Best Primary & Secondary Schools in Cheshire West and Chester 2026

Ranked by Ofsted rating, exam results, attendance, and class sizes. 177 schools across Cheshire West and Chester. Updated with 2025–26 data.

Cheshire West and Chester has 177 open primary & secondary schools. Of the 162 with a published Ofsted inspection, 25 (15%) held a historic grade of Outstanding and 90% held Good or Outstanding — these are the last single-word grades from before Ofsted retired them on 10 November 2025 (how we treat Ofsted data). On our composite Schools Near Me score, St Martin's Academy Chester currently leads the local rankings. Closed schools are excluded from every list on this page.

Use the ranked table below to compare schools side by side, then open any school for the full picture. Application deadlines in Cheshire West and Chester follow the national calendar: 31 October for Year 7 secondary entry and 15 January for Reception primary entry, with offers on 1 March and 16 April respectively.

177
Total schools
25
Outstanding (historic grade)
15%
of inspected schools (pre-Nov-2025)
62%
Avg KS2 SATs
38.5
Avg GCSE A8
All schools Primary Secondary
Rank School Ofsted (historic) SNM Score Profile
1. St Martin's Academy Chester
Primary
 Outstanding 95 View school
2. Delamere CofE Primary Academy
Primary
 Outstanding 94 View school
3. Mill View Primary School
Primary
 Outstanding 89 View school
4. Boughton Heath Academy
Primary
 Outstanding 88 View school
5. Guilden Sutton CofE Primary School
Primary
 Outstanding 86 View school
6. Barnton Community Nursery and Primary School
Primary
 Outstanding 84 View school
7. Acresfield Academy
Primary
 Outstanding 84 View school
8. Childer Thornton Primary School
Primary
 Outstanding 83 View school
9. Tushingham With Grindley CofE Primary School
Primary
 Outstanding 83 View school
10. Eaton Primary School
Primary
 Good 80 View school
11. Tarvin Primary School
Primary
 Good 79 View school
12. Tilston Parochial CofE Primary School
Primary
 Good 79 View school
13. Norley Church of England Primary School
Primary
 Good 78 View school
14. Clutton Church of England Primary School
Primary
 Good 78 View school
15. Comberbach Nursery and Primary School
Primary
 Good 78 View school
16. Parkgate Primary School
Primary
 Good 78 View school
17. Saighton Church of England Primary School & Pre-School
Primary
 Good 76 View school
18. Bishop Wilson Church of England Primary School
Primary
 Good 75 View school
19. St Werburgh's and St Columba's Catholic Primary School
Primary
 Good 75 View school
20. Mickle Trafford Village School
Primary
 Good 74 View school

Ranked by the Schools Near Me score. Ofsted grades shown are each school's last single-word grade from before 10 November 2025, when Ofsted retired single-word overall judgements — they are historic and not comparable to the new report cards. How we use Ofsted data. Closed schools are excluded.

Related lists for Cheshire West and Chester

Best primary schools in Cheshire West and ChesterTop-ranked Reception–Year 6 Best secondary schools in Cheshire West and ChesterTop-ranked Year 7 onwards Primary schools in Cheshire West and ChesterReception–Year 6 only Secondary schools in Cheshire West and ChesterYear 7 onwards How the Schools Near Me score worksOur ranking methodology, explained

Nearby areas

Schools in HaltonCompare neighbouring authoritySchools in WarringtonCompare neighbouring authoritySchools in KnowsleyCompare neighbouring authoritySchools in LiverpoolCompare neighbouring authority

See full data for any school in Cheshire West and Chester

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Frequently asked questions

How many primary & secondary schools are there in Cheshire West and Chester?
There are 177 open primary & secondary schools in Cheshire West and Chester (closed schools are excluded). 25 of the 162 with a published inspection held a historic Ofsted grade of Outstanding (the last single-word grade before single-word grades were retired on 10 November 2025).
What are the best-rated primary & secondary schools in Cheshire West and Chester?
On our Schools Near Me score, the top-ranked primary & secondary school in Cheshire West and Chester is St Martin's Academy Chester. The full ranked table above lists the top 20 schools with their score and last historic Ofsted grade. We never list closed schools.
How is the Schools Near Me score calculated?
The Schools Near Me score is a 0–100 composite combining the school's last historic Ofsted grade, published exam and assessment results, attendance and pupil–teacher ratio. It is not an Ofsted rating. Full methodology: https://schoolsnearme.ai/methodology#score
Are Ofsted single-word grades still current in Cheshire West and Chester?
No. Ofsted retired single-word overall grades (Outstanding, Good, Requires Improvement, Inadequate) on 10 November 2025 and replaced them with report cards. Any single-word grade shown on this page is the school's last historic grade from before that date and is not comparable to the new report cards. See https://schoolsnearme.ai/methodology#ofsted
How do I apply for a school place in Cheshire West and Chester?
Primary and secondary applications in Cheshire West and Chester are coordinated by the local authority on the national timetable: apply by 31 October for Year 7 secondary entry and by 15 January for Reception primary entry, with offers on 1 March and 16 April respectively. Check the Cheshire West and Chester council website for local forms and any in-year rules.

Data sourced from Ofsted, Department for Education, and ISI. School rankings reflect the Schools Near Me composite score combining Ofsted ratings, exam results, attendance, and pupil-teacher ratios. Last updated April 2026.