Bishop Heber High School
Foundation school · sixth form · 1,293 pupils
84% stayed in education · Attainment 8 53.8
Academy converter
The Catholic High School, Chester
- Pupils on roll
- 797of 1,117 places
- Free school meals
- 23.0%
- Year 11 cohort 2025
- 119
- Ofsted
- Report card, 19 May 2026Read the Ofsted report
Curriculum and teaching Expected standardAchievement Expected standardAttendance and behaviour Expected standardPersonal development and wellbeing Expected standardInclusion Expected standardLeadership and governance Expected standardPost-16 provision Expected standardSafeguarding Met
Results below include those reported under the school’s previous registration: The Catholic High School, Chester A Specialist Science College (URN 111449, until 1 March 2013).
What the data says
Of the 151 pupils who finished Year 11 at The Catholic High School, Chester in 2023, 56% stayed on in The Catholic High School, Chester’s own sixth form (Cheshire West and Chester average 32%), 16% went to a further education college and 1% started an apprenticeship.
Among the 76 students who left the sixth form in 2023, 58% went to university (Cheshire West and Chester 57%, England 37%), and 15% of level 3 students progressed to one of the most selective universities, against 19% nationally.
Religious Studies is unusually popular at GCSE: 91% of the year group took it, against 31% of pupils across England.
A level grades average C-, well below the England average of B-; 8% of students achieved AAB or better including two facilitating subjects (England 18%). The largest A level subjects are Psychology, Mathematics and Media Studies.
Where pupils went after Year 11
Destinations of the 2023 Year 11 leavers, measured the following year: the share in a sustained place for at least two terms. Compared with all state-funded schools in Cheshire West and Chester and England.
School sixth formSixth form collegeFurther education collegeOther educationApprenticeshipEmploymentNo sustained destination
| Measure | This school | Cheshire West and Chester | England |
|---|---|---|---|
| Pupils in the cohort | 151 | 3,827 | 607,348 |
| Any sustained destination | 82% | 91% | 92% |
| Stayed in education | 73% | 83% | 86% |
| — school sixth form | 56% | 32% | 34% |
| — sixth form college | 1% | 15% | 13% |
| — further education college | 16% | 34% | 37% |
| — other education | 1% | 3% | 2% |
| Apprenticeship | 1% | 4% | 3% |
| Employment | 8% | 4% | 3% |
| No sustained destination | 7% | 6% | 6% |
| Destination unknown | 11% | 4% | 3% |
Where students went after sixth form
Destinations of students who finished 16–18 study in 2023, measured the following year.
University (higher education)Further educationOther educationApprenticeshipEmploymentNo sustained destination
| Measure | This school | Cheshire West and Chester | England |
|---|---|---|---|
| Students in the cohort | 76 | 2,139 | 541,441 |
| Any sustained destination | 89% | 90% | 79% |
| University (higher education) | 58% | 57% | 37% |
| — most selective universities (top third), of level 3 students | 15% | 35% | 19% |
| Further education | 4% | 2% | 5% |
| Apprenticeship | 1% | 6% | 7% |
| Employment | 25% | 25% | 28% |
| No sustained destination | 4% | 7% | 16% |
GCSE results 2025
| Measure | This school | Cheshire West and Chester | England |
|---|---|---|---|
| Attainment 8 (average points per pupil) | 46.7 | 44.6 | 46.1 |
| Grade 5 or above in English and maths | 45% | 42% | 45% |
| Grade 4 or above in English and maths | 64% | 63% | 65% |
| Entered the English Baccalaureate subjects | 15% | 40% | 41% |
| EBacc average point score | 4.00 | 3.96 | 4.09 |
| Disadvantaged pupils in the cohort | 23% | 24% | 28% |
| Attainment 8 — disadvantaged pupils | 32.7 | 30.3 | 34.9 |
| Attainment 8 — other pupils | 50.7 | 49.3 | 50.4 |
| Pupils with high prior attainment (Key Stage 2) | — | — | — |
| English as an additional language | 23% | 8% | 19% |
Progress 8 is not available for 2025 and 2026: these cohorts had no Key Stage 2 tests in 2020 and 2021, so there is no baseline. Attainment 8 shows results without taking pupils’ starting points into account.
