Liverpool’s best secondary schools 2025

Trying to find the right school for your child in Liverpool? 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 Liverpool.

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 Liverpool. 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 Liverpool by Progress 8

The Blue Coat School in Wavertree is currently ranked #1 in Liverpool based on its published Progress 8 score of +0.77. 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 Blue Coat SchoolAcademy converterMixed+0.77Good80.34%
2Archbishop Blanch CofE High SchoolVoluntary aided schoolGirls+0.63Outstanding29.74%
3King David High SchoolVoluntary aided schoolMixed+0.5Good33%
4Liverpool CollegeAcademy sponsor ledMixed+0.29Outstanding32.74%
5The Belvedere AcademyAcademy sponsor ledGirls+0.17-35.96%
6North Liverpool AcademyAcademy sponsor ledMixed-0.02Good20.86%
7Holly Lodge Girls' CollegeCommunity schoolGirls-0.04-17.58%
8St Margaret's Church of England AcademyAcademy converterBoys-0.1Good23.95%
9Calderstones SchoolCommunity schoolMixed-0.2Good11.45%
10St Edward's CollegeAcademy converterMixed-0.2-23.61%
11St Hilda's Church of England High SchoolVoluntary aided schoolMixed-0.3Good22.72%
12Liverpool Life Sciences UTCUniversity technical collegeMixed-0.34Good15.16%
13Bellerive FCJ Catholic CollegeAcademy converterGirls-0.37Good20.06%
14Cardinal Heenan Catholic High SchoolVoluntary aided schoolBoys-0.41Good15.11%
15St John Bosco Arts CollegeVoluntary aided schoolGirls-0.47Good8.32%
16St Julie's Catholic High SchoolVoluntary aided schoolGirls-0.47Good12.28%
17Gateacre SchoolCommunity schoolMixed-0.53-10.63%
18King's Leadership Academy, LiverpoolAcademy sponsor ledMixed-0.54Good8.41%
19Dixons Broadgreen AcademyAcademy sponsor ledMixed-0.57-7.27%
20Broughton Hall Catholic High SchoolVoluntary aided schoolGirls-0.58Good13.75%
21St Francis Xavier's CollegeAcademy converterBoys-0.61-10.46%
22West Derby SchoolAcademy converterBoys-0.66Good6.99%
23The Studio School LiverpoolStudio schoolsMixed-0.82Good8.21%
24Archbishop Beck Catholic CollegeVoluntary aided schoolMixed-0.83Good8.7%
25Childwall Sports & Science AcademyAcademy sponsor ledMixed-0.92Good4.95%
26Dixons Croxteth AcademyAcademy sponsor ledMixed-0.94Inadequate3.14%
27Dixons Fazakerley AcademyAcademy sponsor ledMixed-1.08Requires improvement5.57%
28The Academy of St NicholasAcademy sponsor ledMixed-1.27Good4.11%
29Childwall Abbey SchoolCommunity special schoolMixed-1.34Good0%
30Notre Dame Catholic CollegeVoluntary aided schoolMixed-1.4-8.29%
31Bank View High SchoolCommunity special schoolMixed-1.45-0.87%
32Clifford Holroyde Specialist Sen CollegeCommunity special schoolBoys-1.59Good0%
33Abbot's Lea SchoolCommunity special schoolMixed-1.6Outstanding0%
34Alsop High SchoolAcademy sponsor ledMixed-1.72Requires improvement2.05%
35Sandfield Park SchoolCommunity special schoolMixed-1.94Outstanding0%
36Woolton High SchoolCommunity special schoolBoys-2.27Good0%

