Upton-by-Chester High School is a mainstream secondary school in Chester, Cheshire West and Chester, for children and young people aged 11 to 18. In January 2026, 234 of its 1,728 pupils (13.5%) were getting SEN support and 63 (3.6%) had an EHC plan.
- Ages 11–18
- 1,728 pupils
- Ofsted: Good
Special educational needs here
From the school census, January 2026. Compared with state secondary schools across England and in Cheshire West and Chester.
13.5% get SEN support
234 of 1,728 pupils. Help in school without an EHC plan.
About the same as the England average.
3.6% have an EHC plan
63 of 1,728 pupils. A legal plan from the council, for children who need more help.
About the same as the England average.
Most common needs
- Social, emotional and mental health90
- Moderate learning difficulty53
- Autism50
- Specific learning difficulty, such as dyslexia41
- Speech, language and communication26
- Visual impairment9
Pupils by their main need, on SEN support or with an EHC plan. Needs with fewer than 5 pupils aren’t shown.
Figures show how many children the school supports, not how well. To see how it would support your child, talk to the SENCO and read its SEN information report on the school’s website.
School details
- Type
- Mainstream secondary school
- Run as
- Foundation school
- Ages
- 11 to 18
- Boys and girls
- Boys and girls
- Pupils
- 1,728 (places for 1,670)
- Headteacher
- Mr Lee Cummins
- Free school meals
- 16% of pupils eligible
- Council
- Cheshire West and Chester
- School reference (URN)
- 111422
How SEN support works
4 steps, from a first chat to an EHC plan
- Talk to the class teacher and the SENCO
If you’re worried about your child, ask for a meeting. Every school has a SENCO (special educational needs co-ordinator). Your child doesn’t need a diagnosis to get help.
- SEN support
The school should work out what your child needs, agree a plan with you, put it in place and review it together, usually each term. This is called SEN support.
- An EHC needs assessment
If your child needs more help than the school can usually give, you or the school can ask Cheshire West and Chester council for an EHC needs assessment. It can lead to an Education, Health and Care (EHC) plan, which the council must make sure is delivered.
- Free, independent advice
Your local SENDIASS can help at any stage, and can come to meetings with the school with you.
Questions to ask the SENCO
10 questions to tick off as you go
Ticks stay on this device, so you can use them at the meeting.
Ofsted
Rated Good, May 2015; standards maintained (February 2025)
Rated Good at its last graded inspection, in May 2015. That was some time ago, so read the latest report for the full picture.
- Leadership and managementGood
- Sixth formOutstanding
Since then: Standards maintained (ungraded inspection, February 2025).
Contact and getting there
St James Avenue, Upton-by-Chester, Chester, CH2 1NN
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Directions: Walk Public transport Drive
Email me these details
The school’s details, its SEN figures and the questions to ask the SENCO, in your inbox.
Nearby
Specialist schools and SEN units
- Upton Westlea Primary School Mainstream + base · Ages 3–11 0.3 miles
- Dorin Park School & Specialist SEN College Special school · Ages 4–19 · Ofsted: Good 0.5 miles
- Acresfield Academy Mainstream + base · Ages 3–11 · Ofsted: Outstanding 0.7 miles
- Maple Grove School Independent · Ages 5–18 1.1 miles
Other mainstream schools
- Mill View Primary School Primary · Ages 3–11 · SEN support 12.8%, EHC plans 2.5% 0.4 miles
- Upton Heath CofE Primary School Primary · Ages 4–11 · SEN support 13.9%, EHC plans 5.3% 0.7 miles
- Newton Primary School Primary · Ages 4–11 · SEN support 16.3%, EHC plans 1.1% 0.7 miles
All mainstream schools in Cheshire West and Chester SEND schools in Cheshire West and Chester
Questions about Upton-by-Chester High School
How many pupils at Upton-by-Chester High School have special educational needs?
In the January 2026 school census, 234 of the 1,728 pupils (13.5%) were getting SEN support and 63 (3.6%) had an EHC plan. Across England’s state secondary schools it is 14.1% and 3.5%.
What are the most common needs at Upton-by-Chester High School?
Counting pupils on SEN support and with an EHC plan, the most common main needs are social, emotional and mental health (SEMH) needs (90 pupils), moderate learning difficulties (53 pupils) and autism (50 pupils).
Who do I talk to about my child’s needs at Upton-by-Chester High School?
The SENCO (special educational needs co-ordinator). Every school has one, and every school must publish an SEN information report on its website explaining how it supports pupils with SEND.
How do I apply for a place at Upton-by-Chester High School?
Through Cheshire West and Chester council’s school admissions, in the normal application round or during the year. If your child has an EHC plan, you don’t apply this way: you ask for the school to be named in the plan instead.
Can my child with an EHC plan go to Upton-by-Chester High School?
You can ask for Upton-by-Chester High School to be named in your child’s EHC plan. The council must consult the school and name it, unless it would be unsuitable for your child’s age, ability or needs, or would affect other children’s education or the efficient use of resources.
Does Upton-by-Chester High School have an SEN unit or resourced provision?
Not according to the Department for Education’s register of schools. The nearest mainstream school with one is Upton Westlea Primary School, about 0.3 miles away.
Where is Upton-by-Chester High School?
St James Avenue, Upton-by-Chester, Chester, CH2 1NN, in Cheshire West and Chester.
School data: DfE Get Information About Schools, SEN figures from DfE Special educational needs in England (the January school census), under the Open Government Licence. Postcode lookups by postcodes.io: contains OS data © Crown copyright and database right, Royal Mail data © Royal Mail copyright and database right, and National Statistics data © Crown copyright and database right. Distances are as the crow flies. Always check details and admissions with the school and your council.