Overall Effectiveness
Good
Quality of Education
Good
Behaviour & Attitudes
Good
Personal Development
Good
Leadership & Management
Good
Sixth Form Provision
Good

Source: Ofsted, 7 May 2024. Ratings: 1=Outstanding, 2=Good, 3=Requires Improvement, 4=Inadequate.

Facilities

10
ICT SuiteSwimming PoolArt StudiosLibraryTennis CourtsMusic RoomsDining HallSports HallChapelSixth Form Centre

Facilities may vary. Contact the school for current availability.

Extracurriculars

13

Sports

AthleticsNetballBadmintonBasketballFootballCricket

Clubs & Activities

DebateCodingGardeningBook ClubDuke of EdinburghNewspaperChoir

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

SEND Support

Resourced Provision
AutismDyslexiaMental HealthSpeech & LanguageVisionPhysicalLearning DifficultyResourced ProvisionOther

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

School day

Verified

Teaching hours

08:45 – 15:15

Source: st-nicholas.cheshire.sch.uk. Extracted automatically — confirm with the school before relying on these times.

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Frequently Asked Questions About St Nicholas Catholic High School

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