Liverpool’s 17 Outstanding Schools Named in Ofsted List 2026

Key Points

• Outstanding Liverpool Schools and Colleges as Named by Ofsted in the Liverpool Echo List
• They are mainstream primary schools, specialist schools, alternative provisions, a training provider, and sixth form schools.
• Some of them are catering to children and young people with special education needs and disabilities.
• Abbot’s Lea School in Woolton gained the outstanding status in July 2024 despite being considered the institution requiring improvement in 2021.
• Liverpool College in Mossley Hill was granted the outstanding status in 2024 and retained the status.
• University of Liverpool Mathematics School received the outstanding status immediately after its establishment.
• Ofsted commended the schools in curriculum planning, pupil safeguarding, pupil behavior, pupils’ personal development, and learning additional needs of pupils.
• The list is not provided as a league table putting one school over another.
• The ratings are done individually by Ofsted at different dates of inspection.

Liverpool (Liverpool standard) September 11, 2026 – Seventeen schools and colleges in the city have been identified among the highest-rated education providers after receiving an outstanding judgement from Ofsted.

The list, published by the Liverpool Echo, includes schools across different phases of education and a specialist training provider. The institutions serve pupils and students ranging from early years to sixth form, while several provide specialist education for children and young people with SEND.

Ofsted assesses education settings in England through inspections covering areas such as the quality of education, behaviour and attitudes, personal development, leadership and management, safeguarding and, where relevant, early years and sixth-form provision. The watchdog has also changed the way it reports inspection findings, meaning that individual areas may receive separate judgements.

The Liverpool Echo said it had compiled the list to show which schools and colleges in the region had received the highest overall rating. The schools were not described as being placed in a formal performance ranking.

Which Liverpool schools received an outstanding rating?

The schools and education providers highlighted in the report are:

• Abbot’s Lea School.
• Collinge & Co Training Ltd.
• Emmaus Church of England and Catholic Primary School.
• Everton Free School & Football College.
• Florence Melly Community Primary School.
• Harmonize Academy AP Free School.
• Hope School.
• Lakeside School.
• Liverpool College.
• Millstead School.
• Palmerston School.
• Princes School.
• Redbridge High School.
• Sandfield Park School.
• St Silas Church of England Primary School.
• University of Liverpool Mathematics School.
• Whitefield Primary School.

The list covers a wide range of settings. These include mainstream primary schools, all-through schools, specialist schools, alternative provision, a mathematics sixth-form provider and a vocational training organisation.

What did Ofsted say about Abbot’s Lea School?

Abbot’s Lea School in Woolton was inspected in July 2024 and received an outstanding overall rating. The judgement followed an earlier inspection in 2021, when the school was rated as requiring improvement.

According to the Liverpool Echo’s report, Abbot’s Lea was judged outstanding in all inspected categories except leadership and management, which was rated good. Its outstanding areas included the quality of education, behaviour and attitudes, personal development, early years provision and sixth-form provision.

Ofsted said pupils felt safe and happy at the school and described relationships between pupils and staff as caring. Inspectors also reported that pupils behaved exceptionally well and treated one another with respect.

The school provides specialist education for pupils with SEND. Ofsted praised the school’s efforts to overcome barriers to learning and said pupils were highly motivated and enthusiastic learners.

Why was Emmaus Church of England and Catholic Primary School recognised?

Emmaus Church of England and Catholic Primary School, based in Croxteth Park, retained its outstanding status after an inspection in November 2023.

The Liverpool Echo reported that Ofsted praised the school’s academic curriculum and enrichment programme. Inspectors said pupils achieved exceptionally well across curriculum subjects and developed the knowledge required for their future aspirations.

Ofsted also highlighted the school’s focus on values including wisdom, perseverance, justice and forgiveness. Inspectors said pupils learned about difficult historical subjects, including Liverpool’s role in the slave trade, while also exploring the city’s cultural heritage and the legacy of The Beatles.

The report said pupils were prepared to become responsible British citizens and developed an understanding that similarities between people were more important than differences.

Which specialist schools were rated outstanding?

A significant part of the list consists of specialist schools or settings supporting pupils with complex educational, health and social needs.

Hope School, which supports children aged five to 11 with SEND, received an outstanding rating in December 2024. Ofsted praised its carefully structured curriculum, which begins by helping pupils become ready to learn before progressing towards subject knowledge and individual targets.

Lakeside School, an SEN school for children aged five to 13, has retained an outstanding rating since 2010. Inspectors said the school worked closely with previous schools, parents and carers to understand each pupil’s additional needs. Its curriculum was described as carefully tailored to pupils’ abilities and aptitudes.

Millstead School in Everton was described by Ofsted as providing a “life-changing” education. Inspectors highlighted the school’s focus on communication, including the use of pictures, symbols and communication books. The school was said to help pupils develop communication skills before extending their learning across other curriculum areas.

Palmerston School in Aigburth has received consecutive positive reports since 2007. Following an inspection in March 2025, Ofsted praised its work in developing communication and reading skills. Inspectors said pupils became more confident in expressing their wishes and feelings and showed a strong interest in books.

