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
Liverpool Progressive School 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.
Rank | School name | Type | Gender | Progress 8 | Ofsted rating | GCSE 9-7% |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
1 | Liverpool Progressive School | Other independent special school | Mixed | +0.77 | - | - |
2 | The Academy of St Nicholas | Academy sponsor led | Mixed | +0.54 | Good | 4.11% |
3 | St Vincent's School - A Specialist School for Sensory Impairment and Other Needs | Non-maintained special school | Mixed | +0.5 | Requires improvement | 0% |
4 | Bluebell Park School | Community special school | Mixed | +0.35 | Good | - |
5 | Lord Derby Academy | Academy sponsor led | Mixed | +0.31 | Good | 7.12% |
6 | West Derby School | Academy converter | Boys | +0.29 | Good | 6.99% |
7 | Range High School | Academy converter | Mixed | +0.22 | Good | 16.87% |
8 | Finch Woods Academy | Academy special sponsor led | Mixed | +0.19 | Inadequate | 0% |
9 | Liverpool College | Academy sponsor led | Mixed | +0.17 | Outstanding | 32.74% |
10 | Litherland High School | Academy sponsor led | Mixed | +0.03 | Good | 9.15% |
11 | Rowan Park School | Community special school | Mixed | +0.01 | - | 0% |
12 | St Margaret's Church of England Academy | Academy converter | Boys | -0.04 | Good | 23.95% |
13 | Archbishop Blanch CofE High School | Voluntary aided school | Girls | -0.05 | Outstanding | 29.74% |
14 | Maricourt Catholic High School | Voluntary aided school | Mixed | -0.05 | Good | 12.91% |
15 | Merchant Taylors' Boys' School | Other independent school | Boys | -0.06 | - | 34.35% |
16 | Maghull High School | Academy converter | Mixed | -0.12 | Good | 10.18% |
17 | Kirkby High School | Academy sponsor led | Mixed | -0.15 | Good | 7.16% |
18 | Abbot's Lea School | Community special school | Mixed | -0.16 | Outstanding | 0% |
19 | North Liverpool Academy | Academy sponsor led | Mixed | -0.2 | Good | 20.86% |
20 | Formby High School | Academy converter | Mixed | -0.23 | Good | 31.31% |
21 | Educ8 Liverpool | Other independent special school | Mixed | -0.3 | - | - |
22 | Woolton High School | Community special school | Boys | -0.34 | Good | 0% |
23 | Auckland College | Other independent school | Mixed | -0.36 | - | 3.17% |
24 | King's Leadership Academy, Liverpool | Academy sponsor led | Mixed | -0.37 | Good | 8.41% |
25 | Notre Dame Catholic College | Voluntary aided school | Mixed | -0.41 | - | 8.29% |
26 | Crosby High School | Community special school | Mixed | -0.48 | - | - |
27 | St Julie's Catholic High School | Voluntary aided school | Girls | -0.53 | Good | 12.28% |
28 | Lawrence House School | Other independent special school | Mixed | -0.53 | - | - |
29 | Sandfield Park School | Community special school | Mixed | -0.54 | Outstanding | 0% |
30 | St Edward's College | Academy converter | Mixed | -0.57 | - | 23.61% |
31 | NexGen Academy | Other independent school | Mixed | -0.58 | - | 0% |
32 | Calderstones School | Community school | Mixed | -0.59 | Good | 11.45% |
33 | Sacred Heart Catholic Academy | Academy sponsor led | Mixed | -0.62 | - | 9.29% |
34 | Chesterfield High School | Academy converter | Mixed | -0.66 | Good | 19.03% |
35 | Deyes High School | Academy converter | Mixed | -0.69 | - | 13.93% |
36 | Clifford Holroyde Specialist Sen College | Community special school | Boys | -0.76 | Good | 0% |
37 | Dixons Fazakerley Academy | Academy sponsor led | Mixed | -0.83 | Requires improvement | 5.57% |
38 | Childwall Sports & Science Academy | Academy sponsor led | Mixed | -0.9 | Good | 4.95% |
