Cheshire East’s best secondary schools 2025

Trying to find the right school for your child in Cheshire East? You’re in the right place.

With so many options, many parents find themselves drowning in league tables and Ofsted reports. That’s exactly why we’ve done the heavy lifting for you. Our expert team has analysed the latest 2023/2024 Department for Education data to bring you a list of the top-performing state secondary schools in Cheshire East.

We show two ranking tables, one for Progress 8 and one for GCSE 9–7 results, and also provide a complete list of all secondary schools in Cheshire East. This full list includes Progress 8 scores, GCSE 9–7 percentages, and Ofsted ratings where available. The schools in this table are ordered alphabetically rather than ranked, so you can easily see every school in one place, even if some data points are missing.

Top secondary schools in Cheshire East by Progress 8

The Fallibroome Academy is currently ranked #1 in Cheshire East based on its published Progress 8 score of +0.56. Progress 8 is a headline accountability measure used by the Department for Education to show how much progress pupils make between the end of primary school and their GCSEs, compared to students with similar prior attainment nationally.

RankSchool nameTypeGenderProgress 8Ofsted ratingGCSE 9-7%
1The Fallibroome AcademyAcademy converterMixed+0.56Good32.05%
2Sandbach High School and Sixth Form CollegeAcademy converterGirls+0.48Good20.35%
3Poynton High SchoolAcademy converterMixed+0.29Good33.15%
4Sandbach SchoolFree schoolsBoys+0.28-17.83%
5St Thomas More Catholic High SchoolAcademy converterMixed+0.26-16.33%
6Alsager SchoolAcademy converterMixed+0.21Good22.79%
7The Macclesfield AcademyAcademy sponsor ledMixed+0.18-19.15%
8Wilmslow High SchoolCommunity schoolMixed+0.16Good29.5%
9Tytherington SchoolAcademy converterMixed+0.09Good25.41%
10Shavington AcademyAcademy converterMixed+0.04Good11.58%
11All Hallows Catholic CollegeAcademy converterMixed0-24.35%
12Knutsford AcademyAcademy converterMixed-0.03Good25.84%
13Holmes Chapel Comprehensive SchoolAcademy converterMixed-0.04Good21.8%
14Brine Leas SchoolAcademy converterMixed-0.07Good20.32%
15Eaton Bank AcademyAcademy converterMixed-0.13-16.34%
16Middlewich High SchoolAcademy converterMixed-0.14Good11.17%
17Ruskin Community High SchoolCommunity schoolMixed-0.22Good10.68%
18Congleton High SchoolAcademy converterMixed-0.47Good14.66%
19The Oaks AcademyAcademy sponsor ledMixed-0.5Good5.52%
20Malbank School and Sixth Form CollegeFoundation schoolMixed-0.6Good9.18%
21Sir William Stanier SchoolAcademy sponsor ledMixed-0.9-6.71%
22Crewe Engineering and Design UTCUniversity technical collegeMixed-1-1.18%
23Church Lawton SchoolFree schools specialMixed-1.33Good7.89%
24The Axis AcademyFree schools specialMixed-1.53Good0%
25Cheshire Studio SchoolStudio schoolsMixed-1.62Good2.59%
26Adelaide Heath AcademyAcademy special sponsor ledMixed-2.07Good0%
27Adelaide SchoolAcademy special converterMixed-2.61Outstanding0%

Note: Rankings use 2023/2024 CSP data for state-funded schools and may not reflect recent changes, check school websites for the latest information.

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Top secondary schools in Cheshire East by GCSE % 9–7

The King's School In Macclesfield is currently ranked #1 in Cheshire East based on the percentage of GCSE grades awarded at 9–7. This measure highlights how many pupils achieve the very top exam results, giving a clear picture of each school’s academic excellence.

