The Telegraph’s league table sees secondary schools ranked according to 10 separate criteria, which add up to a maximum score of 40. The newspaper says these are “designed to highlight a range of key data points, measuring key academic, behavioural and organisational performance”.
Using data for the 2023/24 academic year, the points are awarded as follows:
- English Baccalaureate scores (5 points)
- Attainment 8 scores (5 points)
- Progress 8 score (5 points)
- Disadvantaged pupils score (4 points)
- Comparison with local authority (4 points)
- Pupil destinations (5 points)
- Entries options (3 points)
- Oversubscribed schools (3 points)
- Class size (3 points)
- Truancy (3 points)
Almost 3,500 state sector secondary schools in England feature in the league table, with just five schools across the country receiving the full 40 points.#
We have taken a look at the 13 best state secondary schools in Liverpool and Merseyside that received the highest scores, thus being branded as ‘very good’.
Take a look at the gallery below and see how your child’s school fared.

1. West Kirby Grammar School, Wirral
West Kirby Grammar has been awarded a score of 39/40 on The Telegraph's GCSE league table, making it 'very good'. | Google

2. Calday Grange Grammar School, Wirral
Calday Grange has been awarded a score of 38/40 on The Telegraph's GCSE league table, making it 'very good'. | Google

3. Upton Hall School FCJ, Wirral
Upton Hall has been awarded a score of 38/40 on The Telegraph's GCSE league table, making it 'very good'. | Google

4. Wirral Grammar School for Girls, Wirral
Wirral Grammar School for Girls has been awarded a score of 38/40 on The Telegraph's GCSE league table, making it 'very good'. | Google