39 | Progress Schools - Toxteth | Other independent school | Mixed | -0.92 | - | - |
40 | St Francis Xavier's College | Academy converter | Boys | -0.94 | - | 10.46% |
41 | Childwall Abbey School | Community special school | Mixed | -1.01 | Good | 0% |
42 | Cardinal Heenan Catholic High School | Voluntary aided school | Boys | -1.08 | Good | 15.11% |
43 | St Hilda's Church of England High School | Voluntary aided school | Mixed | -1.08 | Good | 22.72% |
44 | Dixons Broadgreen Academy | Academy sponsor led | Mixed | -1.27 | - | 7.27% |
45 | Palmerston School | Community special school | Mixed | -1.34 | Outstanding | - |
46 | King David High School | Voluntary aided school | Mixed | -1.45 | Good | 33% |
47 | Redbridge High School | Community special school | Mixed | -1.59 | Outstanding | - |
48 | Christian Fellowship School | Other independent school | Mixed | -1.6 | - | 44.93% |
49 | The Blue Coat School | Academy converter | Mixed | -1.63 | Good | 80.34% |
50 | Dixons Croxteth Academy | Academy sponsor led | Mixed | -1.72 | Inadequate | 3.14% |
51 | Olsen House School | Other independent special school | Mixed | -2.01 | - | 0% |
52 | Bank View High School | Community special school | Mixed | -2.54 | - | 0.87% |
53 | The Belvedere Academy | Academy sponsor led | Girls | -2.61 | - | 35.96% |
Note: Rankings use 2023/2024 CSP data for state-funded schools and may not reflect recent changes, check school websites for the latest information.
Examiner-written GCSE revision resources that improve your grades 2x
- Written by expert teachers and examiners
- Aligned to exam specifications
- Everything you need to know, and nothing you don’t

Top secondary schools in Liverpool by GCSE % 9–7
The Blue Coat School 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.
Rank | School name | Type | Gender | Progress 8 | Ofsted rating | GCSE 9-7% |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
1 | The Blue Coat School | Academy converter | Mixed | -1.63 | Good | 80.34% |
2 | Christian Fellowship School | Other independent school | Mixed | -1.6 | - | 44.93% |
3 | Merchant Taylors' Girls' School | Other independent school | Girls | - | - | 37.25% |
4 | The Belvedere Academy | Academy sponsor led | Girls | -2.61 | - | 35.96% |
5 | Merchant Taylors' Boys' School | Other independent school | Boys | -0.06 | - | 34.35% |
6 | King David High School | Voluntary aided school | Mixed | -1.45 | Good | 33% |
7 | Liverpool College | Academy sponsor led | Mixed | +0.17 | Outstanding | 32.74% |
8 | St. Mary's College | Other independent school | Mixed | - | - | 31.54% |
9 | Formby High School | Academy converter | Mixed | -0.23 | Good | 31.31% |
10 | Archbishop Blanch CofE High School | Voluntary aided school | Girls | -0.05 | Outstanding | 29.74% |
11 | St Margaret's Church of England Academy | Academy converter | Boys | -0.04 | Good | 23.95% |
12 | St Edward's College | Academy converter | Mixed | -0.57 | - | 23.61% |
13 | St Hilda's Church of England High School | Voluntary aided school | Mixed | -1.08 | Good | 22.72% |
14 | North Liverpool Academy | Academy sponsor led | Mixed | -0.2 | Good | 20.86% |
15 | Bellerive FCJ Catholic College | Academy converter | Girls | - | Good | 20.06% |
16 | Chesterfield High School | Academy converter | Mixed | -0.66 | Good | 19.03% |
17 | Holly Lodge Girls' College | Community school | Girls | - | - | 17.58% |
18 | Range High School | Academy converter | Mixed | +0.22 | Good | 16.87% |
19 | Holy Family Catholic High School | Voluntary aided school | Mixed | - | Good | 15.31% |
20 | Liverpool Life Sciences UTC | University technical college | Mixed | - | Good | 15.16% |
