Ofsted: Good trending_up Popular emoji_events #4 in Cheshire West and Chester public Top 9% UK

The Bishops' Blue Coat Church of England High School

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

personMs Helen Cairns

corporate_fareTHE BISHOPS' BLUE COAT CHURCH OF ENGLAND HIGH SCHOOL

location_onChester, CH3 5XF

language Visit Website phone 1244313806

verified

Ofsted

Good

Inspected 2019

groups

Students

1,144

trending_up

Attainment 8

53.8

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GCSE Rank

#3 in Cheshire West and Chester

#567 of 3,216 nationally

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The Bishops' Blue Coat Church of England High School is a Academy converter secondary school in Chester, serving ages 11-18. Rated Good by Ofsted. Demand is above capacity (1.0×) — apply through your local authority on time.

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School Summary

The Bishops' Blue Coat Church of England High School is an academy converter in Chester, Cheshire West and Chester, admitting pupils aged 11-18. It has a sixth form offering post-16 education. It is part of THE BISHOPS' BLUE COAT CHURCH OF ENGLAND HIGH SCHOOL. The school has approximately 1,203 pupils on roll, of whom 17% are eligible for free school meals.

In 2025, pupils achieved an Attainment 8 score of 53.8, placing the school #3 in Cheshire West and Chester and #567 of 3,216 nationally. 58.50% of pupils achieved grade 5 or above in English and Maths. 26.9% of all GCSE entries were graded 9–7.

The sixth form offers 17 A-level subjects. 38.6% of A-level entries were graded A*–B, with 15.8% at A*–A. A-level value added: -0.34 — students made below-average progress at sixth form.

Ofsted last inspected the school in 2019. The school's current overall rating is Good. Inspectors assessed quality of education as Good, behaviour and attitudes Good, personal development Outstanding, and leadership and management Good.

The school is oversubscribed — in the most recent cycle, there were 1.0× as many applications as places, making a successful application competitive.

The pupil-to-qualified-teacher ratio is 17.8:1. There are no current teaching vacancies.

In the 2024/25 academic year, there was 1 permanent exclusion. The average suspension rate was 5.0 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

53.8

Grade 5+ E&M

58.50%

Grade 9–7 (all GCSEs)26.9%

Entering EBacc18.10%

EBacc APS4.67

2024

Progress 8 Score

0.26

vs National Avg

Attainment 8

48.8

Grade 5+ E&M

Entering EBacc19.30%

EBacc APS4.15

2023

Progress 8 Score

0.42

vs National Avg

Attainment 8

51.9

Grade 5+ E&M

Entering EBacc17%

EBacc APS4.37

2022

Progress 8 Score

-0.04

vs National Avg

Attainment 8

49.4

Grade 5+ E&M

Entering EBacc13%

EBacc APS4.21

2021

Progress 8 Score

Attainment 8

Grade 5+ E&M

Entering EBacc21%

EBacc APS-

2019

Progress 8 Score

-0.05

vs National Avg

Attainment 8

49.4

Grade 5+ E&M

Entering EBacc21%

EBacc APS4.24

2018

Progress 8 Score

-0.49

vs National Avg

Attainment 8

Grade 5+ E&M

Entering EBacc16%

EBacc APS3.74

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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

92%

Education (e.g. Sixth Form/College)85%

Apprenticeships3%

Employment4%

Not in Education / Employment (NEET)3%

2024

Stayed in Education / Employment

91%

Education (e.g. Sixth Form/College)83%

Apprenticeships3%

Employment6%

Not in Education / Employment (NEET)7%

2023

Stayed in Education / Employment

92%

Education (e.g. Sixth Form/College)83%

Apprenticeships3%

Employment5%

Not in Education / Employment (NEET)7%

2022

Stayed in Education / Employment

92%

Education (e.g. Sixth Form/College)90%

Apprenticeships1%

Employment1%

Not in Education / Employment (NEET)6%

2021

Stayed in Education / Employment

93%

Education (e.g. Sixth Form/College)87%

Apprenticeships1%

Employment5%

Not in Education / Employment (NEET)3%

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Sixth Form (A-Level) Performance

A-level results for students who stayed in sixth form at this school. Value added measures how much progress students made relative to their GCSE starting point.

2025

A-Level Value Added

-0.34

vs expected from GCSEs

Pupils make below-expected progress at A-level.

Students

Grade Breakdown

Achieving A*2.9%

Achieving A*–A15.8%

Achieving A*–B38.6%

VA Banding Below average

Retention rate100.0%

A-level subjects offered17

2024

A-Level Value Added

-0.02

vs expected from GCSEs

Pupils make broadly expected progress at A-level.

