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North Cestrian School
Secondary · Mixed · Ages 11–18 · Free school
Dunham Road, Altrincham WA14 4AJ · northcestrian.co.uk · 0161 928 1856
On the mapSearch near WA14 4AJ
Overview
- Ofsted
- Standards maintained
- Ungraded inspection · Nov 2024
- GCSEs, 2024/25
- 54.2
- average Attainment 8 score. Trafford 57.9, England 46
- Last distance offered
- 1.89 mi
- 3.04 km · Year 7, September 2026 entry · Category 5 · Trafford Council
- Demand for places
- 0.6
- first choices for each place · Year 7, September 2026
- Pupils
- 799
- 44 over 755 places · 106%
- Local authority
- Trafford
- Sixth form
- No
- Admissions
- Non-selective
- Free school meals
- 16.6%
- First language not English
- 26.4%
- School census 2025/26
The official school record (Department for Education)
Admissions
For Year 7 in September 2026, the last place offered under “Category 5” went to a home 1.89 mi (3.04 km) from the school. Source: Trafford Council’s document.
For Year 7 in September 2026, 112 families put the school first and 175 places were offered; 79% 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 | 175 | 112 | 0.6 | 79% |
| September 2025Sept 2025 | 176 | 156 | 0.9 | 67% |
| September 2024Sept 2024 | 170 | 156 | 0.9 | 71% |
| September 2023Sept 2023 | 170 | 175 | 1▲ | 65% |
| September 2022Sept 2022 | 168 | 132 | 0.8 | 64% |
Last distance offered
| Year 7 – Category 5 | Distance | |
|---|---|---|
| September 2026 | 1.89 mi3.04 km | |
Results
In 2024/25 the average Attainment 8 score at GCSE was 54.2, and 60.1% of pupils got grade 5 or above in English and maths. Across Trafford it was 57.9, and across England 46.
In 2016/17 the average A level result was grade D+ (24.1 points per entry).
GCSE results
Attainment 8
| 2024/25 | Trend | School | England |
|---|---|---|---|
| ▲54.2 | 46.0 | ||
| ▲60.1% | 45.4% | ||
| ▲85.8% | 64.8% | ||
| ▼18.9% | 40.5% | ||
| ▲4.56 | 4.09 |
Some years are for the predecessor school (URN 106380)
Where Year 11 leavers went
| Left in 2023/24 | Since 2021/22 | |
|---|---|---|
| School sixth form | 34.6 | +4.5 |
| Sixth form college | 19 | +7.6 |
| Further education | 32 | −12.7 |
| Other education | 0.7 | −0.9 |
| Apprenticeship | 2.6 | +1 |
| Employment | 2 | −1.3 |
| Not in a lasting destination | 3.3 | −1.6 |
| Activity not captured | 5.9 | +3.5 |
A levels and other 16 to 18 results
A level average grade
| 2016/17 | Trend | Average grade | Progress |
|---|---|---|---|
| 15 students | D+ (24.1) | -0.39 | |
| 15 students | D+ (24.1) | -0.39 |
| Earlier years: A level | Students | Average grade | Progress |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2015/16 | 14 | D (21.4) | -0.25 |
Where sixth-form leavers went
| Left in 2016/17 | |
|---|---|
| University | 33 |
| Further education | 7 |
| Apprenticeship | 7 |
| Employment | 7 |
| Not in a lasting destination | 13 |
| Activity not captured | 33 |
Ofsted
At an ungraded inspection on 20 November 2024, Ofsted’s outcome for North Cestrian School was: Standards maintained.
- Outcome
- Standards maintained
- Inspected
- 19 Nov 2024
- Ungraded inspection
Safeguarding effectiveInspection reports
Previously: Good, graded inspection, Mar 2019
Earlier inspections
Before September 2019
Mar 2019Good
Outcomes for pupils Requires improvement Quality of teaching, learning and assessment Good Personal development, behaviour and welfare Good Leadership and management Good Safeguarding Effective
What parents said
78% of the parents who answered Ofsted’s Parent View survey would recommend the school (143 replies, to 1 September 2025).
- Recommend
- 78%
- Replies
- 143
- 18% · 1 Sept 2025
based on the 80% who raised concerns
based on the 41% who had a child bullied
based on 59 parents (41%) with SEND