Sixty-three schools in Liverpool and Merseyside currently hold Ofsted’s highest rating.
Ofsted is the regulatory body for schools, providing institutions with ratings on a four-point scale, ranging from 'inadequate' to 'outstanding'. Grades are based on overall effectiveness, quality of education, behaviours and attitudes, personal development, and leadership and management.
While concerns have been raised about Ofsted’s single-word judgements, many parents look at inspection reports as a way to decide which school is best suited to their children, with reports providing an in-depth analysis of how the school operated during a one to two day visit.
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Many primary schools across Liverpool and Merseyside are rated as ‘good’, however, fewer have been awarded the top mark. We have scoured the ratings to find out which schools are the most highly rated, with 63 primary schools across the region ranked 'outstanding' in 2024.
Below are all of the Merseyside primary schools currently* ranked as ‘outstanding’ by Ofsted. Did your child’s school make the list? *Ratings are correct as of June 9, 2024. Full inspection reports can be found here.
53. St Silas Church of England Primary School, Liverpool
Published in November 2017, the Ofsted report for St Silas Church of England Primary School states: “Leaders at St Silas Church of England Primary School have created a culture where ‘each and every child’ can flourish academically and socially in a warm and caring environment. Leaders, teachers and support staff provide an oasis of calm and security in the school. Relationships between staff and pupils are exceptional." | Google Street View Photo: Google Street View
54. St Vincent de Paul Catholic Primary School, Liverpool
Published in June 2013, the Ofsted report for St Vincent de Paul Catholic Primary School reads: “Almost all pupils make excellent progress at all key stages throughout the school. The quality of teaching is outstanding and staff, at all levels throughout the school, have very high expectations of pupils. This underpins pupils’ excellent achievement." | Google Street View Photo: Google Street View
55. St Vincent’s School, Liverpool
Published in April 2023, the Ofsted report for St Vincent’s School reads: "There has been no change to this school’s overall judgement of outstanding as a result of this ungraded (section 8) inspection. However, the evidence gathered suggests that the inspection grade might not be as high if a graded (section 5) inspection were carried out now. The next inspection will therefore be a graded inspection. Pupils very much enjoy coming to St Vincent’s School. They like being with their friends and they enjoy the warm relationships that they have with teachers and leaders. Pupils feel safe in the school. They told inspectors that if anything is worrying them, they can tell an adult and they know that they will get the help that they need. Staff care for pupils well." | Google Street View Photo: Google Street View
56. Thornton Hough Primary School, Wirral
Published in March 2024, the Ofsted report for Thornton Hough Primary School states: "This is a happy school where pupils excel. Parents and carers, staff and pupils praise its ‘family feeling’. Pupils’ learning is steeped in the proud history and traditions of the local village, including its manor house, churches and community groups. In addition, pupils gain a first-rate introduction to their lives as responsible, respectful citizens of modern Britain." | Google Street View Photo: Google Street View