RankSchool nameTypeGenderProgress 8Ofsted ratingGCSE 9-7%
1The King's School In MacclesfieldOther independent schoolMixed--55.85%
2Alderley Edge School for GirlsOther independent schoolGirls--49.4%
3Poynton High SchoolAcademy converterMixed+0.29Good33.15%
4The Fallibroome AcademyAcademy converterMixed+0.56Good32.05%
5Wilmslow High SchoolCommunity schoolMixed+0.16Good29.5%
6Knutsford AcademyAcademy converterMixed-0.03Good25.84%
7Tytherington SchoolAcademy converterMixed+0.09Good25.41%
8All Hallows Catholic CollegeAcademy converterMixed0-24.35%
9Alsager SchoolAcademy converterMixed+0.21Good22.79%
10Holmes Chapel Comprehensive SchoolAcademy converterMixed-0.04Good21.8%
11Sandbach High School and Sixth Form CollegeAcademy converterGirls+0.48Good20.35%
12Brine Leas SchoolAcademy converterMixed-0.07Good20.32%
13The Macclesfield AcademyAcademy sponsor ledMixed+0.18-19.15%
14Sandbach SchoolFree schoolsBoys+0.28-17.83%
15Beech Hall SchoolOther independent schoolMixed--17.59%
16Eaton Bank AcademyAcademy converterMixed-0.13-16.34%
17St Thomas More Catholic High SchoolAcademy converterMixed+0.26-16.33%
18Congleton High SchoolAcademy converterMixed-0.47Good14.66%
19Shavington AcademyAcademy converterMixed+0.04Good11.58%
20Middlewich High SchoolAcademy converterMixed-0.14Good11.17%
21Ruskin Community High SchoolCommunity schoolMixed-0.22Good10.68%
22Malbank School and Sixth Form CollegeFoundation schoolMixed-0.6Good9.18%
23Church Lawton SchoolFree schools specialMixed-1.33Good7.89%
24Sir William Stanier SchoolAcademy sponsor ledMixed-0.9-6.71%
25The Oaks AcademyAcademy sponsor ledMixed-0.5Good5.52%
26Cheshire Studio SchoolStudio schoolsMixed-1.62Good2.59%
27Crewe Engineering and Design UTCUniversity technical collegeMixed-1-1.18%
28Adelaide SchoolAcademy special converterMixed-2.61Outstanding0%
29Adelaide Heath AcademyAcademy special sponsor ledMixed-2.07Good0%
30The Axis AcademyFree schools specialMixed-1.53Good0%
31Aidenswood SchoolOther independent special schoolBoys--0%
32High Peak SchoolOther independent special schoolMixed--0%

Note: Rankings use 2023/2024 CSP data for state-funded schools and may not reflect recent changes, check school websites for the latest information.

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All secondary schools in Cheshire East

Below is the complete list of secondary schools in Cheshire East, including both state-funded and independent schools where data is available. This table provides an at-a-glance view of each school’s key performance metrics, including Progress 8 scores, the percentage of GCSE grades awarded at 9–7, and Ofsted ratings, where published.

School nameTypeGenderProgress 8Ofsted ratingGCSE 9-7%
Adelaide Heath AcademyAcademy special sponsor ledMixed-2.07Good0%
Adelaide SchoolAcademy special converterMixed-2.61Outstanding0%
Aidenswood SchoolOther independent special schoolBoys--0%
Alderley Edge School for GirlsOther independent schoolGirls--49.4%
All Hallows Catholic CollegeAcademy converterMixed0-24.35%
Alsager SchoolAcademy converterMixed+0.21Good22.79%
Aurora Summerfields SchoolOther independent special schoolMixed---
Beech Hall SchoolOther independent schoolMixed--17.59%
Brine Leas SchoolAcademy converterMixed-0.07Good20.32%
Cheshire Hall SchoolOther independent special schoolMixed---
Cheshire Studio SchoolStudio schoolsMixed-1.62Good2.59%
Church Lawton SchoolFree schools specialMixed-1.33Good7.89%
Compass Community Cledford ParkOther independent special schoolMixed---
Congleton High SchoolAcademy converterMixed-0.47Good14.66%
Crewe Engineering and Design UTCUniversity technical collegeMixed-1-1.18%
David Lewis SchoolNon-maintained special schoolMixed-Good-
Eaton Bank AcademyAcademy converterMixed-0.13-16.34%
Eden SchoolOther independent special schoolMixed---
Esland Daven SchoolOther independent special schoolMixed---
High Peak SchoolOther independent special schoolMixed--0%
Holmes Chapel Comprehensive SchoolAcademy converterMixed-0.04Good21.8%
Knutsford AcademyAcademy converterMixed-0.03Good25.84%
Lavender Field SchoolOther independent special schoolMixed---
Malbank School and Sixth Form CollegeFoundation schoolMixed-0.6Good9.18%
Middlewich High SchoolAcademy converterMixed-0.14Good11.17%
Norbury Court SchoolOther independent schoolBoys---
Opal EducationOther independent special schoolMixed---
Park Lane SchoolCommunity special schoolMixed-Good-
Poynton High SchoolAcademy converterMixed+0.29Good33.15%
Ruskin Community High SchoolCommunity schoolMixed-0.22Good10.68%
Sandbach High School and Sixth Form CollegeAcademy converterGirls+0.48Good20.35%
Sandbach SchoolFree schoolsBoys+0.28-17.83%
Shavington AcademyAcademy converterMixed+0.04Good11.58%
Sir William Stanier SchoolAcademy sponsor ledMixed-0.9-6.71%
Springfield SchoolCommunity special schoolMixed-Outstanding-
St Thomas More Catholic High SchoolAcademy converterMixed+0.26-16.33%
TILT EducationOther independent special schoolMixed---
Terra Nova SchoolOther independent schoolMixed---
The Axis AcademyFree schools specialMixed-1.53Good0%
The Fallibroome AcademyAcademy converterMixed+0.56Good32.05%
The King's School In MacclesfieldOther independent schoolMixed--55.85%
The Macclesfield AcademyAcademy sponsor led--Requires improvement-
The Macclesfield AcademyAcademy sponsor ledMixed+0.18-19.15%
The Oaks AcademyAcademy sponsor ledMixed-0.5Good5.52%
Tytherington SchoolAcademy converterMixed+0.09Good25.41%
Wilmslow High SchoolCommunity schoolMixed+0.16Good29.5%

