Ofsted: Good trending_up Places Available emoji_events #9 in Trafford public Top 9% UK

North Cestrian School

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

personMr L R Bergin

corporate_fareTHE HAMBLIN EDUCATION TRUST

location_onAltrincham, WA14 4AJ

language Visit Website phone 1619281856

verified

Ofsted

Good

Inspected 2019

groups

Students

757

trending_up

Attainment 8

54.2

leaderboard

GCSE Rank

#9 in Trafford

#533 of 3,216 nationally

summarize

North Cestrian School is a Free schools secondary school in Altrincham, serving ages 11-18. Rated Good by Ofsted.

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School Summary

North Cestrian School is a free schools in Altrincham, Trafford, admitting pupils aged 11-18. It is part of THE HAMBLIN EDUCATION TRUST. The school has approximately 777 pupils on roll, of whom 18% are eligible for free school meals.

In 2025, pupils achieved an Attainment 8 score of 54.2, placing the school #9 in Trafford and #533 of 3,216 nationally. 60.10% of pupils achieved grade 5 or above in English and Maths. 28.4% of all GCSE entries were graded 9–7.

Ofsted last inspected the school in 2019. 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 16.4:1. There are no current teaching vacancies.

In the 2024/25 academic year, there were 4 permanent exclusions. The average suspension rate was 3.1 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

54.2

Grade 5+ E&M

60.10%

Grade 9–7 (all GCSEs)28.4%

Entering EBacc18.90%

EBacc APS4.56

2024

Progress 8 Score

0.49

vs National Avg

Attainment 8

Grade 5+ E&M

Entering EBacc19.00%

EBacc APS4.76

2023

Progress 8 Score

0.08

vs National Avg

Attainment 8

49.9

Grade 5+ E&M

Entering EBacc26%

EBacc APS4.44

2022

Progress 8 Score

0.32

vs National Avg

Attainment 8

Grade 5+ E&M

Entering EBacc37%

EBacc APS4.75

2021

Progress 8 Score

Attainment 8

Grade 5+ E&M

Entering EBacc23%

EBacc APS-

2019

Progress 8 Score

0.02

vs National Avg

Attainment 8

49.6

Grade 5+ E&M

Entering EBacc17%

EBacc APS4.26

2018

Progress 8 Score

-0.12

vs National Avg

Attainment 8

Grade 5+ E&M

Entering EBacc27%

EBacc APS4.38

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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)87%

Apprenticeships4%

Employment1%

Not in Education / Employment (NEET)4%

2024

Stayed in Education / Employment

93%

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

Apprenticeships2%

Employment3%

Not in Education / Employment (NEET)5%

2023

Stayed in Education / Employment

95%

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

Apprenticeships1%

Employment6%

Not in Education / Employment (NEET)5%

2022

Stayed in Education / Employment

99%

Education (e.g. Sixth Form/College)91%

Apprenticeships3%

Employment4%

Not in Education / Employment (NEET)1%

2021

Stayed in Education / Employment

94%

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

Apprenticeships3%

Employment1%

Not in Education / Employment (NEET)3%

Ofsted History

Publication Timeline

Report Archive

19 November 2024

Inspection Report

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06 March 2019

Inspection Report

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Inspection Report

Inspection History

1 Evaluations

2019-03-06

S5 Inspection Legacy

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

3.2%per term

sentiment_satisfied Below Average (Good)

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

Pupils Suspended 1+ Times

2.6%(20 pupils)

