State School
#12 in Best Secondary Schools in Cheshire West and Chester
St Nicholas Catholic High School - Ofsted Report, Parent Reviews (2025)
St Nicholas Catholic High School
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St Nicholas Catholic High School
- Secondary
- Hartford CW8 1JW
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Ofsted report
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| The quality of education | Good |
| Behaviour and attitudes | Good |
| Personal development | Good |
| Leadership and management | Good |
| Sixth-form provision | Good |
| Previous inspection grade | Good |
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This insight was generated by AI, based on latest Ofsted report.
Academic Progress: Most pupils apply themselves in lessons and achieve well.
Behaviour and Attitudes: Pupils’ behaviour around the school is calm and courteous.
Qualifications and Training: Teachers have detailed subject knowledge.
Current Educational Practices: Staff are empowered to carry out monitoring and evaluation of the subject curriculums.
Strengths and Challenges: Teachers explain concepts well but need improvement in supporting reading strategies.
Communication: Most parents were positive about the information they receive about their children’s learning.
Actions for Quality Improvement: Leaders have introduced new reading strategies and support systems for disadvantaged pupils.
Managing Bullying and Safety: Pupils feel safe and know that staff listen to their concerns.
Promoting Welfare and Safety: The school has strong safeguarding measures.
Extracurricular Offerings: Many pupils value the range of clubs and activities offered.
Outdoor Facilities: Students benefit from global travel opportunities like expeditions to Vietnam and Cambodia.
Career Counselling Services: Pupils receive a wide range of career education and guidance.
Preparation for Sixth Form: Students in the sixth form receive strong personalised support.
Managing and Supporting SEND: Strengthened training has improved support for pupils with SEND, allowing them to access the curriculum effectively.
Historical Ofsted reports
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About Us
St Nicholas Catholic High School is a Secondary, Co-Ed, Roman Catholic school located in Cheshire, North West.
It has 1202 students from age 11-18 yr with a student-teacher ratio of 16 : 1.
At this school, 59% of pupils achieved grade 5 or more at GCSE.
94.20% of pupils completing their main study programme.
This school rated Good by recent Ofsted inspection.
Type of SEN provision
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St Nicholas Catholic High School
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The St. Nicholas Catholic High School welcomes you.
As representatives of our school community, students are expected and encouraged to put in a lot of effort and always act and dress with the utmost decorum.
As a Catholic institution, we work to ensure that each of our students grows spiritually, morally, and personally while still pursuing academic achievement.
The team of committed teachers and staff at St. Nicholas are committed to giving students every chance to develop into the unique individuals that God intended them to be. This includes giving them the chance to use their talents and gifts to advance their education and reach their full potential, discover new interests and hobbies, help others through charitable work, and strengthen their relationship with God through prayer and reflection.
In order to deepen and expand the engaging curriculum and learning that students experience in the classroom, we also provide fantastic extracurricular and enrichment options for kids in all year groups.
Residential retreats, Duke of Edinburgh, mock trials, choir and band tours, Enterprise action days, and a wide range of sporting possibilities are just a few of the extracurricular activities that help your child succeed at St. Nicholas.
We are all very proud of our school, and I hope you will find our website to be both informative and helpful.
If you would like to visit us, I would be happy to set up a guided tour for you because our students make the best ambassadors.
Read more
As representatives of our school community, students are expected and encouraged to put in a lot of effort and always act and dress with the utmost decorum.
As a Catholic institution, we work to ensure that each of our students grows spiritually, morally, and personally while still pursuing academic achievement.
The team of committed teachers and staff at St. Nicholas are committed to giving students every chance to develop into the unique individuals that God intended them to be. This includes giving them the chance to use their talents and gifts to advance their education and reach their full potential, discover new interests and hobbies, help others through charitable work, and strengthen their relationship with God through prayer and reflection.
In order to deepen and expand the engaging curriculum and learning that students experience in the classroom, we also provide fantastic extracurricular and enrichment options for kids in all year groups.
Residential retreats, Duke of Edinburgh, mock trials, choir and band tours, Enterprise action days, and a wide range of sporting possibilities are just a few of the extracurricular activities that help your child succeed at St. Nicholas.
We are all very proud of our school, and I hope you will find our website to be both informative and helpful.
If you would like to visit us, I would be happy to set up a guided tour for you because our students make the best ambassadors.
