Ofsted: Good emoji_events #22 in Cheshire West and Chester public Top 50% UK

Chester International School

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

person Mr Tom Kearns

corporate_fareTHE LEARNING TRUST

location_onChester, CH4 7AE

language Visit Website phone 01244735610

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Ofsted

Good

Inspected 2022

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Students

253

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Attainment 8

38.5

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GCSE Rank

#18 in Cheshire West and Chester

#3,111 of 4,024 nationally

summarize

Chester International School is a Studio schools secondary school in Chester, serving ages 14-19. Rated Good by Ofsted.

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School Summary

Chester International School is a studio schools in Chester, Cheshire West and Chester, admitting pupils aged 14-19. It has a sixth form offering post-16 education. It is part of THE LEARNING TRUST. The school has approximately 229 pupils on roll, of whom 26% are eligible for free school meals.

In 2026, pupils achieved an Attainment 8 score of 38.5, placing the school #18 in Cheshire West and Chester and #3,111 of 4,024 nationally. 27.60% of pupils achieved grade 5 or above in English and Maths. 9.3% of all GCSE entries were graded 9–7.

In the 2022/23 leavers cohort, 21.4% progressed to Top-Third Higher Education institutions (ranked #663 nationally), out of 53.7% progressing to higher education overall.

Ofsted last inspected the school in 2022. 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.

The pupil-to-qualified-teacher ratio is 12.3:1. There are no current teaching vacancies.

In the 2024/25 academic year, there was 1 permanent exclusion. The average suspension rate was 5.7 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)

2026

Attainment 8 Score

38.5

across 8 GCSE slots

Grade 5+ E&M

27.60%

Grade 4+ E&M

61.80%

Grade 9–7 (all GCSEs)9.3%

5+ GCSEs (4+ incl. E&M)46.10%

Triple Science Entry17.10%

EBacc Slot Score11.4 / 30

2025

Attainment 8 Score

34.5

across 8 GCSE slots

Grade 5+ E&M

23.40%

Grade 4+ E&M

42.90%

Grade 9–7 (all GCSEs)5.4%

Entering EBacc49.40%

EBacc APS3.22

2024

Progress 8 Score

-1.2

vs National Avg

Attainment 8

34.9

Grade 5+ E&M

27.40%

Entering EBacc42.90%

EBacc APS3.15

2023

Progress 8 Score

-0.65

vs National Avg

Attainment 8

40.4

Grade 5+ E&M

Entering EBacc75%

EBacc APS3.70

2022

Progress 8 Score

-0.46

vs National Avg

Attainment 8

43.2

Grade 5+ E&M

Entering EBacc75%

EBacc APS3.94

2019

Progress 8 Score

-1.12

vs National Avg

Attainment 8

31.7

Grade 5+ E&M

Entering EBacc25%

EBacc APS2.61

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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

78.6%

Education (e.g. Sixth Form/College)72.6%

Apprenticeships2.4%

Employment3.6%

Not in Education / Employment (NEET)15.5%

2025

Stayed in Education / Employment

83%

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

Apprenticeships4%

Employment4%

Not in Education / Employment (NEET)11%

2024

Stayed in Education / Employment

83%

Education (e.g. Sixth Form/College)74%

Apprenticeships1%

Employment8%

Not in Education / Employment (NEET)13%

2023

Stayed in Education / Employment

83%

Education (e.g. Sixth Form/College)71%

Apprenticeships4%

Employment8%

Not in Education / Employment (NEET)13%

2022

Stayed in Education / Employment

84%

Education (e.g. Sixth Form/College)71%

Apprenticeships3%

Employment10%

Not in Education / Employment (NEET)10%

2021

Stayed in Education / Employment

91%

Education (e.g. Sixth Form/College)79%

Apprenticeships2%

Employment11%

Not in Education / Employment (NEET)5%

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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

