SchoolScoresNeston High School
Academy · Secondary, ages 11 to 18 · Mixed · Sixth form
Part of NESTON HIGH SCHOOL
Raby Park Road, Neston, CH64 9NH
0151 336 3902 · School website · Map and directions
Ofsted inspection
Ofsted rated this school Good at the inspection that started on 15 May 2013.
This inspection used Ofsted's older format with four grades: Outstanding, Good, Requires improvement and Inadequate. Newer inspections use report cards. What changed.
| Area | Grade |
|---|---|
| Quality of education | Good |
| Outcomes for pupils | Good |
| Leadership and management | Good |
Since then, a shorter ungraded inspection on 9 February 2022: Ofsted found the school was still Good.
Read the full Ofsted reports for this school
Source: Ofsted state-funded schools inspection data.
Results
GCSEs (key stage 4, age 16), 2024/25
299 pupils in this year group.
37% — 6 points below the Cheshire West and Chester average, and 9 points below the England average.
| Measure | This school | Cheshire West and Chester | England |
|---|---|---|---|
| Grade 5 or above in English and maths | 37% | 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. | 43.4 | 44.6 | 46.1 |
| EBacc average point scoreAverage points across the English Baccalaureate subjects: English, maths, sciences, a language and history or geography. | 3.7 | 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.
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.
301 pupils in this year group.
95% — 4 points above the Cheshire West and Chester average, and 3 points above the England average.
| Measure | This school | Cheshire West and Chester | England |
|---|---|---|---|
| Stayed in education, an apprenticeship or workPupils recorded in sustained education, apprenticeship or employment in the year after finishing Year 11. | 95% | 91% | 92% |
| School sixth form | 39% | 32% | 34% |
| Sixth form college | 13% | 15% | 13% |
| Further education college | 32% | 34% | 37% |
| Apprenticeship | 5% | 4% | 3% |
| Work | 3% | 4% | 3% |
Stayed in education, an apprenticeship or work, over time
| 2023/24 | 2024/25 |
|---|---|
| 94% | 95% |
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
95 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 | 7% | 35% | 26% |
| A level exams graded A* to B | 31% | 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. | 29.0 | 38.1 | 35 |
A level subjects, 2024/25
20 subjects, 217 exams. England figures are for state-funded schools and colleges.
| Subject | Exams | A* | A* or A | England A* or A |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Media/Film/Tv Studies | 30 | 0% | 3% | 14% |
| Mathematics | 27 | 4% | 11% | 40% |
| Business Studies:Single | 21 | 0% | 5% | 16% |
| English Literature | 19 | 5% | 11% | 23% |
| History | 15 | 0% | 0% | 23% |
| Biology | 11 | 0% | 0% | 27% |
| English Language | 11 | 0% | 9% | 13% |
| Physics | 11 | 0% | 9% | 31% |
| Art and Design (Graphics) | 10 | 0% | 10% | 32% |
| Geography | 10 | 0% | 0% | 23% |
| Spanish | 9 | 0% | 11% | 34% |
| Chemistry | 8 | 0% | 0% | 30% |
| Psychology | 8 | 0% | 0% | 19% |
| Sociology | 6 | 0% | 17% | 20% |
Also taken, with too few exams for DfE to publish grades: Physical Education / Sports Studies, Religious Studies, Art and Design (Photography), German, Computer Studies / Computing, Mathematics (Further).
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.
120 students in this year group.
82% — 8 points below the Cheshire West and Chester average, and 3 points above the England average.
| Measure | This school | Cheshire West and Chester | England |
|---|---|---|---|
| Stayed in education, an apprenticeship or workStudents recorded in sustained education, apprenticeship or employment in the year after finishing 16 to 18 study. | 82% | 90% | 79% |
| Apprenticeship | 9% | 6% | 7% |
| Work | 33% | 25% | 28% |
Stayed in education, an apprenticeship or work, over time
| 2023/24 | 2024/25 |
|---|---|
| 92% | 82% |
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.
142 students in this year group.
