The Catholic High School, Chester is a mainstream secondary school with resourced provision in Chester, Cheshire West and Chester, for children and young people aged 11 to 18. Its specialist base has 15 places for autism.
- Ages 11–18
- 797 pupils
- Ofsted report card (2026)
School details
- Type
- Mainstream school with resourced provision
- Ages
- 11 to 18
- Boys and girls
- Boys and girls
- Specialist base
- Resourced provision, 15 places, 15 pupils
- Pupils
- 797
- Headteacher
- Mrs CATHRYN MCKEAGNEY (Headteacher)
- Part of
- The Chester Catholic Academies Partnership
- Faith
- Roman Catholic
- Council
- Cheshire West and Chester
- School reference (URN)
- 139343
Needs its base supports
1 need: autism
As listed by the Department for Education, grouped the way EHC plans describe needs.
Communication and interaction
How to get a place
4 steps, starting with an EHC plan
- An EHC plan
Places in an SEN unit or resourced provision are usually for children with an Education, Health and Care (EHC) plan. If your child doesn’t have one yet, you can ask the council for an assessment yourself.
- Visit and ask about the base
See the school and its specialist base, and ask how children split their time between the base and mainstream classes.
- Ask for the school to be named
Tell the council that looks after the plan (often Cheshire West and Chester council) that you want this school and its base, and ask them to consult it.
- Named in the plan
If the school is named in your child’s plan, it must admit your child. Places in the base itself are agreed between the council and the school, so ask how they decide.
Questions to ask when you visit
8 questions to tick off as you go
Ticks stay on this device, so you can use them on the day.
Ofsted
Report card, May 2026: Expected standard in every area
Inspected in May 2026 under Ofsted’s new report cards, which grade each area separately, from Exceptional to Urgent improvement, instead of one overall grade.
- InclusionExpected standard
- Curriculum and teachingExpected standard
- AchievementExpected standard
- Attendance and behaviourExpected standard
- Personal development and wellbeingExpected standard
- Post-16Expected standard
- Leadership and governanceExpected standard
- SafeguardingMet
Since then: School remains Good (ungraded inspection, December 2021).
Contact and getting there
Old Wrexham Road, Handbridge, Chester, CH4 7HS
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Directions: Walk Public transport Drive
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The school’s details, how to get a place and the questions to ask, in your inbox.
Other SEND schools nearby
- Abbey School for Exceptional Children Independent · Ages 4–19 · Ofsted: Good 0.8 miles
- Dee Banks School Special school · Ages 2–19 · Ofsted: Good 0.9 miles
- Lache Primary School Mainstream + base · Ages 3–11 · Ofsted: Good 1.0 mile
All SEND schools in Cheshire West and Chester
By need in Cheshire West and Chester: Autism (13) · SEMH (9) · Speech and language (8) · Moderate learning (7) · Severe learning (4) · PMLD (3) · Physical (2)
Questions about The Catholic High School, Chester
How do I get a place in The Catholic High School, Chester’s specialist base?
Places in an SEN unit or resourced provision usually come through an Education, Health and Care (EHC) plan: ask the council that looks after the plan to consult the school about its base. If the school is named in the plan it must admit your child; places in the base itself are agreed between the council and the school.
What needs does The Catholic High School, Chester support?
Autism. Every child is different, so ask the school how it would meet your child’s needs.
What ages does The Catholic High School, Chester take?
Aged 11 to 18, boys and girls.
What is The Catholic High School, Chester’s Ofsted rating?
Rated Good by Ofsted in May 2026 at its last graded inspection. Newer inspections no longer give a single overall grade, so read the latest report for the full picture.
Where is The Catholic High School, Chester?
Old Wrexham Road, Handbridge, Chester, CH4 7HS, in Cheshire West and Chester.
School data: DfE Get Information About Schools, 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.