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 Liverpool by GCSE % 9–7

The Blue Coat School in Wavertree is currently ranked #1 in Liverpool 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 Blue Coat SchoolAcademy converterMixed+0.77Good80.34%
2Christian Fellowship SchoolOther independent schoolMixed--44.93%
3The Belvedere AcademyAcademy sponsor ledGirls+0.17-35.96%
4King David High SchoolVoluntary aided schoolMixed+0.5Good33%
5Liverpool CollegeAcademy sponsor ledMixed+0.29Outstanding32.74%
6Archbishop Blanch CofE High SchoolVoluntary aided schoolGirls+0.63Outstanding29.74%
7St Margaret's Church of England AcademyAcademy converterBoys-0.1Good23.95%
8St Edward's CollegeAcademy converterMixed-0.2-23.61%
9St Hilda's Church of England High SchoolVoluntary aided schoolMixed-0.3Good22.72%
10North Liverpool AcademyAcademy sponsor ledMixed-0.02Good20.86%
11Bellerive FCJ Catholic CollegeAcademy converterGirls-0.37Good20.06%
12Holly Lodge Girls' CollegeCommunity schoolGirls-0.04-17.58%
13Liverpool Life Sciences UTCUniversity technical collegeMixed-0.34Good15.16%
14Cardinal Heenan Catholic High SchoolVoluntary aided schoolBoys-0.41Good15.11%
15Broughton Hall Catholic High SchoolVoluntary aided schoolGirls-0.58Good13.75%
16St Julie's Catholic High SchoolVoluntary aided schoolGirls-0.47Good12.28%
17Calderstones SchoolCommunity schoolMixed-0.2Good11.45%
18Gateacre SchoolCommunity schoolMixed-0.53-10.63%
19St Francis Xavier's CollegeAcademy converterBoys-0.61-10.46%
20Archbishop Beck Catholic CollegeVoluntary aided schoolMixed-0.83Good8.7%
21King's Leadership Academy, LiverpoolAcademy sponsor ledMixed-0.54Good8.41%
22St John Bosco Arts CollegeVoluntary aided schoolGirls-0.47Good8.32%
23Notre Dame Catholic CollegeVoluntary aided schoolMixed-1.4-8.29%
24The Studio School LiverpoolStudio schoolsMixed-0.82Good8.21%
25Dixons Broadgreen AcademyAcademy sponsor ledMixed-0.57-7.27%
26West Derby SchoolAcademy converterBoys-0.66Good6.99%
27Dixons Fazakerley AcademyAcademy sponsor ledMixed-1.08Requires improvement5.57%
28Childwall Sports & Science AcademyAcademy sponsor ledMixed-0.92Good4.95%
29The Academy of St NicholasAcademy sponsor ledMixed-1.27Good4.11%
30Assess EducationOther independent schoolMixed--3.7%
31Auckland CollegeOther independent schoolMixed--3.17%
32Dixons Croxteth AcademyAcademy sponsor ledMixed-0.94Inadequate3.14%
33Alsop High SchoolAcademy sponsor ledMixed-1.72Requires improvement2.05%
34Bank View High SchoolCommunity special schoolMixed-1.45-0.87%
35Abbot's Lea SchoolCommunity special schoolMixed-1.6Outstanding0%
36Sandfield Park SchoolCommunity special schoolMixed-1.94Outstanding0%
37Childwall Abbey SchoolCommunity special schoolMixed-1.34Good0%
38Clifford Holroyde Specialist Sen CollegeCommunity special schoolBoys-1.59Good0%
39Woolton High SchoolCommunity special schoolBoys-2.27Good0%
40St Vincent's School - A Specialist School for Sensory Impairment and Other NeedsNon-maintained special schoolMixed-Requires improvement0%
41NexGen AcademyOther independent 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.

