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OpenSecondaryOfsted: Expected standardURN 106142

St James' Catholic High School

Voluntary aided school · Cheadle · SK8 6PZ

Ages 11–16 · 824 pupils · Stockport

School website

Ofsted

Expected standard

Attainment 8

52.9

Overall absence

5.6%

Admissions demand

1.00 · Balanced demand

Ofsted

Latest published inspection outcomes — not a ranking.

Read full report

Headline

Expected standard

Inspection date

2026-04-28

  • AchievementExpected standard
  • Curriculum and teachingExpected standard
  • InclusionExpected standard
  • Attendance and behaviourExpected standard
  • Personal development and wellbeingStrong standard
  • Leadership and governanceExpected standard

Safeguarding standards: Met

Source: Ofsted monthly management information

Performance

Official school-level results. Figures are not rankings — suppressed values are omitted.

Key stage 4 (2023/24)

Progress 8+0.23
−20+2
Attainment 852.9
English & maths grade 5+59%
English & maths grade 4+77%
EBacc entry45%

EBacc APS: 4.7

Source: DfE school and college performance tables

Absence

Academic year 2023/24. Persistent absence means 10%+ of sessions missed. Lower figures are better.

Overall absence5.6%
Persistent absence (10%+)14.3%
Unauthorised0.7%
Authorised absence
4.9%
Severe absence (50%+)
1.2%
Enrolments in measure
835

Absence trend

2021/22

2022/23

2023/24

  • Overall
  • Persistent (10%+)

Source: DfE pupil absence in schools in England

Admissions demand

Coordinated admissions for secondary entry (2024/25 cycle, national offer day). Demand ratio compares families who listed this school 1st with total offers made — not a catchment or distance guarantee.

Demand ratio

1.00 · Balanced demand

1st preferences

162

Places offered

163

1st-preference offers

136

Total preferences (any rank)
639
Preferred offers (top 3)
163
Applications from outside LA
107
Offers to outside-LA applicants
34
Admissions policy (GIAS)
Non-selective

Source: DfE primary and secondary school applications and offers. Figures reflect offers on national offer day; late applications, appeals and waiting lists are not included.

Size & intake

From the GIAS school census (15 Jan 2026).

Capacity fill100%

824 pupils · 825 places

Pupils on roll
824
Boys / girls
395 / 429
School capacity
825
Capacity fill
824 / 825 (100%)
Free school meals
15.1%
FSM pupils
124
Admissions policy
Non-selective
Gender
Mixed
School type
Voluntary aided school

Age range

Ages 11–16

05111619

Provision

Official GIAS characteristics

0 / 6

  • Nursery
  • Sixth form
  • Boarding
  • Special school
  • Independent
  • Academy

School characteristics

Religious character
Roman Catholic
Diocese
Diocese of Shrewsbury
Special classes
No Special Classes
Governance
Voluntary aided school
Headteacher
Mr Anthony Pontifex

Location

Address
St James' Way, Cheadle Hulme
Postcode
SK8 6PZ
Town
Cheadle
County
Cheshire
Local authority
Stockport
District
Stockport
Constituency
Cheadle
Urban/rural
Urban: Nearer to a major town or city

Local context

How this school sits among open establishments in its area, using official GIAS records. These are counts, not rankings.

Mixed voluntary aided school (secondary), Ages 11–16, in Cheadle, Stockport, 824 pupils on roll. Notable characteristics: non-selective admissions. Free school meals: 15.1%. Religious character: Roman Catholic. Diocese: Diocese of Shrewsbury.

Open schools in Cheadle
25
Secondary schools in Cheadle
4
Academies among open schools in Cheadle
24% (6)
Open schools in SK8
33
Secondary in SK8
4
Open schools in Stockport LA
137
Secondary in Stockport LA
14

Nearby secondary schools

Open schools within about 3 miles, prioritising the same phase where possible. Distances are approximate from GIAS coordinates.

Compare with theseAll in CheadleNear SK8

  • Cheadle Hulme High School

    Ofsted: Not judged

    Academy converter · Secondary

    Cheadle · SK8 7JY · Stockport

    Ages 11–18

    • Att859.7
    • P80.9
    • EM5+72%
    • Absence6.1%

    0.6 miles away

  • Laurus Cheadle Hulme

    Ofsted: Outstanding

    Free schools · Secondary

    Cheadle · SK8 5GB · Stockport

    Ages 11–16

    • Att854.6
    • P80.5
    • EM5+59%
    • Absence8.4%

    1.5 miles away

  • Bramhall High School

    Ofsted: Good

    Community school · Secondary

    Stockport · SK7 2JT · Stockport

    Ages 11–16

    • Att848.9
    • P8-0.1
    • EM5+47%
    • Absence7.5%

    2.0 miles away

  • The Kingsway School

    Ofsted: Expected standard

    Academy converter · Secondary

    Cheadle · SK8 4QX · Stockport

    Ages 11–16

    • Att845.0
    • P8-0.3
    • EM5+42%
    • Absence10.0%

    2.2 miles away

  • Hazel Grove High School

    Ofsted: Expected standard

    Academy converter · Secondary

    Stockport · SK7 5JX · Stockport

    Ages 11–18

    • Att848.2
    • P80.2
    • EM5+48%
    • Absence8.7%

    2.7 miles away

  • Stockport Academy

    Ofsted: Not judged

    Academy sponsor led · Secondary

    Stockport · SK3 0UP · Stockport

    Ages 11–16

    • Att846.6
    • P80.2
    • EM5+39%
    • Absence8.4%

    2.8 miles away

  • Wilmslow High School

    Ofsted: Standards maintained

    Community school · Secondary

    Wilmslow · SK9 1LZ · Cheshire East

    Ages 11–18

    • Att852.5
    • P80.2
    • EM5+58%
    • Absence7.4%

    2.9 miles away

New to reading school data? See Ofsted ratings explained and how to compare schools.

Contact

Headteacher
Mr Anthony Pontifex
Telephone
01614826900
Website
http://www.stjamescheadle.co.uk

Official links