Schools by area › Cheshire West and Chester › Helsby High School
Helsby High School
Secondary · Mixed · Ages 11–18 · Community school
Chester Road, Helsby, Frodsham WA6 0HY · helsbyhigh.org.uk · 01928 723551
Overview
- Ofsted
- Remains Good
- Ungraded inspection · Jul 2023
- GCSEs, 2024/25
- 47.1
- average Attainment 8 score. Cheshire West and Chester 44.6, England 46
- Last distance offered
- No limit
- Year 7, September 2026 entry · Cheshire West and Chester Council
- Demand for places
- 0.9
- first choices for each place · Year 7, September 2026
- Pupils
- 1,211
- 88% of 1,371 places
- Local authority
- Cheshire West and Chester
- Sixth form
- Yes
- Admissions
- Non-selective
- Free school meals
- 16.5%
- First language not English
- 2.1%
- School census 2025/26
The official school record (Department for Education)
Admissions
For Year 7 in September 2026, everyone who applied was offered a place. Source: Cheshire West and Chester Council’s document.
For Year 7 in September 2026, 189 families put the school first and 199 places were offered; 100% of those families were offered a place there. Admission depends on the school’s own rules.
First choices against places
| Year 7 | Places | First choices | Per place | % offered |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| September 2026Sept 2026 | 199 | 189 | 0.9 | 100% |
| September 2025Sept 2025 | 218 | 214 | 1 | 100% |
| September 2024Sept 2024 | 207 | 190 | 0.9 | 100% |
| September 2023Sept 2023 | 223 | 222 | 1 | 98% |
| September 2022Sept 2022 | 250 | 245 | 1 | 97% |
Results
In 2024/25 the average Attainment 8 score at GCSE was 47.1, and 51.9% 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 (28.5 points per entry).
GCSE results
Attainment 8
| 2024/25 | Trend | School | England |
|---|---|---|---|
| ●47.1 | 46.0 | ||
| ▲51.9% | 45.4% | ||
| ▲70.4% | 64.8% | ||
| ▲74.1% | 40.5% | ||
| ▲4.44 | 4.09 |
Where Year 11 leavers went
| Left in 2023/24 | Since 2021/22 | |
|---|---|---|
| School sixth form | 35.5 | −3.6 |
| Sixth form college | 26.4 | +1.2 |
| Further education | 26.8 | +6.5 |
| Other education | 1.3 | +0.3 |
| Apprenticeship | 2.6 | +0.1 |
| Employment | 0.9 | −1.6 |
| Not in a lasting destination | 3.9 | −3.5 |
| Activity not captured | 2.6 | +0.6 |
A levels and other 16 to 18 results
A level average grade
| 2024/25 | Trend | Average grade | Progress |
|---|---|---|---|
| 74 students | C (28.5) | Below average -0.20 | |
| 74 students | C (28.5) | Below average -0.20 | |
| 56 students | Merit+ (30) | Average +0.13 |
| Earlier years: A level | Students | Average grade | Progress |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2023/24 | 65 | C (31.5) | -0.22 |
| 2022/23 | 102 | C (30.7) | — |
| 2021/22 | 100 | C+ (32.8) | — |
| 2018/19 | 116 | B- (35.6) | +0.09 |
| 2017/18 | 132 | C+ (32.1) | +0.02 |
| 2016/17 | 138 | C (30.2) | -0.10 |
| 2015/16 | 144 | C+ (32.2) | -0.02 |
Where sixth-form leavers went
| Left in 2023/24 | Since 2021/22 | |
|---|---|---|
| University | 57.5 | +7 |
| Apprenticeship | 12.3 | +5 |
| Employment | 21.9 | −5.6 |
| Not in a lasting destination | 6.8 | +0.4 |
| Activity not captured | 1.4 | −3.2 |
Ofsted
At an ungraded inspection on 19 July 2023, Ofsted’s outcome for Helsby High School was: School remains Good.
- Outcome
- Remains Good
- Inspected
- 18 Jul 2023
- Ungraded inspection
Safeguarding effectiveInspection reports
Previously: Good, graded inspection, Feb 2014
Earlier inspections
Before September 2019
May 2018Monitoring visit
Safeguarding Effective Feb 2014Good
Outcomes for pupils Good Quality of teaching, learning and assessment Good Leadership and management Good Oct 2008Good
Outcomes for pupils Good Quality of teaching, learning and assessment Good Leadership and management Good 16 to 19 study programmes Requires improvement
What parents said
63% of the parents who answered Ofsted’s Parent View survey would recommend the school (307 replies, to 1 April 2024).
- Recommend
- 63%
- Replies
- 307
- 23% · 1 Apr 2024
based on the 84% who raised concerns
based on the 50% who had a child bullied
based on 83 parents (27%) with SEND