Spring term 2025

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

Permanent Exclusions

4pupils

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 777 pupils. During this period, there were 25 temporary suspensions. The school's suspension rate was 3.2%, 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)	777	25	3.2%	7.3%	4
2024/25 (Autumn term)	782	23	2.9%	7.8%	0
2023/24 (Summer term)	784	35	4.5%	7.4%	1
2023/24 (Spring term)	779	18	2.3%	7.1%	1
2023/24 (Autumn term)	783	20	2.6%	8.2%	1
2022/23 (Summer term)	755	14	1.9%	6.6%	1
2022/23 (Spring term)	757	15	2.0%	6.4%	1
2022/23 (Autumn term)	761	6	0.8%	5.9%	0
2021/22 (Summer term)	725	9	1.2%	4.7%	0
2021/22 (Spring term)	715	16	2.2%	4.9%	0
2021/22 (Autumn term)	722	10	1.4%	4.4%	1
2020/21 (Summer term)	676	9	1.3%	3.6%	0
2020/21 (Spring term)	677	5	0.7%	1.0%	0
2020/21 (Autumn term)	679	10	1.5%	3.9%	0
2019/20 (Summer term)	593	0	0.0%	0.0%	0
2019/20 (Spring term)	593	3	0.5%	3.2%	0
2019/20 (Autumn term)	586	14	2.4%	4.2%	1
2018/19 (Summer term)	513	4	0.8%	3.1%	1
2018/19 (Spring term)	519	13	2.5%	3.8%	0
2018/19 (Autumn term)	504	11	2.2%	3.8%	1
2017/18 (Summer term)	425	11	2.6%	3.4%	0
2017/18 (Spring term)	438	11	2.5%	3.0%	1
2017/18 (Autumn term)	446	19	4.3%	3.7%	1
2016/17 (Summer term)	385	14	3.6%	3.0%	1
2016/17 (Spring term)	387	19	4.9%	3.3%	0
2016/17 (Autumn term)	389	15	3.9%	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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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 33 pupils

Specific Learning Difficulty 27 pupils

Autistic Spectrum Disorder 26 pupils

Speech, Language & Communication 15 pupils

Other Difficulty/Disability 5 pupils

Visual Impairment 4 pupils

Hearing Impairment 3 pupils

Moderate Learning Difficulty 2 pupils

health_and_safety

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.

81.0%Positive

My child feels safe at this school.

79.0%Positive

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

21.0%Positive

View All Survey Responseskeyboard_arrow_down

The school makes sure its pupils are well behaved.

strongly agree34%

agree41%

disagree17%

strongly disagree6%

don't know3%

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

strongly agree33%

agree47%

disagree13%

strongly disagree5%

don't know2%

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

strongly agree31%

agree25%

disagree12%

strongly disagree10%

don't know1%

not applicable20%

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

yes41%

no59%

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

strongly agree33%

agree28%

disagree14%

strongly disagree26%

The school has high expectations for my child.

strongly agree42%

agree41%

disagree9%

strongly disagree3%

don't know4%

My child does well at this school.

strongly agree37%

agree41%

disagree10%

strongly disagree7%

don't know5%

The school lets me know how my child is doing.

strongly agree30%

agree42%

disagree13%

strongly disagree10%

don't know4%

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

strongly agree31%

agree58%

disagree8%

strongly disagree1%

don't know1%

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

strongly agree37%

agree50%

disagree6%

strongly disagree4%

don't know2%

The school supports my child's wider personal development.

strongly agree40%

agree37%

disagree13%

strongly disagree7%

don't know3%

I would recommend this school to another parent.

yes78%

no22%

Top Secondary Schools in Trafford

Other highly-ranked schools in the same local authority

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Altrincham Grammar School for Girls

Outstanding

location_on Altrincham, WA14 2NL

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Altrincham Grammar School for Boys

Outstanding

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Sale Grammar School

Outstanding

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Saint Ambrose College

Good

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emoji_events #4 in LA

Stretford Grammar School

Good

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Loreto Grammar School

Outstanding

location_on Altrincham, WA14 4AH

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View all schools in Trafford 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

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 Trafford

Altrincham Grammar School for Girls

Altrincham Grammar School for Boys

Sale Grammar School

Saint Ambrose College

Stretford Grammar School

Loreto Grammar School