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OpenSecondaryOfsted: GoodURN 111450

St Nicholas Catholic High School

Voluntary aided school · Northwich · CW8 1JW

Ages 11–18 · 1,201 pupils · Cheshire West and Chester

School website

Ofsted

Good

Attainment 8

49.9

Overall absence

8.8%

Admissions demand

1.00 · Balanced demand

Ofsted

Latest published inspection outcomes — not a ranking.

Read full report

Headline

Good

Inspection date

2024-03-05

Overall effectiveness
Good
Quality of education
Good
Behaviour and attitudes
Good
Personal development
Good
Leadership and management
Good
Safeguarding effective
Yes

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+0.17
−20+2
Attainment 849.9
English & maths grade 5+52%
English & maths grade 4+76%
EBacc entry65%

EBacc APS: 4.5

Source: DfE school and college performance tables

Absence

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

Overall absence8.8%
Persistent absence (10%+)25.2%
Unauthorised2.0%
Authorised absence
6.8%
Severe absence (50%+)
3.6%
Enrolments in measure
1,082

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

218

Places offered

218

1st-preference offers

204

Total preferences (any rank)
438
Preferred offers (top 3)
218
Applications from outside LA
42
Offers to outside-LA applicants
21
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 fill97%

1,201 pupils · 1,240 places

Pupils on roll
1,201
Boys / girls
617 / 584
School capacity
1,240
Capacity fill
1,201 / 1,240 (97%)
Free school meals
13.9%
FSM pupils
148
Admissions policy
Non-selective
Gender
Mixed
School type
Voluntary aided school

Age range

Ages 11–18

05111619

Provision

Official GIAS characteristics

1 / 6

  • Nursery
  • Sixth formHas a 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 Craig Burns

Location

Address
Greenbank Lane, Hartford
Postcode
CW8 1JW
Town
Northwich
County
Cheshire
Local authority
Cheshire West and Chester
District
Cheshire West and Chester
Constituency
Mid Cheshire
Urban/rural
Urban: Nearer to a major town or city

SEN & specialist provision

As recorded in GIAS — provision detail, not an Ofsted judgement.

SEN types
ASD - Autistic Spectrum Disorder
Special classes
No Special Classes
Resourced provision
Resourced provision
Resourced places
15 on roll / 15 capacity

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 11–18, in Northwich, Cheshire West and Chester, 1,201 pupils on roll. Notable characteristics: sixth form, non-selective admissions. Free school meals: 13.9%. SEN provision includes: ASD - Autistic Spectrum Disorder. Religious character: Roman Catholic. Diocese: Diocese of Shrewsbury.

Open schools in Northwich
43
Secondary schools in Northwich
5
Academies among open schools in Northwich
44% (19)
Open schools in CW8
24
Secondary in CW8
3
Open schools in Cheshire West and Chester LA
184
Secondary in Cheshire West and Chester LA
20

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 NorthwichNear CW8

  • Hartford Church of England High School

    Ofsted: Good

    Voluntary aided school · Secondary

    Northwich · CW8 1LH · Cheshire West and Chester

    Ages 11–16

    • Att847.1
    • P8-0.1
    • EM5+53%
    • Absence9.0%

    0.4 miles away

  • The County High School, Leftwich

    Ofsted: Expected standard

    Academy converter · Secondary

    Northwich · CW9 8EZ · Cheshire West and Chester

    Ages 11–16

    • Att853.7
    • P80.6
    • EM5+61%
    • Absence7.7%

    0.9 miles away

  • The Rudheath Senior Academy

    Ofsted: School remains Good

    Academy sponsor led · Secondary

    Northwich · CW9 7DT · Cheshire West and Chester

    Ages 11–16

    • Att837.2
    • P8-0.2
    • EM5+27%
    • Absence12.4%

    1.9 miles away

  • Weaverham High School

    Ofsted: Expected standard

    Academy converter · Secondary

    Northwich · CW8 3HT · Cheshire West and Chester

    Ages 11–16

    • Att852.9
    • P80.2
    • EM5+62%
    • Absence8.1%

    2.4 miles away

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

Contact

Headteacher
Mr Craig Burns
Telephone
01606706000
Website
st-nicholas.cheshire.sch.uk

Official links