The County High School, Leftwich

Academy · Secondary, ages 11 to 16 · Mixed

Part of THE SIR JOHN BRUNNER FOUNDATION

Granville Road, Northwich, CW9 8EZ

01606 333300 · School website · Map and directions

Ofsted report card3 strong, 3 expectedSafeguarding met · 2 June 2026
Grade 5 or above in English and maths58%England 45% · 2024/25
1st highest of 5 state secondary schools in Northwich.
Higher than 79% of 3,259 state secondary schools in England.
Pupils1,046Room for 1,050 Pupil numbers in January of each year: 999 in 2019, 997 in 2021, 1,015 in 2022, 1,029 in 2023, 1,035 in 2024, 1,048 in 2025, 1,046 in 2026. Across England, secondary state school pupil numbers were up 10% from 2019 to 2025.
First-choice applications per place1.1226 for 205 places, September 2026
1st highest of 5 state secondary schools in Northwich.
Higher than 74% of 3,219 state secondary schools in England.

Ofsted inspection

Ofsted report card from the inspection that started on 2 June 2026 , published 8 July 2026.

In short: 3 strong, 3 expected, 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.

AreaGrade
SafeguardingWhether pupils are kept safe. Met or not met. Met
InclusionHow well the school supports disadvantaged pupils and pupils with special educational needs. Strong standard Second of five grades. Better than the standard Ofsted expects.
Curriculum and teachingWhat pupils are taught and how well they are taught it. Expected standard Middle of five grades. Meets the standard Ofsted expects.
AchievementHow well pupils learn and the results they get. Expected standard Middle of five grades. Meets the standard Ofsted expects.
Attendance and behaviourWhether pupils come to school and how they behave. Expected standard Middle of five grades. Meets the standard Ofsted expects.
Personal development and wellbeingPupils' wider development, character and wellbeing. Strong standard Second of five grades. Better than the standard Ofsted expects.
Leadership and governanceHow well leaders and governors run the school. Strong standard Second of five grades. Better than the standard Ofsted expects.

Read the full Ofsted reports for this school

Source: Ofsted state-funded schools inspection data.

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Results

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

205 pupils in this year group.

58% — 15 points above the Cheshire West and Chester average, and 12 points above the England average.

MeasureThis schoolCheshire West and ChesterEngland
Grade 5 or above in English and maths 58% 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. 51.9 44.6 46.1
EBacc average point scoreAverage points across the English Baccalaureate subjects: English, maths, sciences, a language and history or geography. 5.0 4.0 4.1
Grade 5 or above in English and maths, over time
40% 50% 60% 70% England 2022/23: 45%England 2023/24: 46%England 2024/25: 45% This school 2022/23: 64%This school 2023/24: 61%This school 2024/25: 58% This school England 45% 2022/23 64% 2023/24 61% 2024/25 58%

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.

200 pupils in this year group.

93% — 2 points above the Cheshire West and Chester average, and about the same as the England average.

Where pupils went after Year 11
This school 53%36%
England 34%13%37%
MeasureThis schoolCheshire West and ChesterEngland
Stayed in education, an apprenticeship or workPupils recorded in sustained education, apprenticeship or employment in the year after finishing Year 11. 93% 91% 92%
School sixth form 1% 32% 34%
Sixth form college 53% 15% 13%
Further education college 36% 34% 37%
Apprenticeship 2% 4% 3%
Work 2% 4% 3%

Stayed in education, an apprenticeship or work, over time

2023/242024/25
96%93%

Source: DfE key stage 4 destination measures, 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 1 first-choice applications for every place.

Places offered205
Families who put it first226
Of those, offered a place205 (91%)
Families who listed it at all466

First-choice applications per place: 2024: 1.2 · 2025: 1.2 · 2026: 1.1

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 West and Chester

Pupils, staff and SEND

PupilsThis schoolCheshire West and ChesterEngland
Eligible for free school meals in the last 6 years
4th highest of 5 state secondary schools in Northwich.
Higher than 19% of 3,448 state secondary schools in England.
15.8% 22.8%* 28.9%
With an education, health and care plan
3rd highest of 5 state secondary schools in Northwich.
Higher than 62% of 3,448 state secondary schools in England.
3.4% 3.3%* 3.1%
Receiving special educational needs support
4th highest of 5 state secondary schools in Northwich.
Higher than 20% of 3,448 state secondary schools in England.
9.7% 12.3%* 13.4%
English as an additional language
3rd highest of 5 state secondary schools in Northwich.
Higher than 29% of 3,448 state secondary schools in England.
6.3% 7.0%* 19.2%
Overall absence (sessions missed)
1st lowest of 5 state secondary schools in Northwich.
Lower than 63% of 3,411 state secondary schools in England.
7.6% 9.0%* 8.4%
Persistently absent (missed 10% or more)
1st lowest of 5 state secondary schools in Northwich.
Lower than 73% of 3,411 state secondary schools in England.
18.4% 24.2%* 23.4%
Suspensions per 100 pupils
3rd lowest of 5 state secondary schools in Northwich.
Lower than 47% of 3,445 state secondary schools in England.
15.7 22.9 21.2
Pupils suspended at least once
3rd lowest of 5 state secondary schools in Northwich.
Lower than 49% of 3,445 state secondary schools in England.
6.9% 7.2% 7.3%
Pupils permanently excluded1 pupil 0.10% 0.24% 0.23%
Pupils per teacher
Joint 2nd highest of 5 state secondary schools in Northwich.
Higher than 65% of 3,442 state secondary schools in England.
17.5 16.2 16.7
Pupils per adult (teachers and support staff)
2nd highest of 5 state secondary schools in Northwich.
Higher than 54% of 3,445 state secondary schools in England.
12.0 11.3 11.8
Teachers who left during the year
4th highest of 5 state secondary schools in Northwich.
Higher than 32% of 3,430 state secondary schools in England.
10.5% 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

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

Questions parents ask

What is The County High School, Leftwich's Ofsted rating?

The County High School, Leftwich was inspected under Ofsted's report card format in 2 June 2026. Report cards grade each area on a five-point scale instead of giving one overall grade. Its grades were 3 strong, 3 expected, and safeguarding was met.

How did The County High School, Leftwich do in its GCSEs?

In 2024/25, 58% of pupils grade 5 or above in English and maths, 12 points above the England average of 45%.

Is The County High School, Leftwich oversubscribed?

For the September 2026 intake, 226 families put The County High School, Leftwich as their first choice for 205 places: about 1 first-choice applications for every place. 205 of those families were offered a place. Whether you get a place depends on the school's admissions rules and where you live.

Sources

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Page updated 26 September 2026.