Compare with similar schools
| Phase of Education | Secondary | Secondary | Secondary |
|---|---|---|---|
| Type | Local Authority Maintained Schools | Local Authority Maintained Schools | Local Authority Maintained Schools |
| Snobe grade |
B-
|
B
|
B-
|
| Ofset report | Good | Good | Good |
| Age range | 11-18 | 11-18 | 11-18 |
| Gender | Co-Ed | Co-Ed | Co-Ed |
|---|---|---|---|
| Student teacher ratio | 16.9 | - | 15.3 |
| Proficient Math | - | - | - |
| Proficient Read | - | - | - |
| Grade 5 or above GCSE | 59% | 63% | 46% |
| Grade 5 or above A Level | 8.60% | 11.60% | 5.00% |
| Day Fees | - | - | - |
Secondary Exam Result
Discover school's performance with the Attainment 8 and Progress 8 scores. Attainment 8 reflects pupil achievement in 8 qualifications, while Progress 8 measures their progress from key stage 2 to 4, compared to peers across England.
| School scores | School | Description |
|---|---|---|
| Progress 8 score | 0.36 | This score shows how much progress pupils at this school made across 8 qualifications between the end of key stage 2 and the end of key stage 4. |
| Attainment 8 score | 53.2 | Schools get a score based on how well pupils have performed in up to 8 qualifications. |
Explore the percentage of pupils who attained grade 5 or higher & grade 4 or higher in their English and math GCSEs. This metric reflects their proficiency in these fundamental subjects.
| GCSE Results | School | LA | England |
|---|---|---|---|
| Grade 5 or above in English & Maths GCSEs | 59% | 27.49% | 30.03% |
| Grade 4 or above in English & Maths GCSEs | 82% | 40.64% | 43.07% |
The English Baccalaureate (EBacc) ensures your child's well-rounded education. It includes essential subjects like English, math, sciences, languages, and humanities.
| EBacc Results | School | LA | England |
|---|---|---|---|
| Entering EBacc | 58% | 25% | 25.06% |
| Achieving the EBacc at grade 5 or above | 27% | 10.1% | 10.91% |
| Achieving the EBacc at grade 4 or above | 41% | 14.72% | 15.51% |
| EBacc average points score | 4.79 | 2.61 | 2.83 |
Find out where our Key Stage 4 graduates are going next. Explore their different paths after finishing school – whether it's sixth form, starting work, or other adventures as they move forward.
| Pupil destinations | School | LA | England |
|---|---|---|---|
| Pupils staying in education or employment | 98% | 90.42% | 90.53% |
| Total number of pupils included in destination measures | 197 | 129 | 144 |
| Pupils staying in education | 95% | 82.54% | 84.16% |
| Further education college or other further education provider | 27% | 28.19% | 32.73% |
| School sixth forms | 45% | 26.12% | 29.8% |
| Sixth form colleges | 23% | 8.81% | 10.22% |
| Other education destinations | 1% | 19.35% | 11.43% |
| Pupils in apprenticeships | 3% | 2.35% | 2.8% |
| Pupils staying in employment | 1% | 5.69% | 3.59% |
Discover school's performance with the Attainment 8 and Progress 8 scores. Attainment 8 reflects pupil achievement in 8 qualifications, while Progress 8 measures their progress from key stage 2 to 4, compared to peers across England.
| School scores | School | Description |
|---|---|---|
| Progress 8 score | 0.38 | This score shows how much progress pupils at this school made across 8 qualifications between the end of key stage 2 and the end of key stage 4. |
| Attainment 8 score | 55.9 | Schools get a score based on how well pupils have performed in up to 8 qualifications. |
Explore the percentage of pupils who attained grade 5 or higher & grade 4 or higher in their English and math GCSEs. This metric reflects their proficiency in these fundamental subjects.
| GCSE Results | School | LA | England |
|---|---|---|---|
| Grade 5 or above in English & Maths GCSEs | 65% | 33.05% | 32.85% |
| Grade 4 or above in English & Maths GCSEs | 82% | 45.22% | 45.33% |
The English Baccalaureate (EBacc) ensures your child's well-rounded education. It includes essential subjects like English, math, sciences, languages, and humanities.
| EBacc Results | School | LA | England |
|---|---|---|---|
| Entering EBacc | 58% | 25.08% | 24.94% |
| Achieving the EBacc at grade 5 or above | 39% | 13.59% | 13.02% |
| Achieving the EBacc at grade 4 or above | 47% | 18.05% | 17.19% |
| EBacc average points score | 5.11 | 2.94 | 2.97 |
Find out where our Key Stage 4 graduates are going next. Explore their different paths after finishing school – whether it's sixth form, starting work, or other adventures as they move forward.
| Pupil destinations | School | LA | England |
|---|---|---|---|
| Pupils staying in education or employment | 97% | 84.27% | 90.4% |
| Total number of pupils included in destination measures | 224 | 123 | 141 |
| Pupils staying in education | 95% | 80.27% | 86.29% |
| Further education college or other further education provider | 18% | 27.73% | 34.03% |
| School sixth forms | 54% | 27.5% | 30.82% |
| Sixth form colleges | 22% | 8.96% | 10.38% |
| Other education destinations | SP | 15.92% | 11.08% |
| Pupils in apprenticeships | 1% | 1.58% | 1.99% |
| Pupils staying in employment | 1% | 2.38% | 2.13% |
Exam Result Not Published
Due to the pandemic, 2020 and 2021 Secondary school exam
results were not published at school level.
