Best schools in North West (2025)
The top five of 3,090 schools in each category, with links to the full top 100. Rankings use the Success Index (England), built only from official English data.
North West has 3,090 schools educating 1,127,913 students in 2025: 1,707 local authority, 1,210 academy, 173 independent.
The median Pupils on roll across North West is 237. Number of pupils in the latest school census.
Browse every school in North West →
Best primary schools in North West
Primary, infant, junior and all-through schools teaching Key Stages 1 and 2.
Woodford Primary School
Stockport · Academy primary · Ages 3–11
149 students
Our Lady of the Rosary RC Primary School, a Voluntary Academy
Manchester · Academy primary · Ages 3–11
230 students
Turton Belmont Community Primary School
Bolton · Local authority primary · Ages 4–11
91 students
Childwall Church of England Primary School
Liverpool · Academy primary · Ages 4–11
418 students
Hursthead Infant School
Cheadle · Local authority primary · Ages 4–7
244 students
Best secondary schools in North West
Secondary and all-through schools teaching Key Stages 3 and 4.
Altrincham Grammar School for Girls
Altrincham · Academy secondary · Ages 11–18
1,381 students
Altrincham Grammar School for Boys
Altrincham · Academy secondary · Ages 11–18
1,432 students
Sale Grammar School
Sale · Academy secondary · Ages 11–18
1,352 students
Saint Ambrose College
Altrincham · Academy secondary · Ages 11–18
1,096 students
Manchester High School for Girls
Manchester · Independent all-through · Ages 3–18
913 students
Best state schools in North West
Academies, free schools and local-authority maintained schools.
Woodford Primary School
Stockport · Academy primary · Ages 3–11
149 students
Our Lady of the Rosary RC Primary School, a Voluntary Academy
Manchester · Academy primary · Ages 3–11
230 students
Turton Belmont Community Primary School
Bolton · Local authority primary · Ages 4–11
91 students
Childwall Church of England Primary School
Liverpool · Academy primary · Ages 4–11
418 students
Altrincham Grammar School for Girls
Altrincham · Academy secondary · Ages 11–18
1,381 students
Best academies & free schools in North West
State-funded schools run by academy trusts.
Woodford Primary School
Stockport · Academy primary · Ages 3–11
149 students
Our Lady of the Rosary RC Primary School, a Voluntary Academy
Manchester · Academy primary · Ages 3–11
230 students
Childwall Church of England Primary School
Liverpool · Academy primary · Ages 4–11
418 students
Altrincham Grammar School for Girls
Altrincham · Academy secondary · Ages 11–18
1,381 students
Yarlside Academy
Barrow-in-Furness · Academy primary · Ages 3–11
242 students
Best independent schools in North West
Fee-paying schools, scored only where they publish results in the performance tables.
Manchester High School for Girls
Manchester · Independent all-through · Ages 3–18
913 students
Rawdhatul Ilm Wal Huda
Blackburn · Independent secondary · Ages 11–25
246 students
The Queen's School
Chester · Independent all-through · Ages 3–18
382 students
Manchester Islamic Grammar School for Girls
Manchester · Independent secondary · Ages 11–16
264 students
Kassim Darwish Grammar School for Boys
Manchester · Independent secondary · Ages 11–16
145 students
Best grammar schools in North West
State schools with selective admissions.
Altrincham Grammar School for Girls
Altrincham · Academy secondary · Ages 11–18
1,381 students
Altrincham Grammar School for Boys
Altrincham · Academy secondary · Ages 11–18
1,432 students
Sale Grammar School
Sale · Academy secondary · Ages 11–18
1,352 students
Saint Ambrose College
Altrincham · Academy secondary · Ages 11–18
1,096 students
Manchester High School for Girls
Manchester · Independent all-through · Ages 3–18
913 students
Best girls' schools in North West
Single-sex girls' schools.
