Ofsted: Good trending_up Places Available emoji_events #24 in Cheshire West and Chester public Top 55% UK

The Rudheath Senior Academy

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

person Mrs Christine Williams (Principal)

corporate_fareNORTH WEST ACADEMIES TRUST LIMITED

location_onNorthwich, CW9 7DT

language Visit Website phone 0160642515

verified

Ofsted

Good

Inspected 2018

groups

Students

560

trending_up

Attainment 8

32.2

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GCSE Rank

#22 in Cheshire West and Chester

#3,563 of 4,024 nationally

summarize

The Rudheath Senior Academy is a Academy sponsor led secondary school in Northwich, serving ages 11-16. Rated Good by Ofsted.

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School Summary

The Rudheath Senior Academy is an academy sponsor led in Northwich, Cheshire West and Chester, admitting pupils aged 11-16. It is part of NORTH WEST ACADEMIES TRUST LIMITED. The school has approximately 576 pupils on roll, of whom 36% are eligible for free school meals.

In 2026, pupils achieved an Attainment 8 score of 32.2, placing the school #22 in Cheshire West and Chester and #3,563 of 4,024 nationally. 19.10% of pupils achieved grade 5 or above in English and Maths. 7.2% of all GCSE entries were graded 9–7.

Ofsted last inspected the school in 2018. The school's current overall rating is Good.

In the most recent admissions cycle, applications were at 0.9× capacity.

The pupil-to-qualified-teacher ratio is 17.5:1. There are no current teaching vacancies.

In the 2024/25 academic year, there were no permanent exclusions. The average suspension rate was 19.6 per 1,000 pupils per term.

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

Academic Performance

verified Data: UK Gov 2024/25

analytics

Secondary Performance Trends (KS4)

2026

Attainment 8 Score

32.2

across 8 GCSE slots

Grade 5+ E&M

19.10%

Grade 4+ E&M

35.70%

Grade 9–7 (all GCSEs)7.2%

5+ GCSEs (4+ incl. E&M)27.00%

Triple Science Entry13.00%

EBacc Slot Score8.7 / 30

2025

Attainment 8 Score

35.7

across 8 GCSE slots

Grade 5+ E&M

28.10%

Grade 4+ E&M

50.40%

Grade 9–7 (all GCSEs)6.8%

Entering EBacc23.10%

EBacc APS2.98

2024

Progress 8 Score

-0.22

vs National Avg

Attainment 8

37.2

Grade 5+ E&M

26.90%

Entering EBacc18.30%

EBacc APS3.13

2023

Progress 8 Score

-0.56

vs National Avg

Attainment 8

34.9

Grade 5+ E&M

Entering EBacc11%

EBacc APS2.84

2022

Progress 8 Score

-0.28

vs National Avg

Attainment 8

38.4

Grade 5+ E&M

Entering EBacc14%

EBacc APS3.13

2019

Progress 8 Score

-0.47

vs National Avg

Attainment 8

37.1

Grade 5+ E&M

Entering EBacc75%

EBacc APS3.55

2018

Progress 8 Score

-0.21

vs National Avg

Attainment 8

37.8

Grade 5+ E&M

Entering EBacc63%

EBacc APS3.44

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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.

2026

Stayed in Education / Employment

83.7%

Education (e.g. Sixth Form/College)72.1%

Apprenticeships8.7%

Employment2.9%

Not in Education / Employment (NEET)9.6%

2025

Stayed in Education / Employment

83%

Education (e.g. Sixth Form/College)72%

Apprenticeships6%

Employment6%

Not in Education / Employment (NEET)10%

2024

Stayed in Education / Employment

87%

Education (e.g. Sixth Form/College)77%

Apprenticeships1%

Employment9%

Not in Education / Employment (NEET)13%

2023

Stayed in Education / Employment

88%

Education (e.g. Sixth Form/College)75%

Apprenticeships6%

Employment7%

Not in Education / Employment (NEET)12%

2022

Stayed in Education / Employment

92%

Education (e.g. Sixth Form/College)88%

Apprenticeships0%

Employment4%

Not in Education / Employment (NEET)8%

2021

Stayed in Education / Employment

90%

Education (e.g. Sixth Form/College)78%

Apprenticeships6%

Employment6%

Not in Education / Employment (NEET)10%

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Ranking History & Trajectory

