Congleton High School

Academy · Secondary, ages 11 to 18 · Mixed · Sixth form

Part of THE LEARNING PARTNERSHIP ACADEMIES TRUST

Box Lane, Congleton, CW12 4NS

01260 730123 · School website · Map and directions

OfstedGoodInspected 16 December 2014; confirmed 2023
Grade 5 or above in English and maths41%England 45% · 2024/25
14th highest of 23 state secondary schools in Cheshire East.
Higher than 42% of 3,259 state secondary schools in England.
Pupils1,174Room for 1,236 Pupil numbers in January of each year: 1,189 in 2019, 1,263 in 2021, 1,266 in 2022, 1,275 in 2023, 1,268 in 2024, 1,211 in 2025, 1,174 in 2026. Across England, secondary state school pupil numbers were up 10% from 2019 to 2025.
First-choice applications per place1.0147 for 149 places, September 2026
12th highest of 21 state secondary schools in Cheshire East.
Higher than 58% of 3,219 state secondary schools in England.

Ofsted inspection

Ofsted rated this school Good at the inspection that started on 16 December 2014.

This inspection used Ofsted's older format with four grades: Outstanding, Good, Requires improvement and Inadequate. Newer inspections use report cards. What changed.

AreaGrade
Quality of educationGood
Outcomes for pupilsGood
Leadership and managementGood
Sixth formGood

Since then, a shorter ungraded inspection on 3 February 2023: Ofsted found the school was still Good.

Read the full Ofsted reports for this school

Source: Ofsted state-funded schools inspection data.

We'll ask you to confirm. One email per change, and you can unsubscribe at any time. Privacy.

Results

GCSEs (key stage 4, age 16), 2024/25

195 pupils in this year group.

41% — 4 points below the Cheshire East average, and 4 points below the England average.

MeasureThis schoolCheshire EastEngland
Grade 5 or above in English and maths 41% 45% 45%
Attainment 8 scoreAverage of each pupil's grades across 8 GCSE-level subjects, with English and maths counted twice. Around 50 means grade 5s on average. 44.8 47.1 46.1
EBacc average point scoreAverage points across the English Baccalaureate subjects: English, maths, sciences, a language and history or geography. 3.9 4.1 4.1
Grade 5 or above in English and maths, over time
30% 40% 50% 60% England 2022/23: 45%England 2023/24: 46%England 2024/25: 45% This school 2022/23: 38%This school 2023/24: 40%This school 2024/25: 41% This school England 45% 2022/23 38% 2023/24 40% 2024/25 41%

Progress 8 isn't shown. DfE didn't publish it for 2024/25 because this year group's key stage 2 tests in 2020 were cancelled, and older progress scores aren't comparable.

Source: DfE key stage 4 performance tables, 2024/25. England figures are for state-funded schools.

After Year 11

Where pupils went next. DfE measures this for pupils who finished in an earlier year, so these figures describe a previous year group.

191 pupils in this year group.

93% — about the same as the Cheshire East average, and about the same as the England average.

Where pupils went after Year 11
This school 50%27%
England 34%13%37%
MeasureThis schoolCheshire EastEngland
Stayed in education, an apprenticeship or workPupils recorded in sustained education, apprenticeship or employment in the year after finishing Year 11. 93% 94% 92%
School sixth form 50% 40% 34%
Sixth form college 5% 7% 13%
Further education college 27% 40% 37%
Apprenticeship 6% 3% 3%
Work 4% 3% 3%

Stayed in education, an apprenticeship or work, over time

2023/242024/25
98%93%

Source: DfE key stage 4 destination measures, 2024/25 performance tables. England figures are for state-funded schools.

A levels (16 to 18), 2024/25

83 A level students in this year group.

MeasureThis schoolCheshire EastEngland
Average A level grade C+ C+ B-
A level exams graded A* or A 26% 24% 26%
A level exams graded A* to B 45% 50% 53%
Average points per A level entryAn A* is 60 points, an A is 50, a B is 40, and so on down to 10 for an E. 34 33.6 35
Average points per A level entry, over time
25 30 35 40 England 2022/23: 34.2England 2023/24: 34.4England 2024/25: 35 This school 2022/23: 29.0This school 2023/24: 27.8This school 2024/25: 34 This school England 35 2022/23 29.0 2023/24 27.8 2024/25 34

A level subjects, 2024/25

20 subjects, 183 exams. England figures are for state-funded schools and colleges.

SubjectExamsA*A* or AEngland A* or A
Psychology 24 4% 4% 19%
Mathematics 21 24% 43% 40%
Law 16 0% 0% 17%
History 14 0% 36% 23%
Business Studies:Single 13 15% 38% 16%
Sociology 13 0% 0% 20%
Biology 10 0% 20% 27%
Economics 10 10% 10% 26%
Physics 10 0% 60% 31%
Art and Design (Photography) 8 0% 13% 26%
Mathematics (Further) 7 57% 71% 59%
Design and Technology (Engineering) 6 0% 17% 10%

Also taken, with too few exams for DfE to publish grades: Art and Design (Fine Art), Chemistry, English Language, Geography, Computer Studies / Computing, Design and Technology (Product Design), English Literature, Government and Politics.

Source: DfE 16 to 18 qualification and subject data, 2024/25.

Source: DfE 16 to 18 performance tables, 2024/25. England figures are for state-funded schools.

After sixth form

Where pupils went next. DfE measures this for pupils who finished in an earlier year, so these figures describe a previous year group.

