The Catholic High School, Chester was established in the early 1970s based on its two predecessor schools, The Ursuline Convent, based near the Roman amphitheatre in the middle of the city, and St Bede's Catholic School in Handbridge.

When the school was opened it took over the buildings of the old Overleigh Boys School, while Overleigh St Mary's Church of England Primary School was opened on the old St Bede's site. An external frieze of St Bede can be seen to this day at the front of the primary school. The Catholic High School opened with Michael Balfe as its first headteacher, and he was succeeded by Christine McCann, Vicky Ratchford and John Murray. The current headteacher, Cathryn McKeagney, was appointed in 2019.

The school was founded by and is part of the Catholic church, and the relationship with the Diocese of Shrewsbury and our partner parishes is crucial to us. As well as offering curriculum based Religious Education, students also have access to a series of RE Days, voluntary retreats and Diocesan youth activities. Older students take part in the annual Diocesan pilgrimage to Lourdes and the annual high school Mass with Bishop Mark Davies.

• “The most-able pupils benefit from the culture of high expectations and improved teaching; they make excellent progress. The proportions of pupils who gain the higher A* and A grades remain consistently high in a number of subjects such as: geography, food technology, religious studies, physics, mathematics and physical education.” - OFSTED 2016

• “The most-able pupils benefit from the culture of high expectations and improved teaching; they make excellent progress. The proportions of pupils who gain the higher A* and A grades remain consistently high in a number of subjects such as: geography, food technology, religious studies, physics, mathematics and physical education.” - OFSTED 2016

• “The most-able pupils benefit from the culture of high expectations and improved teaching; they make excellent progress. The proportions of pupils who gain the higher A* and A grades remain consistently high in a number of subjects such as: geography, food technology, religious studies, physics, mathematics and physical education.” - OFSTED 2016

• “The most-able pupils benefit from the culture of high expectations and improved teaching; they make excellent progress. The proportions of pupils who gain the higher A* and A grades remain consistently high in a number of subjects such as: geography, food technology, religious studies, physics, mathematics and physical education.” - OFSTED 2016

Ofsted Report