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.
13. Ernest Cookson School, Liverpool
Published in July 2019, the Ofsted report for Ernest Cookson School reads: “This school continues to be outstanding. The leadership team has maintained the outstanding quality of education in the school since the last inspection. Leaders have built upon the strengths that were recognised in the previous report. They have also had to manage some significant events and changes since the previous inspection." | Google Street View Photo: Google Street View
14. Florence Melly Community Primary School, Liverpool
Published in June 2019, the Ofsted report for Florence Melly Community Primary School states: “School leaders are committed to making Florence Melly the best school it can possibly be. Relationships between staff and pupils are exemplary. A culture of high expectations has led to significant improvements across the school since the previous inspection." | Google Street View Photo: Google Street View
15. Freshfield Primary School, Formby
Published in June 2013, the Ofsted report for Freshfield Primary School states: "The overwhelming majority of pupils, including pupils with disabilities and special educational needs, pupils with a statement of educational needs educated in the school’s resource unit and pupils entitled to additional support through pupil-premium funding, achieve exceptionally well and enjoy their learning." | Google Street View Photo: Google Street View
16. Garswood Primary and Nursery School, Wigan
Published in 2017, the Ofsted report for Garswood Primary and Nursey School reads: "The curriculum inspires pupils. First-hand experiences and external visits bring subject areas to life for pupils. Subject leaders now need to sharpen further their focus on the development of pupils’ subject-specific knowledge and skills in subjects other than mathematics, science and English." | Google Street View Photo: Google