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Disclaimer

All data on this page is sourced from the Department for Education’s 2023/2024 Compare School Performance dataset. It includes state-funded and, where available, independent secondary schools. Some schools may be missing data for Progress 8 scores, GCSE 9–7 results, or Ofsted ratings due to unpublished or unavailable figures. Rankings are based only on schools with published data and may not reflect recent changes. Please check school websites for the latest information.

How we ranked the best schools in Cheshire East?

Why trust our rankings? Our analysis is based on the latest 2023/2024 data from the Department for Education’s Compare School Performance (CSP) database, which publishes official performance data for all secondary schools in England, including both state-funded and independent schools where available.

We’ve created separate tables to highlight top performers in three key areas:

  • Progress 8 (pupil progress from KS2 to GCSE)
  • GCSE 9–7 grades (academic excellence)
  • Overall school listings, with available Ofsted ratings

Schools are primarily ranked by their Progress 8 score. This clever metric doesn’t just reward schools with high-attaining intakes – it highlights the ones that genuinely support student growth by measuring progress from the end of primary school to GCSEs. It adjusts for prior attainment, making it one of the fairest ways to compare schools.

Where available, we also show the percentage of GCSE grades at 9–7 to reflect high academic achievement, and Ofsted ratings for added context. All figures come directly from CSP’s official dataset.

Where Progress 8 data is not available for any schools in Cheshire East, the corresponding table will not be shown. This simply means that no schools in this area had published Progress 8 scores at the time of the latest dataset, it does not reflect on the quality of the schools themselves.

How to support your child at home

Helping your child succeed at school doesn’t just happen in the classroom, the right support at home can make a big difference. Encourage a regular study routine, provide a quiet space for learning, and take an interest in what they’re covering in lessons. Even small actions, like checking in on homework or discussing what they learned that day, can build motivation and accountability.

If you’re looking for extra structure, our GCSE Revision Resources are designed to make studying easier. With expert-written notes, topic-by-topic exam questions, and mark schemes, your child can practise exactly what they need to know, when they need to know it.

Boosting confidence before exams

Confidence can make a huge difference to exam performance. Start by helping your child identify their strengths and weaknesses, then focus revision time on areas that need improvement. Practising under timed conditions can reduce exam-day nerves, while celebrating small wins along the way builds self-belief.

Our GCSE Exam Practice pages include hundreds of past-paper style questions and worked solutions, so students can walk into their exams knowing exactly what to expect. By building familiarity with the question styles and formats, they’ll feel prepared and ready to perform at their best.

Explore the best secondary schools in other areas

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FAQs - best secondary schools in Cheshire East

Based on the latest Department for Education CSP data, the highest-rated secondary school in Cheshire East is The Fallibroome Academy by Progress 8 and The King's School In Macclesfield by GCSE 9–7 results. In the case of an exact tie across these measures, the first school in alphabetical order is shown here. For full details and to compare all schools, please refer to the performance tables above.
No. This guide covers state-funded secondary schools only, including grammar, comprehensive, academy, and free schools. Independent/private schools are not included in our rankings.
Applications are usually managed by Cheshire County Council. You can find deadlines, admissions policies, and catchment area maps on the council’s official website.
Use Ofsted inspection reports, the Department for Education’s CSP performance tables, and our rankings to compare schools side by side. Visit schools during open days for first-hand impressions.
Ofsted rates secondary schools as Outstanding, Good, Requires Improvement, or Inadequate. Outstanding secondary schools excel in teaching quality, student behaviour, leadership, and outcomes.
A Progress 8 score above 0 means students make better progress than the national average. Scores above +0.5 indicate well above average progress, while top-performing secondary schools typically achieve +0.7 or higher. The best schools in Cheshire East consistently score above +0.8.

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