Best Secondary Schools in St. Helens 2026

Ranked by Ofsted rating, exam results, attendance, and class sizes. 9 schools across St. Helens. Updated with 2025–26 data.

St. Helens has 9 secondary schools and a further 6 rated Good — 67% of secondary schools in St. Helens are rated Good or Outstanding overall. Rainford High School currently leads the local rankings on our composite SNM Score.

Application deadlines in St. Helens follow the national calendar: 31 October for Year 7 secondary entry and 15 January for Reception primary entry. Offers go out on 1 March and 16 April respectively.

9
Total schools
0
Outstanding
0%
Outstanding rate
62.7%
Avg KS2 SATs
30.1
Avg GCSE A8
All schools Primary Secondary
Rank School Ofsted SNM Score
🥇 Rainford High School
Secondary
 Good 66 View school
🥈 De La Salle School
Secondary
 Requires Improvement 60 View school
🥉 Rainhill High School
Secondary
 Good 60 View school
4. The Sutton Academy
Secondary
 Good 56 View school
5. Cowley International College
Secondary
 Good 52 View school
6. St Cuthbert's Catholic High School
Secondary
 Good 45 View school
7. Hope Academy
Secondary
 Good 42 View school
8. St Augustine of Canterbury Catholic Academy
Secondary
 Requires Improvement 41 View school
9. Outwood Academy Haydock
Secondary
 Inadequate 39 View school

Related lists for St. Helens

All schools in St. HelensPrimary & secondary combined Primary schools in St. HelensReception–Year 6 only

See full data for any school in St. Helens

Catchment distances, exam trends, SEN data, attendance, and more — all in one place.

Search schools in St. Helens

Frequently asked questions

How many secondary schools are there in St. Helens?
There are 9 secondary schools in St. Helens, of which 0 (0%) are rated Outstanding by Ofsted.
What are the best schools in St. Helens?
Based on our composite score combining Ofsted ratings, exam results, attendance and class sizes, the top school in St. Helens is Rainford High School. See the full ranked list above.
How do I apply for a school place in St. Helens?
Primary and secondary school applications in St. Helens are managed by the Local Authority. Applications for secondary places typically open in September for the following academic year. Visit the St. Helens council website for application forms and deadlines.
What is the average Ofsted rating in St. Helens?
0% of secondary schools in St. Helens are rated Outstanding and 67% are rated Good. 72.5% are rated Good or Outstanding.

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.