59% — 12 points below the Cheshire West and Chester average, and about the same as the England average.
| Measure | This school | Cheshire West and Chester | England |
|---|---|---|---|
| Went on to a degree or other higher education | 59% | 71% | 60% |
| Went to one of the most selective third of universitiesDfE's grouping of universities by the typical entry grades of their students. | 16% | 35% | 19% |
Went on to a degree or other higher education, over time
| 2023/24 | 2024/25 |
|---|---|
| 65% | 59% |
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 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 | 302 |
|---|---|
| Families who put it first | 294 |
| Of those, offered a place | 285 (97%) |
| Families who listed it at all | 647 |
First-choice applications per place: 2024: 1.0 · 2025: 1.0 · 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.
Pupils, staff and SEND
| Pupils | This school | Cheshire West and Chester | England |
|---|---|---|---|
| Eligible for free school meals in the last 6 years 10th highest of 20 state secondary schools in Cheshire West and Chester. Higher than 29% of 3,448 state secondary schools in England. | 19.5% | 22.8%* | 28.9% |
| With an education, health and care plan 8th highest of 20 state secondary schools in Cheshire West and Chester. Higher than 67% of 3,448 state secondary schools in England. | 3.7% | 3.3%* | 3.1% |
| Receiving special educational needs support 11th highest of 20 state secondary schools in Cheshire West and Chester. Higher than 42% of 3,448 state secondary schools in England. | 12.7% | 12.3%* | 13.4% |
| English as an additional language 16th highest of 20 state secondary schools in Cheshire West and Chester. Higher than 7% of 3,448 state secondary schools in England. | 2.2% | 7.0%* | 19.2% |
| Overall absence (sessions missed) 10th lowest of 20 state secondary schools in Cheshire West and Chester. Lower than 49% of 3,411 state secondary schools in England. | 8.4% | 9.0%* | 8.4% |
| Persistently absent (missed 10% or more) 10th lowest of 20 state secondary schools in Cheshire West and Chester. Lower than 52% of 3,411 state secondary schools in England. | 23.2% | 24.2%* | 23.4% |
| Suspensions per 100 pupils 13th lowest of 20 state secondary schools in Cheshire West and Chester. Lower than 45% of 3,445 state secondary schools in England. | 16.6 | 22.9 | 21.2 |
| Pupils suspended at least once 12th lowest of 20 state secondary schools in Cheshire West and Chester. Lower than 48% of 3,445 state secondary schools in England. | 7.0% | 7.2% | 7.3% |
| Pupils permanently excluded7 pupils | 0.41% | 0.24% | 0.23% |
| Pupils per teacher 13th highest of 20 state secondary schools in Cheshire West and Chester. Higher than 30% of 3,442 state secondary schools in England. | 15.9 | 16.2 | 16.7 |
| Pupils per adult (teachers and support staff) Joint 11th highest of 20 state secondary schools in Cheshire West and Chester. Higher than 37% of 3,445 state secondary schools in England. | 11.3 | 11.3 | 11.8 |
| Teachers who left during the year 15th highest of 20 state secondary schools in Cheshire West and Chester. Higher than 17% of 3,430 state secondary schools in England. | 8.0% | 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.
Questions parents ask
What is Neston High School's Ofsted rating?
Neston High School was rated Good by Ofsted at its inspection in 15 May 2013. At a shorter ungraded inspection in 9 February 2022, Ofsted found the school was still Good.
How did Neston High School do in its GCSEs?
In 2024/25, 37% of pupils grade 5 or above in English and maths, 9 points below the England average of 45%.
Is Neston High School oversubscribed?
For the September 2026 intake, 294 families put Neston High School as their first choice for 302 places: about one first-choice application for every place. 285 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 138318.
- Inspections: Ofsted management information, data to 31 August 2026.
- Results: DfE school performance tables, GCSEs 2024/25, After Year 11 2024/25, A levels 2024/25, After sixth form 2024/25, Going on to university 2024/25.
Spotted a mistake? Report it and we'll check it against the source.
Page updated 26 September 2026.