Ofsted: Good trending_up Places Available emoji_events #7 in Cheshire West and Chester public Top 12% UK

Hartford Church of England High School

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

personMrs Rachel Pickerill

location_onNorthwich, CW8 1LH

language Visit Website phone 1606786000

verified

Ofsted

Good

Inspected 2023

groups

Students

1,076

trending_up

Attainment 8

50.3

leaderboard

GCSE Rank

#8 in Cheshire West and Chester

#900 of 3,216 nationally

summarize

Hartford Church of England High School is a Voluntary aided school secondary school in Northwich, serving ages 11-16. Rated Good by Ofsted.

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School Summary

Hartford Church of England High School is a voluntary aided school in Northwich, Cheshire West and Chester, admitting pupils aged 11-16. The school has approximately 1,070 pupils on roll, of whom 19% are eligible for free school meals.

In 2025, pupils achieved an Attainment 8 score of 50.3, placing the school #8 in Cheshire West and Chester and #900 of 3,216 nationally. 56.10% of pupils achieved grade 5 or above in English and Maths. 19.8% of all GCSE entries were graded 9–7.

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

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

The pupil-to-qualified-teacher ratio is 16.1:1. There are no current teaching vacancies.

In the 2024/25 academic year, there were 7 permanent exclusions. The average suspension rate was 8.4 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)

2025

Progress 8 Score

Attainment 8

50.3

Grade 5+ E&M

56.10%

Grade 9–7 (all GCSEs)19.8%

Entering EBacc67.30%

EBacc APS4.69

2024

Progress 8 Score

-0.15

vs National Avg

Attainment 8

47.1

Grade 5+ E&M

Entering EBacc59.90%

EBacc APS4.36

2023

Progress 8 Score

-0.06

vs National Avg

Attainment 8

51.4

Grade 5+ E&M

Entering EBacc61%

EBacc APS4.68

2022

Progress 8 Score

0.33

vs National Avg

Attainment 8

54.2

Grade 5+ E&M

Entering EBacc57%

EBacc APS4.91

2021

Progress 8 Score

Attainment 8

Grade 5+ E&M

Entering EBacc61%

EBacc APS-

2019

Progress 8 Score

-0.21

vs National Avg

Attainment 8

47.7

Grade 5+ E&M

Entering EBacc71%

EBacc APS4.43

2018

Progress 8 Score

0.01

vs National Avg

Attainment 8

48.2

Grade 5+ E&M

Entering EBacc67%

EBacc APS4.5

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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)83%

Apprenticeships6%

Employment4%

Not in Education / Employment (NEET)6%

2024

Stayed in Education / Employment

88%

Education (e.g. Sixth Form/College)80%

Apprenticeships2%

Employment6%

Not in Education / Employment (NEET)11%

2023

Stayed in Education / Employment

95%

Education (e.g. Sixth Form/College)86%

Apprenticeships5%

Employment3%

Not in Education / Employment (NEET)5%

2022

Stayed in Education / Employment

94%

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

Apprenticeships5%

Employment2%

Not in Education / Employment (NEET)4%

2021

Stayed in Education / Employment

90%

Education (e.g. Sixth Form/College)81%

Apprenticeships6%

Employment3%

Not in Education / Employment (NEET)9%

Ofsted History

Publication Timeline

Report Archive

20 June 2023

Inspection Report

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18 January 2018

Inspection Report

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12 November 2013

Inspection Report

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Inspection Report

Inspection History

4 Evaluations

2023-06-20

S5 Inspection EIF

Good

Education

Good

Behaviour

Good

Development

Good

Leadership

Good

2018-01-18

None Legacy

No Judgement

Education

No Judgement

Behaviour

Development

Leadership

2013-11-12

S5 Inspection Legacy

Good

Education

No Judgement

Behaviour

No Judgement

Development

No Judgement

Leadership

Good

2010-03-03

None EIF

Good

Education

No Judgement

Behaviour

No Judgement

Development

No Judgement

Leadership

Good

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

8.1%per term

warning Above Average

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

Pupils Suspended 1+ Times

4.8%(51 pupils)

Spring term 2025

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

Permanent Exclusions

2pupils

gavel Exclusion recorded

National average: 7.398% of pupils excluded per term.