National & Local Authority position based on DfE performance data · Methodology

Year	Secondary Overall (Nat)	LA Rank	GCSE Attainment	Progress 8 Rank
2026	#3,658 / 4,024	#24	#3,563	#1
2025	#3,403 / 3,948	#21	#3,324	#1
2024	#2,937 / 4,450	#19	#3,121	#2,092
2023	#3,195 / 4,321	#21	#3,242	#2,675
2022	#2,790 / 4,199	#19	#3,084	#2,175
2019	#2,420 / 2,711	#16	#2,514	#2,390
2018	#2,102 / 2,537	#15	#2,319	#1,818

Ofsted History

Publication Timeline

Report Archive

11 January 2023

Inspection Report

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10 January 2018

Inspection Report

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01 December 2015

Inspection Report

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10 June 2015

Inspection Report

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04 March 2015

Inspection Report

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30 September 2014

Inspection Report

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19 May 2014

Inspection Report

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05 February 2014

Inspection Report

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Inspection Report

Inspection History

3 Evaluations

2018-01-10

Requires Improvement S5 Reinspection Visit 1 Legacy

Good

Education

No Judgement

Behaviour

No Judgement

Development

No Judgement

Leadership

Good

verified_user Safeguarding: Met Latest Ungraded: School remains Good

2015-12-01

None Legacy

Requires improvement

Education

No Judgement

Behaviour

No Judgement

Development

No Judgement

Leadership

Good

verified_user Safeguarding: Met

2014-02-05

None Legacy

Inadequate

Education

Inadequate

Leadership

Inadequate

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

15.3%per term

warning Above Average

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

Pupils Suspended 1+ Times

8.8%(52 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 590 pupils. During this period, there were 90 temporary suspensions. The school's suspension rate was 15.3%, which is above 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)	590	90	15.3%	7.3%	0
2024/25 (Autumn term)	591	142	24.0%	7.8%	0
2023/24 (Summer term)	587	85	14.5%	7.4%	0
2023/24 (Spring term)	593	65	11.0%	7.1%	0
2023/24 (Autumn term)	585	60	10.3%	8.2%	0
2022/23 (Summer term)	560	28	5.0%	6.6%	2
2022/23 (Spring term)	560	49	8.8%	6.4%	0
2022/23 (Autumn term)	556	75	13.5%	5.9%	1
2021/22 (Summer term)	502	20	4.0%	4.7%	0
2021/22 (Spring term)	496	24	4.8%	4.9%	1
2021/22 (Autumn term)	493	13	2.6%	4.4%	0
2020/21 (Summer term)	443	18	4.1%	3.6%	1
2020/21 (Spring term)	451	10	2.2%	1.0%	0
2020/21 (Autumn term)	454	22	4.8%	3.9%	0
2019/20 (Summer term)	415	0	0.0%	0.0%	0
2019/20 (Spring term)	415	12	2.9%	3.2%	0
2019/20 (Autumn term)	405	12	3.0%	4.2%	0
2018/19 (Summer term)	379	0	0.0%	3.1%	0
2018/19 (Spring term)	379	10	2.6%	3.8%	1
2018/19 (Autumn term)	383	6	1.6%	3.8%	0
2017/18 (Summer term)	354	9	2.5%	3.4%	0
2017/18 (Spring term)	353	4	1.1%	3.0%	0
2017/18 (Autumn term)	350	4	1.1%	3.7%	0
2016/17 (Summer term)	354	0	0.0%	3.0%	1
2016/17 (Spring term)	349	0	0.0%	3.3%	1
2016/17 (Autumn term)	352	15	4.3%	3.1%	1

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 35 pupils

Moderate Learning Difficulty 26 pupils

Autistic Spectrum Disorder 19 pupils

Speech, Language & Communication 13 pupils

Specific Learning Difficulty 13 pupils

Visual Impairment 5 pupils

Other Difficulty/Disability 3 pupils

Hearing Impairment 2 pupils

Profound & Multiple Learning 1 pupils

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Parent View on Pastoral Care

Results from the official Ofsted Parent View survey, reflecting direct parent sentiment regarding the school environment.