Exam Result Not Published
Due to the pandemic, 2020 and 2021 Secondary school exam
results were not published at school level.
Discover school's performance with the Attainment 8 and Progress 8 scores. Attainment 8 reflects pupil achievement in 8 qualifications, while Progress 8 measures their progress from key stage 2 to 4, compared to peers across England.
| School scores | School | Description |
|---|---|---|
| Progress 8 score | 0.15 | This score shows how much progress pupils at this school made across 8 qualifications between the end of key stage 2 and the end of key stage 4. |
| Attainment 8 score | 52.5 | Schools get a score based on how well pupils have performed in up to 8 qualifications. |
Explore the percentage of pupils who attained grade 5 or higher & grade 4 or higher in their English and math GCSEs. This metric reflects their proficiency in these fundamental subjects.
| GCSE Results | School | LA | England |
|---|---|---|---|
| Grade 5 or above in English & Maths GCSEs | 54% 4 | 27.91% | 29.3% |
| Grade 4 or above in English & Maths GCSEs | 74% 5 | 43.34% | 43.41% |
The English Baccalaureate (EBacc) ensures your child's well-rounded education. It includes essential subjects like English, math, sciences, languages, and humanities.
| EBacc Results | School | LA | England |
|---|---|---|---|
| Entering EBacc | 80% | 29.09% | 25.8% |
| Achieving the EBacc at grade 5 or above | 29% 14 | 10.86% | 11.47% |
| Achieving the EBacc at grade 4 or above | 48% 27 | 17.29% | 16.49% |
| EBacc average points score | 4.91 | 2.9 | 2.88 |
Find out where our Key Stage 4 graduates are going next. Explore their different paths after finishing school – whether it's sixth form, starting work, or other adventures as they move forward.
| Pupil destinations | School | LA | England |
|---|---|---|---|
| Pupils staying in education or employment | 97% | 77.83% | 90.2% |
| Total number of pupils included in destination measures | 190 | 121 | 135 |
| Pupils staying in education | 93% | 70.09% | 84.08% |
| Further education college or other further education provider | 32% | 27.17% | 33.25% |
| School sixth forms | 36% | 23.74% | 31.27% |
| Sixth form colleges | 25% | 8.87% | 8.45% |
| Other education destinations | 0% | 10.3% | 11.14% |
| Pupils in apprenticeships | 3% | 3.22% | 3.4% |
| Pupils staying in employment | 2% | 4.65% | 2.75% |
Discover school's performance with the Attainment 8 and Progress 8 scores. Attainment 8 reflects pupil achievement in 8 qualifications, while Progress 8 measures their progress from key stage 2 to 4, compared to peers across England.
| School scores | School | Description |
|---|---|---|
| Progress 8 score | 0.15 | This score shows how much progress pupils at this school made across 8 qualifications between the end of key stage 2 and the end of key stage 4. |
| Attainment 8 score | 52.5 | Schools get a score based on how well pupils have performed in up to 8 qualifications. |
Explore the percentage of pupils who attained grade 5 or higher & grade 4 or higher in their English and math GCSEs. This metric reflects their proficiency in these fundamental subjects.
| GCSE Results | School | LA | England |
|---|---|---|---|
| Grade 5 or above in English & Maths GCSEs | 50% 6 | 25.12% | 29.22% |
| Grade 4 or above in English & Maths GCSEs | 79% 8 | 39.21% | 42.62% |
The English Baccalaureate (EBacc) ensures your child's well-rounded education. It includes essential subjects like English, math, sciences, languages, and humanities.
| EBacc Results | School | LA | England |
|---|---|---|---|
| Entering EBacc | 23% | 22.09% | 24.73% |
| Achieving the EBacc at grade 5 or above | 15% 1 | 9.48% | 11.33% |
| Achieving the EBacc at grade 4 or above | 21% 7 | 13.88% | 16.01% |
| EBacc average points score | 4.47 | 2.77 | 2.84 |
Find out where our Key Stage 4 graduates are going next. Explore their different paths after finishing school – whether it's sixth form, starting work, or other adventures as they move forward.