2024

Post-18 Destinations 68.3% sustained

school Higher Education (University) 53.7%

handshake Apprenticeships 0%

work Employment 9.8%

Not sustained / NEET9.8%

2023

Post-18 Destinations (2022/23 leavers)64.3% sustained

school Higher Education (University) 39.3%

stars Top-Third Universities 21.4%

handshake Apprenticeships 3.6%

work Employment 10.7%

Not sustained / NEET10.7%

2022

Post-18 Destinations 73.3% sustained

school Higher Education (University) 46.7%

handshake Apprenticeships 3.3%

work Employment 23.3%

Not sustained / NEET13.3%

Source: DfE A Level and Other 16-18 Results & 16-19 Destination Measures

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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	A-Level VA	Top-Third Uni	Overall Uni (HE)
2026	#3,388 / 4,024	#22	#3,111	#1	—	#663	#1,503
2025	#3,395 / 3,948	#20	#3,412	#1	—	#663	#1,503
2024	#3,490 / 4,450	#24	#3,315	#3,139	—	#663	#1,503
2023	#2,942 / 4,321	#19	#2,717	#2,773	—	—	#2,080
2022	#2,768 / 4,199	#18	#2,586	#2,495	—	—	#1,860
2019	#2,695 / 2,711	#17	#2,690	#2,683	—	—	—

Ofsted History

Publication Timeline

Report Archive

08 February 2022

Inspection Report

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Inspection Report

Inspection History

1 Evaluations

2022-02-08

S5 Inspection EIF

Good

Education

Good

Behaviour

Good

Development

Good

Leadership

Good

verified_user Safeguarding: Met

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

4.3%per term

sentiment_satisfied Below Average (Good)

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

Pupils Suspended 1+ Times

3.9%(10 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 258 pupils. During this period, there were 11 temporary suspensions. The school's suspension rate was 4.3%, 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)	258	11	4.3%	7.3%	0
2024/25 (Autumn term)	264	19	7.2%	7.8%	1
2023/24 (Summer term)	281	8	2.8%	7.4%	0
2023/24 (Spring term)	281	20	7.1%	7.1%	0
2023/24 (Autumn term)	285	13	4.6%	8.2%	0
2022/23 (Summer term)	252	7	2.8%	6.6%	0
2022/23 (Spring term)	253	4	1.6%	6.4%	0
2022/23 (Autumn term)	259	8	3.1%	5.9%	0
2021/22 (Summer term)	235	3	1.3%	4.7%	0
2021/22 (Spring term)	231	0	0.0%	4.9%	0
2021/22 (Autumn term)	231	6	2.6%	4.4%	0
2020/21 (Summer term)	197	9	4.6%	3.6%	0
2020/21 (Spring term)	197	3	1.5%	1.0%	0
2020/21 (Autumn term)	199	15	7.5%	3.9%	0
2019/20 (Summer term)	140	0	0.0%	0.0%	0
2019/20 (Spring term)	140	2	1.4%	3.2%	0
2019/20 (Autumn term)	139	12	8.6%	4.2%	0
2018/19 (Summer term)	126	0	0.0%	3.1%	0
2018/19 (Spring term)	133	9	6.8%	3.8%	0
2018/19 (Autumn term)	133	23	17.3%	3.8%	0
2017/18 (Summer term)	83	0	0.0%	3.4%	0
2017/18 (Spring term)	76	2	2.6%	3.0%	0
2017/18 (Autumn term)	79	5	6.3%	3.7%	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 34 pupils

Specific Learning Difficulty 21 pupils

Autistic Spectrum Disorder 7 pupils

Speech, Language & Communication 6 pupils

Other Difficulty/Disability 5 pupils

Moderate Learning Difficulty 4 pupils

Physical Disability 3 pupils

Visual Impairment 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?

89%Positive

My child is happy at this school.

92%Positive

My child feels safe at this school.

92%Positive

View All Survey Responseskeyboard_arrow_down

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

agree67%

disagree17%

strongly disagree17%

not applicable83%

The school makes sure its pupils are well behaved.

strongly agree42%

agree42%

disagree6%

strongly disagree6%

Neither agree nor disagree6%

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

strongly agree47%

agree33%

Neither agree nor disagree6%

disagree8%

Don't know6%

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

strongly agree53%

agree36%

Neither agree nor disagree6%

disagree3%

Don't know3%

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

strongly agree50%

agree33%

disagree11%

strongly disagree3%

Neither agree nor disagree3%

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

strongly agree42%

agree11%

disagree3%

strongly disagree3%

not applicable31%

Neither agree nor disagree11%

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

yes58%

no42%

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

strongly agree33%

agree48%

disagree10%

strongly disagree5%

Don't know5%

Would you recommend this school to another parent?

yes94%

no6%

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)

Sixth Form (A-Level) Performance

Ranking History & Trajectory

Ofsted History

Publication Timeline

Inspection History

Admissions Insight

How Places Are Allocated

Distance to School

School Capacity

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?

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