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.
| Rank | School name | Type | Gender | Progress 8 | Ofsted rating | GCSE 9-7% |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | The Blue Coat School | Academy converter | Mixed | +0.77 | Good | 80.34% |
| 2 | Archbishop Blanch CofE High School | Voluntary aided school | Girls | +0.63 | Outstanding | 29.74% |
| 3 | King David High School | Voluntary aided school | Mixed | +0.5 | Good | 33% |
| 4 | Liverpool College | Academy sponsor led | Mixed | +0.29 | Outstanding | 32.74% |
| 5 | The Belvedere Academy | Academy sponsor led | Girls | +0.17 | - | 35.96% |
| 6 | North Liverpool Academy | Academy sponsor led | Mixed | -0.02 | Good | 20.86% |
| 7 | Holly Lodge Girls' College | Community school | Girls | -0.04 | - | 17.58% |
| 8 | St Margaret's Church of England Academy | Academy converter | Boys | -0.1 | Good | 23.95% |
| 9 | Calderstones School | Community school | Mixed | -0.2 | Good | 11.45% |
| 10 | St Edward's College | Academy converter | Mixed | -0.2 | - | 23.61% |
| 11 | St Hilda's Church of England High School | Voluntary aided school | Mixed | -0.3 | Good | 22.72% |
| 12 | Liverpool Life Sciences UTC | University technical college | Mixed | -0.34 | Good | 15.16% |
| 13 | Bellerive FCJ Catholic College | Academy converter | Girls | -0.37 | Good | 20.06% |
| 14 | Cardinal Heenan Catholic High School | Voluntary aided school | Boys | -0.41 | Good | 15.11% |
| 15 | St John Bosco Arts College | Voluntary aided school | Girls | -0.47 | Good | 8.32% |
| 16 | St Julie's Catholic High School | Voluntary aided school | Girls | -0.47 | Good | 12.28% |
| 17 | Gateacre School | Community school | Mixed | -0.53 | - | 10.63% |
| 18 | King's Leadership Academy, Liverpool | Academy sponsor led | Mixed | -0.54 | Good | 8.41% |
| 19 | Dixons Broadgreen Academy | Academy sponsor led | Mixed | -0.57 | - | 7.27% |
| 20 | Broughton Hall Catholic High School | Voluntary aided school | Girls | -0.58 | Good | 13.75% |
| 21 | St Francis Xavier's College | Academy converter | Boys | -0.61 | - | 10.46% |
| 22 | West Derby School | Academy converter | Boys | -0.66 | Good | 6.99% |
| 23 | The Studio School Liverpool | Studio schools | Mixed | -0.82 | Good | 8.21% |
| 24 | Archbishop Beck Catholic College | Voluntary aided school | Mixed | -0.83 | Good | 8.7% |
| 25 | Childwall Sports & Science Academy | Academy sponsor led | Mixed | -0.92 | Good | 4.95% |
| 26 | Dixons Croxteth Academy | Academy sponsor led | Mixed | -0.94 | Inadequate | 3.14% |
| 27 | Dixons Fazakerley Academy | Academy sponsor led | Mixed | -1.08 | Requires improvement | 5.57% |
| 28 | The Academy of St Nicholas | Academy sponsor led | Mixed | -1.27 | Good | 4.11% |
| 29 | Childwall Abbey School | Community special school | Mixed | -1.34 | Good | 0% |
| 30 | Notre Dame Catholic College | Voluntary aided school | Mixed | -1.4 | - | 8.29% |
| 31 | Bank View High School | Community special school | Mixed | -1.45 | - | 0.87% |
| 32 | Clifford Holroyde Specialist Sen College | Community special school | Boys | -1.59 | Good | 0% |
| 33 | Abbot's Lea School | Community special school | Mixed | -1.6 | Outstanding | 0% |
| 34 | Alsop High School | Academy sponsor led | Mixed | -1.72 | Requires improvement | 2.05% |
| 35 | Sandfield Park School | Community special school | Mixed | -1.94 | Outstanding | 0% |
| 36 | Woolton High School | Community special school | Boys | -2.27 | Good | 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.
