Wilmslow High School
112%
Capacity
2,212
Pupils
1.6x
Demand
About Wilmslow High School
Wilmslow High School is a large secondary school that is clearly in high demand. With 2,212 pupils on roll against a capacity of 1,977, it is significantly over capacity, and the admission data for the 2025/26 intake confirms this: the school received 590 applications for 360 places, an oversubscription ratio of 1.64. Of those, 431 families put it as their first preference, and 351 first-preference offers were made. The proportion of pupils eligible for free school meals stands at 13.5%, which is below the national average for secondary schools and suggests a relatively affluent intake, though the school serves a broad community. It is a mixed, non-denominational state school for ages 11 to 18, located in Cheshire East, and is led by headteacher Christina Kane.
Academically, Wilmslow High School performs well above the local authority average. Its Progress 8 score of 0.16 means pupils achieve nearly a fifth of a grade more per subject than similar pupils nationally, and this ranks it 6th out of 21 schools in Cheshire East. For context, the LA average Progress 8 is -0.17, so Wilmslow is comfortably ahead. The Attainment 8 score is 52.5, and 73.4% of pupils achieved a grade 4 or above in English and maths. At A-level, the school’s value-added score is 0.16, placing it in the ‘Above average’ banding, with an average points per entry of 37.72, equivalent to a B- grade. The most recent Ofsted inspection in January 2025 confirmed the school continues to be Good, with leadership and management, sixth-form provision, and behaviour all rated Good. The previous graded inspection in 2019 also rated it Good overall.
The school offers a wide range of facilities, including a swimming pool, theatre, sixth-form centre, and extensive sports provision such as football, hockey, and netball. Clubs and activities are plentiful, with options like Model UN, Young Enterprise, and an orchestra. For families with children who have special educational needs, the school lists provisions for a broad spectrum of needs, including Autistic Spectrum Disorder, Speech, Language & Communication, and Specific Learning Difficulties such as dyslexia. Parent views are overwhelmingly positive: 91% would recommend the school, and 97% agree their child can take part in clubs and activities. This is a school that suits families looking for a large, well-established secondary with strong academic outcomes, a busy extracurricular programme, and a clear track record of meeting demand from the local area.
Key Details
| School Type | Secondary (State) |
| Age Range | 11 to 18 years |
| Gender | Mixed |
| Religious Character | Does not apply |
| Address | Holly Road, Wilmslow, Cheshire East, SK9 1LZ |
| Headteacher | Christina Kane |
| Local Authority | Cheshire East |
| Number of Pupils | 2,212 |
| Free School Meals (FSM) | 13.5% |
| School Capacity | 2,212 / 1,977 (112% full) |
| Sixth Form | Yes |
Ofsted Inspection Breakdown
8 Jan 2025Overall Effectiveness
Good
Latest inspection (8 Jan 2025): Standards maintained
Additional Provisions
Source: Ofsted, 9 Jun 2019. Ratings: 1=Outstanding, 2=Good, 3=Requires Improvement, 4=Inadequate.
League Table Position
Based on Progress 8 (+0.16)
1181st of 3,141
Nationally
123rd of 445
In North West
6th of 21
In Cheshire East
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.
A-Level Results
2023/24Average Points per Entry
Value Added Score
Best 3 A-Levels (Average)
'21/22
38.7
'22/23
36.8
'23/24
37.7
Source: Department for Education 16-18 Performance Tables, 2023/24. Value Added measures progress compared to students with similar GCSE results.
Where GCSE leavers go
2022/2369%
of GCSE leavers stay on for sixth form at this school (cohort: 305 pupils).
- School sixth form (stay)69%
- FE college20%
- Not sustained5%
- Sixth form college1%
- Apprenticeship1%
- Employment1%
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.
Where school leavers go
2022/2367%
of A-level / Level 3 leavers go to higher education (cohort: 202 pupils).
Top-tier university progression
40%
Russell Group
46%
Top-third HE
2%
Oxford / Cambridge
Percentages of the whole cohort (not just HE-goers). Russell Group = 24 elite research universities. Top-third HE = top by mean UCAS tariff.
- University (HE)67%
- Employment18%
- Not sustained5%
- Apprenticeship4%
- Further education1%
Sources: DfE 16-18 destination measures (broad bucket); DfE KS5 student destinations file (Russell Group / top-third HE / Oxbridge). Level 3 cohort. “Sustained” means the pupil was in education, apprenticeship or employment for 6 months in the year following completion.
Sixth form A-level subjects
2022/23- Psychology55
- Mathematics52
- Business Studies:Single40
- Economics40
- Media/Film/Tv Studies40
- Biology38
- Chemistry36
- Sociology35
- History32
- Physics27
- English Language22
- English Literature16
Subjects with at least 3 entries in 2022/23. Number shown next to each subject is the number of pupils who sat that A-level exam — a rough indicator of subject popularity at this school. Source: DfE Compare School & College Performance.
Ofsted Parent View
593 responsesWould Recommend This School
Source: Ofsted Parent View (GOV.UK statistical data), Sep – Sep 2025
SEND Support
Resourced ProvisionSource: Department for Education, 2024/25. Support availability based on current student population.
Facilities
12Facilities may vary. Contact the school for current availability.
Extracurriculars
16Sports
Clubs & Activities
Activities may vary by term. Contact the school for current offerings.
Admissions
2025/26Oversubscribed360
590
Good Demand
Popular school with more applications than places
431 families put this school as their 1st choice (73% of all applications)
Source: Department for Education, 2025/26. Data reflects national offer day applications and offers.
School day
Teaching hours
08:45 – 15:15
Source: wilmslowhigh.com. Extracted automatically — confirm with the school before relying on these times.
Class profile
2024/25Better than 75% of schools in England.
Better than half 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%).
Lower than the national median (10%) — mostly English as first language.
Ethnic background
- White British75.0%
- Asian7.1%
- Mixed5.9%
- White (other)4.0%
- Black0.1%
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.
Half 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.
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 Wilmslow High 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
Holly Road, Wilmslow
Cheshire East, SK9 1LZ
Journey to School
Journey times are estimates based on current conditions. Actual times may vary.
Opening Hours
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