21 | Cardinal Heenan Catholic High School | Voluntary aided school | Boys | -1.08 | Good | 15.11% |
22 | Deyes High School | Academy converter | Mixed | -0.69 | - | 13.93% |
23 | Broughton Hall Catholic High School | Voluntary aided school | Girls | - | Good | 13.75% |
24 | Maricourt Catholic High School | Voluntary aided school | Mixed | -0.05 | Good | 12.91% |
25 | St Julie's Catholic High School | Voluntary aided school | Girls | -0.53 | Good | 12.28% |
26 | Calderstones School | Community school | Mixed | -0.59 | Good | 11.45% |
27 | Gateacre School | Community school | Mixed | - | - | 10.63% |
28 | St Francis Xavier's College | Academy converter | Boys | -0.94 | - | 10.46% |
29 | Maghull High School | Academy converter | Mixed | -0.12 | Good | 10.18% |
30 | The Academy of St Francis of Assisi | Academy sponsor led | Mixed | - | Requires improvement | 9.55% |
31 | Sacred Heart Catholic Academy | Academy sponsor led | Mixed | -0.62 | - | 9.29% |
32 | Litherland High School | Academy sponsor led | Mixed | +0.03 | Good | 9.15% |
33 | Archbishop Beck Catholic College | Voluntary aided school | Mixed | - | Good | 8.7% |
34 | King's Leadership Academy, Liverpool | Academy sponsor led | Mixed | -0.37 | Good | 8.41% |
35 | Notre Dame Catholic College | Voluntary aided school | Mixed | -0.41 | - | 8.29% |
36 | The Studio School Liverpool | Studio schools | Mixed | - | Good | 8.21% |
37 | The Prescot School | Academy converter | Mixed | - | Requires improvement | 7.35% |
38 | Dixons Broadgreen Academy | Academy sponsor led | Mixed | -1.27 | - | 7.27% |
39 | Kirkby High School | Academy sponsor led | Mixed | -0.15 | Good | 7.16% |
40 | Lord Derby Academy | Academy sponsor led | Mixed | +0.31 | Good | 7.12% |
41 | West Derby School | Academy converter | Boys | +0.29 | Good | 6.99% |
42 | Dixons Fazakerley Academy | Academy sponsor led | Mixed | -0.83 | Requires improvement | 5.57% |
43 | Childwall Sports & Science Academy | Academy sponsor led | Mixed | -0.9 | Good | 4.95% |
44 | The Academy of St Nicholas | Academy sponsor led | Mixed | +0.54 | Good | 4.11% |
45 | Assess Education | Other independent school | Mixed | - | - | 3.7% |
46 | Auckland College | Other independent school | Mixed | -0.36 | - | 3.17% |
47 | Dixons Croxteth Academy | Academy sponsor led | Mixed | -1.72 | Inadequate | 3.14% |
48 | Alsop High School | Academy sponsor led | Mixed | - | Requires improvement | 2.05% |
49 | Bank View High School | Community special school | Mixed | -2.54 | - | 0.87% |
50 | Abbot's Lea School | Community special school | Mixed | -0.16 | Outstanding | 0% |
51 | Sandfield Park School | Community special school | Mixed | -0.54 | Outstanding | 0% |
52 | Alt Bridge School | Community special school | Mixed | - | Good | 0% |
53 | Childwall Abbey School | Community special school | Mixed | -1.01 | Good | 0% |
54 | Clifford Holroyde Specialist Sen College | Community special school | Boys | -0.76 | Good | 0% |
55 | Newfield School | Community special school | Mixed | - | Good | 0% |
56 | Woolton High School | Community special school | Boys | -0.34 | Good | 0% |
57 | St Vincent's School - A Specialist School for Sensory Impairment and Other Needs | Non-maintained special school | Mixed | +0.5 | Requires improvement | 0% |
58 | Finch Woods Academy | Academy special sponsor led | Mixed | +0.19 | Inadequate | 0% |
59 | NexGen Academy | Other independent school | Mixed | -0.58 | - | 0% |
60 | Olsen House School | Other independent special school | Mixed | -2.01 | - | 0% |
61 | Rowan Park School | Community special school | Mixed | +0.01 | - | 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.
