Three of our region’s school made the list, while there was a special national award for a local sixth form
07:01, 05 Dec 2025Updated 07:11, 05 Dec 2025
Formby High School has been named as one of the best secondaries in the north west (Image: Colin Lane/Liverpool Echo)
A Liverpool specialist college has been named state sixth form of the year in a prestigious national list, while three secondary schools in our region have been named as some of the best in the north west.
The UK’s highest-achieving schools have been revealed in the 33rd edition of The Sunday Times Parent power Guide for 2026. The list is widely acknowledged as the most authoritative survey of the country’s top schools and the definitive ranking of the nation’s top primary and secondary state and independent schools.
Here in Merseyside, there is good news for the University of Liverpool Maths School, which only opened in 2020 and won the award for state sixth form college of the year in the national awards.
Several of our region’s schools have also featured in the Parent Power League list of the top educational establishments in the north west.
Top of the pile was The Blue Coat School in Wavertree, which is placed fourth in the north west for best state secondary schools and ranked 43rd across the whole country.
In a separate list ranking the top comprehensive secondary schools across the north west, Formby High School is ranked at number 9 and the Belvedere Academy in south Liverpool comes in at number 10.
The Blue Coat School in Wavertree(Image: Liverpool Echo)
No Merseyside schools made it into the top 10 secondary independent schools in the region or into the top 10 primaries.
The guide includes a fully searchable national database of more than 2,000 schools by name, local authority, town and postcode.
As well as an assessment of academic results on a school-by-school basis, Parent Power enables parents to compare the performance of a given school with other schools in the same area, local authority or nationally.
Helen Davies, editor of The Sunday Times Parent Power Guide, said: “The educational landscape is testing – budget challenges, rising student mental health issues, special educational needs and an increasingly uncertain future.
“But there is also so much to celebrate from the dedication of teachers who are finding ever more innovative and impactful ways to enrich their students and give them the very best start in life.
“As well as celebrating the academic excellence of the top schools it is uplifting to see how they are shaping their students to be ready for the 21st century, and instilling a lifelong love of learning.”
The awards – such as the one won by the University of Liverpool Maths School are are judged on year-on-year performance as well as editorial discretion.
The Parent Power league table is based on exam results.