132 students in this year group.

86% — 7 points above the Cheshire East average, and 7 points above the England average.

MeasureThis schoolCheshire EastEngland
Stayed in education, an apprenticeship or workStudents recorded in sustained education, apprenticeship or employment in the year after finishing 16 to 18 study. 86% 79% 79%
Apprenticeship 11% 10% 7%
Work 33% 36% 28%

Stayed in education, an apprenticeship or work, over time

2023/242024/25
84%86%

Source: DfE 16 to 18 destination measures, 2024/25 performance tables. England figures are for state-funded schools.

Going on to university

Where pupils went next. DfE measures this for pupils who finished in an earlier year, so these figures describe a previous year group.

120 students in this year group.

50% — about the same as the Cheshire East average, and 10 points below the England average.

MeasureThis schoolCheshire EastEngland
Went on to a degree or other higher education 50% 50% 60%
Went to one of the most selective third of universitiesDfE's grouping of universities by the typical entry grades of their students. 12% 14% 19%

Went on to a degree or other higher education, over time

2023/242024/25
67%50%

Source: DfE 16 to 18 progression to higher education or training, 2024/25 performance tables. England figures are for state-funded schools.

Admissions

Apply through the council where you live, even if the school is in a different council area. This school is in Cheshire East. The national closing date for secondary applications is 31 October, and offers are sent on 1 March.

How hard is it to get in?

For the September 2026 intake there were about one first-choice application for every place.

Places offered149
Families who put it first147
Of those, offered a place146 (99%)
Families who listed it at all310

First-choice applications per place: 2024: 0.9 · 2025: 0.8 · 2026: 1.0

This isn't your chance of getting a place. That depends on the school's admissions rules (for example siblings, distance or faith) and where you live. Source: DfE applications and offers, September 2026 intake.

Admissions dates and schools in Cheshire East

Pupils, staff and SEND

PupilsThis schoolCheshire EastEngland
Eligible for free school meals in the last 6 years
13th highest of 23 state secondary schools in Cheshire East.
Higher than 18% of 3,448 state secondary schools in England.
15.6% 18.9%* 28.9%
With an education, health and care plan
13th highest of 23 state secondary schools in Cheshire East.
Higher than 66% of 3,448 state secondary schools in England.
3.6% 4.2%* 3.1%
Receiving special educational needs support
Joint 13th highest of 23 state secondary schools in Cheshire East.
Higher than 26% of 3,448 state secondary schools in England.
10.6% 10.3%* 13.4%
English as an additional language
22nd highest of 23 state secondary schools in Cheshire East.
Higher than 11% of 3,448 state secondary schools in England.
2.9% 9.3%* 19.2%
Overall absence (sessions missed)
19th lowest of 23 state secondary schools in Cheshire East.
Lower than 27% of 3,411 state secondary schools in England.
9.8% 7.8%* 8.4%
Persistently absent (missed 10% or more)
20th lowest of 23 state secondary schools in Cheshire East.
Lower than 37% of 3,411 state secondary schools in England.
26.1% 20.0%* 23.4%
Suspensions per 100 pupils
13th lowest of 23 state secondary schools in Cheshire East.
Lower than 51% of 3,445 state secondary schools in England.
14.2 17.8 21.2
Pupils suspended at least once
15th lowest of 23 state secondary schools in Cheshire East.
Lower than 57% of 3,445 state secondary schools in England.
5.9% 5.9% 7.3%
Pupils permanently excluded2 pupils 0.17% 0.19% 0.23%
Pupils per teacher
Joint 9th highest of 22 state secondary schools in Cheshire East.
Higher than 45% of 3,442 state secondary schools in England.
16.6 16.4 16.7
Pupils per adult (teachers and support staff)
Joint 11th highest of 22 state secondary schools in Cheshire East.
Higher than 47% of 3,445 state secondary schools in England.
11.7 11.6 11.8
Teachers who left during the year
13th highest of 21 state secondary schools in Cheshire East.
Higher than 32% of 3,430 state secondary schools in England.
10.5% 12.1%* 14.2%*

Comparisons are with secondary schools. Scales run from lower (left) to higher (right) figures. For absence and suspensions lower is better, so their scales run green to red; blue scales describe the school's pupils and staff and aren't good or bad. * Calculated by SchoolScores from the council's or England's schools, weighted by pupils (or teachers, for turnover); other figures are published by DfE. Sources: DfE school census 2024/25; DfE pupil absence 2024/25; DfE suspensions and permanent exclusions 2024/25; DfE school workforce census 2025/26; DfE teacher turnover 2024/25.

Nearby secondary schools

Straight-line distance. Distance isn't the same as a catchment area.

Questions parents ask

What is Congleton High School's Ofsted rating?

Congleton High School was rated Good by Ofsted at its inspection in 16 December 2014. At a shorter ungraded inspection in 3 February 2023, Ofsted found the school was still Good.

How did Congleton High School do in its GCSEs?

In 2024/25, 41% of pupils grade 5 or above in English and maths, 4 points below the England average of 45%.

Is Congleton High School oversubscribed?

For the September 2026 intake, 147 families put Congleton High School as their first choice for 149 places: about one first-choice application for every place. 146 of those families were offered a place. Whether you get a place depends on the school's admissions rules and where you live.

Sources

Spotted a mistake? Report it and we'll check it against the source.

Page updated 26 September 2026.