Ofsted Inspection Report
Upton-by-Chester High School was inspected on 4th – 5th February 2025. This was an ungraded inspection following the school being judged Good with an outstanding Sixth Form in 2015 and again in 2019.
As a result of the inspection the school remains Good with an Outstanding Sixth Form. 
The letter below was sent to parents by the Headteacher Mr L Cummins, and the link to the report is shown below.
I am delighted to share some fantastic news with you. Upton-by-Chester High School has received a highly positive Ofsted report following our recent inspection! This achievement is a testament to the dedication, hard work, and commitment of our entire school community—our learners, staff, parents, and governors.
The Ofsted inspectors recognised many areas of strength in our school, including:
High-quality teaching and learning, ensuring that learners are engaged, challenged, and making excellent progress. This is obviously our core business as a school and we were delighted Ofsted could see how well this is done.
Strong pastoral care and support, creating a safe and nurturing environment where every child feels valued. They have also talked about the school being highly inclusive.
Outstanding behaviour and attitudes, with learners showing respect, enthusiasm, and a real pride in their learning. A great example of this was cited as the school karaoke event that was organised by the Sixth Form. I am not sure many Ofsted reports will have reference to Karaoke!!
A broad and ambitious curriculum, designed to inspire and prepare learners for future success.
Exceptional leadership and staff dedication, ensuring that every learner has the opportunity to thrive.
We are particularly proud that the inspectors highlighted:
"Pupils flourish in this school’s nurturing and inclusive environment. Students in the sixth form are particularly appreciative of the school’s support for their academic achievement and personal growth. Pupils develop positive relationships with staff. This helps them to feel known and cared for, despite the large size of the school. A culture of trust and respect is evident." This reflects our core belief that education is about more than just results—it's about preparing young people for happy, successful futures.
While we celebrate this achievement, we remain committed to continuous improvement. The report also provided constructive feedback on areas where we can develop further. Both of these areas were in the schools' own self-evaluation of the next steps.
We want to extend a huge thank you to all our parents and carers for your ongoing support. Your partnership with the school is invaluable, and we truly appreciate everything you do to help your children succeed.
The full Ofsted report is available on our website and the Ofsted website https://files.ofsted.gov.uk/v1/file/50273367 , and we encourage you to take a look. If you have any questions or would like to discuss the report further, please do not hesitate to get in touch.
I am incredibly proud of being the Headteacher of this wonderful school and you have my commitment to ongoing and continual improvement of the quality of education and support for every young person who is part of our community.
Thank you once again for being part of our ambitious and successful school community. We are incredibly proud of this achievement and look forward to building on this success together!
April 2025.
