SchoolScoresEllesmere Port Catholic High School, a Voluntary Academy
Academy · Secondary, ages 11 to 18 · Mixed · Roman Catholic · Sixth form
Part of OUR LADY HELP OF CHRISTIANS CATHOLIC ACADEMY TRUST
Capenhurst Lane, Whitby, Ellesmere Port, CH65 7AQ
0151 355 2373 · Map and directions
Ofsted inspection
Ofsted report card from the inspection that started on 28 April 2026 , published 22 June 2026.
In short: 3 expected, 4 needs attention, and safeguarding met.
Since November 2025 Ofsted grades each area on a five-point scale instead of giving one overall grade. How report cards work.
| Area | Grade |
|---|---|
| SafeguardingWhether pupils are kept safe. Met or not met. | Met |
| InclusionHow well the school supports disadvantaged pupils and pupils with special educational needs. | Needs attention Fourth of five grades. Below the expected standard; the school needs to improve this. |
| Curriculum and teachingWhat pupils are taught and how well they are taught it. | Needs attention Fourth of five grades. Below the expected standard; the school needs to improve this. |
| AchievementHow well pupils learn and the results they get. | Needs attention Fourth of five grades. Below the expected standard; the school needs to improve this. |
| Attendance and behaviourWhether pupils come to school and how they behave. | Needs attention Fourth of five grades. Below the expected standard; the school needs to improve this. |
| Personal development and wellbeingPupils' wider development, character and wellbeing. | Expected standard Middle of five grades. Meets the standard Ofsted expects. |
| Post-16 provisionSixth form or other study after 16. | Expected standard Middle of five grades. Meets the standard Ofsted expects. |
| Leadership and governanceHow well leaders and governors run the school. | Expected standard Middle of five grades. Meets the standard Ofsted expects. |
Read the full Ofsted reports for this school
Source: Ofsted state-funded schools inspection data.
Results
GCSEs (key stage 4, age 16), 2024/25
170 pupils in this year group.
21% — 22 points below the Cheshire West and Chester average, and 25 points below the England average.
| Measure | This school | Cheshire West and Chester | England |
|---|---|---|---|
| Grade 5 or above in English and maths | 21% | 42% | 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. | 36.9 | 44.6 | 46.1 |
| EBacc average point scoreAverage points across the English Baccalaureate subjects: English, maths, sciences, a language and history or geography. | 3.2 | 4.0 | 4.1 |
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.
A levels (16 to 18), 2024/25
42 A level students in this year group.
| Measure | This school | Cheshire West and Chester | England |
|---|---|---|---|
| Average A level grade | C- | B- | B- |
| A level exams graded A* or A | 8% | 35% | 26% |
| A level exams graded A* to B | 32% | 62% | 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. | 28.2 | 38.1 | 35 |
A level subjects, 2024/25
13 subjects, 106 exams. England figures are for state-funded schools and colleges.
| Subject | Exams | A* | A* or A | England A* or A |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Psychology | 23 | 0% | 0% | 19% |
| Business Studies:Single | 10 | 0% | 10% | 16% |
| Mathematics | 10 | 10% | 20% | 40% |
| Sociology | 10 | 0% | 20% | 20% |
| History | 9 | 0% | 0% | 23% |
| Biology | 8 | 0% | 0% | 27% |
| Chemistry | 7 | 0% | 14% | 30% |
| English Literature | 7 | 0% | 0% | 23% |
| Computer Studies / Computing | 6 | 0% | 0% | 24% |
| Physics | 6 | 17% | 17% | 31% |
Also taken, with too few exams for DfE to publish grades: Government and Politics, Physical Education / Sports Studies, Art and Design.
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.
Admissions
Apply through the council where you live, even if the school is in a different council area. This school is in Cheshire West and Chester. 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 offered | 152 |
|---|---|
| Families who put it first | 145 |
| Of those, offered a place | 145 (100%) |
| Families who listed it at all | 325 |
First-choice applications per place: 2024: 0.9 · 2025: 0.9 · 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.