Avg Grade

C+

Students

Retention rate96.20%

2023

Avg Grade

B-

Students

Retention rate93.80%

2022

Avg Grade

Students

Retention rate95.3%

Source: DfE A Level and Other 16-18 Results

Ofsted History

Publication Timeline

Report Archive

29 April 2025

Inspection Report

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20 November 2019

Inspection Report

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20 November 2018

Inspection Report

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11 March 2015

Inspection Report

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14 February 2012

Inspection Report

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19 May 2011

Inspection Report

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Inspection Report

Inspection History

4 Evaluations

2019-11-20

S5 Inspection EIF

Good

Education

Good

Behaviour

Good

Development

Outstanding

Leadership

Good

2018-11-20

None Legacy

No Judgement

Education

No Judgement

Behaviour

Development

Leadership

2015-03-11

S5 Inspection Legacy

Good

Education

No Judgement

Behaviour

No Judgement

Development

No Judgement

Leadership

Good

2011-05-19

None Legacy

Good

Education

Good

Behaviour

Development

Leadership

Good

history Predecessor Link

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

4.8%per term

sentiment_satisfied Below Average (Good)

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

Pupils Suspended 1+ Times

2.7%(32 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 1,203 pupils. During this period, there were 58 temporary suspensions. The school's suspension rate was 4.8%, 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)	1,203	58	4.8%	7.3%	0
2024/25 (Autumn term)	1,213	63	5.2%	7.8%	1
2023/24 (Summer term)	1,177	68	5.8%	7.4%	0
2023/24 (Spring term)	1,179	48	4.1%	7.1%	1
2023/24 (Autumn term)	1,182	63	5.3%	8.2%	0
2022/23 (Summer term)	1,144	58	5.1%	6.6%	0
2022/23 (Spring term)	1,144	34	3.0%	6.4%	1
2022/23 (Autumn term)	1,153	30	2.6%	5.9%	1
2021/22 (Summer term)	1,119	24	2.1%	4.7%	2
2021/22 (Spring term)	1,116	23	2.1%	4.9%	1
2021/22 (Autumn term)	1,114	20	1.8%	4.4%	1
2020/21 (Summer term)	1,099	16	1.5%	3.6%	0
2020/21 (Spring term)	1,104	9	0.8%	1.0%	0
2020/21 (Autumn term)	1,105	16	1.4%	3.9%	0
2019/20 (Summer term)	1,045	0	0.0%	0.0%	0
2019/20 (Spring term)	1,045	11	1.1%	3.2%	2
2019/20 (Autumn term)	1,049	25	2.4%	4.2%	1
2018/19 (Summer term)	1,011	12	1.2%	3.1%	0
2018/19 (Spring term)	1,024	12	1.2%	3.8%	2
2018/19 (Autumn term)	1,020	14	1.4%	3.8%	2
2017/18 (Summer term)	1,026	17	1.7%	3.4%	1
2017/18 (Spring term)	1,027	19	1.9%	3.0%	0
2017/18 (Autumn term)	1,028	22	2.1%	3.7%	0
2016/17 (Summer term)	1,027	16	1.6%	3.0%	1
2016/17 (Spring term)	1,026	10	1.0%	3.3%	0
2016/17 (Autumn term)	1,031	3	0.3%	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 60 pupils

Specific Learning Difficulty 54 pupils

Autistic Spectrum Disorder 29 pupils

Moderate Learning Difficulty 10 pupils

Speech, Language & Communication 8 pupils

Visual Impairment 3 pupils

Physical Disability 2 pupils

Severe Learning Difficulty 1 pupils

Hearing Impairment 1 pupils

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The Bishops' Blue Coat Church of England High School

School Summary

Academic Performance

Secondary Performance Trends (KS4)

Student Destinations (After Secondary)

Sixth Form (A-Level) Performance

Ofsted History

Publication Timeline

Inspection History

Admissions Insight

How Places Are Allocated

Faith Priority (Church of England)

Distance to School

School Capacity

Secondary Admission Trends

Students & School Environment

School Size

Language Diversity

Inclusive Support

Attendance

Ethnicity Breakdown

Wellbeing, SEN & Pastoral Care

Behaviour & Discipline (Suspensions & Exclusions)

Supported Special Educational Needs (SEN)

Funding & Staffing

School Funding Allocation

Funding Breakdown

Staffing

Teacher Turnover

Top Secondary Schools in Cheshire West and Chester

Christleton High School

Bishop Heber High School

Tarporley High School and Sixth Form College

The County High School, Leftwich

St Nicholas Catholic High School

Hartford Church of England High School