Chester International School
Queens Park Campus, Queens Park Road, Handbridge, Chester, CH4 7AEOpen in maps (opens in a new tab)
Chester International School is a secondary school in Chester for ages 14 to 19. It is one of the 181 schools in Cheshire West and Chester. It ranks 6th of 7 secondary schools in Chester. Its latest Ofsted rating is Good, from an inspection in February 2022.
Ofsted inspection
Inspected 8 February 2022, report published 28 March 2022
- Overall effectiveness
- Good
- Quality of education
- Good
- Behaviour and attitudes
- Good
- Personal development
- Good
- Leadership and management
- Good
- Sixth form provision
- Good
- Safeguarding
- Met
What Ofsted said
From the inspection on 8 February 2022
Leaders, the chief executive officer (CEO) and governors have developed a welcoming and nurturing environment. Teachers have high expectations of what pupils should achieve. Pupils are valued as individuals and are happy here. They settle into the school quickly when they arrive in Year 10. Pupils quickly become part of the school community. Pupils and students achieve well. Staff foster positive relationships with pupils. Pupils behave well. They are polite and well mannered. Pupils and students accept each other's differences. In lessons, pupils listen carefully to teachers' instructions and work hard. Pupils who spoke with inspectors said that they feel safe. They reported that, if bullying should happen, staff will deal with incidents swiftly and effectively. Pupils and students benefit from a wide range of extra-curricular activities, including sports, drama and musical performances. This helps them to develop their talents and interests. Pupils and students spoke enthusiastically about planned trips to places of interest in the United Kingdom and overseas. They enjoy volunteering in the local community. The overwhelming majority of parents and carers are very positive about the improvements that they can see in their children's progress and behaviour.
What the school should improve
- In some subjects, sometimes teachers do not choose the most appropriate activities to deliver the knowledge they want pupils to learn. Consequently, some pupils and students are not achieving as well as they could in these areas of the curriculum. Leaders should ensure that teachers continue to receive training to deliver these curriculums effectively. This will help pupils and students to know more and remember more.
- Leaders' plans to develop pupils' reading knowledge are not fully developed. Some pupils have gaps in their reading ability. This means that these pupils are not able to access the curriculum as well as they should. Leaders should ensure that they provide the support that pupils need to read with fluency and understanding.
- A small number of pupils still miss too much school. They miss valuable learning time, which negatively impacts on their achievement. Leaders should ensure that pupils attend school regularly.
Exam results
GCSE results (key stage 4), 2024/25
77 pupils in the year group
Pupil numbers and mix
229 pupils on roll, with places for 320
Schools near Chester International School
| School | Distance | Ofsted | Results |
|---|---|---|---|
| Queen's Park High School | 0.1 miles | Ofsted judgements: Good | Attainment 8: 44.2 |
| The Queen's School | 0.6 miles | No Ofsted inspection | Attainment 8: 67.4 |
| The Catholic High School, Chester | 0.7 miles | Report card: Expected standard | Attainment 8: 46.7 |
| The Bishops' Blue Coat Church of England High School | 0.8 miles | Ofsted: Good | Attainment 8: 53.8 |
| The King's School | 1 mile | No Ofsted inspection | Attainment 8: 19.3 |
School details
- School type
- Studio schools
- Sector
- Free school
- Trust
- THE LEARNING TRUST
- Age range
- 14 to 19
- Gender
- Mixed
- Sixth form
- Yes
- Headteacher
- Mr Tom Kearns
- Phone
- 01244735610
- Address
- Queens Park Campus, Queens Park Road, Handbridge, Chester, CH4 7AE
- Local authority
- Cheshire West and Chester
- URN
- 144742
School details from Get Information about Schools, 17 September 2026. Ofsted outcomes published to 31 August 2026. Exam results for 2024/25 from the Department for Education. Pupil mix from the school census, 2025/26.