Chester International School is a mainstream secondary school in Chester, Cheshire West and Chester, for children and young people aged 14 to 19. In January 2026, 89 of its 229 pupils (38.9%) were getting SEN support and 14 (6.1%) had an EHC plan.
- Ages 14–19
- 229 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.
38.9% get SEN support
89 of 229 pupils. Help in school without an EHC plan.
Higher than the England average.
6.1% have an EHC plan
14 of 229 pupils. A legal plan from the council, for children who need more help.
Higher than the England average.
Most common needs
- Social, emotional and mental health48
- Specific learning difficulty, such as dyslexia19
- Autism18
- Speech, language and communication5
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
- Studio school
- Ages
- 14 to 19
- Boys and girls
- Boys and girls
- Pupils
- 229 (places for 320)
- Headteacher
- Mr Tom Kearns
- Part of
- The Learning Trust
- Free school meals
- 34% of pupils eligible
- Council
- Cheshire West and Chester
- School reference (URN)
- 144742
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, February 2022
Rated Good at its last graded inspection, in February 2022.
- Quality of educationGood
- Behaviour and attitudesGood
- Personal developmentGood
- Leadership and managementGood
- Sixth formGood
- SafeguardingEffective
Contact and getting there
Queens Park Campus, Queens Park Road, Handbridge, Chester, CH4 7AE
Loading the map…
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
- The Catholic High School, Chester Mainstream + base · Ages 11–18 · Ofsted report card (2026) 0.4 miles
- Abbey School for Exceptional Children Independent · Ages 4–19 · Ofsted: Good 0.6 miles
- Dee Banks School Special school · Ages 2–19 · Ofsted: Good 0.6 miles
- Lache Primary School Mainstream + base · Ages 3–11 · Ofsted: Good 1.4 miles
Other mainstream schools
- Queen's Park High School Secondary · Ages 11–18 · SEN support 13.8%, EHC plans 4.2% 0.0 miles
- Overleigh St Mary's Church of England Primary School Primary · Ages 3–11 · SEN support 4.9%, EHC plans 5.4% 0.4 miles
- The Grosvenor Park Church of England Academy Primary · Ages 4–11 · SEN support 14.6%, EHC plans 2.5% 0.4 miles
All mainstream schools in Cheshire West and Chester SEND schools in Cheshire West and Chester
Questions about Chester International School
How many pupils at Chester International School have special educational needs?
In the January 2026 school census, 89 of the 229 pupils (38.9%) were getting SEN support and 14 (6.1%) had an EHC plan. Across England’s state secondary schools it is 14.1% and 3.5%.
What are the most common needs at Chester International School?
Counting pupils on SEN support and with an EHC plan, the most common main needs are social, emotional and mental health (SEMH) needs (48 pupils), dyslexia and other specific learning difficulties (19 pupils) and autism (18 pupils).
Who do I talk to about my child’s needs at Chester International 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 Chester International 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 Chester International School?
You can ask for Chester International 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 Chester International 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 The Catholic High School, Chester, about 0.4 miles away.
Where is Chester International School?
Queens Park Campus, Queens Park Road, Handbridge, Chester, CH4 7AE, 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.