Ofsted: Requires improvement trending_up Places Available emoji_events #19 in Cheshire West and Chester public Top 44% UK

Blacon High School, A Specialist Sports College

verifiedData: DfE 2024/25–2025/26 · Ofsted

personMrs Rachel Hudson

corporate_fareBlacon High School Trust

location_onChester, CH1 5JH

language Visit Website phone 1244371475

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Ofsted

Requires improvement

Inspected 2023

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Students

716

trending_up

Attainment 8

33.2

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GCSE Rank

#19 in Cheshire West and Chester

#3,102 of 3,216 nationally

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Blacon High School, A Specialist Sports College is a Foundation school secondary school in Chester, serving ages 11-16. Currently Requires Improvement according to Ofsted — the school is working to raise standards.

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School Summary

Blacon High School, A Specialist Sports College is a foundation school in Chester, Cheshire West and Chester, admitting pupils aged 11-16. It is part of Blacon High School Trust. The school has approximately 705 pupils on roll, of whom 47% are eligible for free school meals.

In 2025, pupils achieved an Attainment 8 score of 33.2, placing the school #19 in Cheshire West and Chester and #3,102 of 3,216 nationally. 17.30% of pupils achieved grade 5 or above in English and Maths. 6.4% of all GCSE entries were graded 9–7.

Ofsted last inspected the school in 2023. The school's current overall rating is Requires improvement. Inspectors assessed quality of education as Requires improvement, behaviour and attitudes Good, personal development Good, and leadership and management Requires improvement.

In the most recent admissions cycle, applications were at 1.0× capacity.

The pupil-to-qualified-teacher ratio is 13.9:1. There are no current teaching vacancies.

In the 2024/25 academic year, there were 5 permanent exclusions. The average suspension rate was 9.7 per 1,000 pupils per term.

verified Source: DfE 2024/25–2025/26 · Ofsted

Academic Performance

verified Data: UK Gov 2024/25

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Secondary Performance Trends (KS4)

2025

Progress 8 Score

Attainment 8

33.2

Grade 5+ E&M

17.30%

Grade 9–7 (all GCSEs)6.4%

Entering EBacc8.30%

EBacc APS2.59

2024

Progress 8 Score

-0.63

vs National Avg

Attainment 8

37.2

Grade 5+ E&M

Entering EBacc9.40%

EBacc APS2.97

2023

Progress 8 Score

-0.65

vs National Avg

Attainment 8

35.1

Grade 5+ E&M

Entering EBacc6%

EBacc APS2.66

2022

Progress 8 Score

-0.83

vs National Avg

Attainment 8

36.1

Grade 5+ E&M

Entering EBacc6%

EBacc APS2.84

2021

Progress 8 Score

Attainment 8

Grade 5+ E&M

Entering EBacc16%

EBacc APS-

2019

Progress 8 Score

-0.67

vs National Avg

Attainment 8

41.1

Grade 5+ E&M

Entering EBacc28%

EBacc APS3.35

2018

Progress 8 Score

-0.55

vs National Avg

Attainment 8

37.1

Grade 5+ E&M

Entering EBacc13%

EBacc APS2.76

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Student Destinations (After Secondary)

This module shows what students did after finishing Key Stage 4 (GCSEs). It reflects how well the school prepares pupils for the real world.

