Classpot

The Bishops' Blue Coat Church of England High School

Cheshire West and Chester, CH3 5XFSecondaryAges 11–18MixedState
Ofsted Rating
Good
Apr 2025
Progress 8
+0.26
Above average
−20+2
Competition
1.1×
Oversubscribed
224 1st-choice / 202 places
Ranking
#928
of 3,141 nationally

About The Bishops' Blue Coat Church of England High School

The Bishops' Blue Coat Church of England High School is a mixed secondary and sixth form in Cheshire West and Chester, and it is a school that families clearly want to get into. With 1,203 pupils on roll against a capacity of 1,200, it is essentially full. The demand is intense: for the 2025/26 intake, the school received 674 applications for 202 places, an oversubscription ratio of 3.34 to one. Of those, 224 were first-preference applications, and 196 first-preference offers were made, meaning a significant number of families who put it top did not get a place. The school’s intake reflects a broadly typical demographic for a state secondary in the area, with 15.9% of pupils eligible for free school meals. That is slightly above the national average for secondary schools, which sits around 14%, suggesting the school draws from a genuinely mixed catchment rather than an exclusively affluent one.

Key Details

School TypeSecondary (State)
Age Range11 to 18 years
GenderMixed
Religious CharacterChurch of England
AddressVaughans Lane, Chester, Cheshire West and Chester, CH3 5XF
HeadteacherHelen Cairns
Local AuthorityCheshire West and Chester
Number of Pupils1,203
Free School Meals (FSM)15.9%
School Capacity1,203 / 1,200 (100% full)
Sixth FormYes

The full report on this school

What 306 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
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Ofsted Inspection Breakdown

30 Apr 2025
View Report
Overall Effectiveness
Good
Quality of Education
Good
Behaviour & Attitudes
Good
Personal Development
Outstanding
Leadership & Management
Good
Sixth Form Provision
Good

Latest monitoring visit (30 Apr 2025): Standards maintained

Source: Ofsted, 6 Jan 2020. Ratings: 1=Outstanding, 2=Good, 3=Requires Improvement, 4=Inadequate.

Facilities

8
Music RoomsSwimming PoolSixth Form CentreSports HallICT SuiteScience LabsPlaying FieldsChapel

Facilities may vary. Contact the school for current availability.

Extracurriculars

15

Sports

SwimmingHockeyBadmintonRugbyDanceGymnasticsRowingBasketballFootballCross Country

Clubs & Activities

DebateModel United NationsYoung EnterpriseNewspaperGardening

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

SEND Support

AutismDyslexiaMental HealthSpeech & LanguageHearingVisionPhysicalLearning Difficulty

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

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Frequently Asked Questions About The Bishops' Blue Coat Church of England High School

The Bishops' Blue Coat Church of England 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.