Pastoral Context: In the Spring term of 2025, this school served a headcount of 1,070 pupils. During this period, there were 87 temporary suspensions. The school's suspension rate was 8.1%, 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)	1,070	87	8.1%	7.3%	2
2024/25 (Autumn term)	1,083	93	8.6%	7.8%	5
2023/24 (Summer term)	1,086	105	9.7%	7.4%	1
2023/24 (Spring term)	1,087	101	9.3%	7.1%	4
2023/24 (Autumn term)	1,094	285	26.1%	8.2%	4
2022/23 (Summer term)	1,072	87	8.1%	6.6%	2
2022/23 (Spring term)	1,076	40	3.7%	6.4%	1
2022/23 (Autumn term)	1,079	24	2.2%	5.9%	0
2021/22 (Summer term)	1,056	6	0.6%	4.7%	0
2021/22 (Spring term)	1,056	11	1.0%	4.9%	1
2021/22 (Autumn term)	1,054	5	0.5%	4.4%	0
2020/21 (Summer term)	1,061	5	0.5%	3.6%	1
2020/21 (Spring term)	1,061	6	0.6%	1.0%	0
2020/21 (Autumn term)	1,060	17	1.6%	3.9%	1
2019/20 (Summer term)	1,044	0	0.0%	0.0%	0
2019/20 (Spring term)	1,044	10	1.0%	3.2%	0
2019/20 (Autumn term)	1,046	17	1.6%	4.2%	0
2018/19 (Summer term)	1,007	6	0.6%	3.1%	0
2018/19 (Spring term)	1,010	4	0.4%	3.8%	0
2018/19 (Autumn term)	1,015	7	0.7%	3.8%	0
2017/18 (Summer term)	962	4	0.4%	3.4%	1
2017/18 (Spring term)	960	9	0.9%	3.0%	0
2017/18 (Autumn term)	967	4	0.4%	3.7%	0
2016/17 (Summer term)	904	6	0.7%	3.0%	0
2016/17 (Spring term)	900	12	1.3%	3.3%	0
2016/17 (Autumn term)	908	20	2.2%	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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psychology_alt

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 45 pupils

Moderate Learning Difficulty 34 pupils

Autistic Spectrum Disorder 21 pupils

Specific Learning Difficulty 20 pupils

Visual Impairment 3 pupils

Speech, Language & Communication 2 pupils

Physical Disability 2 pupils

Hearing Impairment 1 pupils

Other Difficulty/Disability 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.

My child is happy at this school.

71.0%Positive

My child feels safe at this school.

76.0%Positive

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

17.0%Positive

View All Survey Responseskeyboard_arrow_down

The school makes sure its pupils are well behaved.

strongly agree16%

agree41%

disagree27%

strongly disagree8%

don't know8%

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

strongly agree26%

agree44%

disagree20%

strongly disagree7%

don't know2%

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

strongly agree21%

agree30%

disagree20%

strongly disagree15%

don't know3%

not applicable10%

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

yes21%

no79%

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

strongly agree12%

agree34%

disagree24%

strongly disagree26%

dont know4%

The school has high expectations for my child.

strongly agree28%

agree47%

disagree12%

strongly disagree5%

don't know7%

My child does well at this school.

strongly agree25%

agree47%

disagree14%

strongly disagree10%

don't know4%

The school lets me know how my child is doing.

strongly agree25%

agree49%

disagree19%

strongly disagree6%

don't know2%

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

strongly agree27%

agree61%

disagree9%

strongly disagree1%

don't know1%

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

strongly agree39%

agree52%

disagree5%

strongly disagree2%

don't know2%

The school supports my child's wider personal development.

strongly agree21%

agree38%

disagree18%

strongly disagree13%

don't know11%

I would recommend this school to another parent.

yes65%

no35%

Top Secondary Schools in Cheshire West and Chester

Other highly-ranked schools in the same local authority

View all arrow_forward

Christleton High School

Good

location_on Chester, CH3 7AD

emoji_events #1 in LA

Bishop Heber High School

Good

location_on Malpas, SY14 8JD

emoji_events #2 in LA

Tarporley High School and Sixth Form College

Good

location_on Tarporley, CW6 0BL

emoji_events #3 in LA

The Bishops' Blue Coat Church of England High School

Good

location_on Chester, CH3 5XF

emoji_events #4 in LA

The County High School, Leftwich

Outstanding

location_on Northwich, CW9 8EZ

emoji_events #5 in LA

St Nicholas Catholic High School

Good

location_on Northwich, CW8 1JW

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)

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)

Parent View on Pastoral Care

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

Christleton High School

Bishop Heber High School

Tarporley High School and Sixth Form College

The Bishops' Blue Coat Church of England High School

The County High School, Leftwich

St Nicholas Catholic High School