Holmes Chapel Comprehensive School & Sixth Form College
The school is a designated academy, a Specialist Science College and a designated Training School which has also been accredited with both Sportsmark and Artsmark awards. The school consistently performs well in academic performance League Tables, invariably exceeding both National and Local Education Authority averages. The school was originally founded in 1978 as a purpose-built 11-18 comprehensive and sixth form.
In total, the school community contains just over 1200 students whose ages range from 11 to 18 years. Approximately 170 of these are members of the sixth form, and there are about 85 members of teaching staff. The lower school is divided into five year groups, each containing about 200 students, whilst the Sixth Form is divided into two year groups of about 75 students each.
The proportion of pupils with special educational needs is well below average, while the proportion of pupils with statements is average[citation needed]. Pupils with the highest levels of need mostly have specific learning difficulties (dyslexia), emotional and behavioural difficulties, or moderate learning difficulties. About two per cent of the pupils have minority ethnic backgrounds. The proportion of the pupils who are eligible for a free school meal is well below the national average and the socio-economic census data for local wards is very favourable.
The school's catchment area is large, and approximately half its students live in the surrounding towns and villages of Allostock, Brereton, Byley, Chelford, Cranage, Goostrey, Lower Peover, Middlewich, Plumley, Smallwood, Holmes Chapel and Wincham. Consequently, many students travel to school on private buses, provided by either Cheshire County Council or the school itself. The majority of those who live in Holmes Chapel walk, due to the school's position reasonabely near the centre of the Village, and about 10 or 15 students cycle. The local area is rural and socially mixed, although generally affluent.
