Schools by area › Cheshire West and Chester › Upton-by-Chester High School
Upton-by-Chester High School
Secondary · Mixed · Ages 11–18 · Foundation school
St James Avenue, Upton-by-Chester, Chester CH2 1NN · uptonhigh.co.uk · 01244 259800
Overview
- Ofsted
- Standards maintained
- Ungraded inspection · Feb 2025
- GCSEs, 2024/25
- 48.8
- average Attainment 8 score. Cheshire West and Chester 44.6, England 46
- Last distance offered
- 3.37 mi
- 5.42 km · Year 7, September 2026 entry · Criterion · Cheshire West and Chester Council
- Demand for places
- 1.0
- first choices for each place · Year 7, September 2026
- Pupils
- 1,728
- 58 over 1,670 places · 103%
- Local authority
- Cheshire West and Chester
- Sixth form
- Yes
- Admissions
- Non-selective
- Free school meals
- 16%
- First language not English
- 9%
- School census 2025/26
The official school record (Department for Education)
Admissions
For Year 7 in September 2026, the last place offered under “Criterion” went to a home 3.37 mi (5.42 km) from the school. Source: Cheshire West and Chester Council’s document.
For Year 7 in September 2026, 284 families put the school first and 292 places were offered; 96% of those families were offered a place there. Admission depends on the school’s own rules.
Demand for places
First choices against places
| Year 7 | Places | First choices | Per place | % offered |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| September 2026Sept 2026 | 292 | 284 | 1 | 96% |
| September 2025Sept 2025 | 281 | 281 | 1 | 96% |
| September 2024Sept 2024 | 299 | 292 | 1 | 97% |
| September 2023Sept 2023 | 300 | 296 | 1 | 94% |
| September 2022Sept 2022 | 305 | 276 | 0.9 | 99% |
Last distance offered
| Year 7 – Criterion | Distance | |
|---|---|---|
| September 2026 | 3.37 mi5.42 km | |
Results
In 2024/25 the average Attainment 8 score at GCSE was 48.8, and 43.1% of pupils got grade 5 or above in English and maths. Across Cheshire West and Chester it was 44.6, and across England 46.
In 2024/25 the average A level result was grade C+ (34.5 points per entry).
GCSE results
Attainment 8
| 2024/25 | Trend | School | England |
|---|---|---|---|
| ▲48.8 | 46.0 | ||
| ▼43.1% | 45.4% | ||
| ●66.7% | 64.8% | ||
| ▼35.9% | 40.5% | ||
| ▲4.30 | 4.09 |
Where Year 11 leavers went
| Left in 2023/24 | Since 2021/22 | |
|---|---|---|
| School sixth form | 56.9 | −0.6 |
| Sixth form college | 3.2 | +0.6 |
| Further education | 26.7 | +1.7 |
| Other education | 0.7 | −0.8 |
| Apprenticeship | 2.5 | +1 |
| Employment | 2.5 | −1.6 |
| Not in a lasting destination | 3.6 | −2.4 |
| Activity not captured | 3.9 | +2 |
A levels and other 16 to 18 results
A level average grade
| 2024/25 | Trend | Average grade | Progress |
|---|---|---|---|
| 152 students | C+ (34.5) | Above average +0.12 | |
| 152 students | C+ (34.9) | Above average +0.14 | |
| 6 students | Merit (23.8) | — | |
| 6 students | Dist- (32.5) | Average +0.09 |
| Earlier years: A level | Students | Average grade | Progress |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2023/24 | 142 | B- (35.6) | +0.06 |
| 2022/23 | 167 | C+ (34.9) | — |
| 2021/22 | 128 | B (39.3) | — |
| 2018/19 | 121 | C (29.5) | -0.20 |
| 2017/18 | 121 | C+ (34.9) | -0.10 |
| 2016/17 | 174 | C+ (32.2) | +0.04 |
| 2015/16 | 135 | C (30.8) | +0.05 |
Where sixth-form leavers went
| Left in 2023/24 | Since 2021/22 | |
|---|---|---|
| University | 51 | −11.3 |
| Further and other education | 2.5 | −0.6 |
| Further education | 1.3 | — |
| Other education | 1.3 | — |
| Apprenticeship | 6.4 | +2.6 |
| Employment | 28 | +5.7 |
| Not in a lasting destination | 8.9 | +5.1 |
| Activity not captured | 3.2 | −1.4 |
Ofsted
At an ungraded inspection on 5 February 2025, Ofsted’s outcome for Upton-by-Chester High School was: Standards maintained.
- Outcome
- Standards maintained
- Inspected
- 4 Feb 2025
- Ungraded inspection
Safeguarding effectiveInspection reports
Previously: Remains Good, ungraded inspection, Apr 2019
Earlier inspections
Before September 2019
Apr 2019Ungraded inspectionRemains Good
Safeguarding Effective May 2015Good
Outcomes for pupils Good Quality of teaching, learning and assessment Good Leadership and management Good 16 to 19 study programmes Outstanding Nov 2011Good
Outcomes for pupils Good Quality of teaching, learning and assessment Good Leadership and management Good 16 to 19 study programmes Good
What parents said
93% of the parents who answered Ofsted’s Parent View survey would recommend the school (229 replies, to 1 September 2025).
- Recommend
- 93%
- Replies
- 229
- 13% · 1 Sept 2025
based on the 79% who raised concerns
based on the 30% who had a child bullied
based on 64 parents (28%) with SEND