Altrincham Grammar School for Girls
Altrincham · Academy secondary · Ages 11–18
1,381 students
Manchester High School for Girls
Manchester · Independent all-through · Ages 3–18
913 students
Loreto Grammar School
Altrincham · Academy secondary · Ages 11–18
1,075 students
Rawdhatul Ilm Wal Huda
Blackburn · Independent secondary · Ages 11–25
246 students
The Queen's School
Chester · Independent all-through · Ages 3–18
382 students
Best boys' schools in North West
Single-sex boys' schools.
Altrincham Grammar School for Boys
Altrincham · Academy secondary · Ages 11–18
1,432 students
Saint Ambrose College
Altrincham · Academy secondary · Ages 11–18
1,096 students
Kassim Darwish Grammar School for Boys
Manchester · Independent secondary · Ages 11–16
145 students
Calday Grange Grammar School
Wirral · Academy secondary · Ages 11–18
1,493 students
Wirral Grammar School for Boys
Wirral · Academy secondary · Ages 11–18
1,123 students
Best secondary schools by attainment 8 in North West
Secondary schools ranked by Attainment 8, the average GCSE points per pupil across eight subjects.
Altrincham Grammar School for Girls
Altrincham · Academy secondary · Ages 11–18
1,381 students
The Blue Coat School
Liverpool · Academy secondary · Ages 11–18
1,232 students
Altrincham Grammar School for Boys
Altrincham · Academy secondary · Ages 11–18
1,432 students
Saint Ambrose College
Altrincham · Academy secondary · Ages 11–18
1,096 students
Sale Grammar School
Sale · Academy secondary · Ages 11–18
1,352 students
Best primary schools by ks2 results in North West
Primary schools ranked by the percentage of Year 6 pupils meeting the expected standard in reading, writing and maths.
Turton Belmont Community Primary School
Bolton · Local authority primary · Ages 4–11
91 students
Yanwath Primary School
Penrith · Academy primary · Ages 3–11
166 students
Our Lady and All Saints Roman Catholic Primary School, Parbold
Wigan · Local authority primary · Ages 4–11
106 students
Thornton Hough Primary School
Wirral · Local authority primary · Ages 4–11
185 students
Morland Area CofE Primary School
Penrith · Local authority primary · Ages 2–11
119 students
Best sixth forms by a level results in North West
Schools ranked by average A level points per entry.
Withington Girls' School
Manchester · Independent all-through · Ages 7–19
733 students
The Manchester Grammar School
Manchester · Independent all-through · Ages 7–18
1,642 students
Altrincham Grammar School for Girls
Altrincham · Academy secondary · Ages 11–18
1,381 students
The Queen's School
Chester · Independent all-through · Ages 3–18
382 students
The Blue Coat School
Liverpool · Academy secondary · Ages 11–18
1,232 students
Best largest schools in North West
Schools with the most pupils on roll.
Wilmslow High School
Wilmslow · Local authority secondary · Ages 11–18
2,227 students
Great Sankey High School
Warrington · Academy secondary · Ages 11–18
2,051 students
Lymm High School
Lymm · Academy secondary · Ages 11–18
1,937 students
The Crompton House Church of England Academy
Oldham · Academy secondary · Ages 11–18
1,865 students
Abraham Moss Community School
Manchester · Academy all-through · Ages 3–16
1,793 students
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Frequently asked questions
What is the best primary school in North West?
Woodford Primary School in Stockport ranks first among primary schools in North West with a Success Index (England) of 99.5 out of 100 (Pupils on roll: 149).
How are primary schools in North West ranked?
Each school's Success Index (England) combines 9 factors: ks2: reading, writing & maths expected standard (35%), ks2: higher standard (20%), ks2: reading progress (10%), ks2: maths progress (10%), progress 8 (20%), attainment 8 (30%), grade 5+ in english & maths (15%), a level points per entry (10%), community advantage (fewer pupils on free school meals) (15%). Each factor is a percentile against schools of the same type across England. Schools with fewer than 60 students are excluded from rankings.
Are these 2025 rankings official?
No. They are computed by Success Tutoring from official English data (DfE – Get Information About Schools; DfE – Compare school and college performance). Independent schools rarely appear in the performance tables, so most receive no attainment components and no score.