Subjects taken at GCSE
Entries in 2025 as a share of the Year 11 cohort, and the share of entries graded 7–9 and 4–9, compared with all entries in England.
| Subject | Entries | Share of cohort | England | Grades 7–9 | England | Grades 4–9 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Mathematics | 117 | 98% | 88% | 20% | 22% | 73% |
| English Language | 117 | 98% | 89% | 13% | 20% | 71% |
| English Literature | 114 | 96% | 86% | 16% | 21% | 68% |
| Religious Studies | 108 | 91% | 31% | 26% | 32% | 71% |
| Combined Science | 85 | 71% | 65% | 8% | 9% | 60% |
| History | 57 | 48% | 41% | 33% | 26% | 79% |
| Geography | 56 | 47% | 41% | 30% | 25% | 75% |
| Fine Art | 32 | 27% | 9% | 50% | 28% | 94% |
| Business Studies | 28 | 24% | 18% | 0% | 20% | 32% |
| Physics | 27 | 23% | 23% | 37% | 46% | 96% |
| Chemistry | 27 | 23% | 23% | 37% | 47% | 100% |
| Biology | 27 | 23% | 23% | 33% | 45% | 100% |
| Physical Education | 19 | 16% | 11% | 58% | 24% | 100% |
| Computer Science | 17 | 14% | 13% | 12% | 30% | 35% |
| Design and Technology | 15 | 13% | 11% | 7% | 23% | 47% |
| Food Preparation and Nutrition | 14 | 12% | 8% | 43% | 21% | 93% |
| Drama | 9 | 8% | 7% | 22% | 27% | 89% |
| Polish | 8 | 7% | 1% | 88% | 84% | 100% |
| French | 8 | 7% | 18% | 50% | 29% | 88% |
| Spanish | 3 | 3% | 19% | — | 27% | — |
| Portuguese | 2 | 2% | 0% | — | 50% | — |
| Chinese | 1 | 1% | 1% | — | 75% | — |
| Art and Design | 1 | 1% | 7% | — | 24% | — |
| Italian | 1 | 1% | 0% | — | 53% | — |
Technical awards and other Key Stage 4 qualifications
| Subject | Entries | Share of cohort | England |
|---|---|---|---|
| Tourism | 12 | 16% | — |
| Sports Studies | 11 | 14% | — |
| Computer Appreciation / Introduction | 8 | 10% | — |
A levels and other level 3 courses
| Measure | This school | Cheshire West and Chester | England |
|---|---|---|---|
| Students at the end of 16–18 study | 163 | — | — |
| — of whom A level students | 77 | 1,955 | 261,341 |
| Average A level grade | C- | B- | B- |
| Average points per A level entry | 26.38 | 38.11 | 35.00 |
| Average grade, best 3 A levels | C | B | B- |
| AAB or better with two facilitating subjects | 8% | 23% | 18% |
| Average grade, applied general courses | — | — | — |
| Average grade, T levels | — | — | — |
A level subjects
Entries as a share of A level students, compared with the share across England.
| Subject | Entries | Share of cohort | England |
|---|---|---|---|
| Psychology | 31 | 40% | 23% |
| Mathematics | 19 | 25% | 31% |
| Media Studies | 17 | 22% | 4% |
| English Literature | 16 | 21% | 11% |
| Chemistry | 16 | 21% | 17% |
| Economics | 15 | 19% | 13% |
| Biology | 15 | 19% | 20% |
| History | 10 | 13% | 13% |
| Physical Education | 10 | 13% | 3% |
| Geography | 9 | 12% | 10% |
| English Language | 8 | 10% | 4% |
| Physics | 7 | 9% | 12% |
| Computer Science | — | — | 5% |
| Religious Studies | — | — | 4% |
| French | — | — | 1% |
| Photography | — | — | 3% |
| Fine Art | — | — | 3% |
| Drama | — | — | 2% |
Applied, technical and other level 3 courses
| Subject | Qualification | Entries | Share of cohort | England |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Social Science | VRQ Level 3 | 19 | 25% | — |
| Health Studies | BTEC National Extended Certificate L3 - Band F - P-D* | 6 | 8% | — |
| Business Studies | BTEC National Extended Certificate L3 - Band F - P-D* | 6 | 8% | — |
Other secondary schools in Cheshire West and Chester
Blacon High School, A Specialist Sports College
Foundation school · 651 pupils
62% stayed in education · Attainment 8 33.2
Chester International School
Studio schools · sixth form · 229 pupils
75% stayed in education · Attainment 8 34.5
Christleton High School
Academy converter · sixth form · 1,382 pupils
88% stayed in education · Attainment 8 54.8
Ellesmere Port Church of England College
Academy sponsor led · sixth form · 777 pupils
72% stayed in education · Attainment 8 39.0
Hartford Church of England High School
Voluntary aided school · 1,102 pupils
83% stayed in education · Attainment 8 50.3
Sources: Department for Education school and college performance tables 2024/2025 (Key Stage 4 and 16–18 results, subject entries, destination measures for 2023 leavers); Get Information About Schools register as at 19 September 2026; Ofsted management information as at 31 August 2026. Small numbers are suppressed by DfE and shown as “—”. How to read these figures.