Upton-by-Chester High School

Upton-by-Chester High School continues to maintain the standards identified in its previous inspection, demonstrating effective leadership and a commitment to maintaining high academic and personal achievement for all pupils. The school fosters a nurturing and inclusive environment, particularly appreciated by sixth-form students who benefit from robust support for both academic and personal growth. The strong relationships between pupils and staff create a culture of trust and respect, contributing to a positive school experience overall.

Strengths

• Strong, nurturing environment that supports academic and personal growth
• Effective curriculum designed to be broad, balanced, and ambitious
• High levels of attendance among disadvantaged pupils
• Positive relationships built between staff and pupils
• Rich enrichment opportunities allowing pupils to explore new talents
• Skilled staff providing effective support for reading in key stage 3
• Extensive careers program preparing pupils for future opportunities

Areas for Improvement

• Ineffective checks on pupils' knowledge may lead to gaps in understanding for some students
• Underdeveloped support for older pupils struggling with reading

Admissions: local authority offers data from the Department for Education. A school is oversubscribed when at least 5% of the families who put it first were not offered a place, and undersubscribed when everyone who put it first got in but 10% or more of its places were unfilled in the Department's school capacity survey (the latest survey is used for entry years it does not cover). Places: Department for Education, School capacity, from local authorities' annual survey as at 1 May. Each year is the one the school year ends in (2025 is 2024–25); the survey was not run in 2020. Places include sixth form places. Forecasts are the local authority's own for the school's planning area, an area it uses to plan places that is not the school's catchment area. The forecast starts from a head count in 2025; the dashed line is the Department's estimate of places in that area, including those the authority has firm plans for. Planned places are cumulative, and only those with firm plans are counted.

In 2024–25 pupils at Upton-by-Chester High School attended 93.5% of sessions (the national figure for secondary schools was 91.6%). 14.4% of pupils were persistently absent, missing at least one session in ten (nationally 23.4%).

Sessions missed

Pupils persistently absent

Source: Department for Education, Pupil absence in schools in England. Each year is the one the school year ends in (2025 is 2024/25). Persistent absence means missing 10% or more of sessions; severe absence means 50% or more. No figures were published for 2019/20.

In 2024–25, 4.0% of pupils at Upton-by-Chester High School were suspended at least once (nationally 7.3%). 2 pupils were permanently excluded.

Pupils suspended at least once

Source: Department for Education, Suspensions and permanent exclusions in England. Each year is the one the school year ends in (2025 is 2024/25). A pupil can be suspended more than once, so suspensions per 100 pupils can be higher than the share of pupils suspended. Very small numbers are hidden by the DfE. Exclusion figures dropped in 2020 and 2021 because of school closures.

In 2025–26 Upton-by-Chester High School had 16.6 pupils for each teacher (the national figure for secondary schools was 16.7). Of its teachers in 2024–25, 10.1% were no longer at the school a year later (nationally 14.1%).

Pupils per teacher

Teachers who left the school within a year

Source: Department for Education, School workforce in England. Each year is the one the school year ends in (2025 is 2024/25). Pupils per teacher counts full-time-equivalent pupils and teachers. Turnover is the share of a year's teachers (full-time equivalent) who were not at the school the following year, whether they moved to another school or left state-funded teaching. Turnover and sickness figures run one year behind the ratios. Sick leave is the share of teachers who took at least one day in the year, so it swings widely at small schools, where a few teachers can make it 0% or 100%. The national figures are for all state schools of the same type.

In 2025–26, 13.5% of pupils at Upton-by-Chester High School were on SEN support (nationally 14.1%) and 3.6% had an education, health and care (EHC) plan (nationally 3.5%).

Pupils by main type of need

Source: Department for Education, Special educational needs in England (the 2025–26 school census). SEN support is extra help in school without an EHC plan. National figures are for all state-funded secondary schools. Counts are as published, with small numbers not hidden.

In 2025–26 Upton-by-Chester High School received £7,851 and spent £7,866 for each of its 1,731 pupils. It ended the year with reserves of £244,000 (£141 per pupil).

Income per pupil

Spending per pupil

Source: Department for Education, Financial Benchmarking and Insights Tool. Each year is the one the financial year ends in (2024 is 2023–24).

• Primary Schools
• Secondary Schools

All schools in Chester · Cheshire West and Chester local authority: places and applications

What is Upton-by-Chester High School's Ofsted rating?

The latest Ofsted rating for Upton-by-Chester High School is Good, from an inspection in April 2025.

When was Upton-by-Chester High School last inspected by Ofsted?

Upton-by-Chester High School was last inspected in April 2025.

How many pupils does Upton-by-Chester High School have?

Upton-by-Chester High School has 1,728 pupils on roll.

What age range does Upton-by-Chester High School cover?

Upton-by-Chester High School for pupils aged 11 to 18.

What are Upton-by-Chester High School's GCSE results?

In 2026 its average Attainment 8 score was 54.6, and 52% of pupils achieved grade 5 or above in both English and maths GCSE.

Where is Upton-by-Chester High School?

Upton-by-Chester High School is at St James Avenue, Upton-by-Chester, Chester, Cheshire, CH2 1NN.