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 name | Type | Gender | Progress 8 | Ofsted rating | GCSE 9-7% |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Abbot's Lea School | Community special school | Mixed | -0.16 | Outstanding | 0% |
Alsop High School | Academy sponsor led | Mixed | - | Requires improvement | 2.05% |
Alt Bridge School | Community special school | Mixed | - | Good | 0% |
Archbishop Beck Catholic College | Voluntary aided school | Mixed | - | Good | 8.7% |
Archbishop Blanch CofE High School | Voluntary aided school | Girls | -0.05 | Outstanding | 29.74% |
Assess Education | Other independent school | Mixed | - | - | 3.7% |
Assess Education North West | Other independent school | Mixed | - | - | - |
Auckland College | Other independent school | Mixed | -0.36 | - | 3.17% |
Bank View High School | Community special school | Mixed | -2.54 | - | 0.87% |
Bellerive FCJ Catholic College | Academy converter | Girls | - | Good | 20.06% |
Bluebell Park School | Community special school | Mixed | +0.35 | Good | - |
Broughton Hall Catholic High School | Voluntary aided school | Girls | - | Good | 13.75% |
Calderstones School | Community school | Mixed | -0.59 | Good | 11.45% |
Cardinal Heenan Catholic High School | Voluntary aided school | Boys | -1.08 | Good | 15.11% |
Chesterfield High School | Academy converter | Mixed | -0.66 | Good | 19.03% |
Childwall Abbey School | Community special school | Mixed | -1.01 | Good | 0% |
Childwall Sports & Science Academy | Academy sponsor led | Mixed | -0.9 | Good | 4.95% |
Christian Fellowship School | Other independent school | Mixed | -1.6 | - | 44.93% |
Clifford Holroyde Specialist Sen College | Community special school | Boys | -0.76 | Good | 0% |
Crosby High School | Community special school | Mixed | -0.48 | - | - |
Deyes High School | Academy converter | Mixed | -0.69 | - | 13.93% |
Dixons Broadgreen Academy | Academy sponsor led | Mixed | -1.27 | - | 7.27% |
Dixons Croxteth Academy | Academy sponsor led | Mixed | -1.72 | Inadequate | 3.14% |
Dixons Fazakerley Academy | Academy sponsor led | Mixed | -0.83 | Requires improvement | 5.57% |
Educ8 Liverpool | Other independent special school | Mixed | -0.3 | - | - |
Finch Woods Academy | Academy special sponsor led | Mixed | +0.19 | Inadequate | 0% |
Formby High School | Academy converter | Mixed | -0.23 | Good | 31.31% |
Foundations for LIFE School | Other independent special school | Mixed | - | - | - |
Gateacre School | Academy sponsor led | Mixed | - | Requires improvement | - |
Gateacre School | Community school | Mixed | - | - | 10.63% |
Holly Lodge Girls' College | Community school | Girls | - | - | 17.58% |
Holy Family Catholic High School | Voluntary aided school | Mixed | - | Good | 15.31% |
King David High School | Voluntary aided school | Mixed | -1.45 | Good | 33% |
King's Leadership Academy, Liverpool | Academy sponsor led | Mixed | -0.37 | Good | 8.41% |
Kirkby High School | Academy sponsor led | Mixed | -0.15 | Good | 7.16% |
LIPA School | Free schools | Mixed | - | - | - |
LIPA Sixth Form College | Free schools 16 to 19 | Mixed | - | - | - |
Lakeside School | Other independent special school | Mixed | - | - | - |
Lawrence House School | Other independent special school | Mixed | -0.53 | - | - |
Litherland High School | Academy sponsor led | Mixed | +0.03 | Good | 9.15% |
Liverpool College | Academy sponsor led | Mixed | +0.17 | Outstanding | 32.74% |
Liverpool Life Sciences UTC | University technical college | Mixed | - | Good | 15.16% |
