Schools by area › Cheshire West and Chester › St Nicholas Catholic High School
St Nicholas Catholic High School
Secondary · Mixed · Ages 11–18 · Voluntary aided
Greenbank Lane, Hartford, Northwich CW8 1JW · st-nicholas.cheshire.sch.uk · 01606 706000
Overview
- Ofsted
- Good
- 2019 framework · inspected Mar 2024
- GCSEs, 2024/25
- 50.8
- 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
- 1,201
- 97% of 1,240 places
- Local authority
- Cheshire West and Chester
- Sixth form
- Yes
- Admissions
- Non-selective
- Free school meals
- 13.9%
- First language not English
- 13.2%
- 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, 182 families put the school first and 202 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 | 202 | 182 | 0.9 | 100% |
| September 2025Sept 2025 | 215 | 208 | 1 | 98% |
| September 2024Sept 2024 | 218 | 218 | 1 | 94% |
| September 2023Sept 2023 | 212 | 215 | 1▲ | 95% |
| September 2022Sept 2022 | 213 | 195 | 0.9 | 100% |
Results
In 2024/25 the average Attainment 8 score at GCSE was 50.8, and 45.7% 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- (27 points per entry).
GCSE results
Attainment 8
| 2024/25 | Trend | School | England |
|---|---|---|---|
| ▲50.8 | 46.0 | ||
| ●45.7% | 45.4% | ||
| ▲72.1% | 64.8% | ||
| ▲59.4% | 40.5% | ||
| ▲4.67 | 4.09 |
Where Year 11 leavers went
| Left in 2023/24 | Since 2021/22 | |
|---|---|---|
| School sixth form | 35 | +2.2 |
| Sixth form college | 23.9 | −7.8 |
| Further education | 32.5 | +6 |
| Apprenticeship | 3 | −1.2 |
| Employment | 1.5 | +0.4 |
| Not in a lasting destination | 3 | +0.9 |
| Activity not captured | 1 | — |
A levels and other 16 to 18 results
A level average grade
| 2024/25 | Trend | Average grade | Progress |
|---|---|---|---|
| 79 students | C- (27) | Below average -0.25 | |
| 79 students | C- (27.2) | Below average -0.24 |
| Earlier years: A level | Students | Average grade | Progress |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2023/24 | 58 | C (29.4) | -0.09 |
| 2022/23 | 93 | C+ (31.7) | — |
| 2021/22 | 104 | C+ (34.5) | — |
| 2018/19 | 67 | C+ (33) | +0.01 |
| 2017/18 | 74 | C (31.4) | -0.08 |
| 2016/17 | 107 | C+ (32.6) | -0.05 |
| 2015/16 | 112 | C (31.5) | -0.12 |
Where sixth-form leavers went
| Left in 2023/24 | Since 2021/22 | |
|---|---|---|
| University | 50 | −5.7 |
| Further and other education | 8.3 | +6.5 |
| Further education | 1.7 | — |
| Other education | 6.7 | — |
| Apprenticeship | 5 | +1.2 |
| Employment | 30 | +3.6 |
| Not in a lasting destination | 5 | −5.4 |
| Activity not captured | 1.7 | −0.2 |
Ofsted
St Nicholas Catholic High School was judged Good at its last graded inspection, on 5 March 2024, under Ofsted’s 2019 framework.
- Overall
- Good
- Inspected
- 5 Mar 2024
- Graded inspection
Safeguarding effectiveInspection reports
Graded areas
| Quality of education | Good |
|---|---|
| Behaviour and attitudes | Good |
| Personal development | Good |
| Leadership and management | Good |
| Sixth form | Good |
Previously: Good, graded inspection, Feb 2019
Earlier inspections
Before September 2019
Feb 2019Good
Outcomes for pupils Good Quality of teaching, learning and assessment Good Personal development, behaviour and welfare Good Leadership and management Good 16 to 19 study programmes Good Safeguarding Effective Jul 2011Outstanding
Outcomes for pupils Outstanding Quality of teaching, learning and assessment Good Leadership and management Good 16 to 19 study programmes Good Oct 2007Good
Outcomes for pupils Good Quality of teaching, learning and assessment Good Leadership and management Good 16 to 19 study programmes Good
What parents said
89% of the parents who answered Ofsted’s Parent View survey would recommend the school (200 replies, to 6 January 2025).
- Recommend
- 89%
- Replies
- 200
- 17% · 6 Jan 2025
based on the 77% who raised concerns
based on the 33% who had a child bullied
based on 64 parents (32%) with SEND