The Rudheath Senior Academy
70%
Capacity
590
Pupils
1.7x
Demand
About The Rudheath Senior Academy
The Rudheath Senior Academy has been rated Good by Ofsted, a significant improvement from its previous Requires Improvement rating. The school's most recent graded inspection in 2018 confirmed this Good rating, and an ungraded inspection in 2023 concluded the school remains Good. For academic outcomes, the most telling metric is Progress 8, which measures how much progress pupils make between the end of primary school and their GCSEs compared with pupils across England. The school's Progress 8 score is -0.22, meaning pupils achieve slightly below the national average. This places the school 14th out of 19 secondary schools in Cheshire West and Chester, putting it in the bottom half of the local authority. The local authority average Progress 8 score is -0.06, so Rudheath's score is notably lower than the typical school in the area.
Looking at the GCSE results in more detail, the school's Attainment 8 score is 37.2, which represents the average grade achieved across eight subjects. The basics measure shows that 49% of pupils achieved a grade 4 or above in both English and maths, but this drops to 26.9% when looking at grade 5 or above. The English Baccalaureate entry rate is low at 18.3%, and only 8.7% of pupils achieved the EBacc at grade 4 or above. Progress in English is a relative strength, with a Progress 8 score of +0.23, meaning pupils make above-average progress in this subject. However, progress in maths is below average at -0.27, and progress in the EBacc subjects is -0.34. The school's Progress 8 banding is classified as Average, and nationally it ranks 2,069th out of 3,141 schools.
The school has capacity for 840 pupils but currently has 590 on roll, and it was oversubscribed for the 2025/26 academic year with 183 applications for 105 places, including 94 first-preference offers. Facilities are strong for a school of this size, including a swimming pool, sports hall, gymnasium, theatre, and music rooms. The school offers a wide range of clubs including the Duke of Edinburgh's Award, Model UN, and coding, plus sports such as rowing and martial arts. SEND provisions are comprehensive, covering autistic spectrum disorder, dyslexia, speech and language needs, and social, emotional and mental health support. This school would suit families looking for a Good-rated secondary with strong English outcomes and good facilities, particularly those who value the breadth of extracurricular activities and the specialist SEND support available.
Key Details
| School Type | Secondary (State) |
| Age Range | 11 to 16 years |
| Gender | Mixed |
| Religious Character | None |
| Address | Middlewich Road, Northwich, Cheshire West and Chester, CW9 7DT |
| Headteacher | Christine Williams |
| Local Authority | Cheshire West and Chester |
| Number of Pupils | 590 |
| Free School Meals (FSM) | 33.6% |
| School Capacity | 590 / 840 (70% full) |
Ofsted Inspection Breakdown
12 Jan 2023Overall Effectiveness
Good
Latest inspection (12 Jan 2023): School remains Good
Source: Ofsted, 8 Feb 2018. Ratings: 1=Outstanding, 2=Good, 3=Requires Improvement, 4=Inadequate.
League Table Position
Based on Progress 8 (-0.22)
2069th of 3,141
Nationally
248th of 445
In North West
14th of 19
In Cheshire West and Chester
Source: Classpot analysis of DfE Progress 8 data
GCSE Results
2023/24Progress 8 Score
Students make 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
2022/231%
of GCSE leavers stay on for sixth form at this school (cohort: 67 pupils).
- FE college58%
- Sixth form college13%
- Not sustained12%
- Employment7%
- Apprenticeship6%
- School sixth form (stay)1%
88% 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
11Facilities may vary. Contact the school for current availability.
Extracurriculars
13Sports
Clubs & Activities
Activities may vary by term. Contact the school for current offerings.
Admissions
2025/26Oversubscribed105
183
Good Demand
Popular school with more applications than places
94 families put this school as their 1st choice (51% 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: rudheathsenioracademy.org.uk. Extracted automatically — confirm with the school before relying on these times.
Class profile
2024/25Better than half of schools in England.
Half of schools in England do better than this.
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
2024/25Above the national average (25%) — higher-disadvantage intake.
Lower than the national median (10%) — mostly English as first language.
Ethnic background
- White British88.3%
- White (other)3.4%
- Asian2.9%
- Mixed2.4%
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.
Like most schools in England, no pupils were permanently excluded this 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.
4
Total schools
4
Oversubscribed
3
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 The Rudheath Senior Academy
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
Middlewich Road, Northwich
Cheshire West and Chester, CW9 7DT
Journey to School
Journey times are estimates based on current conditions. Actual times may vary.
Opening Hours
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