Princes School in Toxteth was also recognised for its specialist curriculum. Ofsted said its learning pathways were carefully structured and broke down new knowledge and skills into manageable steps. Inspectors also praised the school’s assessment system for identifying additional needs quickly.

Redbridge High School was described as having very high aspirations for its pupils. Its curriculum pathways include vocational qualifications designed to prepare students for employment. Ofsted also highlighted support for pupils’ emotional and mental health needs and the school’s collaboration with therapists.

Sandfield Park School in West Derby received its first outstanding rating in 2024. Inspectors said the school provided a broad and ambitious curriculum and prepared pupils and sixth-form students well for adult life. The report also referred to alternative communication systems used to help pupils express their views and needs.

What did inspectors say about mainstream schools?

Several mainstream schools were praised for strong curriculum planning, high expectations and positive behaviour.

Florence Melly Community Primary School in Walton retained its outstanding rating in January 2025. Ofsted said leaders and governors had maintained high-quality learning, behaviour and wider development. Inspectors also described early years provision and support for pupils with SEND as core strengths.

Liverpool College in Mossley Hill was rated outstanding in 2024. According to the Liverpool Echo, Ofsted praised the school’s approach to combining academic learning with wider personal development. Subject specialists were said to deliver lessons effectively, while pupils were encouraged to develop vocabulary and curiosity from Reception onwards.

St Silas Church of England Primary School in Toxteth was praised for a curriculum designed around pupils’ interests and the diverse nature of the school. Ofsted said staff adapted teaching effectively for pupils who speak English as an additional language and for those with SEND.

Whitefield Primary School in Everton has maintained an outstanding rating since 2017. Inspectors said pupils made excellent progress and became confident and articulate learners. The school’s curriculum was described as a carefully planned learning journey, with knowledge introduced in a logical order from early years to Year 6.

Which Liverpool education providers offer specialist or alternative pathways?

Everton Free School & Football College was praised for using sport to re-engage pupils with education. Ofsted said many pupils had experienced disruption before joining the school, but strong relationships with staff helped them develop a renewed love of learning.

The school’s curriculum includes English, mathematics, physical education and science, alongside options connected with pupils’ individual aspirations. The watchdog said sport was used particularly effectively to support engagement.

Harmonize Academy AP Free School in Kensington provides alternative education for pupils in Years 9 to 11. Ofsted said pupils often joined after poor educational experiences but received a fresh start in a nurturing environment. The report praised the school’s focus on trust, respect, compassion and forgiveness.

Collinge & Co Training Ltd, which provides salon training, was rated outstanding for the second time in three inspections over the past 19 years. Ofsted said apprentices enjoyed their training, received extensive support and made substantial progress in developing knowledge, skills and behaviours.

The University of Liverpool Mathematics School, which serves students aged 16 to 19, achieved an outstanding rating shortly after opening. Inspectors said students were highly motivated, attendance was very high and the school provided an inclusive environment.

The report also noted that students discussed equality, diversity and accessibility. For example, computer science students were able to explain how websites could be made more accessible to people with physical, motor or visual impairments.

What do the Ofsted ratings mean for families?

An outstanding rating indicates that inspectors judged the overall effectiveness of an education provider to be at the highest level under the inspection framework used for the relevant inspection.

However, an Ofsted rating is only one factor for families considering a school or college. Parents and carers may also need to consider admissions arrangements, location, transport, school size, available places, curriculum options and the suitability of specialist support.

Inspection dates also differ across the institutions. Some schools were inspected in 2023, while others received their latest judgement in 2024 or 2025. The findings therefore describe the provision observed during each individual inspection and should not automatically be treated as a direct comparison between all 17 settings.

The Liverpool Echo’s list is best understood as a collection of Liverpool schools and colleges with outstanding inspection outcomes rather than a definitive league table.

What is the background to Liverpool’s Ofsted school list?

Ofsted is the education watchdog responsible for inspecting education and care services in England. Its work includes schools, colleges, nurseries and other educational settings.

Inspections consider different aspects of provision. Depending on the type of setting, inspectors may examine the quality of education, behaviour and attitudes, personal development, leadership and management, safeguarding, early years provision and sixth-form provision.

The schools in the list achieved their ratings at different points. Abbot’s Lea, for example, improved from requiring improvement in 2021 to outstanding overall in 2024. Other schools, including Lakeside, Palmerston and Liverpool College, have maintained strong ratings across successive inspections.

Families seeking the most recent information about a particular school should review its latest Ofsted inspection report and contact the school directly. The list provides a local overview, while individual inspection reports explain the reasons behind each judgement.

How could the outstanding ratings affect Liverpool families?

The publication of the list is likely to give parents and carers a clearer starting point when researching education options in Liverpool. Families seeking specialist provision may pay particular attention to schools such as Abbot’s Lea, Hope, Lakeside, Millstead, Palmerston, Princes, Redbridge and Sandfield Park.

The ratings may also increase interest in the named schools, especially where places are limited. However, an outstanding judgement does not guarantee that a school will have vacancies or that it will be the best fit for every child.

For families making decisions, the most useful next step will be to read the full Ofsted report for the relevant school, review its admissions information and speak directly with the school about curriculum, support and available places. The effect on individual pupils will depend on their age, needs, preferred subjects, travel arrangements and the type of provision required.