Liverpool Progressive School | Other independent special school | Mixed | +0.77 | - | - |
Lord Derby Academy | Academy sponsor led | Mixed | +0.31 | Good | 7.12% |
Maghull High School | Academy converter | Mixed | -0.12 | Good | 10.18% |
Maricourt Catholic High School | Voluntary aided school | Mixed | -0.05 | Good | 12.91% |
Merchant Taylors' Boys' School | Other independent school | Boys | -0.06 | - | 34.35% |
Merchant Taylors' Girls' School | Other independent school | Girls | - | - | 37.25% |
Nazene Danielle School of Performing Arts | Other independent school | Mixed | - | - | - |
Newfield School | Community special school | Mixed | - | Good | 0% |
NexGen Academy | Other independent school | Mixed | -0.58 | - | 0% |
North Liverpool Academy | Academy sponsor led | Mixed | -0.2 | Good | 20.86% |
Notre Dame Catholic Academy | Academy sponsor led | Mixed | - | Requires improvement | - |
Notre Dame Catholic College | Voluntary aided school | Mixed | -0.41 | - | 8.29% |
Olsen House School | Other independent special school | Mixed | -2.01 | - | 0% |
Palmerston School | Community special school | Mixed | -1.34 | Outstanding | - |
Peregrinate Ltd. | Other independent special school | Mixed | - | - | - |
Progress Schools - Toxteth | Other independent school | Mixed | -0.92 | - | - |
Prudentia Education | Other independent school | Mixed | - | - | - |
Range High School | Academy converter | Mixed | +0.22 | Good | 16.87% |
Redbridge High School | Community special school | Mixed | -1.59 | Outstanding | - |
Rowan Park School | Academy special converter | Mixed | - | Outstanding | - |
Rowan Park School | Community special school | Mixed | +0.01 | - | 0% |
Royal School for the Blind (Liverpool) | Non-maintained special school | Mixed | - | Outstanding | - |
SENDSCOPE | Other independent special school | Mixed | - | - | - |
Sacred Heart Catholic Academy | Academy sponsor led | Mixed | -0.62 | - | 9.29% |
Sandfield Park School | Community special school | Mixed | -0.54 | Outstanding | 0% |
St Edward's College | Academy converter | Mixed | -0.57 | - | 23.61% |
St Francis Xavier's Catholic Academy | Academy converter | Boys | - | Requires improvement | - |
St Francis Xavier's College | Academy converter | Boys | -0.94 | - | 10.46% |
St Hilda's Church of England High School | Voluntary aided school | Mixed | -1.08 | Good | 22.72% |
St Julie's Catholic High School | Voluntary aided school | Girls | -0.53 | Good | 12.28% |
St Margaret's Church of England Academy | Academy converter | Boys | -0.04 | Good | 23.95% |
St Vincent's School - A Specialist School for Sensory Impairment and Other Needs | Non-maintained special school | Mixed | +0.5 | Requires improvement | 0% |
St. Mary's College | Other independent school | Mixed | - | - | 31.54% |
The Academy of St Francis of Assisi | Academy sponsor led | Mixed | - | Requires improvement | 9.55% |
The Academy of St Nicholas | Academy sponsor led | Mixed | +0.54 | Good | 4.11% |
The Belvedere Academy | Academy sponsor led | Girls | -2.61 | - | 35.96% |
The Blue Coat School | Academy converter | Mixed | -1.63 | Good | 80.34% |
The Prescot School | Academy converter | Mixed | - | Requires improvement | 7.35% |
The Studio School Liverpool | Studio schools | Mixed | - | Good | 8.21% |
West Derby School | Academy converter | Boys | +0.29 | Good | 6.99% |
Woolton High School | Community special school | Boys | -0.34 | Good | 0% |
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 cities
Share this article