2025

Stayed in Education / Employment

75%

Education (e.g. Sixth Form/College)62%

Apprenticeships2%

Employment10%

Not in Education / Employment (NEET)15%

2024

Stayed in Education / Employment

79%

Education (e.g. Sixth Form/College)69%

Apprenticeships5%

Employment5%

Not in Education / Employment (NEET)19%

2023

Stayed in Education / Employment

77%

Education (e.g. Sixth Form/College)59%

Apprenticeships2%

Employment16%

Not in Education / Employment (NEET)18%

2022

Stayed in Education / Employment

72%

Education (e.g. Sixth Form/College)63%

Apprenticeships0%

Employment9%

Not in Education / Employment (NEET)15%

2021

Stayed in Education / Employment

68%

Education (e.g. Sixth Form/College)55%

Apprenticeships0%

Employment13%

Not in Education / Employment (NEET)14%

Ofsted History

Publication Timeline

Report Archive

02 April 2025

Inspection Report

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28 November 2023

Inspection Report

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19 October 2021

Inspection Report

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01 October 2020

Inspection Report

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26 January 2016

Inspection Report

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14 January 2014

Inspection Report

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05 November 2013

Inspection Report

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06 March 2012

Inspection Report

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17 November 2009

Inspection Report

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11 March 2009

Inspection Report

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11 January 2006

Inspection Report

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14 February 2000

Inspection Report

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Inspection Report

Inspection History

4 Evaluations

2023-11-28

Requires Improvement S5 Reinspection Visit 1 EIF

Requires improvement

Education

Requires improvement

Behaviour

Good

Development

Good

Leadership

Requires improvement

2021-10-19

S5 Inspection EIF

Requires improvement

Education

Requires improvement

Behaviour

Good

Development

Good

Leadership

Requires improvement

2016-01-26

Requires Improvement S5 Reinspection Visit 1 Legacy

Good

Education

No Judgement

Behaviour

No Judgement

Development

No Judgement

Leadership

Good

2013-11-05

None Legacy

Requires improvement

Education

No Judgement

Behaviour

No Judgement

Development

No Judgement

Leadership

Requires improvement

Wellbeing, SEN & Pastoral Care

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Behaviour & Discipline (Suspensions & Exclusions)

Official Department for Education (DfE) data. Suspensions measure temporary removals due to behavior, while exclusions represent permanent removals.

Suspension Rate

5.1%per term

sentiment_satisfied Below Average (Good)

National average: 7.3% for this term (secondary).

Pupils Suspended 1+ Times

4.0%(28 pupils)

Spring term 2025

Represents the proportion of unique students suspended at least once in this term.

Permanent Exclusions

0pupils

verified Excellent (Zero)

National average: 7.398% of pupils excluded per term.

Pastoral Context: In the Spring term of 2025, this school served a headcount of 705 pupils. During this period, there were 36 temporary suspensions. The school's suspension rate was 5.1%, which is below the termly national average of 7.3%.

View Historical Disciplinary Records (2017–2025)keyboard_arrow_down

Year / Term	Headcount	Suspensions	Susp. Rate	Nat. Avg	Perm. Excl.
2024/25 (Spring term)	705	36	5.1%	7.3%	0
2024/25 (Autumn term)	711	102	14.3%	7.8%	5
2023/24 (Summer term)	719	45	6.3%	7.4%	0
2023/24 (Spring term)	723	36	5.0%	7.1%	1
2023/24 (Autumn term)	734	42	5.7%	8.2%	3
2022/23 (Summer term)	716	17	2.4%	6.6%	1
2022/23 (Spring term)	716	27	3.8%	6.4%	3
2022/23 (Autumn term)	718	15	2.1%	5.9%	0
2021/22 (Summer term)	684	27	3.9%	4.7%	1
2021/22 (Spring term)	682	39	5.7%	4.9%	1
2021/22 (Autumn term)	682	18	2.6%	4.4%	0
2020/21 (Summer term)	665	13	2.0%	3.6%	1
2020/21 (Spring term)	671	3	0.4%	1.0%	0
2020/21 (Autumn term)	664	21	3.2%	3.9%	2
2019/20 (Summer term)	607	0	0.0%	0.0%	0
2019/20 (Spring term)	607	16	2.6%	3.2%	1
2019/20 (Autumn term)	604	16	2.6%	4.2%	0
2018/19 (Summer term)	530	7	1.3%	3.1%	1
2018/19 (Spring term)	526	12	2.3%	3.8%	2
2018/19 (Autumn term)	531	17	3.2%	3.8%	0
2017/18 (Summer term)	454	3	0.7%	3.4%	2
2017/18 (Spring term)	452	2	0.4%	3.0%	0
2017/18 (Autumn term)	450	8	1.8%	3.7%	0
2016/17 (Summer term)	417	7	1.7%	3.0%	0
2016/17 (Spring term)	423	13	3.1%	3.3%	3
2016/17 (Autumn term)	427	9	2.1%	3.1%	0

Source: DfE Suspensions and Permanent Exclusions in England. Data represents termly statistics as published by the Department for Education.

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Supported Special Educational Needs (SEN)

Primary areas of need currently supported by the school. A high number often indicates specialized internal units or high staff experience in these areas.

Social, Emotional & Mental Health 59 pupils

Moderate Learning Difficulty 54 pupils

Speech, Language & Communication 30 pupils

Specific Learning Difficulty 26 pupils

Other Difficulty/Disability 16 pupils

Autistic Spectrum Disorder 12 pupils

Physical Disability 5 pupils

Visual Impairment 2 pupils

Hearing Impairment 1 pupils