Overall, how do parents view this school?

70%Positive

My child is happy at this school.

76%Positive

My child feels safe at this school.

78%Positive

View All Survey Responseskeyboard_arrow_down

When bullying took place, the school dealt with it quickly and effectively.

strongly agree23%

agree10%

disagree25%

strongly disagree18%

don't know5%

not applicable65%

Neither agree nor disagree20%

The school makes sure its pupils are well behaved.

strongly agree22%

agree37%

disagree13%

strongly disagree5%

don't know2%

Neither agree nor disagree21%

When the school makes decisions it has the child's best interests at heart.

strongly agree31%

agree30%

Neither agree nor disagree17%

disagree13%

strongly disagree5%

Don't know3%

The school gives my child the right support to enable them to learn well.

strongly agree26%

agree33%

Neither agree nor disagree16%

disagree16%

strongly disagree7%

Don't know3%

The school communicates well with me about the things I need to know.

strongly agree23%

agree39%

disagree16%

strongly disagree10%

Neither agree nor disagree13%

When I have raised concerns with the school they have been dealt with properly.

strongly agree21%

agree34%

disagree10%

strongly disagree10%

don't know1%

not applicable10%

Neither agree nor disagree14%

Does your child have Special Educational Needs and/or Disabilities (SEND)?

yes43%

no57%

My child has SEND, and the school gives them the support they need to succeed.

strongly agree28%

agree28%

disagree14%

strongly disagree16%

Neither agree nor disagree14%

Would you recommend this school to another parent?

yes77%

no23%

Top Secondary Schools in Cheshire West and Chester

Other highly-ranked schools in the same local authority

View all arrow_forward

Tarporley High School and Sixth Form College

Good

location_on Tarporley, CW6 0BL

emoji_events #1 in LA

Christleton High School

Good

location_on Chester, CH3 7AD

emoji_events #2 in LA

Bishop Heber High School

Expected standard

location_on Malpas, SY14 8JD

emoji_events #3 in LA

Upton-by-Chester High School

Good

location_on Chester, CH2 1NN

emoji_events #4 in LA

St Nicholas Catholic High School

Good

location_on Northwich, CW8 1JW

emoji_events #5 in LA

Weaverham High School

Expected standard

location_on Northwich, CW8 3HT

emoji_events #6 in LA

View all schools in Cheshire West and Chester arrow_forward

School Summary

Academic Performance

Secondary Performance Trends (KS4)

Student Destinations (After Secondary)

Ranking History & Trajectory

Ofsted History

Publication Timeline

Inspection History

Admissions Insight

How Places Are Allocated

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)

Parent View on Pastoral Care

Overall, how do parents view this school?

My child is happy at this school.

My child feels safe at this school.

When bullying took place, the school dealt with it quickly and effectively.

The school makes sure its pupils are well behaved.

When the school makes decisions it has the child's best interests at heart.

The school gives my child the right support to enable them to learn well.

The school communicates well with me about the things I need to know.

When I have raised concerns with the school they have been dealt with properly.

Does your child have Special Educational Needs and/or Disabilities (SEND)?

My child has SEND, and the school gives them the support they need to succeed.

Would you recommend this school to another parent?

My child is happy at this school.

My child feels safe at this school.

My child has been bullied and the school dealt with the bullying quickly and effectively.

The school makes sure its pupils are well behaved.

The school makes me aware of what my child will learn during the year.

When I have raised concerns with the school they have been dealt with properly

Does your child have special educational needs and/or disabilities (SEND)?

My child has special educational needs and/or disabilities, and the school gives them the support they need to succeed.

The school has high expectations for my child.

My child does well at this school.

The school lets me know how my child is doing.

There is a good range of subjects available to my child at this school.

My child can take part in clubs and activities at this school.

The school supports my child's wider personal development.

I would recommend this school to another parent.

Funding & Staffing

School Funding Allocation

Funding Breakdown

Staffing

Teacher Turnover

Top Secondary Schools in Cheshire West and Chester

Tarporley High School and Sixth Form College

Christleton High School

Bishop Heber High School

Upton-by-Chester High School

St Nicholas Catholic High School

Weaverham High School