| Pupil destinations | School | LA | England |
|---|---|---|---|
| Pupils staying in education or employment | 99% | 74.96% | 84.87% |
| Total number of pupils included in destination measures | 189 | 124 | 140 |
| Pupils staying in education | 94% | 63.04% | 73.88% |
| Further education college or other further education provider | 29% | 21.04% | 28.31% |
| School sixth forms | 39% | 22.57% | 31.6% |
| Sixth form colleges | - | 9.17% | 9.08% |
| Other education destinations | - | 7.17% | 5.87% |
| Pupils in apprenticeships | 4% | 3.04% | 2.96% |
| Pupils staying in employment | 2% | 2.78% | 2.05% |
Discover school's performance with the Attainment 8 and Progress 8 scores. Attainment 8 reflects pupil achievement in 8 qualifications, while Progress 8 measures their progress from key stage 2 to 4, compared to peers across England.
| School scores | School | Description |
|---|---|---|
| Progress 8 score | -0.05 | This score shows how much progress pupils at this school made across 8 qualifications between the end of key stage 2 and the end of key stage 4. |
| Attainment 8 score | 48.8 | Schools get a score based on how well pupils have performed in up to 8 qualifications. |
Explore the percentage of pupils who attained grade 5 or higher & grade 4 or higher in their English and math GCSEs. This metric reflects their proficiency in these fundamental subjects.
| GCSE Results | School | LA | England |
|---|---|---|---|
| Grade 5 or above in English & Maths GCSEs | 44% | 22.97% | 29.55% |
| Grade 4 or above in English & Maths GCSEs | 71% | 37.35% | 43.07% |
The English Baccalaureate (EBacc) ensures your child's well-rounded education. It includes essential subjects like English, math, sciences, languages, and humanities.
| EBacc Results | School | LA | England |
|---|---|---|---|
| Entering EBacc | 23% | 21.79% | 25.25% |
| Achieving the EBacc at grade 5 or above | 14% | 12.15% | 14.71% |
| Achieving the EBacc at grade 4 or above | 14% | 14.12% | 16.26% |
| EBacc average points score | - | - | - |
Find out where our Key Stage 4 graduates are going next. Explore their different paths after finishing school – whether it's sixth form, starting work, or other adventures as they move forward.
| Pupil destinations | School | LA | England |
|---|---|---|---|
| Pupils staying in education or employment | 96% | 74.09% | 85.29% |
| Total number of pupils included in destination measures | 192 | 127 | 145 |
| Pupils staying in education | 94% | 53.52% | 58.19% |
| Further education college or other further education provider | 28% | 27.13% | 30.58% |
| School sixth forms | 47% | 23.96% | 32.22% |
| Sixth form colleges | 17% | 6.96% | 8.95% |
| Other education destinations | 2% | 3.96% | 5.7% |
| Pupils in apprenticeships | 6% | 4.83% | 4.78% |
| Pupils staying in employment | 2% | 2.87% | 2.45% |
A level exam result
Explore their results and progress scores, showing how they've grown and achieved during this important stage of their education.
| A level Result | School | LA | England |
|---|---|---|---|
| Average points | 31.68 | 30.41 | 30.01 |
| Average grade | C+ | - | - |
| Average points (Best 3) | 31.61 | 29.83 | 29.57 |
| Average Grade (Best 3) | C | - | - |
| AAB or higher | 8.60% | 13.82% | 13.67% |
Discover where pupils headed after A-levels. Explore who either stayed in education or went into employment.
| Students destinations | School | LA | England |
|---|---|---|---|
| Number of students | 84 | 146 | 201 |
| Students staying in education | 64% | 61.64% | 58.58% |
| Students entering apprenticeships | 6% | 5.21% | 6.08% |
| Students entering employment | 15% | 23.29% | 21.16% |
| Students not in education or employment for at least two terms after study | 6% | 6.21% | 9.05% |
Explore their results and progress scores, showing how they've grown and achieved during this important stage of their education.
| A level Result | School | LA | England |
|---|---|---|---|
| Average points | 34.51 | 36.08 | 33.41 |
| Average grade | C+ | - | - |
| Average points (Best 3) | 34.17 | 32.07 | 32.47 |
| Average Grade (Best 3) | C+ | - | - |
| AAB or higher | 11.5% | 19.71% | 17.7% |
Discover where pupils headed after A-levels. Explore who either stayed in education or went into employment.
| Students destinations | School | LA | England |
|---|---|---|---|
| Number of students | 102 | 138 | 248 |
| Students staying in education | 62% | 59% | 60.67% |
| Students entering apprenticeships | 3% | 4.86% | 5% |
| Students entering employment | 22% | 19.79% | 17.73% |
| Students not in education or employment for at least two terms after study | 8% | 8.79% | 10.69% |
Exam Result Not Published
Due to the pandemic, 2020 and 2021 A level school exam
results were not published at school level.
