Best Secondary Schools in Wirral 2026

Ranked by Ofsted rating, exam results, attendance, and class sizes. 19 schools across Wirral. Updated with 2025–26 data.

How many schools?
19
Open secondary schools in Wirral
Closed schools excluded
Inspection picture
16 Good or better
of 19 with a historic Ofsted grade
Historic single-word grades · pre-Nov-2025
How is this list ordered?
SNM score
Upton Hall School FCJ currently leads
Methodology

Wirral has 19 open secondary schools. Of the 19 with a published Ofsted inspection, 2 (11%) held a historic grade of Outstanding and 84% held Good or Outstanding — these are the last single-word grades from before Ofsted retired them on 10 November 2025 (how we treat Ofsted data). On our composite Schools Near Me score, Upton Hall School FCJ 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 Wirral 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. Upton Hall School FCJ
Secondary
 Outstanding 94 View school
2. Wirral Grammar School for Girls
Secondary
 Outstanding 92 View school
3. Calday Grange Grammar School
Secondary
 Good 85 View school
4. West Kirby Grammar School
Secondary
 Good 82 View school
5. Wirral Grammar School for Boys
Secondary
 Good 79 View school
6. St Anselm's College
Secondary
 Good 74 View school
7. Pensby High School
Secondary
 Good 51 View school
8. Weatherhead High School
Secondary
 Good 48 View school
9. Co-op Academy Bebington
Secondary
 Good 47 View school
10. Woodchurch High School
Secondary
 Good 45 View school
11. Ridgeway High School
Secondary
 Good 45 View school
12. St John Plessington Catholic College
Secondary
 Good 42 View school
13. Birkenhead Park School
Secondary
 Requires Improvement 41 View school
14. Prenton High School for Girls
Secondary
 Good 41 View school
15. The Oldershaw School
Secondary
 Good 38 View school
16. Hilbre High School
Secondary
 Good 36 View school
17. The Mosslands School
Secondary
 Requires Improvement 27 View school
18. St Mary's Catholic College, A Voluntary Academy
Secondary
 Requires Improvement 16 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 Wirral

Best primary schools in WirralTop-ranked Reception–Year 6 Best secondary schools in WirralTop-ranked Year 7 onwards All schools in WirralPrimary & secondary combined Primary schools in WirralReception–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 SeftonCompare neighbouring authoritySchools in FlintshireCompare neighbouring authority

See full data for any school in Wirral

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

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Frequently asked questions

How many secondary schools are there in Wirral?
There are 19 open secondary schools in Wirral (closed schools are excluded). 2 of the 19 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 Wirral?
On our Schools Near Me score, the top-ranked secondary school in Wirral is Upton Hall School FCJ. The full ranked table above lists the top 18 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 Wirral?
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 Wirral?
Primary and secondary applications in Wirral 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 Wirral 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.