This is a Roman Catholic school. When it has more applicants than places it can give priority to families of the faith, for example those who can show regular worship. Check the school's admissions policy to see how places are allocated.
Pupils, staff and SEND
| Pupils | This school | Cheshire West and Chester | England |
|---|---|---|---|
| Eligible for free school meals in the last 6 years 2nd highest of 3 state secondary schools in Ellesmere Port. Higher than 73% of 3,448 state secondary schools in England. | 37.8% | 22.8%* | 28.9% |
| With an education, health and care plan 1st highest of 3 state secondary schools in Ellesmere Port. Higher than 93% of 3,448 state secondary schools in England. | 6.2% | 3.3%* | 3.1% |
| Receiving special educational needs support 1st highest of 3 state secondary schools in Ellesmere Port. Higher than 69% of 3,448 state secondary schools in England. | 16.4% | 12.3%* | 13.4% |
| English as an additional language 2nd highest of 3 state secondary schools in Ellesmere Port. Higher than 38% of 3,448 state secondary schools in England. | 8.3% | 7.0%* | 19.2% |
| Overall absence (sessions missed) 2nd lowest of 3 state secondary schools in Ellesmere Port. Lower than 14% of 3,411 state secondary schools in England. | 11.0% | 9.0%* | 8.4% |
| Persistently absent (missed 10% or more) 3rd lowest of 3 state secondary schools in Ellesmere Port. Lower than 13% of 3,411 state secondary schools in England. | 32.9% | 24.2%* | 23.4% |
| Suspensions per 100 pupils 1st lowest of 3 state secondary schools in Ellesmere Port. Lower than 66% of 3,445 state secondary schools in England. | 9.3 | 22.9 | 21.2 |
| Pupils suspended at least once 1st lowest of 3 state secondary schools in Ellesmere Port. Lower than 60% of 3,445 state secondary schools in England. | 5.6% | 7.2% | 7.3% |
| Pupils permanently excluded4 pupils | 0.41% | 0.24% | 0.23% |
| Pupils per teacher 2nd highest of 3 state secondary schools in Ellesmere Port. Higher than 10% of 3,442 state secondary schools in England. | 14.4 | 16.2 | 16.7 |
| Pupils per adult (teachers and support staff) 2nd highest of 3 state secondary schools in Ellesmere Port. Higher than 13% of 3,445 state secondary schools in England. | 9.9 | 11.3 | 11.8 |
| Teachers who left during the year 3rd highest of 3 state secondary schools in Ellesmere Port. Higher than 13% of 3,430 state secondary schools in England. | 7.3% | 11.7%* | 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
- Ellesmere Port Church of England College 0.5 miles · Ofsted: Good (2023) · 26% grade 5+ English and maths
- The Whitby High School 0.5 miles · Ofsted: Good (2022) · 31% grade 5+ English and maths
Straight-line distance. Distance isn't the same as a catchment area.
Questions parents ask
What is Ellesmere Port Catholic High School, a Voluntary Academy's Ofsted rating?
Ellesmere Port Catholic High School, a Voluntary Academy was inspected under Ofsted's report card format in 28 April 2026. Report cards grade each area on a five-point scale instead of giving one overall grade. Its grades were 3 expected, 4 needs attention, and safeguarding was met.
How did Ellesmere Port Catholic High School, a Voluntary Academy do in its GCSEs?
In 2024/25, 21% of pupils grade 5 or above in English and maths, 25 points below the England average of 45%.
Is Ellesmere Port Catholic High School, a Voluntary Academy oversubscribed?
For the September 2026 intake, 145 families put Ellesmere Port Catholic High School, a Voluntary Academy as their first choice for 152 places: about one first-choice application for every place. 145 of those families were offered a place. Whether you get a place depends on the school's admissions rules and where you live.
Sources
- School details: Get Information about Schools (DfE), 26 September 2026. URN 149631.
- Inspections: Ofsted management information, data to 31 August 2026.
- Results: DfE school performance tables, GCSEs 2024/25, A levels 2024/25.
Spotted a mistake? Report it and we'll check it against the source.
Page updated 26 September 2026.