Exam Result Not Published
Due to the pandemic, 2020 and 2021 A level school exam
results were not published at school level.
Explore their results and progress scores, showing how they've grown and achieved during this important stage of their education.
| A level Result | School | LA | England |
|---|---|---|---|
| Average points | 33.03 2 | 32.67 | 29.39 |
| Average grade | C+ | - | - |
| Average points (Best 3) | 31.77 1 | 29.81 | 28.64 |
| Average Grade (Best 3) | C+ | - | - |
| AAB or higher | 11.3% | 16.63% | 13.07% |
Discover where pupils headed after A-levels. Explore who either stayed in education or went into employment.
| Students destinations | School | LA | England |
|---|---|---|---|
| Number of students | 95 | 176 | 232 |
| Students staying in education | 78% | 63.91% | 57.31% |
| Students entering apprenticeships | 3% | 6.45% | 7.77% |
| Students entering employment | 13% | 20.82% | 20.99% |
| Students not in education or employment for at least two terms after study | 5% | 6.27% | 8.8% |
Explore their results and progress scores, showing how they've grown and achieved during this important stage of their education.
| A level Result | School | LA | England |
|---|---|---|---|
| Average points | 31.42 1 | 30.48 | 29.03 |
| Average grade | C | - | - |
| Average points (Best 3) | 30.90 5 | 30.5 | 28.82 |
| Average Grade (Best 3) | C | - | - |
| AAB or higher | 12.9% | 16.25% | 13.37% |
Discover where pupils headed after A-levels. Explore who either stayed in education or went into employment.
| Students destinations | School | LA | England |
|---|---|---|---|
| Number of students | - | 1 | 3 |
| Students staying in education | 16 | 21.4% | 31.5% |
| Students entering apprenticeships | 13% | 8.1% | 5.54% |
| Students entering employment | 16% | 20% | 15.81% |
| Students not in education or employment for at least two terms after study | - | 2.3% | 4.22% |
Explore their results and progress scores, showing how they've grown and achieved during this important stage of their education.
| A level Result | School | LA | England |
|---|---|---|---|
| Average points | 32.56 | 29.45 | 26.73 |
| Average grade | C+ | - | - |
| Average points (Best 3) | 35.1 | 28.93 | 27.73 |
| Average Grade (Best 3) | B- | - | - |
| AAB or higher | 21.8% | 15.52% | 12.64% |
Discover where pupils headed after A-levels. Explore who either stayed in education or went into employment.
| Students destinations | School | LA | England |
|---|---|---|---|
| Number of students | - | 0 | 3 |
| Students staying in education | 22 | 19.2% | 36.26% |
| Students entering apprenticeships | 7% | 6.1% | 6.37% |
| Students entering employment | 21% | 19.5% | 20.03% |
| Students not in education or employment for at least two terms after study | 3% | 2.3% | 4.23% |
Best Schools 2025
St Nicholas Catholic High School Rankings
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Admission
Holidays & terms
Holidays 2024/25
| Holidays | Date |
|---|---|
| Autumn Half Term Holidays | 28th Oct 2024 - 1st Nov 2024 |
| Winter Holidays | 23rd Dec 2024 - 3rd Jan 2025 |
| Spring Half Term Holidays | 17th Feb 2025 - 21st Feb 2025 |
| Spring Holidays | 7th Apr 2025 - 22nd Apr 2025 |
| Summer Half Term Holidays | 26th May 2025 - 30th May 2025 |
| Summer Holidays | 24th Jul 2025 - 2nd Sep 2025 |
Terms Dates 2024/25
| Terms | Dates |
|---|---|
| Autumn Term | 2nd Sep 2024 - 27th Oct 2024 |
| Autumn Term-2 | 2nd Nov 2024 - 22nd Dec 2024 |
| Spring Term | 4th Jan 2025 - 16th Feb 2025 |
| Spring Term-2 | 22nd Feb 2025 - 6th Apr 2025 |
| Summer Term | 23rd Apr 2025 - 25th May 2025 |
| Summer Term-2 | 31st May 2025 - 23rd Jul 2025 |
Students Teachers
16 : 1
Student teacher ratio at St Nicholas Catholic High School
Local authority ratio 18 : 1