Source

All secondary schools in Liverpool

Below is the complete list of secondary schools in Liverpool, 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%
Abbot's Lea SchoolCommunity special schoolMixed-1.6Outstanding0%
Alsop High SchoolAcademy sponsor ledMixed-1.72Requires improvement2.05%
Archbishop Beck Catholic CollegeVoluntary aided schoolMixed-0.83Good8.7%
Archbishop Blanch CofE High SchoolVoluntary aided schoolGirls+0.63Outstanding29.74%
Assess EducationOther independent schoolMixed--3.7%
Assess Education North WestOther independent schoolMixed---
Auckland CollegeOther independent schoolMixed--3.17%
Bank View High SchoolCommunity special schoolMixed-1.45-0.87%
Bellerive FCJ Catholic CollegeAcademy converterGirls-0.37Good20.06%
Birtenshaw School MerseysideOther independent special schoolMixed---
Broughton Hall Catholic High SchoolVoluntary aided schoolGirls-0.58Good13.75%
Calderstones SchoolCommunity schoolMixed-0.2Good11.45%
Cardinal Heenan Catholic High SchoolVoluntary aided schoolBoys-0.41Good15.11%
Childwall Abbey SchoolCommunity special schoolMixed-1.34Good0%
Childwall Sports & Science AcademyAcademy sponsor ledMixed-0.92Good4.95%
Christian Fellowship SchoolOther independent schoolMixed--44.93%
Clifford Holroyde Specialist Sen CollegeCommunity special schoolBoys-1.59Good0%
Dixons Broadgreen AcademyAcademy sponsor ledMixed-0.57-7.27%
Dixons Croxteth AcademyAcademy sponsor ledMixed-0.94Inadequate3.14%
Dixons Fazakerley AcademyAcademy sponsor ledMixed-1.08Requires improvement5.57%
ES Independent SchoolOther independent schoolMixed---
Gateacre SchoolAcademy sponsor ledMixed-Requires improvement-
Gateacre SchoolCommunity schoolMixed-0.53-10.63%
Holly Lodge Girls' CollegeCommunity schoolGirls-0.04-17.58%
King David High SchoolVoluntary aided schoolMixed+0.5Good33%
King's Leadership Academy, LiverpoolAcademy sponsor ledMixed-0.54Good8.41%
LIPA SchoolFree schoolsMixed---
LIPA Sixth Form CollegeFree schools 16 to 19Mixed---
Lakeside SchoolOther independent special schoolMixed---
Liverpool CollegeAcademy sponsor ledMixed+0.29Outstanding32.74%
Liverpool Life Sciences UTCUniversity technical collegeMixed-0.34Good15.16%
Liverpool Progressive SchoolOther independent special schoolMixed---
Nazene Danielle School of Performing ArtsOther independent schoolMixed---
NexGen AcademyOther independent schoolMixed--0%
North Liverpool AcademyAcademy sponsor ledMixed-0.02Good20.86%
Notre Dame Catholic AcademyAcademy sponsor ledMixed-Requires improvement-
Notre Dame Catholic CollegeVoluntary aided schoolMixed-1.4-8.29%
Palmerston SchoolCommunity special schoolMixed-Outstanding-
Progress Schools - ToxtethOther independent schoolMixed---
Prudentia EducationOther independent schoolMixed---
Redbridge High SchoolCommunity special schoolMixed-Outstanding-
Royal School for the Blind (Liverpool)Non-maintained special schoolMixed-Outstanding-
SENDSCOPEOther independent special schoolMixed---
Sandfield Park SchoolCommunity special schoolMixed-1.94Outstanding0%
St Edward's CollegeAcademy converterMixed-0.2-23.61%
St Francis Xavier's Catholic AcademyAcademy converterBoys-Requires improvement-
St Francis Xavier's CollegeAcademy converterBoys-0.61-10.46%
St Hilda's Church of England High SchoolVoluntary aided schoolMixed-0.3Good22.72%
St John Bosco Arts CollegeVoluntary aided schoolGirls-0.47Good8.32%
St Julie's Catholic High SchoolVoluntary aided schoolGirls-0.47Good12.28%
St Margaret's Church of England AcademyAcademy converterBoys-0.1Good23.95%
St Vincent's School - A Specialist School for Sensory Impairment and Other NeedsNon-maintained special schoolMixed-Requires improvement0%
The Academy of St NicholasAcademy sponsor ledMixed-1.27Good4.11%
The Belvedere AcademyAcademy sponsor ledGirls+0.17-35.96%
The Blue Coat SchoolAcademy converterMixed+0.77Good80.34%
The Studio School LiverpoolStudio schoolsMixed-0.82Good8.21%
West Derby SchoolAcademy converterBoys-0.66Good6.99%
Woolton High SchoolCommunity special schoolBoys-2.27Good0%

Source

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 Liverpool?

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 Liverpool, 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 Liverpool

Based on the latest Department for Education CSP data, the highest-rated secondary school in Liverpool is The Blue Coat School by Progress 8 and 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 Liverpool local authority. 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.
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 Liverpool consistently score above +0.8.

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