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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.
| Rank | School name | Type | Gender | Progress 8 | Ofsted rating | GCSE 9-7% |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | The Blue Coat School | Academy converter | Mixed | +0.77 | Good | 80.34% |
| 2 | Christian Fellowship School | Other independent school | Mixed | - | - | 44.93% |
| 3 | The Belvedere Academy | Academy sponsor led | Girls | +0.17 | - | 35.96% |
| 4 | King David High School | Voluntary aided school | Mixed | +0.5 | Good | 33% |
| 5 | Liverpool College | Academy sponsor led | Mixed | +0.29 | Outstanding | 32.74% |
| 6 | Archbishop Blanch CofE High School | Voluntary aided school | Girls | +0.63 | Outstanding | 29.74% |
| 7 | St Margaret's Church of England Academy | Academy converter | Boys | -0.1 | Good | 23.95% |
| 8 | St Edward's College | Academy converter | Mixed | -0.2 | - | 23.61% |
| 9 | St Hilda's Church of England High School | Voluntary aided school | Mixed | -0.3 | Good | 22.72% |
| 10 | North Liverpool Academy | Academy sponsor led | Mixed | -0.02 | Good | 20.86% |
| 11 | Bellerive FCJ Catholic College | Academy converter | Girls | -0.37 | Good | 20.06% |
| 12 | Holly Lodge Girls' College | Community school | Girls | -0.04 | - | 17.58% |
| 13 | Liverpool Life Sciences UTC | University technical college | Mixed | -0.34 | Good | 15.16% |
| 14 | Cardinal Heenan Catholic High School | Voluntary aided school | Boys | -0.41 | Good | 15.11% |
| 15 | Broughton Hall Catholic High School | Voluntary aided school | Girls | -0.58 | Good | 13.75% |
| 16 | St Julie's Catholic High School | Voluntary aided school | Girls | -0.47 | Good | 12.28% |
| 17 | Calderstones School | Community school | Mixed | -0.2 | Good | 11.45% |
| 18 | Gateacre School | Community school | Mixed | -0.53 | - | 10.63% |
| 19 | St Francis Xavier's College | Academy converter | Boys | -0.61 | - | 10.46% |
| 20 | Archbishop Beck Catholic College | Voluntary aided school | Mixed | -0.83 | Good | 8.7% |
| 21 | King's Leadership Academy, Liverpool | Academy sponsor led | Mixed | -0.54 | Good | 8.41% |
| 22 | St John Bosco Arts College | Voluntary aided school | Girls | -0.47 | Good | 8.32% |
| 23 | Notre Dame Catholic College | Voluntary aided school | Mixed | -1.4 | - | 8.29% |
| 24 | The Studio School Liverpool | Studio schools | Mixed | -0.82 | Good | 8.21% |
| 25 | Dixons Broadgreen Academy | Academy sponsor led | Mixed | -0.57 | - | 7.27% |
| 26 | West Derby School | Academy converter | Boys | -0.66 | Good | 6.99% |
| 27 | Dixons Fazakerley Academy | Academy sponsor led | Mixed | -1.08 | Requires improvement | 5.57% |
| 28 | Childwall Sports & Science Academy | Academy sponsor led | Mixed | -0.92 | Good | 4.95% |
| 29 | The Academy of St Nicholas | Academy sponsor led | Mixed | -1.27 | Good | 4.11% |
| 30 | Assess Education | Other independent school | Mixed | - | - | 3.7% |
| 31 | Auckland College | Other independent school | Mixed | - | - | 3.17% |
| 32 | Dixons Croxteth Academy | Academy sponsor led | Mixed | -0.94 | Inadequate | 3.14% |
| 33 | Alsop High School | Academy sponsor led | Mixed | -1.72 | Requires improvement | 2.05% |
| 34 | Bank View High School | Community special school | Mixed | -1.45 | - | 0.87% |
| 35 | Abbot's Lea School | Community special school | Mixed | -1.6 | Outstanding | 0% |
| 36 | Sandfield Park School | Community special school | Mixed | -1.94 | Outstanding | 0% |
| 37 | Childwall Abbey School | Community special school | Mixed | -1.34 | Good | 0% |
| 38 | Clifford Holroyde Specialist Sen College | Community special school | Boys | -1.59 | Good | 0% |
| 39 | Woolton High School | Community special school | Boys | -2.27 | Good | 0% |
| 40 | St Vincent's School - A Specialist School for Sensory Impairment and Other Needs | Non-maintained special school | Mixed | - | Requires improvement | 0% |
| 41 | NexGen Academy | Other independent school | Mixed | - | - | 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 | -1.6 | Outstanding | 0% |
| Alsop High School | Academy sponsor led | Mixed | -1.72 | Requires improvement | 2.05% |
| Archbishop Beck Catholic College | Voluntary aided school | Mixed | -0.83 | Good | 8.7% |
| Archbishop Blanch CofE High School | Voluntary aided school | Girls | +0.63 | 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 | - | - | 3.17% |
