Best Secondary Schools in Sefton 2026

Ranked by Ofsted rating, exam results, attendance, and class sizes. 17 schools across Sefton. Updated with 2025–26 data.

How many schools?
17
Open secondary schools in Sefton
Closed schools excluded
Inspection picture
14 Good or better
of 17 with a historic Ofsted grade
Historic single-word grades · pre-Nov-2025
How is this list ordered?
SNM score
Formby High School currently leads
Methodology

Sefton has 17 open secondary schools. On our composite Schools Near Me score, Formby High School currently leads the local rankings. Closed schools are excluded from every list on this page.

Use the ranked table below to compare schools side by side, then open any school for the full picture. Application deadlines in Sefton follow the national calendar: 31 October for Year 7 secondary entry and 15 January for Reception primary entry, with offers on 1 March and 16 April respectively.

All schools Primary Secondary
Rank School Ofsted (historic) SNM Score Profile
1. Formby High School
Secondary
 Good 65 View school
2. Birkdale High School
Secondary
 Good 59 View school
3. Greenbank High School
Secondary
 Good 58 View school
4. Meols Cop High School
Secondary
 Good 57 View school
5. Chesterfield High School
Secondary
 Good 57 View school
6. Holy Family Catholic High School
Secondary
 Good 53 View school
7. Range High School
Secondary
 Good 53 View school
8. Maricourt Catholic High School
Secondary
 Good 50 View school
9. Christ The King Catholic High School and Sixth Form Centre
Secondary
 Good 50 View school
10. Stanley High School
Secondary
 Good 46 View school
11. Deyes High School
Secondary
 Good 44 View school
12. Litherland High School
Secondary
 Good 42 View school
13. Hillside High School
Secondary
 Good 42 View school
14. Maghull High School
Secondary
 Good 41 View school
15. St Michaels Church of England Academy
Secondary
 Inadequate 25 View school
16. Sacred Heart Catholic Academy
Secondary
 Inadequate 11 View school
17. The Salesian Academy of St John Bosco
Secondary
 Inadequate 1 View school

Ranked by the Schools Near Me score. Ofsted grades shown are each school's last single-word grade from before 10 November 2025, when Ofsted retired single-word overall judgements — they are historic and not comparable to the new report cards. How we use Ofsted data. Closed schools are excluded.

Related lists for Sefton

Best primary schools in SeftonTop-ranked Reception–Year 6 Best secondary schools in SeftonTop-ranked Year 7 onwards All schools in SeftonPrimary & secondary combined Primary schools in SeftonReception–Year 6 only How the Schools Near Me score worksOur ranking methodology, explained

Nearby areas

Schools in LiverpoolCompare neighbouring authoritySchools in KnowsleyCompare neighbouring authoritySchools in WirralCompare neighbouring authoritySchools in St. HelensCompare neighbouring authority

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Frequently asked questions

How many secondary schools are there in Sefton?
There are 17 open secondary schools in Sefton (closed schools are excluded). 0 of the 17 with a published inspection held a historic Ofsted grade of Outstanding (the last single-word grade before single-word grades were retired on 10 November 2025).
What are the best-rated secondary schools in Sefton?
On our Schools Near Me score, the top-ranked secondary school in Sefton is Formby High School. The full ranked table above lists the top 17 schools with their score and last historic Ofsted grade. We never list closed schools.
How is the Schools Near Me score calculated?
The Schools Near Me score is a 0–100 composite combining the school's last historic Ofsted grade, published exam and assessment results, attendance and pupil–teacher ratio. It is not an Ofsted rating. Full methodology: https://schoolsnearme.ai/methodology#score
Are Ofsted single-word grades still current in Sefton?
No. Ofsted retired single-word overall grades (Outstanding, Good, Requires Improvement, Inadequate) on 10 November 2025 and replaced them with report cards. Any single-word grade shown on this page is the school's last historic grade from before that date and is not comparable to the new report cards. See https://schoolsnearme.ai/methodology#ofsted
How do I apply for a school place in Sefton?
Primary and secondary applications in Sefton are coordinated by the local authority on the national timetable: apply by 31 October for Year 7 secondary entry and by 15 January for Reception primary entry, with offers on 1 March and 16 April respectively. Check the Sefton council website for local forms and any in-year rules.

Data sourced from Ofsted, Department for Education, and ISI. School rankings reflect the Schools Near Me composite score combining Ofsted ratings, exam results, attendance, and pupil-teacher ratios. Last updated April 2026.