| Bank View High School | Community special school | Mixed | -1.45 | - | 0.87% |
| Bellerive FCJ Catholic College | Academy converter | Girls | -0.37 | Good | 20.06% |
| Birtenshaw School Merseyside | Other independent special school | Mixed | - | - | - |
| Broughton Hall Catholic High School | Voluntary aided school | Girls | -0.58 | Good | 13.75% |
| Calderstones School | Community school | Mixed | -0.2 | Good | 11.45% |
| Cardinal Heenan Catholic High School | Voluntary aided school | Boys | -0.41 | Good | 15.11% |
| Childwall Abbey School | Community special school | Mixed | -1.34 | Good | 0% |
| Childwall Sports & Science Academy | Academy sponsor led | Mixed | -0.92 | Good | 4.95% |
| Christian Fellowship School | Other independent school | Mixed | - | - | 44.93% |
| Clifford Holroyde Specialist Sen College | Community special school | Boys | -1.59 | Good | 0% |
| Dixons Broadgreen Academy | Academy sponsor led | Mixed | -0.57 | - | 7.27% |
| Dixons Croxteth Academy | Academy sponsor led | Mixed | -0.94 | Inadequate | 3.14% |
| Dixons Fazakerley Academy | Academy sponsor led | Mixed | -1.08 | Requires improvement | 5.57% |
| ES Independent School | Other independent school | Mixed | - | - | - |
| Gateacre School | Academy sponsor led | Mixed | - | Requires improvement | - |
| Gateacre School | Community school | Mixed | -0.53 | - | 10.63% |
| Holly Lodge Girls' College | Community school | Girls | -0.04 | - | 17.58% |
| King David High School | Voluntary aided school | Mixed | +0.5 | Good | 33% |
| King's Leadership Academy, Liverpool | Academy sponsor led | Mixed | -0.54 | Good | 8.41% |
| LIPA School | Free schools | Mixed | - | - | - |
| LIPA Sixth Form College | Free schools 16 to 19 | Mixed | - | - | - |
| Lakeside School | Other independent special school | Mixed | - | - | - |
| Liverpool College | Academy sponsor led | Mixed | +0.29 | Outstanding | 32.74% |
| Liverpool Life Sciences UTC | University technical college | Mixed | -0.34 | Good | 15.16% |
| Liverpool Progressive School | Other independent special school | Mixed | - | - | - |
| Nazene Danielle School of Performing Arts | Other independent school | Mixed | - | - | - |
| NexGen Academy | Other independent school | Mixed | - | - | 0% |
| North Liverpool Academy | Academy sponsor led | Mixed | -0.02 | Good | 20.86% |
| Notre Dame Catholic Academy | Academy sponsor led | Mixed | - | Requires improvement | - |
| Notre Dame Catholic College | Voluntary aided school | Mixed | -1.4 | - | 8.29% |
| Palmerston School | Community special school | Mixed | - | Outstanding | - |
| Progress Schools - Toxteth | Other independent school | Mixed | - | - | - |
| Prudentia Education | Other independent school | Mixed | - | - | - |
| Redbridge High School | Community special school | Mixed | - | Outstanding | - |
| Royal School for the Blind (Liverpool) | Non-maintained special school | Mixed | - | Outstanding | - |
| SENDSCOPE | Other independent special school | Mixed | - | - | - |
| Sandfield Park School | Community special school | Mixed | -1.94 | Outstanding | 0% |
| St Edward's College | Academy converter | Mixed | -0.2 | - | 23.61% |
| St Francis Xavier's Catholic Academy | Academy converter | Boys | - | Requires improvement | - |
| St Francis Xavier's College | Academy converter | Boys | -0.61 | - | 10.46% |
| St Hilda's Church of England High School | Voluntary aided school | Mixed | -0.3 | Good | 22.72% |
| St John Bosco Arts College | Voluntary aided school | Girls | -0.47 | Good | 8.32% |
| St Julie's Catholic High School | Voluntary aided school | Girls | -0.47 | Good | 12.28% |
| St Margaret's Church of England Academy | Academy converter | Boys | -0.1 | Good | 23.95% |
| St Vincent's School - A Specialist School for Sensory Impairment and Other Needs | Non-maintained special school | Mixed | - | Requires improvement | 0% |
| The Academy of St Nicholas | Academy sponsor led | Mixed | -1.27 | Good | 4.11% |
| The Belvedere Academy | Academy sponsor led | Girls | +0.17 | - | 35.96% |
| The Blue Coat School | Academy converter | Mixed | +0.77 | Good | 80.34% |
| The Studio School Liverpool | Studio schools | Mixed | -0.82 | Good | 8.21% |
| West Derby School | Academy converter | Boys | -0.66 | Good | 6.99% |
| Woolton High School | Community special school | Boys | -2.27 | 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.
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